Oak Park-River Forest and North Lawndale Prep duel in the 4x2 relay (Mark Cappapas photo)
4x800: Prospect 10:07.86, Schaumburg 10:12.74, Chicago Taft 10:30.05
Taft got themselves off to a good start with Jaqueline Mendoza's strong opening leg. But that was it for the Eagles as MSL foes Prospect and Schaumburg took over. Prospect maintained a solid distance over the Saxons throughout the race for the five second victory. The Knights distance queen Brooke Wilson sharpened her blades with a strong carry on the third leg to help her team run well.
4x200: Oak Park-River Forest 1:46.86, Chicago North Lawndale 1:49.54, Chicago Brooks 1:50.72
Brooks set the stage in section 3 with an easy victory. The coaching staff woefully underestimated the team by seeding themselves with a 2:00 mark. Perhaps if they were in the championship section 6 things might have been a little more interesting. As it was predicted, the winner was going to fall to defending IHSA state champion Oak Park-River Forest and North Lawndale. For a little while North Lawndale moved around the track like their namesake Phoenix. But North Lawndale used its ace Gabby DesRosiers before anchor and the short lived lead was history. The Huskies star speedster Norma Abdur-Rafia took control and it was a laughter along with a meet record.
4x400: Oak Park-River Forest 4:07.82, Proviso West 4:10.86, Thornwood 4:14.40
Section 5 produced the top four times in the state led by Oak Park-River Forest. The upstart Proviso West youngsters tried to hang in there, but ultimately the Huskies were controlled the race and pull away just prior to the anchor leg. Norma Abdur-Rafia put the icing on the cake with a 59.9 carry to end the festivities.