Girls Track and Field: Previewing teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area

The girls track and field season is underway. Here are previews of teams in the Suburban Life coverage area.

Benet

Head coach: Bill Takahashi

2021 team highlights: Won East Suburban Catholic Conference meet

Returning 2021 Class 3A state qualifiers: 3,200 relay with junior Louisa Diamond (11th, 9:44.60)

Others to watch: Seniors Rese Bastuga, Torrie Blasko, Audrey Arlis, Elliana Arnold, Isa Flores, Katie Kelly, Kyra Narunatvanich, Amelia Parisi and Mary Weber, juniors Nicole Grimes, Shirley Bai, Ava Beschsetin, Jane Deis, Nora Delaney, Lucy Fernandez, Mia Kuceba, Julia Rodriguez, Diana Singzon and Therese Yep, sophomores Valerie Sarros, Audrey Giedraitis, Carlin Kelly, Abby O’Connor, Isa Olivares, Ava Strugala and Terese Tully and freshmen Delilah Helenhouse, Maddie McGarry, Katie Naughton, Audrey Panoushis, Kate Pohodich and Grace Ronek

Indoor notes: The Redwings’ return to 2A this season should mean more state berths. Several individuals not only have already exceeded 2A qualifying standards, they have top-10 reported 2A indoor state rankings from Diamond in the 3,200 (11:03.15, No. 6 ranking) and 1,600 (5:13.34, No. 6), Bastuga (35-3 3/4 in triple jump, No. 4), Grimes (11-0 in pole vault, No. 8) and Sarros (5-3 in high jump, tied for No. 4).

Downers Grove North

Head coach: Matt Maletich

2021 team highlights: Won West Suburban Conference Silver and Lyons Township Sectional; sixth at 3A state meet

Returning 2021 Class 3A state qualifiers/competitors: 400 relay with seniors Abby Streff and Elle Kowalski (All-State 9th, 48.84), 3,200 relay with sophomore Karly Harkness (All-State 3rd, 9:23.96) and 800 relay with Streff, sophomore Emily Wittmer and Kowalski (18th, 1:47.12) and junior Elisabeth Mooney at sectionals.

Others to watch: Seniors Cherylin Parrilli, Ashley Novak and Ella Sebek, juniors Claire Pyne, Veronica LaSota, Ava Geiger, Grace Edwards, Marli Kowalski and Emily Smetana, sophomores Dakota Washington, Sydney Hnatiuk, Hope Sebek, Amelia Hansen, Ally Steiner, and Pallavi Fisher and freshmen Hannah Renner, Jillian Peters, Audrey Casten, Alayna Todnem, Allison Leach, Giovanna Russotiesi and Jadyn Wood.

Indoor notes: Winning events at the indoor WSC Silver Meet were Kowalski (5.33m/17-6 in long jump) and the 3,200 relay (9:38.02) of Peters, Renner, Harkness and Hnatiuk (2:19.5 anchor split) with the No. 6 3A indoor time this season.

Downers Grove South

Head coaches: Doug Plunkett and Tess Johnson

2021 team highlights: Won WSC Gold Meet

Returning 2021 Class 3A state qualifiers: Senior Sophia McNerney 3,200 (All-State 2nd, school record 10:44.12) and 800 (21st, 2:27.54).

Others to watch: Seniors Kelsey Casella, Elise D’Aquila, Madi Sisson, Alex Spang and Abby Ackerman, juniors Na’Kyiah Robertson and Nora Joy, sophomores Mariah Gonzalez and Sophie Ring and freshmen Holly Johnson and Samairah McShan

Indoor notes: The Mustangs again won the Gold title indoors. Casella (3,200/1,600) and Johnson (800/400) each won two events. Robertson (36-0 in shot), Gonzalez (55 in 7.60) and Ackerman (8-0 in pole vault) also were individual champions. An All-State 13th in cross country, Johnson broke fresh-soph school records for the 1,600 (5:04.87 March 18) and 3,200 (10:52.15), which earned third at the Top Times Indoor Classic and ranks No. 6 in 3A indoors this season. Robertson, whose lifetime-best 11.88m/38-11 3/4 March 3 ranks No. 7, was fourth at Top Times (37-8 1/2). Battling a quadricep injury, McNerney was limited to one 3,200 race indoors.

Fenwick

Head coach: Dale Heidloff

2021 team highlights: Won 2A Ridgewood Sectional for program’s second sectional title.

Returning 2021 Class 2A state qualifiers: Junior Bella Daley 1,600 (10th, 5:21.13), seniors Sonia Kuchinic 300 low hurdles (13th, 50.92) and Maureen Moore high jump (tied for 14th, no height), 400 relay of senior Jordyn VanSanten, Moore, junior Allie Heyer and senior Flynn Monahan (21st, 54.50), 800 relay of VanSanten, Moore, Heyer and Monahan (22nd, 1:54.32), 1,600 relay of Heyer, Kuchinic, junior McKenzie McClear and Monahan (22nd, 4:24.94) and 3,200 relay with senior Camille Nourie and Daley (22nd, 10:49.07).

Others to watch: Juniors Ava Martinez and Elisabeth Braun and freshman Mia Menendez

Indoor notes: At Saturday’s Top Times Indoor Classic, Daley (1,600 in 5:23.01) and the 3,200 relay (Menendez, Nourie, Martinez, Daley in 10:24.30) were sixth. At the indoor Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Championships, Braun (10.21m/33-6 in triple jump) was second, Daley (1,600 in 5:23.05) was third, McClear (10.17) and Kuchinic (10.61) were 3-4 in the 60 hurdles and the same 3,200 relay lineup was third (10:25.30).

Glenbard East

Head coach: Molly Gstalter

2021 team highlights: Won Upstate Eight Conference Meet for program’s first-ever conference championship.

Returning 2021 Class 3A state qualifiers: Senior Keeli Dunaway triple jump (23rd, 10.73m/35-2 1/2).

Others to watch: Seniors Keri Hrouda, Ximena Luna, Robin Lenoir, Mya Molinsky, Dereka Henderson, Hailey Mecenas, Lorelai Freese, Ashley Bylsma, Brity Daji and Tierra Bailey, juniors Mackenzie Huber, Maddie Michelon, Peyton Zondor, Stefania Slamkova, Allison Ihms, Emma Still, Eman Alkhatib and Amanda Hale, sophomores Breonna Ware, Catey Carney, Hannah Meyer, Erica Long, Anabelle Stevenson and Sammy Kelly and freshmen Elena Kosorog, Emily Fisher and Isabella Zucchero.

Indoor notes: The Rams were edged by South Elgin for the indoor UEC Meet title 131-124. Dunaway swept long jump (18-0 1/4) and triple jump (36-7 1/4), Huber (4-9 3/4) and Hrouda (4-8) finished 1-2 in high jump and the 1,600 relay (Huber, Luna, Ware, Molinsky in 4:34.29) was second. On Feb. 24, Dunaway established all-time school records in triple jump (12.08m/39-7 3/4) and long jump (5.6m/18-4 1/2).

Glenbard South

Head coach: Daniel Bledsoe

Athletes to watch: Seniors Kylie DeNardo, Taylor Rush, Delia Garcia, Amy Winter and KeAra Hoover, juniors Gianna Huerta and Allison Wallner, sophomores Ella Zeman, Lorenza FosterSimbulan, April Rainey and Emily Guzman and freshmen Diana Kalvelage, Taylor Koenig and Mariela Flores

Indoor notes: At the indoor Upstate Eight Conference Meet, champions for the Raiders were Winter (8-6 in pole vault), Rush (29-0 3/4 in shot) and Huerta (55 hurdles in 9.29) with the No. 3 fastest 2A time this indoor season.

Glenbard West

Head coach: Kelly Hass

2021 team highlights: Second at West Suburban Conference Silver Meet.

Returning 2021 Class 3A state qualifiers: Seniors Audrey Allman 800 (All-State 6th, 2:14.27) and Kyrah Maas 400 (All-State 6th, 58.13) and 1,600 relay of Maas, junior Carlin Hass, sophomore Carina Cudzilo and Allman (All-State 5th, 4:00.98)

Others to watch: Seniors Tessa Kochert, Hailey Whyte, Nina Wintermute, Ella Maas, Anna Nickoley, Maggie Flanagan and Olivia Malek, juniors Jane Franz, Bria Bugielski and Ellie Williamson, sophomores Elayna Boeh and Madeline Murin and freshman Ally Stortz.

Indoor notes: Vanderbilt commit Allman, fifth at state cross country, was among many Hilltoppers affected by illness at the indoor WSC Silver Meet. Allman took 14th in the Girls Championship Mile at the New Balance Indoor Nationals March 13 in New York City (4:52.74) with a lifetime-best 1,600 of 4:51.36 that ranks No. 3 in the state indoors. Wintermute was the indoor Silver pole vault champion (10-6) and improved her all-time school record to 11-5 March 3. Kochert was second in triple jump (10.35m/33-11 1/2).

Hinsdale Central

Head coach: Pat Richards

Returning 2021 Class 3A state qualifiers: Junior Catie McCabe 1,600 (All-State 4th, school-record 4:52.23) and 1,600 relay with McCabe and seniors Isabella Terry and Erin Milligan (14th, 4:07.95).

Others to watch: Seniors Trinitee McCoy, Maeve McInerney, Sophia Schuurman and Annette Sommers, juniors Elyssa Chandler, Sarah Fischer, Sarah Skora and Mai-Jeanna Sakho, sophomores Keira Leech, Zari Dorris, Ana Hodneland, Mallory Moser and Christina Tresslar and freshman Maya Reed

Indoor notes: The Red Devils won their first indoor WSC Silver Meet since their 2010 3A state championship season by three points over York. Event champions were Reed in the 55 (7.48) and triple jump (fresh-soph school-record 10.67m/35-0 1/4), McCabe (800 in 2:18.59) and Leech (55 hurdles in 9.43). Fischer’s third-place 3,200 (personal-best 10:55.30) is 12 seconds under the 3A state cut. McCabe was second in the 800 (2:16.47) at Saturday’s Top Times Indoor Classic with the state’s No. 4 fastest indoor time. McCabe, Fischer, Skora and Milligan ran the state’s No. 5 3,200 relay time March 7 (9:36.60). Reed also tied the varsity 55 indoor school record (7.2 manual).

Hinsdale South

Head coach: Michele Koehler

Athletes to watch: Seniors Kate Haffner, Olivia Rogers, Carly Booth and Jasmine Hobbs, juniors Katarina Petrovic, Olivia Linkowski-Leadingham, Elena Garcia and Grace Koziol and sophomore Amerie Flowers.

Indoor notes: The 2A Hornets had indoor WSC Gold titles from Petrovic (200 in 27.81) and the 4-lap relay with Booth, Hobbs, Koziol and Petrovic (1:31.06). Flowers (9.53m/31-3 1/4 in shot put) and the 3,200 relay (10:40.66) were second. The Hornets have resumed participating in pole vault and Linkowski-Leadingham was third (6-6).

IC Catholic Prep

Head coach: Bob Cronin

2021 team highlights: Won Metro Suburban Conference Red Meet and 1A Hope Sectional

Returning 2021 Class 1A state qualifiers: Senior Carly Manchester 3,200 (All-State 4th 11:39.91) and 1,600 (All-State 4th 5:27.22) and 400 relay with senior Faith Laluya (19th 53.10).

Others to watch: Junior Hayden James, sophomores Mae Bigane, Megan Van Koughnet and Meg Sebastian and freshmen Lizzie Cook and Kiely Kemph.

Indoor notes: Manchester won the 1A 3,200 (11:37.63) at the Top Times Indoor Classic Friday, the fastest 1A time this indoor season.

Lemont

Head coach: Tim Plotke

Athletes to watch: Sophomores Jordan Bartman and Natalie Kowalski, juniors Juliette Reyes and Julia Hajnos, freshmen Jordan Cryer, Ella Mierzwa, Tessa Lazzarotto, Maddy Faron, Ashley Wrublik and Christiana Ostrander.

Indoor notes: Plotke, who has coached at Lemont for 29 years, had his biggest turnout ever with 53 athletes, 43 of which are sophomores or freshmen.

Lyons Township

Head coach: Greg Frandsen

Returning 2021 Class 3A state qualifiers: Junior Emma Kwak 100 (22nd, 12.75) and 200 (23rd, 26.87), 1,600 relay with junior Becky Phillips (All-State 8th, 4:02.77) and 400 relay with Kwak, senior Ava Kuhlman and Phillips (14th, 49.44).

Others to watch: Seniors Bella Mitchell, Kira Krzemkowski, Nora Gannon, Megan Quinlan, Brooke Chomko, juniors Catherine Sommerfeld, Claire McVady, Scarlett Lestina, Molly Hill and Charlotte Lange, sophomores Kristina Findley, Madison Findley, Shannon Cranny, Anna Bylsma, Lauren Bohringer and Julianne Melby and freshmen Leigh Ferrell, Jordan Hoffenberg, Taya Ramana

Indoor notes: The Lions finished third at the indoor WSC Silver Meet, just 10 points behind first-place Hinsdale Central. Krzemkowski (5-1 in high jump), Phillips (400 in 1:01.58) and the 800 relay (Kwak, Kuhlman, Gannon and McVady in 1:50.04) were champions. Cross country All-Stater Sommerfeld (12th) was mostly sidelined after a 5:13.9 1,600 at the indoor opener but returned at conference on the second-place 3,200 relay with Cranny, Lestina and Bylsma (9:39.45) that has the No. 7 best time in 3A. Kwak missed the 55 indoor school record by .09. Ferrell’s 9-6 set the fresh-soph indoor pole vault record.

Montini

Head coach: Alex Zasso

Athletes to watch: Senior Izzy Juda, juniors Lily Townsend and Katie Gertsen, sophomores Sofia Fisher and Takeisha Berry and freshmen Camryn Amouzou and Julia Gergen

Indoor notes: As a 1A school at the indoor Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Meet, Townsend was third in shot (28-7 3/4), Fisher fourth (200 in 27.74), Berry fifth (60 in 8.47) and the 800 relay sixth (Berry, Amouzou, Gergen, Fisher in 1:56.66).

Morton

Head coach: Dan Bulster

Athletes to watch: Seniors Melanie Arvis, Isabella Garcia, Amaya Moody, Isabella Nava and Noor Sammour and sophomore Amira Harris

Indoor notes: The Mustangs had third-place finishes from Garcia (1,600 in 5:44.20) and Sammour (9.81m/32-2 1/4 triple jump) at the indoor WSC Gold Meet. They kept their promising underclassmen on the sophomore level, won nine events and finished second. Harris won four sophomore titles, including the meet’s overall best triple jump (10.28 m/33-8 3/4), and shared the best high jump (1.47m/4-10) and the second-fastest 200 (28.23).

Nazareth

Head coach: Paris Lewis

Returning 2021 Class 2A state qualifiers: Senior Isabella Brunke 200 (21st in school-record 27.82)

Others to watch: Seniors Madeline Brent, Erin Howard, juniors Julienne Custodio and Libby Plahm, sophomores Hannah McCarthy and Neeve Olson and freshmen Alayna Plahm and Mia Gage.

Indoor notes: After her gymnastics season, Brunke broke indoor school records in the 55 (7.7) and long jump (15-2 1/2).

Riverside-Brookfield

Head coach: Ian Robins

Athletes to watch: Junior Bryce Pacourek, seniors Remy Hilpp and Ashley Vazquez, juniors Quinn Kahle, Ava Connerty and Mia Wagner, sophomores Maria Dalton, Lily Kocourek and Jenny Thomas and freshman Gianna Gelb

Indoor notes: Pacourek, Kocourek, Wagner and Dalton ran 10:49.68 in the 3,200 relay for the Bulldogs at Downers South’s Mustang Relays on March 7. Pacourek and Gelb were 2021 2A state cross country individual qualifiers.

St. Francis

Head coach: Mike Prizy

Athletes to watch: Seniors Izzy DeRosa, Leah Gaul, Kellyn Halliday and Ava Swiatek and juniors Alyssa Falco, Leann Ringsrud and Abigael Sheldon

Indoor notes: Swiatek had the top 600 time among Metro Suburban Conference runners (2:00.24 Feb. 25) and the state’s No. 9 fastest 2A indoor time. Ringsrud (92nd) was the top finisher for the Spartans at the 2A state cross country meet Nov. 6 and their top finisher at the 2021 Plano Sectional (5th in 800, 2:33.64).

Timothy Christian

Head coach: Kevin Hackert

2021 team highlights: Second at Metro Suburban Conference Red Meet

Returning 2021 Class 1A state qualifiers: 3,200 relay of sophomores Jenny Lumkes and Abby Bechtel and seniors Katelyn Leonard and Cailey Schuurmann (All-State 6th, 10:29.40), 1,600 relay of senior Kennedi Foster, Schuurmann, Lumkes and Leonard (20th, 4:24.51) and Lumkes Triple jump (22nd 9.51m/31-2 1/2)

Others to watch: Seniors Anna Tinaglia and Paige Hoving

Indoor notes: Last season’s 3,200 relay became the school’s first All-State relay since 2011.

Westmont

Head coach: Leeann Philgren

2021 team highlights: Second at 1A Hope Sectional

Returning 2021 Class 1A state qualifiers: Senior Lizzy Szynal 3,200 (19th, 13:03.39), junior Cate McDaniels 400 (12th, 1:01.46) and 1,600 relay with senior Mikayla Hickey, Szynal and McDaniels (25th, 4:33.61)

Others to watch: Seniors Ava Gustafson, Camille Kuru, Cinaiya Huddleston and Nora Schlacks and sophomore Annikah Engstrom

Indoor notes: McDaniel’s 49.7 tied the indoor 300 school record. Szynal (3,200 in 13:36.04), McDaniels (400 in 1:07.98) and the 1,600 relay (Engstrom, Hickey, Huddleston, McDaniels in 4:45.56) prevailed at Reed-Custer’s Comet Classic on March 19.

Wheaton Academy

Head coach: Daniel Ball

Athletes to watch: Seniors Brooke O’Carroll, Emma Chatfield and Molly From and freshman Rachel Nelson

Warriors notes: Last spring, From set school records in the triple jump (31-11 1/2) and high jump (4-10).

Wheaton North

Head coach: Anne-Marie Lemp

Returning 2021 Class 3A state qualifiers: 800 relay with junior Ashley Huang, senior Arwyn Gruenwald and sophomore Riya Chaudhari (15th, 1:46.51) and senior Kaelin Leishman Pole vault (tied for 30th, no height)

Others to watch: Seniors Taliyah Sims, Jaileen Medina, Jacelyn Johnson and Emma Beausoleil and juniors Annie Wank and Angelina Grimm.

Indoor notes: At the indoor DuKane Conference Meet, the 800 relay of Gruenwald, Sims, Wank and Chaudhari was third (1:50.97). Leishman cleared a personal-best 10-6 March 12. Huang is sidelined after suffering a torn ACL during gymnastics regionals.

Wheaton Warrenville South

Head coach: Rob Harvey

2021 team highlights: Second at 3A Lockport Sectional

Returning 2021 Class 3A state qualifiers: 1,600 relay with senior Grace Macabobby and junior Nora Fieweger (All-state 4th, 3:59.95) and 800 relay with senior Celia Huelskoetter, Fieweger and Macabobby (All-state 6th, 1:43.88)

Others to watch: Seniors Sydney Anton, Annie Macabobby, Piper Lindsay, Sam Nepras, Maya Kalombo and Sophia Olivito, junior Payton Fleming, sophomores Haylie Hinckley and Jenna Bachara and freshmen Nicole Poglitsch and Frida Martinez.

Indoor notes: The Tigers were second at the indoor DuKane Conference Meet with titles from Annie Macabobby (800 in 2:21.42), the 800 relay (Fieweger, Huelskoetter, Lindsay, Grace Macabobby in 1:47.30), the No. 3 3A time this indoor season, the 1,600 relay (Anton, Fieweger, Huelskoetter, Grace Macabobby in 4:09.71, No. 13 in 3A) and 3,200 relay (Bachara, Anton, Olivito, Fleming in 9:52.20). On March 11, Annie Macabobby ran the fourth fastest WWS 800 indoors (2:19.95) and Poglitsch set the freshman 3,200 school record (11:18.67). Nepras (11-1) and Hinckley (5-1) achieved bests in pole vault and high jump.

Willowbrook

Head coach: Clyde Ware

Returning 2021 Class 3A state qualifiers: Senior Lily Weder 400 (21st, 1:02.05)

Others to watch: Seniors Hannah Andris, Mia Barrington, Gillian Enriquez and Tess Placek, juniors Brianna Alandy and Sarah Stout and freshmen McKenzie Alandy and Grace Capps.

Indoor notes: The Warriors were second at the indoor West Suburban Conference Gold Meet. Event champions were Weder (300 in 43.94), Barrington (4.94m/16-2 1/2 in long jump) and Placek in triple jump (10.19m/33-5 1/4) with Barrington second (10.00m/32-9 3/4). Weder (400 in 1:04.30) and Brianna Alandy (55 in 7.63), Stout (1.47m/4-10 in high jump) and the 4-lap relay were second.

York

Head coach: Amy Lichon

Returning 2021 Class 3A state qualifiers: 3,200 relay of senior Katelyn Winton and Allison Fitzgibbons, sophomore Maggie Owens and junior Brooke Berger (All-State 7th, 9:36.25), junior Bria Bennis 3,200 (All-State 8th, 10:58.14), sophomore Katherine Klimek 3,200 (10th, 11:19.91), Berger 1,600 (11th, 4:57.64) and Winton 1,600 (22nd, 5:11.65)

Others to watch: Seniors Erin Powers and Abby Thomas, juniors Katelyn Pratt, Kalina Ceglinski and Ava Glabus and sophomores Lainey Paul and Leila Arzon

Indoor notes: The Dukes used several runners from their 3A state championship girls cross country lineup for a close second to Hinsdale Central at the WSC Silver indoor meet 110-107. Event winners were Winton (3,200 in 10:48.57) with the state’s No. 8 indoor time this season, Berger (1,600 in 5:06.34), Pratt (300 in 42.86) and the 1,600 relay (Paul, Powers, Winton, Berger in 4:07.56, No. 6 indoor in state). Second-place Bennis (3,200 in 10:52.38), Berger (800 in 2:18.65) and Klimek (1,600 in 5:08.48) also posted impressive times. Paul (10-4 in pole vault) cleared the 10-3 3A qualifying standard March 11.