Illinois area girls track season outlooks
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By Shannon Heaton | Friday, May 09, 2008 |
Outlook
It would be a tall order for Sherrard to repeat as Illinois Class A state track and field champion.
But a pair of sophomores — sprinter Lacey Hainline and hurdler Sarah Boraas — plus an "older" veteran in junior distance runner Shelbie Pettie, plus a talented supporting cast, means that the Tigers are more than just in a rebuilding year.
They aren’t alone. Riverdale, Erie/Prophetstown and Annawan/Wethersfield all could have the kind of team capable of doing major damage at state.
Athletes to watch
Alexa Allen, Riverdale: Burst onto the hurdles scene in a major way as a freshman in 2007, taking fifth at state in the 100 highs. She won both the 100 high hurdles and the open 100 dash at last year’s Three Rivers Conference meet and will be a threat to win four titles as a sophomore this year.
Sarah Boraas, Sherrard: The new kid in a group chock-full of upperclassmen last year, Boraas proved she could hold her own with the Tigers, finishing seventh in the 300 low hurdles at state and putting up several strong sprint relay legs over the two-day event.
Natalie Fargher, Annawan/Wethersfield: The do-everything-well senior might find track season to be her most challenging, and this is a three-time Lincoln Trail Conference gold medalist and three-time relay state medalist we’re talking about. It’s Fargher’s swan song in athletics, and perhaps no one deserves a state title more.
Miranda Brockman, Rock Falls: Already, Brockman is off to a strong start in the hurdles; she’ll be a strong challenger to Rock Island sophomore Ciara Turner. Brockman will be the power behind at least one or two strong sprint relays as well.
Alyx Dykema, Geneseo: Don’t be fooled by her stature in comparison to most throwers: there’s plenty of power in Dykema’s spins before she releases the discus. She was just a couple of feet short of qualifying for finals in the Class AA state meet a year ago, and this year she’ll be seeking to bring home state hardware. Any meet with her, Moline’s Porschia Cullen and United Township’s Rachel Medina will be a discus competition well worth the watch.
Storylines
• For Geneseo, challenging the depth and power of long-time NCIC queens Sterling will likely be too tall an order, though the Maple Leafs — under second-year head coach Phil Paulson — should be able to move past Dixon into the runner-up spot this year. "Our team will be strong in distance," Paulson said, adding that the longer relay events should be included there as well. "(In field events), our strengths are in the weight events, pole vault and high jump." Look at seniors Eliza Cropp (distance) and Andrea Egan (throws, particularly shot) to provide points and leadership.
• Field-event strength was key for Sterling last year, and many of those key performers return, led by jumper-hurdler Kaitlin Loos, jumper Ceara Campos and jumper Constance Sciacero, all of whom won NCIC individual titles in 2007. On the track — other than in the hurdles — Sterling is not as experienced as it has been but might be working toward some quality by season’s end.
• In the Northwest Upstate Illini, West Carroll will be paced by seniors Lyndsey Schreiner — a state qualifier in the long jump — and conference placewinner April Miller. Otherwise, it’s a young team for coach Dave Baisden. "We should be strong in long jump and triple jump again, but being as young as we are, we are going to be feeling our way through the season, looking for each athlete’s niche," he said. Junior distance runner Ellen Schreiner and sophomore hurdler Amanda Saeger are going to provide some depth.
• Last year’s Three Rivers Conference race wound up being a Bureau Valley rout, but this year might be very different, as both Riverdale and Erie/Prophetstown will be improved, even though the Storm might return one of the most talented track athletes anywhere in senior middle-distance runner Alisa Baron.
• The Rams bring back, in addition to Allen, junior middle distancer Kara Howell and senior thrower Amanda Streeter. All three are going to be, or certainly should be, at the top of their events once again this year. Howell won the 800 and 1,600 and Streeter was the shot put champion in last year’s TRAC-8 meet. Freshman high jumper Mallory Gibson sparkled during the indoor season, clearing 5-3.
• Erie/Prophetstown has a long-standing tradition of success in the relays, and seniors Emily McLain and Annie DeBaillie are ready to pass on that tradition. A year ago, the Panthers won the 800 and 1,600 relays, with a strong third in the 400. High jumper Karissa Hodge will provide depth in the field events for the Panthers.
• It would be tough for coach Todd Volkert to duplicate last season’s title effort at Sherrard, but the sophomore firepower he has in Hainline — already the area’s fastest 100-meter sprinter — and Boraas, who has dominated in the hurdles, is a pretty good start. A healthy • Pettie would do wonders for this team, as she’s capable of running — when healthy — anywhere from 400 to 3,200. As valuable as Pettie is on the track, she might be even more valuable in terms of the intangibles she brings to a squad in transition this year.
• Orion has 12 returning letterwinners out for this year’s team, led by senior sprinter Megan Maher, who has already flirted with the 13-second barrier in the 100-meter dash. The Chargers have most of their upperclassmen returners in the distance events.
• Sprints and relays have been a watchword for the Annawan/Wethersfield group, and it — led by Fargher and junior Aron Jackson — should be pretty special on the track again this year. Watch for emerging sensation Jordan Milroy in the jumps. Milroy seems to have the same gift for jumping that older sister Marla took to Western Illinois two years ago.
• Of the 29 members of the AlWood/Cambridge co-op, all but six are freshmen and sophomores, but that isn’t stopping the co-op from big plans this spring. "I have a handful of girls that I know will be great, and I think I will get another handful that will step up and surprise me," second-year coach Bekki Cheatham said. Look for senior Carli Schieferdecker to be one of the area’s best triple jumpers, and senior high jumper Kourtnie Janson has the ability to meet the state-qualifying height of 5-2 at almost any time. Sophomore twins Michelle and Stephanie Williams should get several chances to break the 1,600 and 3,200 relay records again this year.
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