Girls track and field: Prospect sprints to fourth straight MSL title

Barrington held an 81-80 lead over Prospect midway through the Mid-Suburban League girls track and field meet Friday night at Rolling Meadows.

But the Knights were unstoppable in capturing their fourth straight MSL crown and 12th overall as they rolled to the championship by a 185-137 margin over the Fillies.

Prospect's 4x100 team of Charlotte Deines, Amina Hadziahmetovic, Anna Niebrugge, and Nikki Niebrugge won in 48.02 seconds while its 4x800 team of Lily Ginsberg, Kaitlin Skelton, Sophie Fransen, and Meg Peterson won in 9:21.46. Then Prospect's 4x200 team of the Niebrugge sisters, Samantha Skowronski, and Gabriella Chavez won in 1:43.72.

"We love our relays. I think relays speak volumes of the depth of our program to be able to put four kids out there that run hard and run for each other and we put some new faces out there," said Prospect coach Pete Wintermute, whose team also won the 4x400. "It's the best conference in the state. With 12 schools it's deep, and you've got to be at your best to be competitive in this."

The Knights also got firsts from Deines (long jump), Peterson (1,600), Brooke Neri (pole vault), and Anna Niebrugge (200).

"I think that we're starting to peak just at the right time and I feel really confident going into sectionals and state," said Deines, who will compete at the University of Dayton next year. "Our team is just so prepped for high intensity meets. We do well under pressure situations, and we've been there before so we should have nothing but confidence going into the end of the season."

Barrington's Cici Stennett won the 100 in 12.32 seconds while teammates Abby Lewis (800), Mia Sirois (10:24.47 in 3,200-meter run), and Sofiabella Amirante (shot put) also placed first.

"She (Stennett) was new to the team last year. She knew what she wanted to get after this year, and I think she is very hungry and very excited to get to state this year," said Barrington coach Kala Penev. "She (Sirois) is still out there to prove herself every day. She is giving it her all and getting better every single week so it has been really fun to watch her keep improving."

Defending 100-meter hurdles state champ Daisha Brunson of Conant won that event Friday in 14.21.

"I just need to focus on handling my speed so I can full sprint to the first hurdle. When I get that down I think I can PR by a lot," said Brunson, whose best time is a 13.9. "I've been working pretty hard in the off-season. I hope that of course I can get the state title again, but staying healthy throughout my races is one of my biggest goals."

Other winners were Schaumburg's Kaylee Meyer (1.67 meters in high jump), Palatine's Aisha Kazeem (300-meter hurdles), and Wheeling's Katie Moser (10.83 meters in triple jump). Rolling Meadows freshman Hazel Nadal won the 400 while teammate Roisin Grandberry won discus (38.43 meters).

Wheeling has the most MSL titles with 13, including 11 in a row from 1979 to 1989, and 12 of 13 from 1979 to 1991. Palatine has 10 titles while Barrington has nine.

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