Girls track / Mid-Suburban League preview
Girls track / Mid-Suburban League preview
When: Friday, field events start at 4:45 p.m. with running preliminaries at 5:15 p.m. and track finals 6:35 p.m.
Host: Wheeling High School
Outlook: Prospect will be seeking a third straight MSL title - but Palatine is looking to end the Knights' run, and Barrington is hoping to pull off a surprise. The stage is set for an intense three-way battle for the MSL title. Prospect, the two-time defending champion, scored 70 points in the field events in marching to the 2013 title, and the Knights are hoping to follow a similar plan this year. Catherine Sherwood, the defending MSL long jump and triple jump champion, will lead the effort. She is the top seed in the long jump (18-00.25). Senior Erin Reese is the top seed in the discus (150-0) and seeded second in the shot put (43-3), while sophomore Jes Skudlarek is top seed in the high jump (5-07). The three will be hoping to get the Knights off to a quick start. Senior Christina Santiago will lead the charge on the track; she holds the top seed in the 800 (2:14.48) and 1,600 (4:59). Sophomore Maya Mason also figures to have an impact in the hurdles, with the top seed in the 100 highs (15.24). Freshman Brooke Wilson adds to the Knights' with the top seed in the 3,200 (11:28.12). Coach Dave Wurster is completing his 30th and final season as Prospect coach, and the Knights would love to send him out with an MSL title. Palatine, behind an emerging sprinting group, is hoping to put a halt to the Knights' reign. Junior Ashley Proska holds the top seed in the 200 (26.19), junior Caitlin Reidy is looking to defend her title in the 300 low hurdles and enters with the top seed (46.84) and also holds the second seed in the 100 (12.84). Pirates junior Basirat Iginla enters with the third seed in both the 100 (12.85) and 400 (1:00.38). Senior Cassidy McPherson (2:17.64) and junior Kara Burton (2:19.70) hold the 2-3 seeds in the 800. The Pirates will also lead heavily on its relays, including the 400 (49.9) in which it holds the top seed. Palatine is not as strong in the field as Prospect, but junior Gabbi Heidrich (35-03.25) and junior Megan Thabuteau (34-05.5) hold the 1-3 seed in the triple jump, with Proska entering as second seed in the long jump (17-03). Junior Amy Kieliszewski and senior Jessica Lincoln can challenge in the 3,200, and sophomore Kelly O'Brien will push for the title in the 1,600. Prospect and Palatine are definitely 1-2 according to the seeds, but Barrington is lurking in the shadows and has enough firepower to make a run at the title. It starts with the 800 relay (1:45.68) and 1,600 relay (4:03.55), where the Fillies hold the top seed. Freshman Addi Coy (59.55) enters with the top seed in the 400, with sophomore duo Anna Cosio (48.30) and Sara Kate Capel (48.90) holding the 2-3 seeds in the 300 low hurdles. Coy and junior Nina Hodges hold the 2-3 seeds in the 200 as the Fillies will be looking to end the meet with a bang. Cossio (high jump) with seniors McCall Braun (long jump) and Brooke Morgan (long jump) to give the Fillies a lift in the field. Hoffman Estates and Fremd also have talented squads that will make their mark. Hoffman Estates senior Banke Oginni enters with the top mark in the shot put (45-08.8) and third-best mark in the disucs (130-3), sophomore Meagen Biddle enters with the second-best mark in the 1,600 (5:00.30), and the Hawks can cover all the relays. Fremd's 3,200 relay enters with state's best mark (9:21.70), with sophomore Nora Finnegan (1:00.34) holding the second-best mark in the 400 and junior Ayako Higuchi (5:07.7) holding the fourth best mark in the 1,600. Wheeling junior Alexa Laureano has had an impressive season and enters with the top mark in the 100 dash (12.66). Hersey junior Kelly Hill (11-0) holds the top seed in the pole vault.
- Michael Eaken