Western Big Six Conference girls track and field outlook
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By Shannon Heaton | Friday, May 09, 2008 |
Western Big Six girls track
Outlook
The song remains the same in Western Big Six girls track and field, and once again in 2008 it should be Rock Island’s tune to call.
"We graduated 18 seniors, six who are now competing in college (four at NCAA Division I schools), and this has left us low on numbers but strong in experience at the top competitive level," Rock Island coach Michelle Lillis said. "If the girls gain confidence and are willing to put forth the extra effort necessary, they will see success."
Galesburg and Moline won’t make it easy for the Rocks, and Rock Island Alleman continues to make strides toward the Streaks and Maroons. United Township has a few solid individuals but overall depth makes competition for a team title somewhat less likely.
Athletes to watch
Aisha Praught, Moline: Followed up a distance double at the Western Big Six meet a year ago with an all-state effort in the Class 3A cross country state meet last fall. Praught was 16th in the 3,200 at state a year ago and should figure into the medal race in that event, and possibly the 1,600, as well, though that is a very difficult double to pull off at state.
Genesis Johnson, Rock Island: Won four events at the Shipley Invitational in Moline last weekend, including a first in the long jump, a competitive first for her. With team captain and sprint No. 2 Brittney Hart out with a broken foot, the pressure on Johnson to perform becomes even more intense.
Caitlin Bull, Alleman: Will challenge Praught for individual honors in the mile and will be among the favorites in the 800. Alleman has the makings of another conference title-level entry in the 3,200 relay, and Bull is probably the strongest reason why.
Ciara Turner, Rock Island: Might be the lockdown favorite in the hurdles races this year, particularly in the 300 intermediates, where she already smashed the Shipley Invitational record by almost 2 1/2 seconds. Might not have the same kind of relay commitments that she had to shoulder a year ago, which might free her up for a possible 1-2 in the 200 with Johnson.
Halie Ecker, Moline: Didn’t compete at Shipley last weekend, but the Maroon junior is probably the conference’s top returning jumper after winning the Big Six triple jump and finishing second in the long jump in 2007. Ecker also might be Turner’s strongest challenge to a sweep of the hurdles.
Storylines
ânº Rock Island can get only four events from Johnson and Turner, and with Hart out for a while, the Rocks need someone — anyone — to step up. That might be Ebony Craig, who put together a solid day in the jumps at Shipley last weekend, or it could be sprinter Triona Roberts, who might be a key cog in the Rocks’ relays. High jumper Michelle Strickland already has cleared 5-foot-4 outside.
ânº Moline is fielding a very, very, very young team, particularly in the sprints, but look at how that strategy played during girls basketball season. Sophomore Emily Wolbers looks very good in the 800, and senior discus thrower Porschia Cullen always manages big efforts in that event. Erin Stitt is going to have solid days in the jumps right along with Ecker.
ânº Galesburg’s top athlete is sophomore Bailey Jackson, who has capability in the longer sprints as well as the jumps, and she’ll likely play a hand in the Streaks’ always-strong relays. Look for junior Kourtni Brophy and freshman Cierra Latta to be strong sprinters, but the Streaks are going to struggle in the distance events and a bit in the throws, and that will likely take them out of title contention.
ânº Alleman loses its lockdown 30 points in every meet with the graduation loss of Georgia Tech freshman Megan Manning and ace pole vaulter Audrey Just, but distance events — with Bull and junior Kathleen Hogan getting a lift from sophomore Mary Ludin — are going to be a strength for the Pioneers. Courtney Gieseman will be a darkhorse in the horizontal jumps, and Taelor Hillyer will score well in the pole vault.
ânº United Township has a strong high jumper in Marissa Bell and thrower in Rachel Medina (who also has some chops in the middle distance events), and hurdler Anna Fuller may very well be able to put up top-three results in both the high and low hurdles events. Almost two-thirds of the UT team, however, is freshmen or sophomores, and this year will be a learning experience for many of them.
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