Girls track: Miles helps West Aurora gets some distance on UEC foes

Dajour Miles was robbed of a potential four-event all-state Class 3A girls track and field campaign last spring by a nagging groin injury.

But the West Aurora junior had enough in reserve to capture the 400-meter state championship last May in the lone event she participated in at Eastern Illinois University after qualifying for the finals in three others.

On Saturday in Batavia at the Upstate Eight Conference indoor championship, Miles was unstoppable in claiming individual titles in the 55, 200 and 400 dashes to lead the Blackhawks to a 124.5-114.5 victory over the host Bulldogs.

Glenbard East was third with 89 points, followed by St. Charles East (73), St. Charles North (58), and Geneva (46).

West Chicago (24), East Aurora (18), Bartlett (13), South Elgin (13), Streamwood (10), Larkin (2) and Elgin rounded out the 13-team field.

"I still have work to do," Miles said. "I really wasn't pleased with my 200 time. I thought we did excellent as a team. We ran our hearts out. Team effort is more important than individual (accolades). I'm very happy with what we're accomplishing right now."

Illinois State-bound Batavia senior Tori Ortiz was runner-up in all three of Miles' championships as the Blackhawks' junior - a two-time AAU national champion at 400 meters - won her titles in respective times of 7.15, 24.88 and 58.22 seconds.

"(Miles) is amazing," Ortiz said.

Victoria Spagnola enters the famed West Aurora program with high expectations as the younger sister of Emma Spagnola, who won state championships in three separate events during her unprecedented career with the Blackhawks.

"She's a big inspiration," Spagnola said. "I want to go out there and break all her (school) records."

The Blackhawks' freshman captured the long jump with an effort of 17 feet, one-half inch and ran a leg on the victorious 1,600 relay (4:12.05).

Glenbard East senior Kionnah Weaver (8.39) nipped Spagnola by one-hundredth of a second to win the 55 hurdles.

The Blackhawks' Nia Wood, Savannah Ming and Rashida Naylor not only complemented Spagnola in the 1,600 relay but also ran legs on the winning 800 sprint relay (1:49.13).

Abigail Kuhn claimed a seventh West Aurora championship with a 10-6 clearing in the pole vault.

Like Miles, Audrey Ernst has vanquished every competitor in the country to win a national championship in a specialty event.

The St. Charles North senior will attend Arizona State in the fall to pursue the triathlon, where she reigns supreme among high school girls.

Ernst overcame talented Glenbard East freshman Lauren Huber to win the 800 in 2:18.45 and later returned to dominate the 1,600 field in 5:04.69.

"It's kind of like I went back in time," Ernst said of running the two distances at indoor conference for the first time in three years. "I just tried to put everything I had on the track today. I just feel so blessed because everything is coming together. I already have a better time (at 1,600 meters than last year)."

St. Charles East freshman Alice Abbott (11:37.45) won the 3,200 run, and Geneva triple-jumper Susan D'Onofrio was the final area champion in 34-8.5.

Glenbard East ushered in the 10-event running sequence as Huber collaborated with Emily Anderson and senior stalwarts Lexi Weltin and Cailyn Biegalski to win the 3,200 relay in 9:52.46.

"Our four-by-eight did really well," said Biegalski, who also placed in the open 800 and returns - along with Weltin, Anderson and senior Brenna Peters - in the Rams' state-qualifying 1,600 relay. "I think we have a lot of potential."

"We have an incoming freshman (Huber) who is giving us a lot of energy," Weltin said.

Unfortunately for the Rams, the 1,600 relay was disqualified by a false start.

After Weaver claimed the hurdles by the narrowest of margins, Glenbard East had its final championship in promising fashion for the outdoor season.

Senior Briana Raysby was the top seed for Glenbard East in the high jump, but junior teammate Emma Ludwig stole the show with a career-best 5-5 to bump Raysby, who cleared 5-3, into second.

"It was a 3-inch PR," Ludwig said. "I had a lot of consistency issues, but this week proved I have consistency under control. It's amazing to support my team and contribute."

"We definitely made big improvements between last year and this year," Raysby said.

"Even from a few weeks ago," Ludwig chimed in.