Girls track and field: Geneva wins home invitational going away
Sophia McDonnell is already gearing up for her first spring at Bradley University in Peoria next year.
The Geneva senior, all-state in cross country last fall, was in a league of her own in cruising to the 3,200-meter title (11 minutes, 30.49 seconds) at the Vandeveer Invitational at home on Saturday afternoon.
In a most unusual individual event sequence, McDonnell came back to finish runner-up behind teammate Kelly McCloughlan in the 300 hurdles.
First-time entrant Whitney Young excelled in the sprints with sweeps of the 100 and 200 dashes as well as all three sprint relays, but the Public League member could not match the Vikings' depth through all 18 events.
The Vikings used 1-2 finishes in three separate events to earn a 202.5-to 126 victory over Young.
St. Charles North had a lone field-event triumph from thrower Kayla Mikottis to finish third with 107.5 points, followed by Dundee-Crown (90), Reavis (75.5) and West Chicago (69.5).
Sprinter Janelle Clements was the sole athlete to score for last-minute entrant Larkin (6 points).
"It was an amazing experience," McDonnell said of being all-state last fall in cross country. "I love racing with all the girls in Illinois. I have always wanted to do the steeplechase. I wanted to do something different (at Bradley) than just distance racing. I am definitely looking forward to next year and being able to steeple."
McCloughan, a returning state qualifier in the long hurdles, was also runner-up in the 100 hurdles.
"There is always a challenge with each race," said McCloughan, who was timed in her victory in 48.82. "I ran most of that race (the longer hurdles) with my wrong lead leg (when clearing the barriers). I think that (state) experience gave me something to look forward to for the whole season."
Katie Beitzel and Vivi Mehran swept the pole vault for the Vikings.
Geneva junior Katie McNamara was runner-up in the 200 dash after earlier being award the victory in the 400 when the apparent victor was disqualified for not staying in her lane for the duration of the race.
Geneva claimed its final win in the 3,200 relay.
"I was a little confused," said McNamara, who was clocked in exactly 61 seconds in the one-lap race. "I would say it was a pretty good day. We don't have a lot of home meets this year, so it's really special to win something as a team."
Mikottis was well over the Class 3A state-qualifying mark in the discus with her winning throw of 126 feet, 4 inches.
"I am just focusing on consistency right now," Mikottis said. "My series (of throws in the prelims and finals) was really good in general. I thought (my winning throw) was further."