Lady Pirates boast 48-girl track and field roster

Last year, Ottawa Lady Pirates senior Maddy Smith brought home an IHSA Class 3A state championship medal in the pole vault from Charleston.

Smith — The Times 2019 Girls Track and Field Co-Athlete of the Year who moved onto the next level at Augustana College, where she was recently named its Freshman of the Year — is gone to Pomp and Circumstance.

Ottawa still boasts a legitimate contender to bring back another gold this year, though — Sam Satterfield.

The star senior thrower and NCAA Division I University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee signee is a two-time state qualifier in both the shot put and discus. She was a finalist in each event in 2018 and finished ninth in the shot last year.

Satterfield is the headliner among 48 Lady Pirate competitors this season — the most during the head-coaching tenure of Jessica Kuhn, now in her seventh year at the helm of the OHS girls program.

Ottawa took part in a trio of indoor meets at Sycamore.

Lady Pirates who competed for the varsity included: Lainey Billings (1,600 meters, 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay); Gabby Buendia (4x160 relay); Jocelyn Cartwright (4x160 relay); Marianna Carus (200 meters, 4x160 relay); Gianna Corsolini (800 meters, 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay); Lauren Haff (3,200 relay); Raigan Hanley (3,200 relay); Isabel Heimsoth (55 dash, 1,600 meters, 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay); Hallie Hellman (55 dash, 200 meters, 400 meters, 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay); Paige Mussatto (4x160 relay); Jillian Pitrowski (long jump, triple jump); Kelsey Quinn (400 meters); Satterfield (shot put — winner in all three); Haylie Schubbe (55 dash, 4x160 relay); Edith Smelko (long jump, triple jump); Sammy Straith (shot put); Mia Swartz (200 meters); and Emma White (4x160 relay).

As for the Ottawa boys, the team returns no state qualifiers and was not scheduled to compete in any indoor meets. The Pirates were set to open up today at Mendota before the season was halted.