By Michael Newman

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Here are some of the highlights of each of the 11 3A Girls IHSA Sectional Meets from May 8 to May 10.

FRIDAY May 10

Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional

This high-powered sectional produced some top state performances under near perfect conditions Friday afternoon. Homewood-Flossmoor flexed their muscles on their home track showing that they will be the team favorite in next week’s 3A State Meet. The Lady Vikings advanced 16 individuals and 3 relays to score 141 points to capture the sectional title. Lincoln-Way East scored 85 points to finish second qualifying eight  individuals and three relays to Charleston.

Homewood-Flossmoor ran the state’s fastest times in winning the 400 Meter Relay and 800 Meter Relay. Their winning time of 47.07 was more than a second ahead of rest of the field in the 400 Meter Relay. Three  of the top five Class 3A times were produced in the 800 Meter Relay with Homewood-Flossmoor running 1:40.82 finishing ahead of Bloom Township (1:41.84) and Thornwood (1:42.86). Homewood-Flossmoor ran their fastest time of the season (3:52.54) in winning the 1600 Meter Relay ahead of Lincoln-Way East (4:03.62).

Kayla McCall of Homewood-Flossmoor, the defending champion in the Class 3A 100 Meter Hurdles, will again be the favorite in that event. The junior ran 13.98 to win the event as five athletes qualified in that event. McCall came right back to run 12.00 to win the 100 Meter Dash ahead of Lyn’Nikka Vance of Crete-Monee (12.07). Vance earlier jumped 19-3.50 to win the Long Jump as six athletes advanced to state in that event. Vance came back later in the meet to run 24.56 to win the 200 Meter Dash with Janea Gardner of Bloom Township (24.88) finishing second. Seven athletes qualified for state in that event.

Homewood-Flossmoor’s Madison Myrick qualified for three field events led by her 5-5 clearance to win the High Jump. Defending state champion in the Shot Put Jasmine Mitchell again punched her ticket to the state meet as she had a 45-6 mark to win the Shot Put. Mitchell also threw 137-2 to win the Discus.

Lincoln-Way East’s Katie Sciarini will be one of the favorites in the 300 Hurdles next week. The sophomore ran a personal best 44.48 to win the event.

Moline Sectional

2018 Class 2A team champion Dunlap made a successful jump into Class 3A with the sectional team title in this meet. The Eagles scored 111 to claim the title as they qualified nine individuals and three relays to next week’s state meet. Oswego finished second (97 points) qualifying six individuals and three relays.

Kiara Pauli of Dunlap had a great meet as she ran 12.09 to win the 100 Meter Dash and then 24.77 to win the 200 Meter Dash. Paul also anchored Dunlap to wins in the 400 Meter Relay (48.40) and the 800 Meter Relay (1:43.21). Dunlap also ran 4:03.63 to win the 1600 Meter Relay just ahead of Oswego (4:03.65) and Minooka (4:04.16).

Jenelle Rogers of Oswego will be one of the favorites in the High Jump. She cleared 5-7 to advance to the state meet winning the event. Seven athletes advanced to the state meet in the Discus. Ottawa’s Sam Satterfield led the way with a 125-10 winning throw. She was only three inches ahead of second-place finisher Batya Butler of Dunlap. Miranda Cadwell of Plainfield South had a 44-8 personal best to win the Shot Put with Butler’s 41-9 put finishing second.

Oswego’s Isabelle Christiansen won the 1600 Meter Run (5:00.23) with Emily Eberhart of Yorkville finishing second (5:08.19). Christiansen was also a part of Oswego’s winning 3200 Meter Relay team (9:24.08). Oswego sophomore Ella Hale ran 2:17.25 to win the 800 Meter Run.

Brittany Rainey of Dunlap will be an athlete to keep an eye on next week in the 100 Meter Hurdles. Rainey, who finished second in the 2A state race last year, ran 14.67 to win the event.

THURSDAY May 9

Antioch Sectional

Machesney Park Harlem followed up their win in the NIC-10 Conference Meet with a win in this sectional scoring 104 points. Harlem advanced 8 individuals and 3 relays to next week’s state meet. Fatima Giron of Round Lake won a close 3200 Meter Run. The junior ran 10:51.72 to win the race just ahead of Lakes Community’s Brooke Stromsland (10:52.96) and Grant Community’s Aly Negovetich (10:58.51). Stromsland came back to run 5:06.82 to win the 1600 Meter Run ahead of Giron (5:09.25).

Janlii Jenkins of Warren Township qualified in the three sprint events including running 58.04 to win the 400 Meter Dash by three hundredths of a second ahead of Olivia Schmidt of Lakes Community. Schmidt earlier in the meet ran 2:16.62 to win the 800 Meter Run.

Antioch’s Ayanna Tommy picked up two sectional titles. The junior ran 12.22 to win the 100 Meter Dash and then 25.76 to win the 200 Meter Dash.

The Discus had some powerful performances with the top three finishers all going past 130-feet. Harlem’s Catie Daily threw 140-5 to capture the win ahead of Julia Reglewski of Grayslake Central (135-0) and Harlem’s Katie Fare (134-1). Reglewski had a 40-2 effort to win the Shot Put.

Chicago Kenwood Sectional @ Concordia College

Whitney Young’s second place finish in the 1600 Meter Relay secured the sectional title. The Lady Dolphins scored 141 points to finish just ahead of Oak Park-River Forest (136 points). Oak Park’s Rachel Rowe picked up wins in the Long Jump (18-1.50) and the Triple Jump (37-6.50). Whitney Young’s Ella Behrens swept the distances as she ran 10:55.90 to win the 3200 Meter Run and running 5:15.13 to win the 1600 Meter Run.

The four relay events produced some fast times. Oak Park-River Forest ran 9:31.32 to win the 3200 Meter Relay ahead of Lane Tech (9:32.92). Whitney Young’s 48.30 was the fastest to win the 400 Meter Relay with St. Ignatius second (48.99).

Kenwood Academy won the other two relays. They ran a swift 1:43.18 to win the 800 Meter Relay with Whitney Young (1:43.96) and St. Ignatius (1:44.47) second and third. Kenwood ran 4:00.94 to win the 1600 Meter Relay ahead of Whitney Young (4:02.08) and Lane Tech (4:03.60).

Glenbard North Sectional

Wheeling qualified ten individuals and one relay for next week’s state meet in winning this sectional with 103 points. Nicole Nguyen was the team’s big scorer as she won three individual events. Nguyen jumped 18-10 to win the Long Jump by almost a foot. Her wins on the track came when she ran 12.34 to win the 100 Meter Dash and 47.39 to win the 300 Meter Hurdles. Alexis Knight qualified for state in three events including running 58.30 to win the 400 Meter Dash and 25.85 to win the 200 Meter Dash.

The top two times in the 3200 Meter Relay were produced in this sectional. Prospect ran 9;17.63 to take the win in the event ahead of Hoffman Estates. The two teams switched places in the 1600 Meter Relay as Hoffman Estates ran one of the top times in Class 3A as they put up a 4:00.59 time to win ahead of Prospect (4:04.13).

Lake Zurich Sectional

Huntley qualified five individuals and three relays to next week’s state meet as they scored 100 points to win the sectional team title. Barrington was next with 94 points followed by Lake Zurich (76 points) in third.

Daryn Davis had a big night for Huntley as she qualified for the state meet in three events winning two of them. Davis jumped 37-11.25 to win the Triple Jump ahead of teammate Kendal Only (36-9.25). Davis and Only also qualified in the 100 Meter Hurdles. Davis ran 15.03 to win the title just ahead of Palatine’s Erin Oleksak (15.11). Only finished third (15.39). Davis also qualified in the Long Jump as she finished third behind event winner Emily Kim of Vernon Hills (18-10).

Barrington ran one of the top ten times in the state when they ran 9:23.59 to win the 3200 Meter Relay ahead of Lake Zurich (9:35.02). Barrington also picked up relay wins in the 800 Meter Relay (1:45.14) and the 1600 Meter Relay (4:01.27). Molly FitzPatrick and Alyssa Norris were both on Barrington’s 4x8 team. They came back to finish 1-2 in the 1600 Meter Run. FitzPatrick’s winning time was 5:00.13 ahead of her teammate Norris (5:03.23). Brielle Rochester of Libertyville and Allison Drage of Cary-Grove also qualified.

Mundelein’s Khari Thompkins was a double winner in the sprints. The senior ran 12.73 to win the 100 Meter Dash by just two hundredths of a second ahead of Savannah Morgan of Crystal Lake South. Thompkins came back to run 58.59 to win the 400 Meter Dash ahead of Lake Zurich’s Sydney Mark (59.93).

Camille Clay of Stevenson also picked up two wins. Clay threw 124-6 to win the Discus as well as having a 39-2.50 put to win the Shot Put.

Loyola Academy Sectional

New Trier edged Evanston Township 98 to 97 for the sectional title. The team title came down to the final event of the meet the 1600 Meter Relay. New Trier picked up the win in that event (3:57.27) just ahead of Evanston Township (3:59.26).

Both teams could be factors in the team trophy chase in Charleston. New Trier qualified seven individuals and two relays to next week. Evanston Township qualified six individuals and all four of their relays. Evanston Township could do some damage in the baton events on the Big Blue Oval as they won two of the four races on Thursday. The Lady Wildkits ran 48.82 to win the 400 Meter Relay ahead of Niles North (49.54). Evanston came back to run 1:43.85 to win the 800 Meter Relay with Niles North (1:44.20) and Loyola Academy (1:44.97) also qualifying. New Trier ran a good 9:22.37 to win the 3200 Meter Relay as Evanston Township (9:25.11) and Loyola Academy also qualified.

Raelyn Roberson of Glenbrook South will be one of the favorites in the Long Jump next week. She only needed a 18-9 effort to win the sectional title.

Keep an eye on Taylor Gilling of Highland Park next week. She looks primed to go after state titles after her performances in this sectional. Gilling ran 12.23 to win the 100 Meter Dash and then 24.83 to win the 200 Meter Dash. New Trier’s Marne Sullivan will be among the leaders next week in the 800 Meter Run. She ran a comfortable 2:16.03 to win the event with teammate Emma Braband finishing second (2:17.20).

Metea Valley Sectional

Dajour Miles picked up two individual wins to help West Aurora win the sectional title with 100.33 points. Neuqua Valley was the closest team to West Aurora as they scored 89 points to finish second. West Aurora heads to Charleston qualifying six individuals and three relays.

Miles, the two-time defending state champion in the 400 Meter Dash, ran her fastest outdoor time of the season in that event. Miles ran 55.23 to win the sectional title with Neuqua Valley’s Mikenna Robinson running 56.57 to finish second. Both runners repeated their finish in the 200 Meter Dash. Miles took home the win (25.02) ahead of Robinson (25.96).

West Aurora’s Victoria Spagnola qualified in the Long Jump and also won both hurdle races. Spagnola ran 14.94 to win the 100 Meter Hurdles just ahead of DeKalb’s Brianna Barwick (15.06). Spagnola ran 46.15 to win the 300 Meter Hurdles once again ahead of Barwick (46.45).

West Aurora could be one of the team’s to watch in the 400 Meter Relay at state. The Blackhawks ran 49.44 to win that event. They finished second in the 800 Meter Relay (1:45.69) behind Waubonsie Valley’s 1:44.83 winning time.

Five runners qualified in the 3200 Meter Run led by Geneva’s Sophia McDonnell who ran 10:46.34 for the win. Naomi Ruff of South Elgin finished fifth in that race. The freshman came back to run 2:20.49 to win the 800 Meter Run.

Katrina Schlenker of Batavia will be one of the favorites in next week’s 1600 Meter Run in Charleston. The freshman ran a tactical 5:04.25 to win the event ahead of DeKalb’s Katherine Olsen (5:08.40) who also qualified in the 3200 Meter Run. Schlenker was also a part of Batavia’s quartet that ran 9:43.54 to win the 3200 Meter Relay.

Riley Ammenhauser of Neuqua Valley is set to defend her state title in the Triple Jump. The sophomore jumped 40-1 to win the event. She also 18-4.75 to win the Long Jump.

Naperville North Sectional

(See Attached Recap)

O’Fallon Sectional

Belleville West should be in contention for a trophy next week in Charleston. The Maroons scored 101 points to win this sectional title ahead of cross-town rival Belleville East (85 points). Belleville West qualified eight individuals and two relays to next week’s state meet. What could hurt them is that they did not advance their 400 Meter Relay squad to the state meet. West had the second fastest time in Class 3A heading into the sectional but a disqualification in the race ended their hopes.

LaQwasia Stepney of Belleville West popped a 19-7 seasonal best, one of the best jumps in the state this year, to win the Long Jump. She also won the 100 Meter Hurdles (14.53) ahead of teammate Macee Rivers (14.57). Stepney, who had one of the top five times in the Class 3A Hurdles, failed to qualify in that event as she finished third (46.82) missing the state qualifying time by 15 hundredths of a second.

The big story of the 300 Meter Hurdles was the win from Lauren Ferguson of Springfield. She had run the state fastest time (43.15) at the Titan Invitational at Chatham-Glenwood on April 18. It was discovered at that meet that she had a stress fracture. It was doubtful that she would run in this sectional.

“An MRI confirmed a healing stress fracture in her 4th metatarsal,” said Springfield Coach Trae Cotner. “Her doctor said it wouldn’t cause any more damage by running on it. It would just delay the healing. She warmed up and felt good, so she gave it a go.”

Ferguson won the sectional title (45.08) by more than a second ahead of Belleville East’s Essence Winters (46.27).

Danville’s Ameia Wilson will be a threat in Charleston to win three events. Wilson jumped 18-4 to qualify for state in the Long Jump. Wilson then ran 12.10 to win the 100 Meter Dash ahead of Alton freshman Renee Raglin (12.23). Wilson came back to run a swift 24.37 to win the 200 Meter Dash ahead of Belleville West’s Jessica Coughlin (25.27). Coughlin qualified for state in three events including running 58.72 to win the 400 Meter Dash.

Also keep an eye on Belleville East next week at O’Brien Field. The Lancer swept all four relays in this sectional. They ran 9:38.20 to win the 3200 Meter Relay, 48.58 to win the 400 Meter Relay, 1:41.91 to win the 800 Meter Relay ahead of Belleville West (1:43.01), and 4:04.94 to win the 1600 Meter Relay.

WEDNESDAY May 8

Reavis Sectional

Lyons Township easily won this sectional meet with 158.50 points. Maris was the next closest team with 70.50 points. The Lions had some strong performances winning all four relays. They ran 9:29.86 to win the 3200 Meter Relay, 49.09 to win the 400 Meter Relay, 1:44.89 to win the 800 Meter Relay, and 4:01.51 to win the 1600 Meter Relay.

Proviso West’s Tarshana Kimbrough ran 15.66 to win the 100 Meter Hurdles and 46.36 to win the 300 Meter Hurdles. Marist’s Kaylin Strahan ran 12.69 to win the 100 Meter Dash and 26.35 to win the 200 Meter Dash.