Biddle sizzles at Conant's Twilight

Hoffman Estate's Meagen Biddle made quite the statement on Friday night at the 24th annual Cougar Twilight girls track invitational at Conant.

Biddle, who currently holds the top Class 3A mark in the 3,200 (10:42.81), delivered an equally impressive mark in winning the Twilight's Class A 1,600 in 4:59.48.

The Hawks junior broke away in the final two laps to easily take first with a career best in front of Minooka sophomore MacKenzie Callahan (5:10.15).

"I'm feeling great," said Biddle of her impressive run. "I've been trying since my freshman year to break the five-minute mark. To finally do it, feels awesome. After hitting my mark in the 3,200 my confidence got a boost, and this mark makes it go up even more."

"She's an elite runner in the state who is just starting to believe her true potential," said Hoffman coach Kirk Macnider of his standout junior. "The sky is the limit for her."

Minooka edged Prospect 284-283 for the team title in a flighted A-B-C format, with Hoffman Estates (242 points) taking third, followed by Morton (180 points) and Lake Park (160.5).

Prospect won four events in the A division to boost its performance.

Junior Maya Mason gave the Knights a big lift by taking first in the Class A 100 high hurdles (15.32).

She also combined with freshman Annie Walsh, sophomore Autumn Stone and senior Catherine Sherwood in taking first in the 400 relay (49.74).

Mason, junior Brenda Kendziera (16.64) and junior Angelina Villasin (17.37) swept the 100 high hurdles in providing an early boost for the Knights.

Sherwood added a victory in the Class A long jump (16-02) with junior Jes Skudlarek winning the Class A high jump (5-04).

"We are really able to spread out in a lot of events and it helps us gain so many points," said Kendziera, who also hit the top mark in winning the Class B long jump (16-04.75). "We have a lot talent and we keep improving every day."

Biddle was Hoffman Estates' only individual event winner in Class A but the Hawks picked up some crucial second-place finishes, including in the 3,200 relay (9:45.84) and 400 relay (50.56).

Senior Alondra Aguirre took second in the 3,200 (11:03.97) with sophomore Destinee Jackson adding a second place in the 300 low hurdles (48.96).

Senior Melanie Bliudzius added a second-place finish for the Hawks in the Class A shot put (37-09).

Michaela Smith gave Lake Park a huge lift by taking first in Class A in both the shot put (39-09.5) and discus (118-07), and senior Danielle Wojciechowski added a first-place finish in the pole vault (11-0).