2007 Girls AA Track and Field Preview
The girls state championship is of a very rich one from the inception of East St. Louis’ Lincoln brilliantly talented and coached teams to Chicago South Shore’s determination in the early 1980’s. Then the mantle was passed to Derrick Calhoun and his tremendously disciplined Chicago Morgan Park teams of the ‘90s and early millennium. From there Fenton Gunther received the torch with class to lead amazing Evanston squads. No other school has one won a big class title. Barrington had an opportunity to dethrone four-time defending champion Evanston last May, but a serious rules infraction involving the amount of events a runner can compete in disqualified the Fillies chances. This year, the Fillies enter the campaign much stronger and wiser. Head coach Jody Gitelis now has a chance to write her piece of history. Only time will tell though.
-Top Teams-
Barrington, Evanston, Edwardsville, E. St. Louis Sr., Chicago Morgan Park, Chicago Lane Tech, Hinsdale Central, Harvey (Thornton), Mahomet-Seymour, and Palatine.
[Below are capsules of teams with best chance of top three state trophy opportunities]
Barrington-
Head Coach: Jody Gitelis
Key events/athletes (’06 top performance): 4x1- 48.11; 4x2- 1:40.46; 4x4- 9:23.59; 100m- Jenny Schnack (10) 12.34, Amanda Schnack (11) 12.34; 200m- J. Schnack 25.24, Samantha Learch (11) 25.24+, A. Schnack 25.24+; 400m- Valery Taylor (12) 57.44, Molly Glantz (11) 57.74+, Learch 58.54+, A. Schnack 59.14+; 800m- Learch 2:12.44, Glantz 2:15.24+; 1600m- Rebecca Tracy (10) 5:05.24+; 100H- Glantz 15.24+; 300H- Glantz 44.12; LJ- Taylor 17-6; TJ- Dipti Karmarker (12) 36-3.
Outlook: On paper the Fillies appeared to have a little bit of everything from sprints to mid/long distance to field events. They can score big points from the 100m to 1600. Don’t underestimate the field events: Taylor should vie for 18 foot mark in LJ and Karmarker 38 feet in the TJ. The key for them is to gain momentum from the beginning of the outdoor season and ride it all the way to the state championship. If no slip ups then no team will catch them.
Evanston-
Head Coach: Fenton Gunter
Key events/athletes (’06 notables): 4x1- 47.10; 4x2- 1:38.67; 4x4- 3:53.01; 200- Tiffany Strong (11) 25.74, Brittany Tolar (11) 25.74; 400- Adrienne Slaughter (10) 59.04, Tolar 1:00.28; 300H- Leah Schenkier (11) 44.96.
Outlook: if a 5th consecutive state title is to be won it will most likely be via relays. Gone are instant pointers Shalina Clarke and Demeca Hill. The torch was passed to Schenkier and Slaughter to get the job done. Word is new talent has come aboard for the Wildkits. Plus, leave it to ace coaches Gunter and Jesse Sibert to get the maximum out of the athletes. The Wildkits will have a final say in who is the best team by season’s end.
E. St. Louis Sr.-
Head Coach: Nino Finnoy
Key events/athletes (’06 notables): 4x1- 47.24; 4x2- 1:40.44+; 4x4- 3:52.54+; 100- Ronecia Nash (11) 12.14+; 200- Nash 24.64+, 800- Brittney Allen (11) 2:17.22; 100H- Nash 15.11; 300H- Allen 44.89, Ambrea Brimmage (12) 46.22; TJ- Brimmage 37-6.5, HJ- Brimmage 5-4.
Outlook: Coach Finnoy has always had a great team whether on paper or in actual performance and this year’s edition is no different. The Flyerettes lost some fire power due to graduation but will be as strong as ever. It has been 14 years since ESL won the state championship but ’07 may be the best opportunity for the Flyerettes in a long time. There are no real weaknesses to speak of and the strength of the team may surprisingly come from the field events.
Edwardsville-
Head coach: John Cunningham
Key events/athletes (’06 notables): 4x2- 1:45.64+; 4x4- 3:51.72; 4x8- 9:19.38; 200- Eryn Stepherson (11) 25.64+; 400- Stepherson 57.74+; 800- Leah Bateman (12) 2:17.34+, Lia Saunders (11) 2:17.34+; 1600- Saunders 5:13.24+, Bateman 5:19.04+; 300H- Bateman 45.44+; LJ- Bateman (18-+- and USATF Junior National qualifier) has an opportunity to win many meets this season and legitimately shoot for a trophy spot in Charleston.
Edwardsville looks to score some big points in Charleston this season
-Individual event profile-
4x800 Relay-
Barrington- will aim to gain all-time record back
Palatine- will be as strong as 9:09 team effort last year
Edwardsville- may surprise by season’s end
Outlook: this event will be absolutely loaded! There are at least five other teams capable of producing outstanding efforts. Wheaton North brings back ¾ of a unit that produced the state meet and all time best (9:07.89). The Falcons could give it another run if they can replace graduated Amanda Laesch. Hinsdale Central will be strong behind a solid bunch of cross country runners.
4x100 Relay-
Barrington- produced one of the top marks in the country last year
Evanston- has owned this event in recent years
E. St. Louis Sr.- possess enough personnel to win it
Outlook: the short relay usually is predictable in terms of best teams but not this year. Too much individual talent has been lost to anoint any above and beyond units. The old faithful teams will be there though. Morgan Park loses a strong leg in Aja Clark, now at UNLV, but has Tamika Smith.
3200m-
Caitlin Comfort (Jr.) Peoria (Notre Dame)- will be shooting for first outdoor title
Liz Phillips (Jr.) Lockport- a tremendous talent that was injured much of last year
Laurie Dalrymple (Sr.) Elmhurst (York)- good in xc but better in track
Outlook: Comfort won the xc title this past fall and that should translate into her track progression. The diminutive one placed 4th last spring. Phillips spent all fall rebounding from a foot injury incurred during track season but was able to place in the top 10 in xc final. Should she continue her path of getting healthy then a state championship could be in the works. Dalrymple showed amazing growth over the past 12 months in distance running and that trend should continue. Several others to watch include Lauren Haberkorn (Jr.) Chicago (Marist), Amber Stack (Jr.) Wheeling, Kailyn Kuzmuk (11) Tinley (Andrew), and Nicole Benson (11) Bartonville (Limestone).
100HH-
Egle Staisiunaite (Sr.) Downers Grove South
Clarissa Rice (Sr.) Harvey (Thornton)
Natalie Tarter (So.) Batavia
Outlook: this event will not be as strong as in recent years because it was hit hard by graduation. 5 of the top 9 are gone including the best ever hurdler Shalina Clarke. Staisiunaite takes center stage now and should do a good job. Word has it that Tarter worked extremely hard in the off-season and will look to be one of the top performers here.
100m-
Kiara Clark-Lewis (Jr.) Rantoul
Clarissa Rice (Sr.) Harvey (Thornton)
Yolanda Suggs (So.) Belleville West
Outlook: pretty even competition here. Clark-Lewis may have edge because she has experienced a ton of success in two years of high school. Amanda Schnack (Barrington) adds depth as well as Aireonna Bailey (Zion-Benton). Don’t forget about Ronecia Nash (ESL)- she had the 8th fastest time in ’06.
800m-
Casey Short (Jr.) Naperville
Central- defending state championship
Ashley Verplank (Jr.) Bloomington- state best 2:10.54+ in ‘06
Shakeia Pinnick (So.) Aurora (Waubonsie Valley)- has ability to be state champ
Outlook: this event has turned into a national headliner the several years. In ’05, two finalists broke 2:10 and last season it took 2:17 to make final. Expect more of the same this year. A host of girls ran under 2:15 include Samantha Learch (Barrington), Michelle Brunk (Palatine), Stacey Shannon (Galesburg), and Maggie Sutor (Frankfort Lincoln-Way East).
4x200 Relay-
Barrington-
Evanston-
Harvey (Thornton)-
Outlook: very strong event remains difficult as many of last year’s finalists return key legs. Even the near qualifiers get stronger: Hinsdale Central and Chicago Lane Tech.
400m-
Coryn Marzejon (Jr.) Huntley- front runner
Erika Hanson (Jr.) Normal Community- best kept secret in central Illinois
Kindra Perkins (Jr.) Maywood (Proviso East)- former 800m runner
Outlook: Marzejon has no relays to think about so it should be smooth sailing for the junior, who placed 3rd at state last year. Perkins, formerly of Chicago Mather, had a great summer with the Zephyrs Track Club should be among the elite. Others to watch for include Amber Mills (Carbondale). Mills had one of the fastest non E. St. Louis marks from the south. Also, Libby O’Brien surprised many during the indoor season and maintained it through the spring final (7th- 58.46).
300H-
Shakeia Pinnick (So.) Aurora (Waubonsie Valley)- solid longer hurdler
Egle Staisiunaite (Sr.) Downers Grove South- it could be her year
Leah Schenkier (Jr.) Evanston- comes from a great pedigree of coaching
Outlook: Pinnick is the one to beat her because of her great flat speed and endurance (57.xx /2:14.xx)… watch for Jenna Urbanski (44.41) and ESL’s Britney Allen.
1600m-
Lizzy
Hynes (So.) St. Charles East- will turn tables on foes
Heather Olson (So.) Gurnee (Warren)- break harrier season bolds well for track
Haley Staples (So.) Crystal Lake Central(left)- defending champ will have something to prove
Outlook: don’t bet on no one specifically here instead look at a field of comparable performances. There are 7 of last year’s top 10 performers returning- all of them running 5:10 or faster. This may be the year someone runs near 4:50 for the first time in seven years. Kalli Dalton (Hoffman Estates Conant) will push the pack to great heights as well.
200m-
Kiara Clark-Lewis (Jr.) Rantoul-
Yolanda Suggs (So.) Belleville West-
Olivia Allen (So.) Lake Zurich-
Outlook: field shaping up to be like the 100m in terms of the same characters. Clark-Lewis may still be the best of the bunch. The event will be down in terms of quality times though due to heavy talent running relays and from graduation.
4x400 Relay-
Edwardsville- defending champion return all four legs
Barrington- will challenge E-Ville
Chicago Morgan Park- will get heavy on the action here
Outlook: the grand finale of any track meet is the 4x4 relay. Nearly all fans (especially true ones) will wait until the very end to watch a show stopping relay. This year, the 4x4 will be just that in terms of quality. An amazing 33 of 44 teams that qualified for state last year ran the state standard in the prelims!
-Field Events-
Long jump-
Diane Lindsay (Jr.) Harvey (Thornton)- has inside track to LJ glory
Jasmine Clark (Sr.) Homewood-Flossmoor- recorded 3rd best mark but didn’t compete in it at state
Shakeia Pinnick (So.) Aurora (Waubonsie Valley)- some observers stated if Pinnick gets a solid jumps coach she could sky 19’
Outlook: this event has been down since Alexandria “Alex the Great” Anderson’s departure a few year’s ago. The graduation of Jackie Coleman (Neuqua Valley) and several others will further keep the LJ grounded.
Pole Vault-
Melissa Gergal (Sr.)
(right, below) Chicago Heights (Marian Catholic)- could be nation’s
best vaulter by season’s end
.
Has hit the 13 foot mark indoor already this season.
Cassie Ludwig (Sr.) Hinsdale Central- will aid the Red Devils trophy run
Jenna Wexter (Jr.) New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)- should move up from 9th last year
Outlook: PV has been one of the most popular events in girls T&F in recent years. It has also garnered national attention with several record attempts at the state championships. Gergal has already jumped to national status in the Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nevada. Despite the event losing 7 of the top 10 performers things will remain strong.
High Jump-
Raisa Taylor (Sr.) Decatur Eisenhower- indoor/outdoor state champion returns
Laura Morris (Sr.) Mahomet-Seymour- runner up to Taylor twice last year
Ashley Perkins (Sr.) Joliet Twp- will be near the top
Outlook: this event was down for a few years but 10 of 12 last season’s state finalists return. Perhaps the competition will see glory days again when the girls jump took 5-8 to win regularly.
Shot Put-
Bailey Wagner (Jr.) Fox Lake (Grant)- defending state champion will more competition from her teammates
Tori Zigler (Jr.) Fox Lake (Grant)- one of the state’s best throwers didn’t make her team’s varsity in ‘06
Katie Vuckovich (Jr.) Naperville (Neuqua Valley)- will look to break up Grant dominance
Outlook: Grant High School is sort of like York on the boy’s side. The far NW Chicago suburb has turned out a ton of great throwers. In fact, Zigler wasn’t even on the varsity team last year. Her unit was so good that she had to thrown in junior varsity competition. There is no jv state championship. Still, Zigler threw over 41 feet! That effort would have placed top 5 in state.
Discus-
Bailey Wagner- can she go from 2nd best to champion?
Erin Wycoff (Jr.) Troy (Triad)- will challenge Wagner for top spot
Allison Renfro (Sr.) Rockford Boylan- threw her best at season’s end last year
Outlook: The graduation of state champion Jewel Sanders puts Wagner in the spotlight. Can she pull the sweep? The discus is one of the weaker events in girls’ track and field so a number of returning performers could step up and challenge Wagner, who isn’t nearly as good here.
Triple Jump-
Aleisha Leeper (Sr.) Freeport- highly touted since freshman year
Courtney Loftin (Sr.) Rock Island- will present tremendous challenge to conference rival
Ambrea Brimmage (Sr.) East St. Louis- more pressure to step due to potential lost points in sprints
Outlook: the top three performers from last year graduated. But, a ton of talent is there on the horizon and pick up the pieces. Leeper had an off year due to injury but if she had a season like her freshman year then everything will be fine.