Girls track and field: Two medals apiece for Long, Marasco

CHARLESTON - Barrington senior Jocelyn Long and Schaumburg senior Maddie Marasco put the finishing touches on outstanding high school careers on Saturday here at the Class 3A high school girls track and field finals at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Field.

Long entered the season with five combined state medals in cross country and track and field, and the Fillies senior added two more on Saturday in classic style.

Marasco entered the season with a eight combined state medals in cross country and track and field after adding two more.

Long started her day by setting a school record for a third time in taking second in the 3,200-meter run (10:25.01).

She used a devastating kick in the final 200 meters to secure her place in history.

The Barrington standout then came back to take third in the 1,600 (5:00.82).

"Honestly, it just feels amazing to finish off my career like this," said Long who will be running at Northwestern in the fall. "I've been training all year for this moment to cap it off strong."

Marasco's day mirrored Long's as the Saxons senior started her day by teaming with seniors Lauren Kubinski, Rachael Vaccaro, and Maggy Centeno to earn a medal with an eighth-place finish in the 3,200 relay (9:22.98).

It was the fourth consecutive year that Marasco and Kubinski have earned a state medal with the 3,200 relay.

Marasco came back to score a second-place finish and set a school record in the 800 (2:10.14).

Marasco made a hard charge with 300 meters remaining to narrow the gap on Evanston senior Enyaeva Michelin (2:08.44).

"It was very special," said Marasco who will continue her running career at Illinois. "My goal was get a faster time than last year, and also a higher place, and I did. It was a great way to end."

Naperville North (53 points) edged Homewood-Flossmoor (47 points) for the Class 3A title. The Huskies became the first school to win titles in both cross country and track and field in the same school year.

Belleville West (39 points) edged Whitney Young (37 points) for the third-place trophy.

Glenbard West sophomore Katelynne Hart took first in both the 3,200 (10:12.96) and 1,600 (4:47.36).

She set a Class 3A record in the 1,600 and won the distance triple crown - the cross country title and the 3,200 and 1,600 titles - for the second consecutive year.

Wheeling, which made a loud statement in Friday's preliminaries, continued to impress on Saturday.

Senior Yailene Leon started the charge by taking eighth in the 800 (2:15.34). Junior Alexis Knight, who'd earned state medals in the 400 her first two years, added to her count by taking third in the 400 (56.32).

"I didn't want to save anything," said Knight who made a furious charge down the final stretch to secure her place.

Junior Nicole Nguyen then captured a sixth-place medal in the 300 low hurdles (45.59).

"I was hoping for a higher finish but it was a huge improvement from last year," Nguyen said.

Leon, Knight, and Nguyen then combined with Nosa Igiehon to power the Wildcats to a ninth-place finish in the 1,600 relay (4:03.86) to cap off a big weekend.

"It was a four-year process," said Leon of her ascent to the podium. "It's very rewarding and it was a special moment. It was a perfect fit."

Buffalo Grove senior Nya Carr has definitely left her mark.

The Illinois-bound senior holds the school record for the Bison in the 100, 200, and long jump and she added a pair of state medals on Saturday.

Carr took seventh in the long jump (18-05) and then secured a fifth-place finish in the 100 (12.04).

"I definitely had high expectations for myself and couldn't be happier with the finish," Carr said.

Palatine had a successful weekend thanks in a large part to junior Erin Oleksak. She ran to a career-best mark with a fifth-place finish in the high hurdles (14.68) and came up with a ninth-place medal in the high jump (5-4).

"I feel the faster my competition, the faster I run," she said after her big run in the 100 high hurdles. "I just kind of go with them. I just feel like I keep getting better."

Junior Jess Streepy added to the Pirates' medal count by taking sixth in the pole vault (11-3) to tie a personal best.

Streepy overcame a should injury this year in securing her first state medal.

"It's definitely been tough this season," Streepy added. "But to pull through in the end is really special."

Hersey senior Barbara Rydzewski earned her first state medal by taking fifth in the discus (133-11).

"Being a senior it is definitely special," Rydzewski said. "The experience of being here before helped."

Hersey junior Alessia Olhava earned her second consecutive state medal in the high jump, tying for fifth place after clearing 5-5.

"Definitely a big accomplishment," said Olhava. "My goal was to get 5-5, which I did."

Hoffman Estates' Makiyha Blackwell made good on her second trip to the state meet by earning her first state medal. She took fourth in the shot put (41-06).

"My biggest improvement has been staying confident and executing my throws," Blackwell said. "It's a big accomplishment and I just want to keep getting better."

Maine West senior Alisa Fallon took third in the discus (138-06) and also added a sixth-place medal in the shot put (40-06.5).

"It means a lot and it was a good way to finish my senior season," Fallon said.

Leyden's Esther Aldana captured her first state medal by taking fifth in the long jump (18-9.75).

"As a freshman I thought I would medal at state sooner than this," Aldana said. "But it is really special to get a medal."