Track: South Elgin boys, Batavia girls teams get some redemption

There was a sense of redemption for the two relay quartets to emerge victorious Thursday evening in Batavia.

Both the South Elgin boys and Batavia girls led their races in the 800-meter relay last weekend at the Upstate Eight Conference indoor track and field championships - only to squander their potential championships with exchange errors.

But at the coed Bulldog Relays, it was an entirely different story as the Batavia girls established a record behind individual league 200-meter champion Tori Ortiz and runner-up Hannah Schlaman.

The South Elgin boys followed suit behind Jaurice Thomas, Nico Woods, Derek Kumerow and Kyle Mastrangeli.

Sam Delmundo and Darby Edmondson followed Ortiz and Schlaman for the Batavia girls as the quartet held off West Aurora - which had two members of its all-state relay running - to win in 1 minute, 46.49 seconds.

"(The 800 relay) indoors is different than outdoors because you can cut in," Ortiz said. "You need to get the one-two punch to get the lead. We broke the field house record."

The Storm boys took the lead behind Thomas' breaking the stagger on the opening two laps.

The Upstate Eight Conference 200-meter champion gave South Elgin the impetus to protect a valiant Montini comeback bid.

"As soon as I passed the first person, I know I'm in the lead," Thomas said. "We kept our handoffs straight."

"We weren't focused last week," Woods added. "This time we came in straight-on business."

The meet consisted of four other events: the 55 hurdles and 1,600 run as well as the 1,600 and 3,200 relays.

Batavia won both hurdles races behind Leah Narup and Nick Stuttle; the Bulldogs' boys also captured the 1,600 relay to give the hosts four titles.

With West Aurora reigning outdoor conference and sectional champion Rajiah Andrews not in attendance, Narup won the 55 hurdles in 8.81 seconds.

"I really wanted to race against (Andrews)," said Narup, who edged the West Aurora sophomore last Saturday for top conference honors. "There is always next time, with the outside conference and (Class 3A Hoffman Estates) sectional."

Stuttle did not taste defeat during the indoor season in the hurdles.

"Going into outdoor, I think I'm in good shape," Stuttle said.

The Batavia quartet of Chad McMorrow, Michael Stanley, Will Akers and Shea Bastian then closed out the meet by collaborating in the 1,600 relay to win in 3:30.4.

"I really didn't want to let down my team," anchor Bastian said of his all-junior teammates.

In the girls final race, West Aurora picked where it left off last Saturday with a convincing win in the 1,600 relay.

Tamia Rayford overcame a slight disadvantage on the anchor leg to Batavia senior Dakota Roman

"I knew the 400 is my power race," said Rayford, who teamed with JeMya McClendon, Rashida Naylor and Tatyana Skokan to win in 4:05.84. "I give credit to (Roman). She ran a phenomenal race for a miler."

Oswego East won the boys 3,200 relay; the Wolves' Jake Klancic later had a late flourish to pass East Aurora senior Miguel Gonzalez to win the 1,600 run.

Kelly O'Brien wasted no time in the girls 1,600 run.

The Northwestern-bound Palatine senior, third in state at the distance last spring, flirted with breaking five minutes before settling for the victory in 5:02.04.

Roman and Hoffman Estates' Meagan Biddle - also all-state last year - were runner-up and third to O'Brien.

"I just wanted to get the lead," O'Brien said. "I didn't want to mess around with tactical stuff."

Biddle began her night by leading off the Hawks' 3,200 relay, which defended its title with contributions from Anna Miller, Reena Prahbu and Katie Booney.

"I felt the relay did really well today," Biddle said. "We had a really solid race. I wasn't satisfied with the mile. I know I can always run better."