Girls track and field: Barrington's Cossio adds to her family's state medal collection
Barrington senior Gabby Cossio had a perfect vantage spot to glance into the grandstand on Saturday afternoon.
As the third family member to compete in the state track and field meet, Cossio had a goal of becoming a state champion. Her older brother, Luis, won the Class 3A 400-meter state title in his junior season in 2017. Her sister, Anna, started the family tradition of competing for state championships by winning a first-place medal in the 3A 1,600-meter relay in 2015.
Gabby Cossio joined her brother and sister in state lore by earning a third-place medal in the 300-meter low hurdles in a time of 45.08. The Miami-Ohio recruit said her older brother and sister attended Saturday's finals.
"I'm very proud of myself," Cossio said, while looking at her family. "My brother and sister pushed me, and the team really supported me for the last four years. All my hard work paid off."
Barrington had the best showing among the Mid-Suburban League schools, finishing in a fifth-place tie with 26 points. Hoffman Estates ended in 12th with 22 points.
Barrington continued its tradition of placing in a relay at the state meet. The foursome of Molly FitzPatrick, Kathleen Baker, Anne Berquist and Alyssa Norris finished fourth in the 3,200 (9:17.61).
"I was grandmother on the relay because I was the oldest," said Norris, a junior. "Last year, me and Molly were on the relay and we got 10th. We had that weight on our shoulders to place. I just tried to stick with leaders and get a medal. I'm happy with how we did."
Barrington's 1,600 relay of Olivia Helmer, Baker, Breanne Dunn and Cossio concluded the state meet with a fourth-place medal in a time of 3:57.03. Hoffman Estates placed seventh in the relay.
Norris had a busy day on the track, adding a third-place medal in the talented 1,600 field (5:04.55). Glenbard West junior Katelynne Hart won the event (4;52.99) to earn three individual state titles on Saturday. FitzPatrick also logged a 10th place in the 1,600.
"I wasn't even sure I would get third, but I just wanted a medal," Norris said of the 1,600. "Third place is a big shock. I knew I had to kick it in with 200 to go."
Hoffman Estates closed out a memorable showing at the state meet by bringing home a second-place medal in the 3,200 relay. Janae Dean, Nikki Rong, Mikkaela Palmer and Anna Miller clocked a time of 9:12.26. Prospect's team of Marissa Valentini, Julia O'Grady, Audrey Ginsberg and Lia Skoufos placed fifth.
"There was a moment some of the runners started to pull away, but I thought about my teammates and had to go out fighting," Miller said. "I was motivated to finish strong for my teammates."
Dean, a junior, recorded a fifth-place effort in the 800 (2:14.85). Wheeling senior Alexis Knight picked up fifth place with a personal record in the long jump (19-1.25).
"I wasn't expecting to place higher in the long jump," Knight said. "I had a good mentality and everything clicked."
Hersey junior Janine Boyan scored 6 points with a fourth-place showing in the discus.
Palatine senior Erin Olesak ended her prep career with a pair of medals. She took fourth in the 100 hurdles (14.21) and snared a fifth-place in the high jump (5-5).
"I felt pretty good in the 100 for my last race in high school," she said. "It was a personal record and my best showing at state."
St. Viator sophomore Katie Castelli bounced back from her 15h-place showing last season to end in fifth place in the Class 2A 3,200 run (11:38.61).
"I just tried to run hard and work toward a strong finish," she said. "I'm very excited for next year in cross country and state."