Girls track and field: Barrington triumphs at 89th Palatine Relays

A few fun facts about the year 1933.

Mount Rushmore was dedicated; the original Krispy Kreme recipe was created; the Loch Ness monster was sighted for the first time; and the Chicago Bears won the initial NFL championship game.

And 1933 was also the first time the Palatine Relays were held.

Saturday at the 89th anniversary of the legendary meet, Barrington triumphed in the girls division at Chic Anderson Stadium, outpointing the second place Pirates 142-114.

The competitors had to dodge raindrops in the early portion of the invite (it cleared up later), but the Fillies didn't worry, as they brought their own Storms.

Scout Storms, a Barrington freshman who is also a top cross-country runner, finished first in the 800 in a time of 2:19.80.

The Palatine meet is a little different as the winners of each event are the combined scores of all team participants in the race, and sophomore Kaleigh Burns ran a 2:25.28 to help the Fillies to the top spot in the 800.

"I feel like this is a team event, but it's a personal event as well," said Burns. "In order to do your best and give it all you've got, you have to go with the group but you also have to push yourself."

Storms, who finished eighth overall at this season's state cross-country meet and was the only frosh in the top 12, added that she appreciated the history of the Relays.

"It's definitely the longest-standing event (we participate in), and it's really fun to come to."

Storms compared the current track and field season to her cross-country campaign, saying "they're really quite similar - you have that pack mindset, but out here you're racking up points for your team as well. Also, in track, you can specialize in a certain event."

Jordyn Miller of Mundelein was second in the 800, just behind Storms.

Mustangs coach Nathan Sweet said that Miller, a senior, might have been a little fatigued Saturday after Friday night's conference meet, where she won the 400 and the 4x4, and was second in the 100.

"Jordyn is an outstanding leader," added Sweet. "She's got a really good understanding of the track world and the track mentality, and she brings that kind of understanding to our program. She's a leader not only in performance but is also a vocal leader, and realistically, she's just been amazing."

Other stellar performances at Palatine High included Hersey wins in the 400m shuttle hurdles and the 4x800.

Bre Dunn of Barrington won the 300 hurdles in a time of 48.05; while Rachel Soukup from Prairie Ridge crossed the finish line first in the 1600 at 5:11.37.

In the field events, Hersey's Becca Caliendo took the top spot in the shot put (12.91m) and the discus (38.48m); while Sofia Rosenzweig of Barrington (34-7) won the triple jump.

Aisha Kazeem of host Palatine was best of all in the long jump at 4.97m, while Jacobs sophomore Sohini Lawrence and teammate Adeline Gorman, a junior, each cleared 8 feet to tie for first.

The Palatine 4x200 relay team, anchored by Jocie Waddington, triumphed at 2:25.28.

"This means everything, absolutely everything," said Waddington, of the win on her home track. "This is a really huge meet, and it's such a big deal to be out here. The competition is great and that pushes us."

The 4x200 was one of the early races held, when the rain was still falling at a pretty good clip, but the senior said it didn't bother her or her teammates.

"When I was a freshman, it actually snowed out here, so this is better," Waddington said. "There's all the rain, and all the delays, but we just come out and do the best we can."