Girls track and field: Neuqua Valley's Ammenhauser jumps to another title

CHARLESTON - Gretchen Parejko has been blessed to have Riley Ammenhauser in the fold for the last four years.

The Michigan-bound girls track and field triple-jump savant added a new page to the Neuqua Valley program.

After settling for fourth place in the long jump on Saturday at Eastern Illinois University as the top seed, Ammenhauser was not about to scuttle the same status in the triple jump.

A back-to-back state champion as an underclassman, Ammenhauser soared 40 feet, 11 inches to win a third title under unrelenting heat and humidity at the Class 3A state finals.

"I don't know what else to say that hasn't been written already about Riley," said Parejko, the Wildcats' coach. "She is one of those superior athletes. She is going to the Blue and Gold at Michigan. We wish her the very best."

Ammenhauser was unavailable for comment after slightly injuring herself in her attempt to break the triple-jump record on her final attempt.

Ammenhauser was a late scratch in the fast heat of the 100 dash as a result.

But Waubonsie Valley senior Itzel Garcia made the most of her opportunity in the shortest race.

Running in the middle of three heats, the Warriors' speedster, who later placed fourth in the 200 after a four-hour weather delay, finished runner-up in the 100.

"I was really not expecting that," Garcia said. "I thought that was really cool. I was racing with girls much faster than me."

In the 800 run, Lauren Huber and Audrey Allman of Glenbard East and Glenbard West, respectively, were third and sixth.

Multiple all-state efforts from the same race for area athletes was repeated in the open 3,200. Sophia McNerney (Downers Grove South), Maggie Gamboa (Naperville North), Grace Schager (Glenbard North) and Brianna Bennis (York) were second, third, fifth and ninth.

Maddie Andelbradt, once all-state at St. Francis in Class 2A, has had no issues adjusting to 3A. The Naperville North junior was fourth in the high jump and fifth in the 300 hurdles.

Downers Grove North was tied for fourth in the team standings before the inclement weather arrived. Ball State-bound senior McKenna Cinotte placed in both the long and triple jumps.

When the final three events of the state meet were finally completed Saturday night, the traditional powers certainly showcased their depth and athleticism.

Lincoln-Way East earned its fifth team state championship since 2013 with a 56-50 triumph over 2019 champion Homewood-Flossmore.

Naperville North, which denied H-F for the 2018 title, secured a second trophy with its third-place tie with Whitney Young.

The Huskies surged over the closing events to overtake Grayslake Central and Downers Grove North. Andelbradt led off the third-place 1,600 relay to become a three-event all-state athlete.

Both Andelbradt and the runner-up 3,200 relay had to overcome performing from a slower heat.

"I just have to run against time," said Andelbradt, who won the second heat of the 300 hurdles.

"It was definitely a challenge," said Indiana-bound Audrey Mendrys on the Huskies' obstacles in the longest relay.

Mendrys was one of multiple local athletes swallowed by Normal Community freshman sensation Ali Ince.

Reportedly a potential invite to the upcoming Olympic Trials, Ince established a new all-class record in the 1,600 (4:40.85) after earlier vanquishing the field at 800 meters.

Mendrys was seventh in the metric mile.

Hinsdale Central sophomore Catie McCabe was fourth in 4:52.53 as Oak Park 3,200 champion Josephine Wellin and Lyons' Kate Dickman also bettered the mark set by seven-time state champion Katelynne Hart of Glenbard West in 2018.

"She has a lot of talent and has done it consistently," Huber said of Ince. "I knew the chance of her having a bad day was slim."

Maeve Conneely gave Naperville North 11 points in the high jump with her fifth-place finish.

In addition to Cinotte in the two horizontal jumps, sixth-place Downers North pole-vaulter Mia

Bowers was third. The Trojans' Erin Beatty was fourth in the discus.

The Downers North 3,200 relay was fifth; the 400 quartet rounded out its scoring by placing ninth.

"We all went out there and performed our best," Cinotte said.

Wheaton Warrenville South also had two all-state relays as the 1,600 and 800 crews were fourth and fifth.

The Tigers' Illinois-bound Sam Poglitsch was eighth in the loaded mile and Carlin Wach was ninth in the long hurdles.

Allman had three all-state nods as a Glenbard West freshman two years ago. The junior is a five-time state medalist after helping the Hilltoppers' 1,600 relay to fifth.

"This year has had its ups and downs," Allman admitted. "I was battling to not only find myself as a person but also find myself as a runner."

The Hilltoppers' Kyrah Maas was sixth at 400 meters.

Willowbrook and West Chicago had their first medalists in several years as Daylee Braden was ninth for the former in the 400; the Wildcats' Kali Waller finished eighth in the 200 dash.

Inara Ukuwaba is a freshman to watch as the Neuqua Valley hurdler was seventh at 100 meters.

Benet senior Elisabeth Camic was the third area all-stater in the 800 (eighth).