High school girls track and field: Season preview capsules

Fox Valley Conference

Cary-Grove

Coach: Mark Anderson (15th season)

Last year's finish: FVC Meet champion

Top returning athletes: Morgan Schulz, sr. (sprints); Nikki Freeman, jr. (throws); Olivia Roehri, sr. (throws); Maggie Cherveny, jr. (jumps); Delaney Perrone, sr. (jumps); Bridget Lauritsen, sr. (sprints); Nicole Robins, jr. (sprints); Gretchen Price, sr. (distance); Sabrina Mishall, jr. (PV), Eva Burk, sr. (sprints)

Top new athletes: Kate Michie, jr. (sprints); Tabor Gleason, fr. (jumps); Rachel Feurerhelm, so. (distance), Libby Hansen, fr. (distance)

Worth noting: It will be difficult for any other team to stop C-G from winning its seventh consecutive Fox Valley Conference title. The Trojans are loaded again, led by Schulz, who scores big in the 300 low hurdles and 200, while Freeman, Roehri, Cherveny and Perrone will add points in the field events. … Freshman Tabor Gleason should excel in the high jump, covering another field event for C-G.

Crystal Lake Central

Coach: Anthony DeStephano (third season)

Last year's finish: Fifth in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Avani Flanagan; Brooke Larsen (800); Janine Orvis (3,200); Kelly Doerr (1,600); Mary Fleming (1,600); Mary Stevens (SP); Monika Malinowski (100H, TJ)

Top new athletes: Jeneve Becker (PV), Katelyn Smith (800), Stephanie Doerr (1,600), Debra Tomlinson (800, 1,600)

Worth noting: "This year's team is the largest in a long time with 150 percent increase in numbers from the previous team," DeStephano said. "Last year we graduated some great talent. We're looking to rebuild this season and be competitive within the conference. We have some freshmen and track newcomers looking to make a big impact at the varsity level."

Crystal Lake South

Coach: Matt Dunker (sixth season)

Last year's finish: Third in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Kianna Clark, sr. (SP, sprints); Kiley Britten, sr. (distance); Gaby DeJesus, sr. (sprints, LJ); Katherine Pencak, sr. (sprints); Natalie Boorom, sr. (hurdles); Cecilia John, jr. (sprints, LJ); Andie Kobrick, jr. (distance); Caitlin Bruzzini, soph. (middle distance)

Top new athletes: Brandie Minogue, jr. (sprints, hurdles); Cailey Ciezadlo, so. (sprints); Kayla Ehranhaft, fr. (middle distance, LJ)

Worth noting: The Gators will have good balance throughout their lineup and should be strong in the sprint relays, with three members of the Class 3A state-qualifying 4x100 team (Clark, DeJesus and Pencak) returning. … Britten had a breakthrough year in cross country and will help in the distance races. … Clark also qualified for state in the shot put.

Dundee-Crown

Coach: Christine Hopkins-Muehl (third season)

Last year’s finish: Tied for 11th in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Audrey Schmatz, jr. (sprints); Lauren Hogue, jr. (sprints); Jazmine Dulaitis-Askew, sr. (sprints); Kaylee Rendl, so. (sprints); Kimmy Skvarla, sr. (sprints); Anette Woolf, sr. (throws); Jessica Pflanz, jr. (throws); Alyssa Muhvic, so. (throws); Mandy Mosher, sr. (throws); Veronica Caballaro, sr. (throws); Olivia Scarpelli, so. (hurdles, jumps); Sofia Marquez, sr. (hurdles, jumps); Monica Boado, sr. (hurdles, jumps); Kayla Leal, so. (hurdles, jumps); Karly Livengood, so. (hurdles, jumps); Maggie Himmel, jr. (distance); Kayla Hostetler, jr. (distance)

Top new athletes: Quanita Johnson, sr. (sprints); Viktoria Kolros, so. (sprints); Tarrah Kamp, fr. (throws), Maddie Tripp, fr. (throws); Skyler Finucane, fr. (distance), Sylvia Waz, fr. (distance)

Worth noting: The Chargers will miss junior Kayla Lawrence, who qualified for the Class 3A 100 high hurdles, but did not come out for the team this season. She set the school record (15.28) in that race. … Hopkins-Muehl likes the numbers and the attitudes she has seen in workouts. “They are willing to work hard to get better and to be competitive,” she said.

Hampshire

Coach: Patti Nihells (19th season)

Last year’s finish: Sixth in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Natalia Sztuk Vel Sztukowski, sr. (800); Elizabeth Evans, jr. (800); Rebecca Freund, sr. (PV); Dallas Krueger, sr. (HJ); Nikki Dumoulin, jr. (LJ, TJ); Rachel Dumoulin, so. (LJ, TJ); Aimee Jarvis, soph. (200, 400); Morgan Richert, so. (1,600, 3,200); Valerie Wozniak, jr. (sprints); Alexis Nguyen, so. (100, 200); Jackie Pytel, jr. (100, 200, HJ)

Worth noting: The Whip-Purs have been competitive the past few years despite being one of the FVC’s smaller schools. … FVC long jump champion Elizabeth Pagan graduated, but Hampshire still should do well in the jumps and has been strong in the 4x800 relay.

Huntley

Coach: Shawn Nordeen (17th season)

Last year’s finish: Second in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Macy Tramblay, sr. (100 HH, TJ, sprints); Delaney Lyman, sr. (PV, sprints); Tess Miller, sr. (jumps, sprints); Emily Schmidt, sr. (hurdles, sprints); Kate Mitchell, jr. (distance); Kelly Meehleib, sr. (distance); Sarah Henderson, jr. (throws); Alyssa Bushman, jr. (sprints); Nicole Zielinski, sr. (sprints)

Top new athletes: Chloe Smith, fr. (distance); Lindsey Ferguson, fr. (distance); Rhian Whitfield, fr. (PV, sprints, hurdles); Alex Handchetz, fr. (sprints); Katie Bessey, fr. (throws); Cassidy Lackovic, fr. (sprints)

Worth noting: The Red Raiders should be one of the area’s top teams again, led by Tramblay, who won FVC titles and qualified for Class 3A state in the 100 high hurdles and triple jump. … Lyman will be one of the area’s best vaulters, while Miller gives Huntley more depth in the jumps. … Nordeen says 30-plus freshmen will help cover events better than the Raiders have in the past.

Jacobs

Coach: Ryan Lemanski (fifth season)

Last year’s finish: Fourth in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Lauren Van Vlierbergen, sr. (800, 1,600); Caleigh Walsh, jr. (300 LH, LJ); Rachel Holstein, so. (100HH, LJ, TJ, HJ, sprints); Taylor Bona, sr. (800); Molly Barnes, sr. (800)

Top new athletes: Kelly Ross, fr. (sprints, LJ); Chloe Walsh, fr. (800); Kathryn Van Vlierbergen, soph. (800); Anisa Talic, jr. (sprints); Kiley Speckneck, fr. (sprints)

Worth noting: Van Vlierbergen won the Class 3A 800 in a convincing way last season, taking the title by three seconds. She also finished fifth in the 1,600, then took second in the Class 3A cross country state meet. … The Eagles will field one of the area’s top 4x800 teams, with Van Vlierbergen anchoring. Bona and Barnes also ran that race last year. … Holstein is a versatile athlete who can help in several field events.

McHenry

Coach: Kyle Owens (fourth season)

Last year’s finish: Sixth in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Lauren Opatrny, sr. (distance); Katie Purich, jr. (distance); Savanah Howie, jr. (PV, hurdles); Devon Marunde, jr. (hurdles); Shania Kranz, so. (400), Alex Franklin, so. (400); Amelia Murray, jr. (throws); Haley Meszaros, jr. (throws)

Top new athletes: Kieley Medinger, fr. (800); Rachel Peterson, jr. (800); Jordan Reif, jr. (800)

Worth noting: Opatrny, who signed with Iowa, placed fifth in the Class 3A 1,600 last year and is gunning for all her school’s distance records. She has been training with the boys runners. … Purich performed well last season but was set back in cross country by a leg injury. … Howie was second in the FVC pole vault at 10-0 and qualified for state.

Prairie Ridge

Coach: Dave Hartl (second season)

Last year’s finish: Tenth in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Andie Shine, sr. (distance); Sam Fisher, so. (PV, LJ, hurdles); Natalie Bruns, sr. (sprints); Ginika Osude, sr. (sprints); Tatiana Schaffer, sr. (middle distance); Elly Mann, sr. (distance)

Top new athletes: Taylor Romanyk, so. (sprints); Addison Karlblom, so. (PV, LJ)

Worth noting: Hartl hoped to get the numbers up this season, and the Wolves have done that with about 50 girls on the team. “That’s really good for us,” he said. … Prairie Ridge may not compete for the team titles in bigger meets, but Hartl just wants the girls to improve their performances.

Woodstock

Coach: Steve Erwin (31st season)

Last year's finish: Ninth in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Nora Brown, sr. (hurdles); Kate Jacobs, so. (distance); Grace Beattie, jr. (800, hurdles); Megan Hansen, jr. (400, 800); Karen Mendez-Avila, jr. (TJ, sprints); Brianna Verbeeck, so. (sprints); Cora Uidl, soph. (PV, sprints); Lena Vogel, so. (sprints, LJ)

Top new athletes: Arei Bein, so. (throws, sprints)

Worth noting: The Blue Streaks graduated half of their 4x800 team (Maura Beattie and Lacey Heaver) which took fifth in Class 2A, but Kate Jacobs and Grace Beattie give them a shot at being competitive there again. Jacobs was a standout in cross country. … Erwin hopes they can compete on the FVC Fox Division side (the conference decides two champions from the FVC Meet results).

Woodstock North

Coach: Cas Creighton (third season)

Last year’s finish: 14th in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Bri Baltes, sr. (distance); Karigan Kovac, jr. (hurdles, sprints); Martha Everly, jr. (sprints, LJ)

Top new athletes: Emily Carbajal, fr. (sprints, jumps, throws); Talya Flores, so. (sprints, jumps); Delaney Guy, fr. (sprints, jumps)

Worth noting: Creighton hopes the knowledge and experience gained will help the Thunder in future years, since the team is young and inexperienced this season. “They have the talent to go far with hard work,” Creighton said.

Big Northern Conference

Harvard

Coach: Casey Seyller (10th season)

Last year’s finish: 10th in BNC Meet

Top returning athletes: Sophie Stricker, jr. (sprints, middle distance, PV); Jordan Peterson, jr. (distance), Javaunkee Jacobs, sr. (sprints, middle distance, HJ); Riley Korczak, sr. (SP, discus, hurdles); Nicole Guitierrez, jr. (sprints); Daphne Austin, sr. (distance); Christine Scarpelli, sr. (PV, sprints)

Top new athletes: Emma Vancik, jr. (middle distance); Yulissa Ortega, fr. (sprints); Cynthia Pelayo, so. (sprints, LJ, TJ), Maria Mercado, fr. (sprints)

Worth noting: Three-fourths of the Hornets’ Class 2A state-qualifying 4x800 team return – Stricker, Peterson and Jacobs. They also were second in the McHenry County Meet. … Stricker also qualified in the 200 and 400. Stricker set the school record in the 200 and was in on all but one of the Hornets’ 23 points in the McHenry County Meet.

Johnsburg

Coach: Tom Weaver (third season)

Last year's finish: 13th in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Abbey Nimrick, sr. (PV); Angie Schira, sr. (sprints); Nikki Hennigan, sr. (discus)
Top new athletes: Juliette Bousquet, sr. (hurdles, PV); Isabel Dunn, fr. (throws); Kayla Stefka, fr. (sprints)

Worth noting: The Skyhawks move back to the Big Northern Conference for the first time since the 2005-06 school year. … Weaver feels some of his freshman can make impacts and will provide a nice combination with the seniors.

Marengo

Coach: Brian Tveter (seventh season)

Last year's finish: Fourth in BNC Meet

Top returning athletes: Kitty Allen, sr. (distance); Madison Hale, so. (sprints, HJ); Taylor Conroy, jr. (distance); Ashlynd Broling, so. (distance); Haley Schenk, jr. (sprints, TJ); Sarah Shefcik, so. (distance); Cierra Volpendesta, jr. (PV); Irene Bolis, sr. (sprints, hurdles)

Top new athletes: Gretel Hoffmeyer, jr. (sprints); Megan Burns, soph. (sprints); Hannah Secor, fr. (distance); Emily Euker, fr. (sprints, hurdles)

Worth noting: The Indians cross country team won its fifth straight BNC championship and will help in the distance races. Allen was fourth in the Class 2A cross country state meet and qualified in the 3,200 last season. … Hale broke Allison Rogutich’s 200 indoor record this spring and will lead Marengo in the sprints. The 4x200 relay team also has run well inside.

Richmond-Burton

Coach: Keith Forth (26th season)

Last year's finish: Fifth in BNC Meet

Top returning athletes: Miranda Halverson, jr. (sprints); K.C. Davids, so. (sprints, LJ); Emma Langlois, so. (distance); Megan Curran, so. (throws); Courtney Cazzola, jr. (throws); Anna Vlasak, so. (hurdles)

Top new athletes: Rachel Myland, fr. (sprints); Amy Frisch, fr. (distance)

Worth noting: Forth retired from teaching, but came back to coach for another year. … Halverson was one of the area’s top sprinters and was second in the 200 and 400 at the BNC Meet. … R-B is trying to have a state qualifier for the 23rd consecutive year.

East Suburban Catholic Conference

Marian Central

Coach: Adam Zanck (second season)

Top returning athletes: Abigail Jones, soph. (distance); Emma Baumert, sr. (distance); Monica Juarez, sr. (distance); Anna Herff, sr. (jumps)

Top new athletes: Shelby Truckenbrod, fr. (distance); Grade Knudsen, fr. (distance);

Worth noting: The Hurricanes had a strong cross country season, led by Class 1A All-Stater Jones. Truckenbrod and Knudsen also helped Marian get to state as a team in that sport.

Northeastern Athletic Conference

Alden-Hebron

Coach: Marnie Lalor (second season)

Last year’s finish: The Giants had only four girls

Top returning athlete: Tally Lalor, so. (LJ, 200)

Top new athlete: Hannah Hough, so. (LJ, 200, 400)

Worth noting: The Giants have only the two girls on the team. Tally Lalor, the coach’s daughter, has improved her performances. Hough has been making strides in her events as well.

Note: HH-high hurdles, LH-low hurdles, Hj-high jump, LJ-long jump, TJ-triple jump, SP-shot put; PV-pole vault.

Fox Valley Conference

Cary-Grove

Coach: Mark Anderson (15th season)

Last year's finish: FVC Meet champion

Top returning athletes: Morgan Schulz, sr. (sprints); Nikki Freeman, jr. (throws); Olivia Roehri, sr. (throws); Maggie Cherveny, jr. (jumps); Delaney Perrone, sr. (jumps); Bridget Lauritsen, sr. (sprints); Nicole Robins, jr. (sprints); Gretchen Price, sr. (distance); Sabrina Mishall, jr. (PV), Eva Burk, sr. (sprints)

Top new athletes: Kate Michie, jr. (sprints); Tabor Gleason, fr. (jumps); Rachel Feurerhelm, so. (distance), Libby Hansen, fr. (distance)

Worth noting: It will be difficult for any other team to stop C-G from winning its seventh consecutive Fox Valley Conference title. The Trojans are loaded again, led by Schulz, who scores big in the 300 low hurdles and 200, while Freeman, Roehri, Cherveny and Perrone will add points in the field events. … Freshman Tabor Gleason should excel in the high jump, covering another field event for C-G.

Crystal Lake Central

Coach: Anthony DeStephano (third season)

Last year's finish: Fifth in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Avani Flanagan; Brooke Larsen (800); Janine Orvis (3,200); Kelly Doerr (1,600); Mary Fleming (1,600); Mary Stevens (SP); Monika Malinowski (100H, TJ)

Top new athletes: Jeneve Becker (PV), Katelyn Smith (800), Stephanie Doerr (1,600), Debra Tomlinson (800, 1,600)

Worth noting: "This year's team is the largest in a long time with 150 percent increase in numbers from the previous team," DeStephano said. "Last year we graduated some great talent. We're looking to rebuild this season and be competitive within the conference. We have some freshmen and track newcomers looking to make a big impact at the varsity level."

Crystal Lake South

Coach: Matt Dunker (sixth season)

Last year's finish: Third in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Kianna Clark, sr. (SP, sprints); Kiley Britten, sr. (distance); Gaby DeJesus, sr. (sprints, LJ); Katherine Pencak, sr. (sprints); Natalie Boorom, sr. (hurdles); Cecilia John, jr. (sprints, LJ); Andie Kobrick, jr. (distance); Caitlin Bruzzini, soph. (middle distance)

Top new athletes: Brandie Minogue, jr. (sprints, hurdles); Cailey Ciezadlo, so. (sprints); Kayla Ehranhaft, fr. (middle distance, LJ)

Worth noting: The Gators will have good balance throughout their lineup and should be strong in the sprint relays, with three members of the Class 3A state-qualifying 4x100 team (Clark, DeJesus and Pencak) returning. … Britten had a breakthrough year in cross country and will help in the distance races. … Clark also qualified for state in the shot put.

Dundee-Crown

Coach: Christine Hopkins-Muehl (third season)

Last year’s finish: Tied for 11th in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Audrey Schmatz, jr. (sprints); Lauren Hogue, jr. (sprints); Jazmine Dulaitis-Askew, sr. (sprints); Kaylee Rendl, so. (sprints); Kimmy Skvarla, sr. (sprints); Anette Woolf, sr. (throws); Jessica Pflanz, jr. (throws); Alyssa Muhvic, so. (throws); Mandy Mosher, sr. (throws); Veronica Caballaro, sr. (throws); Olivia Scarpelli, so. (hurdles, jumps); Sofia Marquez, sr. (hurdles, jumps); Monica Boado, sr. (hurdles, jumps); Kayla Leal, so. (hurdles, jumps); Karly Livengood, so. (hurdles, jumps); Maggie Himmel, jr. (distance); Kayla Hostetler, jr. (distance)

Top new athletes: Quanita Johnson, sr. (sprints); Viktoria Kolros, so. (sprints); Tarrah Kamp, fr. (throws), Maddie Tripp, fr. (throws); Skyler Finucane, fr. (distance), Sylvia Waz, fr. (distance)

Worth noting: The Chargers will miss junior Kayla Lawrence, who qualified for the Class 3A 100 high hurdles, but did not come out for the team this season. She set the school record (15.28) in that race. … Hopkins-Muehl likes the numbers and the attitudes she has seen in workouts. “They are willing to work hard to get better and to be competitive,” she said.

Hampshire

Coach: Patti Nihells (19th season)

Last year’s finish: Sixth in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Natalia Sztuk Vel Sztukowski, sr. (800); Elizabeth Evans, jr. (800); Rebecca Freund, sr. (PV); Dallas Krueger, sr. (HJ); Nikki Dumoulin, jr. (LJ, TJ); Rachel Dumoulin, so. (LJ, TJ); Aimee Jarvis, soph. (200, 400); Morgan Richert, so. (1,600, 3,200); Valerie Wozniak, jr. (sprints); Alexis Nguyen, so. (100, 200); Jackie Pytel, jr. (100, 200, HJ)

Worth noting: The Whip-Purs have been competitive the past few years despite being one of the FVC’s smaller schools. … FVC long jump champion Elizabeth Pagan graduated, but Hampshire still should do well in the jumps and has been strong in the 4x800 relay.

Huntley

Coach: Shawn Nordeen (17th season)

Last year’s finish: Second in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Macy Tramblay, sr. (100 HH, TJ, sprints); Delaney Lyman, sr. (PV, sprints); Tess Miller, sr. (jumps, sprints); Emily Schmidt, sr. (hurdles, sprints); Kate Mitchell, jr. (distance); Kelly Meehleib, sr. (distance); Sarah Henderson, jr. (throws); Alyssa Bushman, jr. (sprints); Nicole Zielinski, sr. (sprints)

Top new athletes: Chloe Smith, fr. (distance); Lindsey Ferguson, fr. (distance); Rhian Whitfield, fr. (PV, sprints, hurdles); Alex Handchetz, fr. (sprints); Katie Bessey, fr. (throws); Cassidy Lackovic, fr. (sprints)

Worth noting: The Red Raiders should be one of the area’s top teams again, led by Tramblay, who won FVC titles and qualified for Class 3A state in the 100 high hurdles and triple jump. … Lyman will be one of the area’s best vaulters, while Miller gives Huntley more depth in the jumps. … Nordeen says 30-plus freshmen will help cover events better than the Raiders have in the past.

Jacobs

Coach: Ryan Lemanski (fifth season)

Last year’s finish: Fourth in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Lauren Van Vlierbergen, sr. (800, 1,600); Caleigh Walsh, jr. (300 LH, LJ); Rachel Holstein, so. (100HH, LJ, TJ, HJ, sprints); Taylor Bona, sr. (800); Molly Barnes, sr. (800)

Top new athletes: Kelly Ross, fr. (sprints, LJ); Chloe Walsh, fr. (800); Kathryn Van Vlierbergen, soph. (800); Anisa Talic, jr. (sprints); Kiley Speckneck, fr. (sprints)

Worth noting: Van Vlierbergen won the Class 3A 800 in a convincing way last season, taking the title by three seconds. She also finished fifth in the 1,600, then took second in the Class 3A cross country state meet. … The Eagles will field one of the area’s top 4x800 teams, with Van Vlierbergen anchoring. Bona and Barnes also ran that race last year. … Holstein is a versatile athlete who can help in several field events.

McHenry

Coach: Kyle Owens (fourth season)

Last year’s finish: Sixth in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Lauren Opatrny, sr. (distance); Katie Purich, jr. (distance); Savanah Howie, jr. (PV, hurdles); Devon Marunde, jr. (hurdles); Shania Kranz, so. (400), Alex Franklin, so. (400); Amelia Murray, jr. (throws); Haley Meszaros, jr. (throws)

Top new athletes: Kieley Medinger, fr. (800); Rachel Peterson, jr. (800); Jordan Reif, jr. (800)

Worth noting: Opatrny, who signed with Iowa, placed fifth in the Class 3A 1,600 last year and is gunning for all her school’s distance records. She has been training with the boys runners. … Purich performed well last season but was set back in cross country by a leg injury. … Howie was second in the FVC pole vault at 10-0 and qualified for state.

Prairie Ridge

Coach: Dave Hartl (second season)

Last year’s finish: Tenth in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Andie Shine, sr. (distance); Sam Fisher, so. (PV, LJ, hurdles); Natalie Bruns, sr. (sprints); Ginika Osude, sr. (sprints); Tatiana Schaffer, sr. (middle distance); Elly Mann, sr. (distance)

Top new athletes: Taylor Romanyk, so. (sprints); Addison Karlblom, so. (PV, LJ)

Worth noting: Hartl hoped to get the numbers up this season, and the Wolves have done that with about 50 girls on the team. “That’s really good for us,” he said. … Prairie Ridge may not compete for the team titles in bigger meets, but Hartl just wants the girls to improve their performances.

Woodstock

Coach: Steve Erwin (31st season)

Last year's finish: Ninth in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Nora Brown, sr. (hurdles); Kate Jacobs, so. (distance); Grace Beattie, jr. (800, hurdles); Megan Hansen, jr. (400, 800); Karen Mendez-Avila, jr. (TJ, sprints); Brianna Verbeeck, so. (sprints); Cora Uidl, soph. (PV, sprints); Lena Vogel, so. (sprints, LJ)

Top new athletes: Arei Bein, so. (throws, sprints)

Worth noting: The Blue Streaks graduated half of their 4x800 team (Maura Beattie and Lacey Heaver) which took fifth in Class 2A, but Kate Jacobs and Grace Beattie give them a shot at being competitive there again. Jacobs was a standout in cross country. … Erwin hopes they can compete on the FVC Fox Division side (the conference decides two champions from the FVC Meet results).

Woodstock North

Coach: Cas Creighton (third season)

Last year’s finish: 14th in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Bri Baltes, sr. (distance); Karigan Kovac, jr. (hurdles, sprints); Martha Everly, jr. (sprints, LJ)

Top new athletes: Emily Carbajal, fr. (sprints, jumps, throws); Talya Flores, so. (sprints, jumps); Delaney Guy, fr. (sprints, jumps)

Worth noting: Creighton hopes the knowledge and experience gained will help the Thunder in future years, since the team is young and inexperienced this season. “They have the talent to go far with hard work,” Creighton said.

Big Northern Conference

Harvard

Coach: Casey Seyller (10th season)

Last year’s finish: 10th in BNC Meet

Top returning athletes: Sophie Stricker, jr. (sprints, middle distance, PV); Jordan Peterson, jr. (distance), Javaunkee Jacobs, sr. (sprints, middle distance, HJ); Riley Korczak, sr. (SP, discus, hurdles); Nicole Guitierrez, jr. (sprints); Daphne Austin, sr. (distance); Christine Scarpelli, sr. (PV, sprints)

Top new athletes: Emma Vancik, jr. (middle distance); Yulissa Ortega, fr. (sprints); Cynthia Pelayo, so. (sprints, LJ, TJ), Maria Mercado, fr. (sprints)

Worth noting: Three-fourths of the Hornets’ Class 2A state-qualifying 4x800 team return – Stricker, Peterson and Jacobs. They also were second in the McHenry County Meet. … Stricker also qualified in the 200 and 400. Stricker set the school record in the 200 and was in on all but one of the Hornets’ 23 points in the McHenry County Meet.

Johnsburg

Coach: Tom Weaver (third season)

Last year's finish: 13th in FVC Meet

Top returning athletes: Abbey Nimrick, sr. (PV); Angie Schira, sr. (sprints); Nikki Hennigan, sr. (discus)
Top new athletes: Juliette Bousquet, sr. (hurdles, PV); Isabel Dunn, fr. (throws); Kayla Stefka, fr. (sprints)

Worth noting: The Skyhawks move back to the Big Northern Conference for the first time since the 2005-06 school year. … Weaver feels some of his freshman can make impacts and will provide a nice combination with the seniors.

Marengo

Coach: Brian Tveter (seventh season)

Last year's finish: Fourth in BNC Meet

Top returning athletes: Kitty Allen, sr. (distance); Madison Hale, so. (sprints, HJ); Taylor Conroy, jr. (distance); Ashlynd Broling, so. (distance); Haley Schenk, jr. (sprints, TJ); Sarah Shefcik, so. (distance); Cierra Volpendesta, jr. (PV); Irene Bolis, sr. (sprints, hurdles)

Top new athletes: Gretel Hoffmeyer, jr. (sprints); Megan Burns, soph. (sprints); Hannah Secor, fr. (distance); Emily Euker, fr. (sprints, hurdles)

Worth noting: The Indians cross country team won its fifth straight BNC championship and will help in the distance races. Allen was fourth in the Class 2A cross country state meet and qualified in the 3,200 last season. … Hale broke Allison Rogutich’s 200 indoor record this spring and will lead Marengo in the sprints. The 4x200 relay team also has run well inside.

Richmond-Burton

Coach: Keith Forth (26th season)

Last year's finish: Fifth in BNC Meet

Top returning athletes: Miranda Halverson, jr. (sprints); K.C. Davids, so. (sprints, LJ); Emma Langlois, so. (distance); Megan Curran, so. (throws); Courtney Cazzola, jr. (throws); Anna Vlasak, so. (hurdles)

Top new athletes: Rachel Myland, fr. (sprints); Amy Frisch, fr. (distance)

Worth noting: Forth retired from teaching, but came back to coach for another year. … Halverson was one of the area’s top sprinters and was second in the 200 and 400 at the BNC Meet. … R-B is trying to have a state qualifier for the 23rd consecutive year.

East Suburban Catholic Conference

Marian Central

Coach: Adam Zanck (second season)

Top returning athletes: Abigail Jones, soph. (distance); Emma Baumert, sr. (distance); Monica Juarez, sr. (distance); Anna Herff, sr. (jumps)

Top new athletes: Shelby Truckenbrod, fr. (distance); Grade Knudsen, fr. (distance);

Worth noting: The Hurricanes had a strong cross country season, led by Class 1A All-Stater Jones. Truckenbrod and Knudsen also helped Marian get to state as a team in that sport.

Northeastern Athletic Conference

Alden-Hebron

Coach: Marnie Lalor (second season)

Last year’s finish: The Giants had only four girls

Top returning athlete: Tally Lalor, so. (LJ, 200)

Top new athlete: Hannah Hough, so. (LJ, 200, 400)

Worth noting: The Giants have only the two girls on the team. Tally Lalor, the coach’s daughter, has improved her performances. Hough has been making strides in her events as well.

Note: HH-high hurdles, LH-low hurdles, Hj-high jump, LJ-long jump, TJ-triple jump, SP-shot put; PV-pole vault.