3A realm-
Buffalo Grove Sectional (Thursday, 5/12)
Summary: Things kicked off with a surprise from Riley Betz (So. Lake Zurich) who from her 100m personal best from 12.59 to 12.01! This may put her in the all-state honors talk next weekend. Jordyn Miller (Sr., Mundelein) qualified in two events: 800 (2:16.73) and 400 (57.13PB winner). Conversely, it was Bella Domier (So., Grayslake Central) who won the 800 and took second in the 400.
Brooke Johnston (Jr., Lake Zurich) enjoyed a stellar time sweeping the 1600 and 3200 runs in 5:00.05 and 10:39.86; Mia Morello (Sr., Grayslake Central) is the pole vault champion 12'2.5"; Ella O'Neall (Sr., Stevenson) took the DT and SP (45'4.50"); Lake Zurich takes the 4x200 in 1:43.46.
Chicago (St. Ignatius Sectional) Thursday, 5/12
Summary: this was a deep sectional in terms of sprints. Whitney Young put on a display in several areas. The Dolphins won the 4x100 in an IL#1 47.29, IL#2 4x200 rocks 1:39.88 (Kenwood 1:39.97), 2nd in the 4x400 (4:04.34); six girls advanced in the 100 led by Rachel Robinson (Sr., Whitney Young) 11.86, Rachel holds off twin sister Sydney Robinson in the 200 25.04-25.08
Danville Sectional (Thursday, 5/12)
Summary: Sometimes we don't heed a warning until it's too late. In the case of "Ali" Allison Ince, she strikes like a tornado in the middle of the night. As expected, the superstar sophomore in the making from Normal Community was entered in four events and inflicted some major casualties. It started with an easy win in the 800 where she basically jogged 2:19.27. Then it was the battle against one of the best all-around sprinters in the state Katelyn Lehnen (Fr., Chatham-Glenwood). They matched up in the 400 but Ince made mincemeat of Lehnen with a state-leading 56.04. Ince later won the 1600 in 5:06.50 and anchored the 4x400 in 4:01.60.
Belleville East ran a very fast 1:42.34 in the 4x200; Janaysia Byrd (Sr., Belleville West) beat her teammate Macee Rivers in a separate section 100H final 14.69.
Deerfield Sectional (Wednesday, 5/11)
Summary: #3 Evanston did not play around as they unleashed their best season performances. The Wildkits swept the sprint relays (4x100- 48.57), 4x200 (IL#3 1:42.08), and IL#1 3:49.66 (also top 30 mark nationally). Evanston showed some dominance individually with Abrielle Artley (Jr.) who blazed the field in the 300H with a new state leading 43.47
Hinsdale Central Sectional (Friday, 5/13)
Summary: Kyla Harris (So., Metea Valley) will see a bright future in the 400 after winning in 57.49, five girls total will advance to the state meet; Catie McCabe (Jr., Hinsdale Central) will be fighting for a high placement in the 800 next week in Charleston after running 2:16.14; Sophia McNerney (Sr., Downers Grove South) swept the 3200 and 1600. In the first race, McNerney was patient for a good portion before taking off and winning in 10:44.91- seven girls will advance. McNerney's 5:03.01 was not a personal best but it was good enough; Naperville North won three relays: 4x800 (9:25.70), 4x400 (4:01.02), 4x200 (1:42.99); Denise Hernandez (Sr., Naperville North) topped 19'2" in the long jump for the win.
Huntley Sectional (Wednesday, 5/11)
Summary: #1 Huntley showed the entire state that their big for a team title in Charleston next weekend is real. The Red Raiders put on a show for a large and feisty crowd in the far northwestern part of McHenry County. It started in what was perceived as the main event: the jumps. Right away in the triple jump, sisters Dominique Johnson and Alex Johnson skied IL# 1 and #2 41'0.50" and 40'3.75" on their first attempts and were done after the prelims. The same was said for the long jump. Alex connected on a state-leading 19'6.25" on her first attempt. Rylee Lydon (Jr., Prairie Ridge) broke up the sweep fest with a PB 18'9.50" for second place. Dominique outputted enough effort to advance to state with an 18'1.25". None of the girls competed in the final.
The hot action at Huntley was not done. The Red Raiders won the 4x100 (47.94- IL#3), 4x200 (1:43.60- IL#6), 4x400 (4:02.15- IL#5); Essence Horton-Graves (So., Rockford Auburn) clocks 12.16 to win the Century; Lyndon won the 400 in IL#2 56.42 and later the 200 in 25.19;
Proviso East Sectional (Wednesday, 5/11)
Summary: believe it or not but this was Josephine Welin's (Sr., Oak Park-River Forest) season debut. Now she appears healthy and in somewhat good shape with a second place in the 3200m running 11:05.21 out of the slow section. Later, she won the 1600 in 5:04.91. Proviso West HS senior Sanaa Parker sweeps the sprints: 100- 12.48, 200- 25.42, 400- 58.42
Minooka Sectional (Wednesday, 5/11)
Summary: Homewood-Flossmoor showed some signs of wanting to win the state championship again. It was a total team effort for the Vikings. Alexandria Edison (Sr) won the 100 (IL#4 11.99), 200 (24.76), and 400 (IL#3 56.82). Teammate Ana-Liese Torian (Jr) was almost as equally as impressive, winning the 100H (13.90), 300H (43.51), and placing second in the 200 (24.76).
Defending champion Lincoln-Way East apparently lost its senior star Mariam Azeez who initially helped her team qualify individually in the 100 and long jump. The Griffins won the 4x100 in 48.08 but without Azeez's presence next weekend, it will be a tall task in capturing another state crown.
Plainfield North Sectional (Thursday, 5/12)
Summary: another solid championship meet in the books. Zawadi Brown (So., Neuqua Valley) was victorious in the 400 and 200 57.43 and 24.86. She took second in the long jump (18'4.75"); Audra Soderlind (Jr., Oswego) won the 1600 (5:07.11) and 3200 (11:00.04); Inara Ukawuba (So., Neuqua Valley) roasted the track in the 100H (14.24) and 300H (45.61); Neuqua Valley rolls 48.27 in the 4x100.
Rolling Meadows Sectional (Wednesday, 5/11)
Summary: The all-purpose Daria Tersina (Sr., Prospect) won four individual events: TJ- 37'7.5", LJ- 18' 0.25" 100- 12.20, 200- 25.12; Prospect won the 4x800 with two regulars (So Lily Ginsberg & Sr Audrey Ginsberg) in a fast 9:25.90. The Ginsberg's clocked 2:14.38 and 2:16.47. The Knights 4x400 broke the watershed mark with a time of 3:59.26.
Scout Storms (Fr., Barrington) continues to impress after sweeping the 3200 (10:42.21) and 1600 (4:58.61); Ashley Oliver (Sr., Hoffman Estates) wins the 400 in IL#4 56.96.
Roselle (Lake Park) Sectional (Thursday, 5/12)
Summary: It was a good day to be Batavia Bulldog. They started with Katrina Schlenker (Sr) grabbing second in the 3200 (10:50.83)- five girls advanced to Charleston including the winner Grace Schager (Jr., Glenbard North) 10:44.29. Schlenker added another second place in the 1600 (5:00.05) but Audrey Allman (Sr., Glenbard West) was the victor with a time of 4:56.25; Brooke Berger (Jr., York) clocked 2:16.85 to win the 800.
Batavia won all the sprint relays in solid fashion 4x100 (48.74), 4x200 (1:43.16), 4x400 (4:00.81); York took the 4x800 in an IL#1 9:22.27.