Bright outlook for Hoffman Estates, Conant

CHARLESTON — The sun finally made an appearance for the girls track season, but it was Hoffman Estates and Conant senior Sarah Gorden that overshadowed the rays and shined the brightest at the Class 3A state girls track preliminaries on Friday at Eastern Illinois’ O’Brien Stadium.

Hoffman Estates put itself in fine position to secure its first state trophy by advancing seven individuals to Saturday’s finals, while Gorden exorcised her demons from last season by qualifying with the top time in the 100 high hurdles (14.4) and third-best time in the 300 low hurdles (43.78). The Cougars senior also helped advance the 400 relay to finals.

East St. Louis advanced six individuals and two relays to Saturday’s finals, while Hoffman joined Downers Grove South, Edwardsville, Homewood-Flossmoor, and Glenbard West all in hot pursuit with seven qualifiers.

Edwardsville sophomore Emmonnie Henderson also gave off a bit of her own rays by dazzling the crowd with a Class 3A state record throw in the discus (161-0) and the top mark in the shot put (47-7).

The Class 3A state finals will begin at 10 a.m. today in Charleston.

Juniors Emily D’Amico and Haley Goers gave Hoffman Estates a potent 1-2 punch.

D’Amico lit up the track by securing the second-best mark in the 100 (11.78) and then coming back to secure the fourth-best mark in the 200 (24.61).

The junior didn’t wilt under the intense pressure of the state competition.

“I love the feeling of pressure,” said D’Amico of her performance. “Last year we didn’t have our best performance at state, but this year we’re coming together as a team and we wanted to show what we have.”

Goers kept the Hawks rolling by securing the top mark in the 1,600 (4:58.43). The junior took control of her race with 2 laps remaining and didn’t let off the pedal until crossing the finish line with a career best.

“After the half it started to settle, and I felt really good so I kept going,” said Goers, who also enters Saturday with the second-best mark in the 3,200 (10:49.51). “As a team we’re excited to have another chance.”

Senior Precious Ogunleye came up big for the Hawks, delivering the fifth-best effort in the shot put (41-5.25) and the second-best mark in the discus (136-01). Ogunleye already has two state medals in the shot put. Freshman Banke Oginni helped out by advancing with the 12th-best mark in the shot put (38-7.75).

A dark cloud seemed to follow Conant’s Gorden last year at the state meet, when she had spills on both the 100 high and 300 low hurdles. But the Cougar senior didn’t blink on Friday sailing to a pair of victories.

“I’ve worked much harder this year and it didn’t faze me,” said Gorden of her performance. “Being a senior I want to get it done this year.”

Gorden combined with senior Taylor Graham, senior Tina Tortorici and junior Angela Herrmann in advancing wth the eighth-best mark in the 400 relay (48.12).

“We’ve been working hard at it all year,” said Graham. “We definitely came in with an attitude.”

Palatine also came in with an attitude, and senior Sarah McIntosh, sophomore Tess Wasowicz, freshman Cassidy McPherson and senior Becca Sund set the tone for the Pirates with the second-best mark in the 3,200 relay (9:13.75).

“Our main focus was to just qualify,” said Sund. “All the stars were aligned today, and hopefully they will align tomorrow.”

The Pirates closed their day by running the fifth-fastest 1,600 relay (3:55.97). Senior Morgan Quinnett, junior Laura Schweikert, sophomore Meg Jump and sophomore Taylor Tenca led the charge.

“We just tried to get a lead at the beginning and keep working it,” said Schweikert, who also qualified with the eighth-best 400 effort (57.96). “We work really well together and it showed today.”

McIntosh qualified for the Pirates in the 1,600 (5:01.99) with the fifth-best mark, and senior Courtney Brown will be in the 3,200 finals.

Morgan Keller gave Rolling Meadows a lift by advancing in both the shot put (43-5.25) and discus (118-3). The Mustangs sophomore took eighth in the shot put last year and is primed for more this year.

“I know how things work this year, and I’m going after it,” said Keller, who is sitting in third place in the shot. “I know what I need to do to get better.”

The Mustangs weren’t finished. Senior Vicky Pavlou secured a spot in the triple jump finals (36-8.5) and senior Bridget Collins continued a late-season surge by advancing in the long jump (17-4).

Senior Christina Gastfield will be seeking her first state track medal in the 3,200; the Mustangs senior enters with the fourth-best qualifying mark (10:55.88).

Freshman Christina Santiago, senior Savannah Snead, junior Laura Maibuecher and sophomore Lauren Poplawksi gave Prospect a lift by running the third-fastest qualifying time in the 3,200 relay (9:18.99).

“It was nerve-wracking but we had confidence in ourselves,” said Maibuecher. “Our first goal was to get the win and move on.”

Samantha Sturm also came through for Prospect. The senior advanced in both the shot put (40-5.25) and discus (124-10).

“I finally made it to finals in the discus, and that has been one of my goals,” said Sturm, who took ninth in the shot put last season. “I just need to focus on what I can do.”

Schaumburg senior Karen Lesiewicz’s season is officially over; the Saxon senior could not overcome her foot injury suffered in late April. But Schaumburg senior Britten Petrey came up big.

After the Saxons came up short in their bid to defend the Class 3A 3,200 relay title that they won last year, Petrey turned her attention to the 800 and finished with the third-fastest effort (2:15.37).

Petrey then combined with junior Lauren Lindgren, sophomore Maika Kumamoto, and senior Jordan Wagner pushing the Saxons to the eighth-best mark in the 1,600 relay (3:58.18).

“After the 3,200 relay I just wanted to come back and do it,” said Petrey, who let her aggression out in the 800. “And the 1,600 relay was a nice way to close out the day.”

Fremd junior Stephanie Uhrich advanced in the high jump (5-3) and Viking sophomore Kelly Breen will compete in the 3,200 final.

Hersey senior Haley Scott advanced for the Huskies in the triple jump (36-11.5).

Barrington sophomore Rachel Simon will also be in the 3,200 final.