Girls track and field: Huntley holds off Barrington for sectional crown
The final results came down to the wire Thursday night at the powerful 16-team Lake Zurich Class 3A girls track and field sectional.
And when all was said and done, it was a spectacular top to bottom effort from Huntley that helped the Red Raiders hold off Barrington 100-94 for the championship as the Fillies fell just short of capturing back-to-back sectional crowns.
The host Bears put together a strong effort to take third place with 76 points followed closely by Palatine (68 points) in fourth place. Stevenson placed fifth with 50 points while North Suburban Conference rival Mundelein (38 points) placed sixth.
Huntley coach Shawn Nordeen couldn't have been happier with his squad's overall effort as Thursday's meet really culminated a fantastic season for the Red Raiders up to this point. Now they will head south next weekend to Eastern Illinois University in Charleston for the 2019 state meet.
"All the way from the very beginning of the meet until the 4x400 it was close, and we knew Barrington and Lake Zurich would be up there," said Nordeen. "We're always trying to get as many as possible to qualify for state, and this is our first team ever to win county, conference, and sectionals."
Early on, Huntley's 4x100-meter relay team edged Stevenson by .04 seconds for first place, and that narrow victory really set the tone for the Red Raiders the rest of the way.
Junior Daryn Davis continued to shine for Huntley by winning the 100-meter high hurdles (15.03), the triple jump, and the long jump. This will be Davis' third trip downstate in as many seasons.
"I think that the training we've had has us peaking for sectionals and state," said Davis, who placed downstate in the triple jump as a freshman. "I think we can make day two (at state), and I really want to place again."
Barrington's relay teams were outstanding as the Fillies won the 4x800, the 4x200, and the 4x400 to close out the competition. The Fillies also got a first-place finish from Gabby Cossio (45.6) in the 300-meter low hurdles, and a first from teammate Molly FitzPatrick at 1,600 meters.
"The relay teams went out and did what they're capable of doing so hopefully it's going to be good preparation for state," said Barrington coach Jody Gitelis. "Gabby did really well, she took it out fast, and she just got the Palatine girl (Erin Oleksak) at the line."
Lake Zurich's Kelsey Rothas was the pole vault champion while teammate Izzy Klett placed second in the long jump. Stevenson's Natalie Sorenson outdistanced Lake Zurich's Emily Burns by about seven seconds for first place at 3,200 meters.
"For the girls to have their best meet of the year after winning county and conference was amazing," said Lake Zurich coach Jeremy Kauffman. "We're just very proud of them, they do a great job of running in our house on the biggest stage."
Oleksak also took second in the 100-meter hurdles, and second in the high jump for the Pirates.
"This will be Erin's third trip to state now, and she's one of those kids who knows how to get the job done in a meet like this," said Palatine coach Joe Parks. "We're going to have a lighter group than normal going downstate, but we had a good night."
Mundelein's Khari Thompkins won both the 100-meter, and 400-meter dash while teammate Jordyn Miller placed first at 800 meters. Libertyville freshman Dakota Lyons won the 200-meter dash.
Stevenson's Camille Clay won the shot put and the discus throw while Jacobs' Nadia Baraglia was the runner-up at 200 meters.
Wauconda's Grace Daun was the high jump champ while Vernon Hills' Emily Kim was the long jump winner.
"She (Kim) looked great, and the 18-feet-10 inches was her lifetime best," said Vernon Hills coach Suzanne Curry. "The first time she ever broke 18 feet was two weeks ago at the county meet."
Barrington's Alyssa Norris, Libertyville's Brielle Rochester, and Cary-Grove's Allison Drage all earned trips to state at 1600 meters.
Crystal Lake South's Savannah Morgan took second to reach state in the 100-meter dash while Huntley's Kendal Only qualified in the 100-meter hurdles, and the triple jump.
Palatine's Jess Streepy also reached state in the pole vault along with Lake Zurich's Teagan Jones while Palatine's Kayla Miotk qualified in the shot put along with teammate Kylee Stammer (discus). Lake Zurich's Haley Burk qualified in the 800-meter run.
Richmond-Burton sectional: On Wednesday night, Carmel Catholic qualified all four of its relays for the Class 2A state.
The Corsairs (80 points) finished second in the Richmond-Burton sectional behind Marian Central (124), while St. Viatpr (75) was third.
Junior Ezzie Posner was Carmel's lone individual to advance, as she won the 800-meter run in 2:23.04. The Corsairs finished first in the 3,200 relay (10:35.64) with Brigid Hull, Abby Kuderna, Maddie Ives and Alyssa Coe. The 400 relay (51.57) and 800 relay (1:50.20) were both second with the same foursomes of Melanie Zimmerman, Emma Jensen, Danni Duffy and Anna Kegel. Duffy, Carly Sasman, Coe and Posner made up the 1,600 relay (second place, 4:18.25).