Inaugural event guaranteed to produce big performances

By Michael Newman

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It was the brainchild of North Central College Women’s Track & Field Coach Mahesh Narayanan to put together a Girls Only Track & Field Meet that brought together some of the top Girls programs in the Chicagoland area. The eleven teams that will be competing in this meet starting on 4:45 PM Thursday at the North Central College Res-Rec Center should produce some state leading performances on this fast 200 Meter oval.

Here is a look at each of the three event disciplines that will be contested

Distances

If there were four events that are guaranteed to put up some amazing performances, it would have to be within the distances. The meet starts at 4:45. I would suggest to get there to see what could be a fast 3200 Meter Relay. Glenbard West ran 9:48 last week on their home 160 Meter track. They have a powerful quartet led by Freshman Lindsey Payne. The state leading time of 9:37 is in jeopardy. Minooka, Wheaton-Warrenville South, Lyons Township, and Oswego have the talent to push the Lady Hilltoppers.

The signature event of the meet could be the 3200 Meter Run. Lindsay Graham (Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn) ran the state’s fastest 1600 last Saturday at a low keyed quad meet. She showed she is in condition to run a fast race. The field is loaded. We could have three or four runners under 11 minutes in this race. Judy Pendergast and Elly DeTurris (North HS, Naperville) could push Graham to a fast time. Also watch for Ashley Tutt (Minooka HS), Abby Kargol (South HS, Downers Grove), and Sarah Schmitt (North HS, Naperville) to be among the front runners.

The 800 will also be deceptively good. Last year’s 3A runner-up in this event Michaela Hackbarth (South HS, Downers Grove) leads this field. Ashleigh Wilson (Minooka HS), Anastasia Honea (East HS, St. Charles), Caitlyn Reick (Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn), and Sullibet Ramirez (Bloom HS, Chicago Heights) are all capable of winning this 4 lap race.

The 1600 Run is also powered packed that could see a winning time between 5:05 – 5:10. Torree Scull (East HS, St. Charles), Mackenzie Callahan and Emily Shelton (Minooka HS), Katie and Rachel Hoffman (Central HS, Naperville), and Sara Atkins (Wheaton-Warrenville South HS) are all capable of winning this race.

Sprints / Hurdles

Two time High Jump champion Emma Haugen (Lyons Township HS, LaGrange) heads the 55 Meter Hurdles. Princess Shodipo (Oswego HS), Soren Umali (South HS, Downers Grove), and Jada Haynes (Central HS, Naperville will push for the race win. The 55 Meter Dash is wide open with D’Jenne Egharevba (Central HS, Naperville) most likely having the edge. Larrece Metoyer (Bloom Township HS, Chicago Heights) and Nataja Simmons (Oswego HS) could be her chief competition.

The 400 Meter Dash is wide open. Michaela Hackbarth will be coming back from the 800 Meter Run. It could be Allison and Elizabeth Chmelik (East HS, St. Charles) that could be the favorites. Kierra Griggs (Bloom Township HS, Chicago Heights) could also push for the win. Griggs will be one of the favorites in the 200 Meter Dash. Allison Chemelik, Nataja Simmons, and Angela Hamilton (Bloom Township HS, Chicago Heights) could be among the athletes to push for a mid-25 second time.

Will a team surpass the 1:43.17 that Homewood-Flossmoor ran last Saturday? It is a possibility. St. Charles East, Bloom Township, and Naperville Central are among the teams that will be shooting for the win. St. Charles East also has the talent to win this event with a 4:05 or faster time. Lyons Township, Downers Grove South, and Minooka could challenge.

Field Events

Emma Haugen is going for her third state championship in the High Jump this year. Teammate Emma Fink and Alexandria Enright (Wheaton-Warrenville South HS) are the two athletes that might push Haugen in this event. Heidi Bassos (Wheaton-Warrenville South HS) will be the one athlete to watch in the Pole Vault.

This will be the first competition this season by Courtney Morgan (Metea Valley HS, Aurora). The sophomore is the 3A defending state champion in the Shot Put. It will be interesting to see how far she goes. Teammate Holly Julifs will push her for the win.

Hannah Morris (Bloom Township HS, Chicago Heights) will be challenged by Naperville Central’s Alissa Gorzak and Jada Haynes for first in the Long Jump. Allison Chmelik and Emma Haugen will challenge for the top spot in this meet’s Triple Jump.

North Central College
Cardinal Classic High School Girls Track & Field Invitational
Thursday, March 5th, 2015 (updated 3-4-15)

4:15pm Mandatory Coaches Meeting @ Finish Line

Field Events
4:45pm Pole Vault (Flight #1) –
PV Flight #2 will follow immediately after Flight #1

4:45pm Shot Put (Flight #1 & #2) – Center Ring
Shot Put (Flight #3, #4, Finals) – Main Ring

4:45pm Long Jump (Flight #1 & #2) – Inner Runway
Long Jump (Flight #3, #4, Finals) – Outer runway

Triple Jump – immediately following the conclusion of the Long Jump
(Flight #1 & #2) – Inner runway
(Flight #3, #4, Finals) – Outdoor runway

4:45pm High Jump (Flight #1)
HJ Flight #2 will follow immediately after Flight #1

Running Events: Girls first- Fast sections first

4:45pm 4x800 Relay (2)
5:15pm 3200 Meters (2)
5:45pm 55 Hurdles (5)
6:05pm 55 Meters (6)
6:25pm 800 Meters (4)
6:45pm 4x200 Relay (5)
7:05pm 400 Meters (7)
7:30pm 1600 Meters (4)
8:05pm 200 Meters (7)
8:30pm 4x400 Relay (5)
*Events will stay on a time schedule.