Girls track and field: More greatness for Grant at Buffalo Grove

The expectations are rising for Grant's girls track and field team.

Grant rolled to a North Suburban Conference title last week, and the Bulldogs kept the postseason momentum rolling Friday at the Class 3A Buffalo Grove sectional.

Grant qualified eight individuals and three relays to next weekend's state meet at Eastern Illinois, in the process capturing the team sectional title with 74 points on a rainy night at BG on Friday.

Palatine nipped Barrington 64-63.5 for second place, followed closely by Warren (59 points). Libertyville (46 points) rounded out the top finishers.

"We definitely have some high expectations for next weekend," said Grant first-year coach Greg Wodzien. "We had a lot of talent from last year returning and we have phenomenal coaching staff, but really these girls run the team."

And they certainly did a good job on Friday.

Senior Rachel Bicknase gave Grant a huge lift by taking first in the shot put (40-09) and second in the discus (125-0).

Senior Delaney Basala kept things buzzing on the track, taking fourth in the 400 (59.23) and anchoring the Bulldogs to a second-place finish in both the 1,600 relay (4:02.5) and the 400 relay (49.32).

"Definitely winning this gives us a confidence boost and now we're ready for state," said Basala, who will be running for Northern Iowa next year. "Each one of these girls on the team are really dedicated and it came together tonight."

Senior Madison Romig took fifth and qualified in the 1,600 (5:09.63), and junior Brooke Drabek took fifth and qualified in the 800 (2:17.2). The two combined to help set the tone by pushing the Bulldogs to victory in the 3,200 relay (9:23.25).

Also qualifying and aiding Grant's attack were Danielle Osmon (3,200), Eva Cardy (3,200), and Katie McEnery (shot put).

"It's really exciting," said Bicknase. "We just wanted to keep pushing each other the entire year, we just wanted to leave it all out there tonight."

Palatine senior Kelly O'Brien definitely gave the Pirates a big boost. She started her night by helping 3,200 relay team take second (9:26.25). O'Brien then took third in the 800 (2:15.84), and she saved her best for last by winning the 1,600 in a sizzling 4:57.93. O'Brien took command early in the race and won with a 9-second cushion.

"I didn't know how much I had left in me, so I kind of just went for it and nobody came," said O'Brien of her commanding victory in the 1,600. "I still have some things I want to do."

Junior Corey Rinella gave the Pirates a big lift by taking winning the 100 low hurdles (15.27) and adding a second-place finish in the long jump (17-01.75).

Senior Sam Lechowicz (1,600) and Jess Streepy (pole vault) also qualified to state for the Pirates.

Junior Kelsey McLaurin set the tone for Barrington. The Fillies junior took first in the triple jump (36-05.75) and also combined with senior Sara Kate Capel, sophomore Eleni Filley and senior Carly Horak to win the 800 relay (1:43.98).

"With all the training I definitely got more strength this year," said McLaurin. "Last year I was still figuring things out - now I'm just going out and doing it."

Senior Anna Cossio added a win for the Fillies in the high jump (5-3) and sophomore Jocelyn Long added a first-place finish in the 3,200 (10:42.41).

Capel also added a second-place finish, falling across the finish line in the 300 low hurdles (45.94).

Barrington won the Class 3A 1,600 relay title last season, but missed advancing on Friday after a slip on the wet track.

"We all ran hard," said Cossio. "We got out there today and really went after it."

Round Lake senior Noemi Powell continued to impress. She won the 100 (12.3) and 200 (25.28) in qualifying for her first state meet.

"It's amazing," said Powell. "I've been preparing for this a long time. It's always been a dream of mine to go to state, and so when an opportunity came I went after it."

Libertyville sophomore Avryl Johnson had a big night in setting two school records.

The Wildcats sophomore came from behind to take first in the 800 (2:14.67); she then flashed her speed in coming from behind in the final 100 meters to take first in the 400 (58.28).

"I just wanted to come into each race mentally prepared," said Johnson, who used strong starts in both races and then flashed her closing speed. "I definitely want to get on the podium this year."

Sophomore Melissa Manetsch also had a big night for the Wildcats. She took second in both the 1,600 (5:06.92) and 3,200 (10:43.99).

Lily Moore advanced for Libertyville with a third-place finish in pole vault (11-3).

Jani Jenkins (58.49) and Kiara Mabien (58.90) gave Warren a big lift by finishing 2-3 in the 400, with Abena Atuobi qualifying with a fourth-place finish in discus (120-07).

Katie Schroeder propelled Grayslake Central by winning the pole vault (12-03).

Sarah O'Malley ( 800), Alexa Schmidt (high jump), Meghan Fletcher (high jump), Sara Ishamuddin (triple jump) and Jordan Meciej (pole vault) also qualified for the Rams.

Fremd junior Hanna Murakami lifted the Vikings' attack on Friday.

Murakami started her night by combining with juniors Linda Varela, junior Cara Ogilvy and junior Bethany Ekwonwa in setting a school record and taking first in the 400 relay (49.28).

The same four then returned to produce a second-place finish in the 800 relay (1:46.73).

Murakami completed her night by combining with Ogilvy, senior Nora Finegan and freshman Emma Schultz in leading the Vikings to a first-place finish in the 1,600 relay (4:01.73).

"We got a trifecta," said Murakami of the Vikings' successes. "We really pulled together as a team. This season it's been all about trying to place and get a medal at state."

Finegan (2:15.51) and Linda Varella (2:19.03) went 2-6 in the 800 and also qualified individually for the Vikings.

Buffalo Grove sophomore Nya Carr has certainly emerged this season and continued the trend Friday. The Bison sophomore took second in both the 100 (12.49) and 200 (25.79), and added a victory in the long jump (17-05.25).

"I have just improved so much this season and I am feeling much more confident," said Carr of her big night. "I feel like I'm closing the gap with the people I will be competing against at state."

Lake Zurich's Alyssa Morello took first in the 300 low hurdles (45.87) and added a second-place finish in the pole vault (11-3), with senior Cailtin Shepard qualifying with a fourth-place finish in the 3,200 (10:54.19).

Grayslake North's Kennedy Krieg took first in the discus (125-10), with Allison O'Connell taking second in the 100 high hurdles (15.62). Sierra Herrington qualified in the pole vault (10-3).

Other area qualifiers include Lakes Taylor Tilmon (200), Kortney Schardt (1,600) and Stevenson's Isabella Sparreo (3,200).