2021 IHSA Girls State Track & Field Championships - 3A Teams to Watch

 

 

By Michael Newman

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The final meet of the weekend in Charleston could be the most dramatic especially in the team competition. It is anyone’s guess who could come away with the Class 3A State Championship trophy.

 

Homewood-Flossmoor, Lincoln-Way East, and Naperville North have the athletes to challenge for the team title. Next comes Grayslake Central, Whitney Young, and Downers Grove North that could jump into the top three if one of the first three mentioned have a bad Saturday.

 

This meet is different than we have seen in this state. A winner in an event may come from not an earlier flight or section of an event. The Pandemic has created that. Why not have a little more bit of exciting drama before we had to normalcy for the 2021-22 school year.

 

Here is a look at some of the teams to watch for in the 3A Finals on Saturday. Teams are listed in alphabetical order.

 

 

Aurora (West Aurora)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 8; Individuals 6; Relays 2

 

Outlook – The Blackhawks qualified 8 from their Rock Island Sectional win. If everything goes right for this team on Saturday, West Aurora could finish in the top five teams. If not, then they could drop out of the top 10 teams.

 

Victoria Spagnola has the best 3A time in the state this year in the 300 Meter Hurdles. She will be the favorite to win a state championship. Spagnola is among the top three athletes in the 100 Meter Hurdles. Watch for her to also get big points in that event. Savannah Ming and Zoe Littlejohn qualified in both the 100 Meter Dash and the 200 Meter Dash. Ming could be among the top nine in the 100. Both athletes should score points in the 200. Both athletes are on the 4x200m Relay team that has the second fastest time in the state. They could be in reach to win the state championship in that relay. West Aurora should run in the second section of the 4x400m Relay. They have an outside chance to get some points in that event.

 

Batavia

 

Qualifiers: Total = 13; 10 Individuals, 3 Relays

 

Outlook – The Bulldogs have the numbers from their sectional win at Lake Park that put themselves in a good position. Katrina Schlenker qualified in both the 800 Meter Run and 1600 Meter Run. She has the capability of scoring big points Jenna Schifferer could also score points in the 3200 Meter Run. Kayla Williams has the possibility of scoring points in the 100m Hurdles. Williams is part of the team’s 4x200m Relay who ae in position to finish in the top 9.

 

Sophia Bruzga qualified in both the Shot Put and the Discus. She could earn all-state honors in both events. Meghann Hartmann is among the top athletes in the High Jump and could get points in that event. Mackenzie Benders is in the same position as Hartmann and could be among the top five athletes in the Pole Vault. Megan Schulhof also qualified in the Pole Vault. That event has 32 state qualifiers. Anything could happen with that number of qualifiers. Schulhof could squeeze into the top 9 finishers.

 

Belleville (West)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 9; 6 Individuals, 3 Relays

 

Outlook – The Maroons won their sectional at O’Fallon last week. The quality of advancing athletes is there to finish among the top teams. It could be the top five if they have a great meet. Macee Rivers has the second fastest sectional time in the 100 Meter Hurdles. You can expect big times from her in that event. Janaysia Byrd is seeded fourth behind Rivers in the hurdles. She could earn al-state honors in that race. Rivers will come right back in the 100 Meter Dash where there is a possibility to get points in that sprint.

 

Both Byrd and Rivers will be on both the 4x100 Meter Relay and 4x200m Relay. The Maroons have a better chance to score in the 4x1.

 

Chicago (Whitney Young)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 10; 8 Individuals, 2 Relays

 

Outlook – It will be the success in the sprints and the jumps that will define whether the Dolphins will be in contention for a trophy. Sydney Robinson is the top seed in the 100 Meter Dash and will be one of the favorites in that event. Her sister Rachel Robinson has the fourth fastest sectional time in that race. She could earn an all-state medal in that race. Sydney Robinson also qualified in the 200 Meter Dash where she could be among the top five finishers.

 

Both Robinson sisters will be a part of their team’s sprint relays. Their 4x100m Relay has the top time in the state and will contend for the relay state title. Their 4x200m Relay should be in the final section of that event where they could score points. Madison Saunders qualified in both the Long Jump and Triple Jump. She will need a big meet to score points in both events.

 

Downers Grove (North)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 13; 10 Individuals, 3 Relays

 

Outlook – The Trojans are in position to finish in the top three in this meet after strong performances in winning WSC-Silver Championships and the Lyons Township Sectional. McKenna Cinotte qualified in three events. She is one of the top athletes in the Triple Jump and will contend for the win. The senior is among the top five in the Long Jump where she could also get points for her team. Cinotte is also in the 100 Meter Dash.

 

Mia Bowers also qualified in three events. She is among the top four athletes in the Pole Vault. Bowers qualified in both hurdle events where she has a possibility to get points in the 300 Meter Hurdles. Cinotte and Bowers will be part of the quartet in the 4x100m Relay where they could contend for a top three finish. Downers Grove North should be in the second section of the 4x200m Relay. It would be a bonus if they score points in that race.

 

Melissa Jachim could get points for her team in the 800 Meter Run. She will anchor the 4x800m Relay quartet that has the fastest time in the state and will be the favorite in Saturday’s race. Erin Beatty qualified in both weight events. It would be a bonus if she scores points in the Discus.

 

Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 12; 9 Individuals, 3 Relays

 

Outlook – One of the team favorites to leave Charleston with a state championship. The Griffins have the quality in their quantity to accomplish that. Mariam Azeez has the second fastest time in the 100 Meter Dash and the fastest time in the 200 Meter Dash. She will contend for the win in both events. Azeez is also one of the top athletes in the Long Jump. It would not a surprise if she wins that event. The junior is the anchor for the team’s 4x100m Relay that has the third fastest time in Class 3A. The relay will be among the best on Saturday.

 

Sophia Barnard qualified in both hurdle races. The junior should be in the final section of the event where she could garner some points. The Griffins could score big points in the 300 Meter Hurdles where Barnard and Kate Sciarini could finish in the top five. Both athletes will be in the 4x1 as well as the 4x400m Relay. That relay will be in the second section of the event. They still will be in the mix to finish in the top nine teams.

 

Ali Van Dyke and Kailey Bell qualified in the Pole Vault. Both could earn points in that discipline. Jamie Sierocki should be among the top nine in the Shot Put. Kate Guderjan qualified in the 1600 Meter Run. She will also be a part of their quartet in the 4x800m Relay that could earn all-state honors.

 

Grayslake (Central)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 9; 7 Individuals, 2 Relays

 

Outlook – The Rams will rely on three athletes to score the bulk of their points in this meet. Grayslake Central, if everything goes right for them on Saturday afternoon, could be in position to finish among the top three teams. Julia Reglewski has the top distances heading into this meet in the Shot Put and Discus. She will be the favorite in both events.

 

Mia Morello is one of the top Class 3A athletes in the Pole Vault and could contend for the title in that event. She also qualified in the 300 Meter Hurdles where she figures to get points out of the second section of the event.

 

Bella Domier will be part of three events. Domier is the anchor for her team in the 4x800m Relay that will be in the chase for the win. The freshman has one of the top five runners in the 800 Meter Run where she could pick up some big points. She could also score points in the 1600 Meter Run. The Rams also qualified in the 4x400m Relay. Domier did not run that event in the sectionals. She however is on the relay card eligible to run for her team if necessary.

 

Homewood-Flossmoor

 

Qualifiers: Total = 13; 10 Individuals, 3 Relays

 

Outlook – The Lady Vikings have finished second behind Lincoln-Way East in their last two meets. Third time could be a charm for Homewood-Flossmoor as they have the athletes that could win a state title. All their qualifiers came in track events.

 

Two athletes will carry the load for this team. Ana-Liese Torian and Alexandria Edison qualified in three individual events. Torian has the fastest time in the state in the 100 Meter Hurdles and will be the favorite in that race. Torian is among the leaders in the 200 Meter Dash and will be one of the favorites in that event. The 100 Meter Dash is so close in the final section. She could either finish in the top three or could finish between seventh to ninth.

 

Edison enters this meet with the fastest 3A time in the 400 Meter Dash and will be the favorite in that race. Angela Alozie has the fifth fastest time at that distance and could pick up some big points for the Vikings. Edison should be among the top six in the 200 Meter Dash and could score points also in the 100 Meter Dash. Alozie, Torian, and Edison, along with Imani Warner are part of a 4x100 Relay squad that will be one of the favorites. Their teams in the 4x200m Relay and 4x400m Relay will not be in the final section of those races. They will need great races to score points in each.

 

Caroline Schoen qualified in both the 3200 Meter Run and 1600 Meter Run. The sophomore has a good chance to get points in the 3200. Daija Brown ran a four second PR in the 800 Meter Run. It would be a bonus for the team if she scored points in that race.

 

Mt. Prospect (Prospect)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 8; 7 Individuals, 1 Relay

 

Outlook – The Lady Knights conclude the season with eight qualifiers in this Saturday’s 3A State Finals. A good Saturday gets them into the top 10 teams. A great Saturday could mean a top five finish for Prospect. Daria Tersina qualified for this meet in three events. The junior could be among the top six finishers in the Triple Jump. Tersina also qualified in the 100 Meter dash and 200 Meter Dash.

 

Audrey Ginsberg leads a Prospect quartet that will be one of the favorites in the 4x800m Relay. Ginsberg also qualified in the 800 Meter Run where she could earn all-state honors.

 

Naperville (North)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 13; 10 Individuals, 3 Relays

 

Outlook – The Lady Huskies have been here before as a contender for a state championship. Naperville North has 13 qualifiers that puts them in that role again on Saturday. Madeline Andelbrandt had the top mark in Class 3A in the High Jump. She will be one of the favorites in that event. Teammate Maeve Conneely is also in the High Jump and could be an all-state finisher. Andelbrandt did not have her best race at sectionals in the 300 Meter Hurdles putting her in the second section of the event. She has one of the top seasonal times at that distance. She could run a top time that puts her in the top three.

 

North’s distance runners will put up big points. Maggie Gamboa will be one of the top finishers in the 3200 Meter Run. Audrey Mendrys and Campbell Petersen will be among the top eight in the 600 Meter Run. Both Petersen and Mendrys did not run in the team’s qualifying 4x800m Relay. Adding the two seniors puts this team in contention for the state title.

 

Andelbrandt is part of the quartet that has the fastest time in the state in the 4x400m Relay and will be the favorites in the final race of the meet. Mackenzie Skeen will be part of that relay. She also is in the 400 Meter Dash where she could finish in the top five. Their 4x200m Relay will be in the final section of that event that should also get points.

 

Normal (Community)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 7; 5 Individuals, 2 Relays

 

Outlook – A team that could find their way into the top 10 teams perhaps close to the first five. Ali Ince is the main reason for that. The freshman will go after the state meet record in the 800 Meter Run. She has the fastest seed time by seven seconds. Ince will also be in the 1600 Meter Run where she will be one of the favorites.

 

Ince ran a 55.6 anchor leg for her team in the 4x400m Relay that is ranked second heading into the state finals. They will contend for the win in that race. Jordynn Griffin will be part of that relay. She could also get points for this team in the 400 Meter Dash. Jazmin West qualified for the 100 Meter Dash. A great race could get the team some points in that event.

 

Wheaton-Warrenville South

 

Qualifiers: Total = 8; 6 Individuals, 2 Relays

 

Outlook – The Lady Tigers finished second behind Naperville North last week at the Lockport Sectional. South could be among the top 10 teams in this meet. Samantha Poglitsch has been all-state twice in the 1600 Meter Run. She ends her storied high school career Saturday with a chance to finish in the top three in that race. Poglitsch is also part of the team’s 4x400m Relay team that has the fourth fastest sectional time. This squad should contend for the win in that race. Their quartet in the 4x200m Relay will be in the final section where they could also pick up points.

 

The possibility is there for Carlin Wach to finish in the top nine in the 300 Meter Hurdles. Nicole Dudek qualified in both weight events. It would be a bonus if she scores points in the Shot Put. A personal best could get Katherine Weber among the top nine finishers in the Pole Vault.