Palatine's winning 4x8 quartet logged the state's #1 mark (Tony Jones photo)
The extended above average climes in the Chicago land area has been a welcome relief to what most of us who experienced during the usual cold winter. So it would behoove teams and individuals to take advantage of the situation before Mother Nature decides to flip the switch back to icy temperatures. The competitors at the Ritter Invitational hosted by Downers Grove North made good use of the situation and put in quality performances all around.
Key highlights-
4x800 relay: Palatine loaded their "A" relay for the first time this season and outputted the competition for a state best 9:20.87. York set the early pace w/ their two legs running 2:19.8 and 2:22.9. The Lady Dudes finally gave way to Downers Grove North on the third exchange. The Trojans appeared to be headed for a solid win but Palatine anchor Kelly O'Brien ran down Emma Moravec in the closing stages of the race. It actually appeared as though DGN won but the final tally had the host team in second in 9:20.88. Moravec's consolation prize was a 2:14.0 carry. O'Brien's swift 2:12.8 was set up by her teammates Sam 2:21.1. KB 2:21.9. Megan 2:24.7.
3200m: Brooke Wilson (Prospect) and Maggie Scholle (Lane Tech) surprisingly broke away from solid group of competitors and waged a two-girl battle. Scholle led the first 1600 in 5:24 and then tried to break Wilson with two laps to go. Wilson who said "I didn't run very well at [Illinois] Top Times" was not deterred by the challenge. With one lap remaining Wilson took off like a rocket and opened daylight on Scholle and won easily in 10:56.32. It was a personal best and it was a performance that surprised her coach Pete Wintermuth. "I thought Brooke was capable of running into the 11:05-06 range."
Tineja Foy (Crete-Monee): One of the state's best hurdler put on a display by winning both disciplines in impressive fashion. Foy took the shorter 100H race in 14.93. Several hours later Foy stormed out of the gate like a crazed bull in the 300H and scorched the track in a meet record 44.64 and IL#3 ranking. "I came into today wanting to get the meet record," said Foy.
Dominique Lewis (Champaign Centennial): Lewis has arguably been the #1 speedster in Illinois since February. After winning the 2A Top Times 60m crown Lewis continued her hot streak by turning the fastest 100m mark of 11.78 outside. Lewis moved up to the 400m to work on strength and endurance. In the process she not only set a school and personal best, but Ms. Lewis ran 56.98 which is good for IL#2. Lewis also won the 200 in 25.06.
1600: Kelly O'Brien controlled this race from the beginning going through the first half in 2:29 and then 1200m at 3:49. The end result was a meet record 5:04.40.
HJ: Jes Skudlarek (Prospect) upset defending meet champion and previous state champion Emma Haugen (Prospect) to win in 5-8. Her mark is the state's second best effort.
TJ: Haugen took the frog jump in a fine 38-4