West Aurora wins 4th straight Kane County title

Emma Spagnola was back in her normal routine.

The West Aurora returning all-state performer in three events captured her specialty disciplines in one-sided fashions to lead the Blackhawks to their fourth consecutive Kane County Girls Track and Field Invitational Friday night in Geneva.

West Aurora, which also received wins from sprinter Anita Saffa, thrower Maya Marion and its 400-meter relay team, scored 131 points to outdistance St. Charles East (100.5).

Kaneland was third, followed by Hampshire, Geneva, Batavia, St. Charles North, Rosary, Burlington Central, Aurora Central Catholic, Dundee-Crown, Streamwood, South Elgin, Elgin, Larkin and East Aurora.

Spagnola, the reigning state runner-up in the 100 hurdles, was across the finish line before her nearest competitor — St. Charles North junior Jessica Gras — even cleared her final hurdle.

The spread was exactly two seconds in the 300 variety for Spagnola, who defeated close friend Lauren Zick by almost 10 inches in the long jump with a winning effort of 17 feet, 10.5 inches.

Burlington Central senior Katie Trupp and teammate Chloressa Coleman denied Spagnola a fourth title in the high jump.

“This is the first time (I have truly competed) in the last two weeks,” said Spagnola, who won the 100 and 300 hurdles races in respective times of 15.12 and 45.31 seconds. “That was horrible when (the Lockport) meet was canceled (last week). I want to lower my times in both hurdles.”

After the quartet of Monique Dunum, Elisa Zinn, Tykia Neal and Saffa captured the 400 relay for the Blackhawks, Spagnola and Saffa made it three straight West Aurora victories with their triumphs in the 100 hurdles and 100 dash.

Saffa, all-state in the 100 last spring, was runner-up in the 400 and also placed at 200 meters.

Marion was well over state-qualifying distances after winning the shot put with an effort of 41-10 and placing runner-up to St. Charles East senior Amanda Passaglia with her 124-02 heave in the discus.

“I was really concerned (about the lack of competition coming into the meet),” West Aurora coach Teresa Towles said. “It’s hard to gauge where you are without competition. (Spagnola) thrives on competing. She is good.”

St. Charles East used its interchangeable relays with excellent results to forge its runner-up status.

Torree Scull offered yet more evidence as one of the top underclassmen in the state after helping the Saints’ 3,200 relay to a county-record time of 9:20.13 and later denied reigning Class 2A state cross country champion Victoria Clinton (Kaneland) at 1,600 meters.

“(Clinton) beat me in middle school in every race,” Scull said after pulling away late to win in 5:14.07. “We didn’t get a chance (to compete) in cross country because she is double-A and we’re 3A. I didn’t really do the mile last year, but I like it.”

Jordan Shead and Britney Williams — with previous all-state pedigrees at 400 meters — were not only on the Saints’ record 3,200 relay quartet but also powered the 1,600 group to first place in breaking four minutes.

Eight-hundred meters had potential Class 2A state implications in play as Karina Liz reversed the results from the unofficial indoor state championship at the distance.

The Aurora Central freshman outdueled Burlington Central senior Kayla Wolf; Liz had a little too much speed for the Missouri-bound Wolf down the stretch to prevail, 2:15.58 to 2:18.02.

“Kayla Wolf, she beat me at indoor state,” Liz said. “I was really determined today. I kept thinking (Wolf) would pass me. She never did.”

Lisa Rodriguez made sure her Aurora Central teammate was not the lone county champion for the program.

After finishing runner-up at 100 meters and withdrawing from the open 400, Rodriguez won the 200 dash in 25.74 seconds.

“I wanted it so bad,” Rodriguez said. “I have working really hard on the two, and it paid off. Girls were to my right and left, and that really helped (down the stretch).”

Ashley Castellanos and Zick were the workhorses for Kaneland.

The former won the triple jump by four-plus inches over West Aurora junior Kayla Walton, while Zick celebrated her birthday with placements in the long jump, 200 and 400.

“(Spagnola) and I have been close for the last five, six years,” Zick said of her loss in the long jump to her former travel softball partner. “We broke our school record (Zick anchored the Knights’ second-place 400 relay), which was nice.”

Ashley England captured the lone St. Charles North title at 3,200 meters; Skylar Schoen was runner-up in the pole vault for Batavia, while freshman sprinter Foster Ignoffo was once again the standout Geneva performer.

The Rosary quartet of Sydney Zaragosa, Molly Stefanski, Stephanie McDermott and Megan Conlin defended its championship in the 800 relay for the Royals’ sole win.

In addition to Spagnola, Burlington Central senior Trupp was the only other multiple champion.

The SIU-bound jumper and pole vaulter captured the high jump on criteria by clearing 5-2 after earlier claiming the pole vault with a state-title-hunting clearance of 11-9.

Trupp also placed in the long jump.

“I’m happy with pole vault,” Trupp said. “High jump, I know I could have done better. Eleven-9 (in the pole vault) isn’t too far off (my personal record of 12 feet).”

Wolf, on the other hand, could take solace after placing second at 800 meters for the Rockets.

“I was going for a pace to run a 64-(second) on the opening lap,” Wolf said. “(Liz and I) came across the first lap in 62. I wanted to run the next two 200 splits in 35 (seconds) each. (The pace) was a bit faster than I would (have liked).”

“In the grand scheme of things, (Wolf) is in the right spot,” Central coach Vince Neil said. “She ran a good race. We’re great fans of the Kane County meet. It helps us prepare physically and mentally for the sectional. We scored about as many points (46) as we could.”

Hampshire had its best showing at the 16-team meet in recent memory.

Ashley Fouch had her fingerprints all over the Whips’ fourth-place team finish as the sophomore was among the fastest performers on the evening.

Fouch began her day with a third-place result at 100 meters, but more than compensated for any disappointment with a sterling final 150 meters to overtake Saffa to win the 400 in a blistering time of 57.55 seconds.

The sophomore then had her bid for a second championship derailed as Rodriguez had just enough to stave off Fouche at 200 meters.

“Never against Triple-A schools,” Fouch said of her most significant invitational victory at 400 meters. “This is one of our biggest meets. It’s nice to run against good competition. I didn’t feel as strong (at 100 meters). It helps me for the 200.”

The Whips were also solid in the field.

Jennifer Domouliln was runner-up in the shot put for Hampshire and Nicky Dumoulin was third in the triple jump.

Caitlyn Graff, a freshman hurdler, placed in both disciplines at 100 and 300 meters for the Whips.

Another ninth-grader, Elizabeth Pagan, was third in the long jump.

Dundee-Crown received medals from Natalie Himmel, Kayla Lawrence and Emily Michalski in the 800, 100 hurdles and high jump, respectively.

Streamwood sprinter Aaliyah Winters was the Sabres’ highest finisher at 400 meters, and Elgin received its lone production from its 800 relay.

Freshman Bridgette Williams’ sixth-place finish in the shot put was the benchmark for South Elgin.