Girls track and field: Burlington Central edges Rosary for sectional championship
ROCHELLE - Rosary won the final event, easily outdistancing Burlington Central in the 1,600-meter relay, but the Rockets won the war, clinching the title Thursday at the Class 2A Rochelle sectional.
Central finished with 95 points to Rosary's 91. Both teams easily surpassed third-place Sterling, which finished with 65.
Rockets coach Vince Neil, who has been at the school for 15 years, couldn't remember a girls sectional title. Thursday's win was an across-the-board effort in the cold, damp conditions.
"It was just a great all-around team performance," said Neil. "It's very special for them to be put in that position and to really rise to the occasion. We spread out points all over. We had stuff on the track, stuff in the field. We told the girls that every point matters. And it came down to the end. We were tied all the way through the meet to the last event."
The Rockets weren't assured of the title until Fiona Pedone edged out Aurora Central Catholic's Maggie Dervis to win the 200 meters.
Pedone really kicked it in down the stretch, not knowing how close the competition was.
"I heard the girls breathing behind me and I panicked," she said. "I sprinted a lot faster, and then I heard my friend say that they were a little bit behind me. I was so relieved to hear that."
Pedone appreciated the Rockets' achievement.
"It's really exciting knowing that this is the first time that we've come close to winning a sectional," she said. "I don't think we've won a sectional ever."
Other winners for the Rockets included Megan Gasparaitis, whose 11-foot, 7-inch vault set a new stadium record as the top 6 finishers all reached the state qualifying mark.
Avery Andersen won the 800, coming from behind in the final strides to nip ACC's Leslley Viveros with a time of 2:22.35.
Brooke Barcocy took home another first-place finish in the 300 hurdles. She also qualified for state with a second-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles.
Carolina Hintz took second in the discus, as did the Rockets' 400-meter relay squad.
Despite the setback in the 200, it was still a big night for Dervis, who easily won the 400 meters in 59.82, and qualified in the 100 in addition to the 200.
Rosary also won the 800-meter relay, while Lianna Surtz struck individual gold in the 1,600, with a time of 5:18.92.
Other qualifiers from Rosary included Lauren Roskuszo in the long jump, and the 400-meter relay team.
Delicia Chen of Illinois Math and Science Academy finished second behind Surtz in the 1,600, giving IMSA a state qualifier.
Maddie Andelbradt of St. Francis qualified with a leap of 5-3, good for second place.