Girls track and field: Conant wins Hoffman sectional, qualifies 8 events for state

A month ago, St. Charles North senior Reagan Sipla didn’t even have spikes to compete in.

But during the Class 3A Hoffman Estates girls track and field sectional meet, her spikes helped her qualify in the 800-meter run, 4x800 relay and 4x400 on Thursday night.

“It feels so great. Everyone around is just super supportive,” Sipla said. “It’s just a very hype environment and it’s super exciting right now.”

The basketball player, who joined the track team six weeks ago, helped the team to a third-place team finish with 75 points, and had three of the North Stars’ six qualifying performances on the night.

Conant won the sectional title with 99 points, thanks in part to their eight qualifying performances across the board. Four of those performances came from sophomore Daisha Brunson and senior Stella Richter, who went 1-2 in the 100 hurdles in 14.52 and 15.21, respectively. Brunson also got the win in the 300 hurdles in 44.45, while Brunson earned another second place in the 200 in 26.07.

“Daisha and Stella are just phenomenal athletes and wonderful people. They work hard every day and are good leaders,” Conant coach Aaron Essex said.

“Stella has been our captain for our team, and Daisha has been working so hard at it, so for them to do that, it’s been remarkable.”

Junior Sofia Wydra also advanced to state in the long jump (second, 17-5.25) and 300 hurdles (third, 46.82). The 4x100 relay (first, 49.56) Eva Krakowski (second, 5-1.75) also qualified for the state meet.

Geneva had two individuals and two relay teams qualify on the day. Freshman Alyssa Flotte finished second place in the 100 in 12.60 seconds and anchored the 4x100 to a spot at state with a second place finish in 49.73. The 4x800 relay also secured a spot at Eastern Illinois next week after dipping below the state qualifying time in 9:41.96 for third. Senior Reilly Day qualified in two events after winning the the long jump (17-10.75) and triple jump (35-10.75).

The Vikings also came away with a second-place finish in the meet with 84.5 points

St. Charles East star distance runner Marley Andelman took home the sectional title in the 800 after crossing the line in 2:16.10. The TCU commit, who was a part of the Saints’ all-state 4x800 squad last year, said that it felt good to see what she could do in an individual event.

“It’s a special, different experience than being on a relay,” Andelman said. “But it’s super cool to be able to have both experiences, and I’m happy I get to finish out my senior year solo.”

The Saints will also send triple jumper Addison Schilb (second, 35-10) and their 4x200 team (first, 1:46.78) to the state meet

Maine South’s duo of senior Sofia Arcuri (2:16.63) and freshman Tessie Bradley (2:20.29) both qualified in the 800 meter run. The two runners would also anchor a relay team to the state meet, with Arcuri carrying the 4x400 to the win in 4:04.38 and Bradley pushing the Hawks to a second-place finish in the 4x800 in 9:39.00. Sarah Mendoza also qualified after finishing second in the 400 in 1:00.86.

Rolling Meadows had three athletes advance to the state meet for the first time. Junior Nora De Maria advanced in the pole vault after finishing second with a leap of 10-2.75. Senior Roisin Grandberry took the win in both the discus (125-5) and the shot put (40-10.5). Her shot put attempt was the seventh-best in Illinois this season.

Freshman Hazel Nadal stole the show for the Mustangs on the track. The freshman ran a 59.42 in the 400 to take the win and ran a personal-best time of 25.82 to take the title in the 200.

“It feels so amazing. I’m so happy about it,” Nadal said. “I think I could have ran harder in the 400, but all of my opponents were very good racers. And I pushed as hard as I could in the 200 and I got first, and I was so happy about it.”

Schaumburg had qualifiers in four different events. Junior Kaylee Meyer (5-3.75) won the high jump, junior Amy Carhee (third, 15.31) qualified in the 100 hurdles, junior Annika Jesse (third, 34-9.75) cleared the qualifying mark in the triple jump, and the 4x200 (second, 1:47.41) cleared the cut in the relay.

Host Hoffman Estates had two individuals punch their ticket to the state meet. Senior Erykah Lee took home the sectional title in the 100 after finishing in 12.48, and freshman Ella MacNider grabbed the second qualifying position in the 3,200 after finishing in a personal-best time of 11:35.54.

Streamwood junior Sophia Baumert earned her first trip to the state meet with two sectional titles in both the 1,600 (5:13.33) and the 3,200 (11:09.90).

Senior Cora Heller was Kaneland’s only state qualifier on the day. The pole vaulter took the win in the event with a vault of 11-3, which was a new season best.

Maine West senior Amelie West punched her ticket to the state meet in the 300 hurdles after finishing second in 45.66.