Tri-Cities area girls track and field preview
Aurora Central Catholic
Coach: Troy Kerber (29th year)
Last year: Fifth in the Suburban Christian Conference; 10th in the Class 2A Plano sectional.
Top returnees: Amy Brouch, soph., middle distance; Jenna Cebulski, jr., throws; Irene Crown, soph., middle distance; Annabelle Englehardt, jr., sprints, hurdles; Karina Liz, jr., sprints, middle distance, distance; Anneke Nilles, sr., sprints, middle distance; Shannon Vogt, jr., sprints; Emily Ziegler, sr., sprints, jumps.
Key newcomers: Caitlin Cerza, jr., throws; Abby Fioresi, soph., middle distance, distance; Therese Hein, fr., sprints; Alex Johnston, soph., middle distance, throws; Shannon Lopresti, fr., distance; Allison Loy, fr., sprints, jumps; Toriana Turk, fr., middle distance.
Outlook: There are roughly 300 female students at Aurora Central Catholic, but Liz holds the distinction of being among the national elite at 800 meters. “She is ranked No. 10 in the nation,” Kerber said. The junior blew away the field in the Class 2A state finals last spring after placing runner-up in the event as a freshman. Liz has one overriding aim for the season. “My primary goal is to break Courtney Clayton's all-time state record,” Liz said after sweeping the 400- and 800-meter runs at the indoor Metro Suburban Conference meet last Friday. The former Rockton-Hononegah star set the record of two minutes, 7.05 seconds in the Class 3A state finals two years ago. “I think it's very realistic,” Kerber said. “The biggest question is if she can find the race to do it.” Fioresi, a sophomore transfer from Oswego, and Hein were both very impressive for the Chargers at indoor conference. “On the track we're pretty good,” Kerber said. “The big question (for the team) is the development of the field events.”
Aurora Christian
Coach: Anna McQuade (third year)
Last year: Fourth in the Suburban Christian Conference; Lisle Class 1A sectional champion; state champion.
Top returnees: Emily Angelo, jr., middle distance; Natasha Brown, sr., sprints; Meghan Hagerty, sr., sprints; Sam Hoffman, jr., sprints, hurdles; Carolyn Logsdon, jr., sprints; Hope Montalbano, sr., sprints; Ripley Von Hoff, sr., middle distance, distance; Becca Wert, sr., middle distance, distance.
Key newcomers: Mackenzie Ahrens, fr., throws; Paris Chaney, fr., sprints, throws; Melissa Knowles, sr., sprints, middle distance; Natalie Roberts, fr., sprints; Nora Theeke, fr., sprints, pole vault.
Outlook: The final day of the girls track and field season produced a historic first for Aurora Christian last spring. When Brown crossed the finish line in first place in the penultimate event — the 200-meter dash — the Eagles had secured their first state championship by any female program in school history. Aurora Christian superstar Peyton Wade, a four-event individual all-state performer, is now plying her skills at the University of Maryland, but Brown returns for one final campaign. Fellow seniors Hagerty and Montalbano teamed with Brown to runner-up finishes in the 400 and 800 sprint relays to give Aurora Christian invaluable points at the Class 1A state finals last year. “We had some big (graduation) losses, but we still have some big leaders,” McQuade said. Wert is also primed for one last postseason run after the former state qualifier missed the state series last year with an illness. But Brown will undoubtedly be the Eagles' model for another top finish. “It seems to take (Brown) time to get started because of basketball,” McQuade said. “But once she gets going, she is a force to be reckoned with.” Another key for Aurora Christian at the state level is to find a suitable replacement for Alyssa Andersen in the sprint relays.
Batavia
Coach: Justin Allison (third year)
Last year: Sixth overall in the Upstate Eight Conference; third in the River Division; fourth at the Class 3A Metea Valley sectional.
Top returnees: Sam Delmundo, jr., sprints, jumps; Courtney Glassmann, sr., sprints, pole vault; Alicia Grant, sr., middle distance; Allison Hartmann, sr., jumps; Audrey Jonke, sr., sprints; Jenny Muehbauer, sr., middle distance; Leah Narup, jr., hurdles; Hailey Plata, sr., sprints; Miranda Rae, sr., middle distance; Dakota Roman, jr., middle distance, distance; Caitlin Ross, sr., sprints; Hannah Schlaman, soph., sprints; Hannah Ullberg, jr., middle distance.
Key newcomers: Mary Grace Golden, fr., middle distance; Daphne Kolody, fr., distance; Tori Ortiz, fr., sprints; Emma Stephens, fr., distance.
Outlook: The Bulldogs enter the outdoor season with all the momentum after winning the indoor Upstate Eight Conference championship last weekend at home. Batavia received contributions from returnees and newcomers alike to turn back St. Charles East and Neuqua Valley. Schlaman swept the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the Class 3A Metea Valley sectional last spring, and coach Allison has another underclass revelation in Ortiz. In addition to their sprint core, the Bulldogs have middle distance covered with returning state-qualifying 3,200 relay members Muhlbauer, Rae, Grant and Ullberg. Roman is another possibility for the event. Stephens was the top runner for the Bulldogs' state-qualifying cross country team last fall and made an immediate impression against a top-notch field at indoor conference. “Hopefully we can stay healthy and hope for another (conference) victory,” Allison said. “Having a good number of (800 runners) betters us overall. With us having more depth this year, we can use people sparingly and fine-tune.” In addition to Ortiz and Stephens, Golden anchored the Bulldogs' 3,200 relay to one win. Kolody added important points at the same distance in the open event.
Geneva
Coach: Peter Raak (10th year)
Last year: Third overall in the Upstate Eight Conference; second in the River Division; tied for fifth at Class 3A Metea Valley sectional.
Top returnees: McKenzie Altmayer, jr., middle distance; Shannon Callahan, jr., jumps; Emma Ehrhardt, soph., middle distance; Grace Ginsberg, sr., hurdles, jumps; Kristin Higgins, soph., hurdles, jumps; Foster Ignoffo, jr., sprints, middle distance; Paige Korte, sr., sprints, jumps; Liz Markuson, sr., pole vault; Jamie McCloughan, sr., sprints; Molly McQueeny, jr., middle distance; Mary Grace Neville, soph., middle distance; Brooke Nusser, jr., distance; Veronica Ramming, sr., throws.
Key newcomers: Georgia Reed, fr., middle distance; Ndidi Ukaobasi, jr., sprints.
Outlook: The Geneva girls and their coaches are anxiously awaiting the return of all-state 400-meter runner Ignoffo. The junior placed sixth in the event last spring as one of three local products to make the Saturday finals in Charleston. “(Ignoffo) is a naturally talented athlete who is a hard worker,” Raak said. “She has a gas tank that won't quit.” Raak expects his junior standout to be at full strength for the outdoor season. Ignoffo also powered the Vikings' 1,600 relay to a state preliminary date last year. As has typically been the case in the past decade, the Vikings should be strong in the twin 800 races — the open and the 3,200 relay. “We have some nice things to work with and will see how it all comes together,” Raak said. The Vikings have been a state power in cross country for almost a decade, and Nusser is the engineer of the Vikings' distance crew. In the field, Geneva should be especially strong in the high jump behind returning state qualifier Higgins and Callahan. Ukaobaski is the Vikings' most intriguing storyline as the junior makes her track and field debut after being sidelined last year with a knee injury.
Kaneland
Coach: Doug Ecker (sixth year)
Last year: Second in the Northern Illinois Big XII; Class 2A Freeport sectional champion; 11th in state.
Top returnees: Brianna Bower, jr., distance; Victoria Clinton, sr., distance; Taylor Eaves, sr., sprints, hurdles; Carly Elliott, soph., sprints; Noelle Espino, jr., middle distance; Olivia Galor, jr., sprints; Lexie Guerra, soph., pole vault; Allie Heinzer, jr., sprints; Jessica Kucera, sr., middle distance; Aislinn Lodwig, sr., middle distance; Becca Richtman, soph., sprints, middle distance; Nicole Sreenan, soph., sprints.
Key newcomers: Shanya Hurston, fr., sprints; Jamie Martens, fr., sprints.
Outlook: Kaneland is without question in the conversation for a potential state trophy in Class 2A this spring. The Knights may have lost four-year mainstays Lauren Zink and Sydney Strang to graduation, but there is no shortage of talent in Maple Park this spring. Freshman sensations are as synonymous to the sport as the baton is to a relay, and Sreenan more than qualified in the former category last year. The sophomore was all-state in the 100- and 400-meter runs while anchoring the 400 and 1,600 relays to two other medal-winning performances. “I am actually surprised that I did that well,” Sreenan said. “I didn't know if I could get one (medal). Four is crazy.” The Knights return their entire 800 all-state quartet in Galor, Richtman, Heinzer and Elliot. Zink and Strang are the only non-returnees to the Knights' respective foursomes at 400 and 1,600 meters. “We are ranked No. 1 and (No.) 2 in the state (in the 800 and 1,600 relays),” Sreenan said. The Knights also have a strong distance contingent as Clinton, the 2012 state cross country champion, returns after sitting out last spring. Bower is a legitimate all-state candidate at 3,200 meters. Sreenan was third in the open 400 after placing eighth in the 100 dash. “The girl who got first (in the 400, Cahokia sophomore Mariyah Hudson) is in my grade,” Sreenan said. “I'm going to be stuck with her for a while.”
Rosary
Coach: Vic Meade (25th year)
Last season: Second in the Suburban Christian Conference; Class 2A Plano sectional champion.
Top returnees: Neethara Abraham, jr., sprints, jumps; Christina Carbonara, sr., throws; Cara Cox, sr., middle distance; Danielle Goering, soph., sprints, jumps; Kayla Keating , jr., pole vault; Emily Martin, sr., middle distance, distance; Kristyna Perillo, sr., sprints, jumps; Mallory Rettenmeier, sr., sprints; Madison Ronzone, jr., middle distance, distance; Maddie Saloga, sr., sprints; Shea Vero, jr., sprints, middle distance.
Key newcomers: Erin Burke, soph., sprints, jumps; Brooke Delahanty, fr., middle distance.
Outlook: Rosary — along with Aurora Christian, Kaneland and West Aurora — was one of four local programs to win a sectional last spring. The postseason brilliance was extended at the state finals as Aurora Christian, West Aurora and St. Charles East all brought home trophies. The Royals will vie for a top-10 finish in the Class 2A finals behind state veterans Ronzone and Martin. The former was all-state in the 1,600-meter run, and the latter has aspirations to be included in the field on the final Saturday of the season. Both girls are coming off of all-state cross country campaigns. “We want to get our four-by-eight (the 3,200 relay) to the finals,” said Meade, where both Ronzone and Martin could be pivotal figures. “Madison wants to place better in the mile (seventh last year). Emily desperately wants to get into the (state) finals of the mile.” Vero is another Rosary state veteran who could play an instrumental role in the Royals' 1,600 and 3,200 relays. The junior is the lone returning member of the Royals' all-state quartet in the former event. Abraham and Saloga anchor the Royals' sprinters. Carbonara and Keating perform similar roles in their specialty events in the field. Perillo and Abraham are the Royals' mainstays in the jumps.
St. Charles East
Coach: Tim Wolf (third year)
Last year: Upstate Eight Conference and River Division champion; second place Class 3A Metea Valley sectional; third in state
Top returnees: Anna Arick, soph., distance; Allison Chmelik, sr., sprints, jumps; Elizabeth Chmelik, sr., sprints, jumps; Hannah Ewald, soph., distance; Keeley Flannagan, jr., sprints; Emily Gier, jr., pole vault; Jessica Glas, jr., sprints, hurdles; Anastasia Honea, jr., middle distance; Casey McNichols, soph., sprints; Torree Scull, sr., middle distance, distance.
Key newcomers: Stephanie Garcia, fr., sprints; Kyanna McClinton, fr., sprints.
Outlook: The Saints brought home the first state trophy in program history last spring behind their two state-champion relay quartets at 1,600 and 3,200 meters. The Chmelik twins are members of the two-time defending champions at 1,600 meters; the siblings — along with sophomore McNichols — will go for the three-peat this spring in Charleston. Marquette-bound Allison Chmelik has also placed in the triple jump at the state finals the last two years. But the Saints' third-place finish in the state finals last year was inconceivable without Scull. The Liberty University-bound senior came out of nowhere to finish fourth in the open 1,600 run after playing an integral role in the Saints' 3,200 relay victory. Scull has added incentive for her final track campaign after a blood disorder robbed her of a fourth all-state cross country season last fall. “I am thankful to God to be healthy again,” Scull said after breaking five minutes in the 1,600 at indoor conference. “I am hoping to have the best season I can have before college.” Honea and Scull will be at the forefront of the Saints' 3,200 relay this spring. “We're still figuring out who our runners are going to be (in the 3,200 relay), but I think we'll be pretty good,” Scull said. Elizabeth Chmelik, McNichols and Flannagan were also all-state in the 400 relay.
St. Charles North
Coach: John Osmanski (fourth year)
Last year: Seventh overall in the Upstate Eight Conference; fourth in the River Division; eighth at Class 3A Metea Valley sectional.
Top returnees: Sydney Brellenthin, sr., middle distance; Stephanie England, jr., sprints, middle distance; Ashley Heidlauf, sr., hurdles, jumps; Nina Oleshever, jr., middle distance, distance; Hannah Schilb, jr., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Hailee Stay, sr., pole vault.
Top newcomers: Hayden Buester, fr., distance; Audrey Ernst, fr.,middle distance, distance.
Outlook: Schilb and St. Charles East two-time all-state triple jumper Allison Chmelik were in a different stratosphere than their Upstate Eight Conference rivals last Saturday at the indoor league championship in Batavia. “It was one of the greatest competitions I have ever seen,” Osmanski said after Chmelik surpassed the North Stars' two-time state qualifier in the event by two inches on her final attempt to win with a 38-foot, 3.5-inch effort. “It's a great, friendly rivalry,” Osmanski said of the two triple jumpers, who are ranked only behind defending Class 3A state champion LaJarvia Brown of Alton in indoor performances this spring. “There's no animosity whatsoever between them.” Schilb is the unquestioned leader of the North Stars as the outdoor season commences. Not only is the junior a returning state qualifier in both the triple and long jump, but Schilb is also the North Stars' fastest sprinter and short hurdler. There is also no doubting who the North Stars' most promising newcomer will be. Ernst made an immediate impact last fall in cross country, and the freshman was granite for the North Stars in her conference debut last Saturday. “With Hannah and Audrey, we should have people who come back from Charleston with some medals,” Osmanski said. Brellenthin will conclude her career at St. Charles North this spring as an indispensable member of the North Stars' 3,200 relay.
West Aurora
Coach: Teresa Towles (11th year)
Last year: DuPage Valley Conference champion; Class 3A Metea Valley sectional champion; state runner-up.
Top returnees: Rajiah Andrews, soph., sprints, hurdles, jumps; Kayla Battle, soph., jumps; Miranda Gollwitzer, sr., distance; Taylor Hartman, soph., jumps; SaMya Hunt, jr., throws; Marin Munos, soph., jumps; Joslyn Noel, sr., sprints, jumps; Tamiya Rayford, soph., sprints; Tatyana Skokan, soph., sprints; Ashley Williams, jr., sprints; Lauren Williams, jr., sprints.
Key newcomers: Essence Rayford, fr., sprints; Kiyanna Rodgers, fr., sprints, hurdles, JeMya McClendon, soph., sprints.
Outlook: West Aurora no longer has its greatest athlete in program history as Emma Spagnola is already breaking school records as a University of Minnesota freshman. “Spagnola was a one-man wrecking crew,” said Downers Grove North coach Tim McDonald. “I bet she holds the all-time state record for most points scored in invites.” The West Aurora girls track and field program captured the final DuPage Valley Conference championship for any program last spring before earning its first state trophy ever. But Towles remains optimistic the five-time defending Kane County champions need no sympathy. “I really feel we still have a lot of talent,” Towles said. “All of my (top) sprinters are freshmen and sophomores. By the end of the year, I think they will have to be reckoned with.” Rayford will be the workhorse for the Blackhawks this spring. The sophomore had a glorious freshman season, playing a critical role on the Blackhawks' third-place 1,600-meter relay after earlier joining Geneva junior Foster Ignoffo on the all-state podium in the open 400. Towles said Rayford will routinely run the 100-200-400 triple at the Blackhawks' major invites. “I look for her being a state qualifier again in the 400,” Towles said of Rayford. The other West Aurora athlete with state experience is Hunt, who qualified for the Saturday state finals in the discus but failed to medal.