Preview: IHSA Girls State Track and Field Championships - 3A Girls Teams

By Michael Newman

This could be one of the most competitive Class 3A state meets that we could see. Prospect won the 3A team title 53-50 just ahead of Huntley. Prospect has 20 qualifiers traveling to Charleston to compete. Homewood-Flossmoor has 19 qualifiers in this meet. Whitney Young, who finished third last year, and Plainfield North has the strength to challenge also for the state title this Friday and Saturday. Here is a look at 10 teams to watch

10 Storylines to follow

Mt. Prospect (Prospect)

Qualifiers: 20 Total: 16 Individuals, 4 Relays

Notes – Prospect is ready to defend their state title from a year ago. It could be tougher to win the second time around. This team is better though than last year’s state team. The Knights will go after their fifth straight title in the 4x800 Meter Relay. Veronica Znajda will be on that relay and a runner that could finish in the top five in the 1600 Meter Run. Meg Peterson will be one of the favorites in the 800 Meter Run. Mary Laba has been on the rise all season and could also place in the 800. Ireland Wildhart also will be in the 1600 and run in the 4x8. She could be a surprise in the individual event. Anna and Nikki Niebrugge qualified in both short sprints and score points in both events/ The two sisters will be a part of the 4x1 and 4x2. Their 4x1 is #2 in 3A, the 4x2 is #3, and their 4x4 has the fastest time in the state. The possibility of a sweep in the relays is huge. They could score a great number of points. Samantha Skowronski get the team points in the 400 Meter Dash. She could also get points in the Long Jump. Amina Hadziahmetovic will be in the relays. She will also be one of the favorites in the 300 Meter Hurdles. Brooke Nieri is among the top eight athletes in the Pole Vault and could get her team points in that event.

Homewood-Flossmoor

Qualifiers: 19 Total: 16 Individuals, 3 Relays

Notes – The Vikings finished eighth in Charleston last year. With 19 qualifiers advancing from their sectional makes Homewood-Flossmoor a team to watch for on Saturday. The first thing is to advance out of Friday afternoon’s prelims with no major damage. One of the reasons why this team will be tough is the transfer to the school of Mariyah Robinson at the beginning of March. Robinson was a multi all-state athlete last year in all three sprint events. She will do the same this year and could win all three races. Aniya Mullins in the 100 and London Willingham in the 200 should also pick up points in those sprints. Diaymond Childress should be among the top three in both hurdle races. The Vikings ran the fastest time in the state at the Texas Relays in the 4x100 Meter Relay at the end of March. They also ran the fastest 4x200 Meter Relay statewide at the Texas Relays with Robinson in the group. She will be in the 4x1 like she was at Sectionals. They still ran the fastest time in sectionals in that event. Their 4x4 team is currently ranked #5 in the state and will need those points at the end of the day. They could also get big points in the field events. Jaloni Wiley is ranked fourth in the Shot Put and will be one of the athletes that will challenge for the title. Wiley is among the top 10 in the Discus. It will be a bonus if she can get points in that event. London Jarrett is among the top five in the Long Jump.

Chicago (Whitney Young)

Qualifiers: 15 Total: 11 Individuals, 4 Relays

Notes – The Lady Dolphins finished third in last year’s state meet and will look to duplicate that finish or go even higher this weekend. Angelina Bullocks will play a big part of how many points this team scores. Bullocks has the fastest time in the state in the 100 Meter Dash and will be one of the favorites in that race. Bullocks also has the fastest time in the 200 Meter Dash and will be one of the favorites there. Ella Sweatt will play a part in the success of the team’s relays. It would be a bonus if she is among the final nine in the 100 on Saturday. Whitney Young is #3 in the 4x1, #14 in the 4x2, and #6 in the 4x4. Layla Bonilla will be busy in the three field events she is qualified in. The senior should be among the top five athletes in the High Jump. Bonilla is #3 in the Triple Jump and should earn big points. Bonilla and Bullocks will both be in the Long Jump. Courtney Burt was the sectional champ in the Triple Jump and could be in the top five with Bonilla in that event. Phoenix Higginbottom might be someone to keep an eye on in the High Jump.

Plainfield (North)

Qualifiers: 13 Total; 9 Individuals, 4 Relays

Notes – The Tigers have quality athletes entered in most of the track events. They do not have any qualifiers in the field events which the three above teams have. Relays will be the key for this squad to finish among the top three teams by the end of Saturday. North finished 12th in last year’s state meet. Plainfield North ran at 9:15 indoors and are currently ranked #10 in the state. They will be challenging for a top finish in that race. The Tigers are ranked #4 in the 4x1, #2 in the 4x2, and #2 in the 4x4. They should pick up points in all three of those relays. Marlie and Elsie Czarniewski finished 1-2 in their sectional in the 1600 and both could score in that event. Lauren DeAngello is qualified in two individual sprint events. She is #5 in the 400 Meter Dash and could pick up big points in that race. Taylor McLain made it to state in the 100 and the 200. She could score in both of those races.

Huntley

Qualifiers: 15 Total; 11 Individuals, 4 Relays

Notes – Huntley finished second in last year’s state meet missing the title by three points. The Red Raiders will again be in the discussion of a trophy this weekend. It will help that they have Dominique Johnson leading them. In her final state meet, Johnson will be the overwhelming favorite in the Triple Jump. She has the top mark in the United States heading into this weekend. Johnson also has the top mark in the Long Jump and will challenge for the title. Huntley did qualify in all four relays. Their team is ranked #8 in the 4x2 and could be the possibility to be among the top five. They could also score points in a highly competitive 4x100 Meter Relay. Elena Fetzer and Brianna Felde are both ranked in the top 10 in the Shot Put. Sienna Robertson has the longest throw in the Discus and will be one of the favorites in the event. Both weight events will be factors in their team’s success. Addison Busam jumped a persona best in the Long Jump last week and could also pick up points in that event. Myla Wade might be a surprise in the 400 Meter Dash.

Belleville (East)

Qualifiers: 12 Total; 9 Individuals, 3 Relays

Notes – The Lancers are good enough to finish in the top five in Charleston this weekend. They showed that with their sectional winning performance a week ago. Belleville East tied for 12 in last year’s state meet. Cassidy Willis qualified for the 100 Meter Dash and the 200 Meter Dash and could score in both of those events. Lyric Jones is ranked #6 in the 400 Meter Dash and will be in the mix for an all-state spot. Hailey Gray qualified in both hurdle races. It would be a bonus if she make the finals in one of those races. Belleville East is among the top 10 in the 4x1, #4 in the 4x2 and the 4x4. The Lancers should score in all three of those events. Takia Tiller qualified in the 100 Meter Dash. She also made the field in the Triple Jump where she might finish in the top nine on Saturday.

Downers Grove (North)

Qualifiers: 15 Total: 11 Individuals, 4 Relays

Notes – The Trojans will look to improve on last year where they tied for 19th. Their strength again should be in the distance events. Macy Ermitage is having a fantastic freshman season highlighted by winning the sectional title in the 3200 Meter Run. She could score points on Saturday in that race. Ava Gilley will look to repeat her all-state performance in the 800 Meter Run. Alayna Todnem qualified in the 1600 Meter Run and might produce points in that race. Their quartet in the 4x800 Meter Relay will look to finish in the top five. Allison Leach could surprise some in making the finals in the 200 Meter Dash. Their quartets in the 4x2 and 4x4 should make the finals. Sophia Solecki won both the Shot Put and the Discus in her sectional. She might get points in the Discus. Blake Welter is a possibility to score points in the Long Jump.

Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)

Qualifiers: 9 Total: 6 Individuals, 3 Relays

Notes – The thing about the Griffins is that they show up at state meet time. Lincoln-Way East finished tenth in last year’s state meet and should challenge to finish higher. Alaina Steele will challenge for the title in the 400 Meter Dash where she has the #2 time in the state. Kyra Harden will get her team points in both the 100 Meter Hurdles and 300 Meter Hurdles. Grace Murphy is someone you should watch in the 100 Meter Dash. The sophomore could make the finals. Their quartets in the 4x100 Meter Relay and 4x200 Meter Relay could find their way to the finals. East is the defending champion in the 4x400 Meter Relay and again will challenge for the win. Angelina Tadros finished third in her sectional competition in the Discus. Don’t count her out this weekend in that event.

Lake Zurich

Qualifiers: 13 Total: 11 Individuals, 2 Relays

Notes – The Bears finished 16th in last year’s state meet and have the athletes to finish in the top 10 this weekend. Kendall Flournoy qualified in the 100 Meter Dash, the 200 Meter Dash, and the 400 Meter Dash. She could leave Charleston winning three medals. Flourney also made state in the Long Jump where she could make the finals. Polina Krupsky is peaking at the right time and could score in the 800 Meter Run and 400 Meter Dash. Avery Muhr is someone who could surprise in the top nine in the 3200 Meter Run. Their quartet in the 4x800 Meter Relay is in position to earn a top nine finish. Arisa Bisofa has the second-best throw in the Discus. This freshman will challenge for the win in that event as well as scoring possibly in the Shot Put.

Kankakee

Qualifiers: 10 Total: 7 Individuals, 3 Relays

Notes – A team that will surprise this weekend Naomi Bey-Osborne missed last year’s state meet due to an injury sectionals. The multi-state champion ran the third fastest time last week in the 400 Meter Dash and will challenge for a state title in the event. Trinity Noble is a runner to watch where she could score in both the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash. DaMariana Tooles qualified in the 300 Meter Hurdles and might find her way to the finals. The Kays are ranked among the top 10 in the 4x1, 4x2, and 4x4 and should score in all three of those relays.