Hinsdale South, LT Edged Out At Track Sectional

With aspirations high, the Bolingbrook Girls’ Sectional Championship kicked off without a hitch Friday evening.

By the final meet, four teams were within two points of one another: Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central, Lyons Township and Bolingbrook. 

The 4x400 meter relay (4:02.09), clinching the sectional for Downers Grove South, which edged out Hinsdale Central 100-99.5. The Mustang relay team comprised seniors Melissa Radek, Tori Franklin, junior Rebecca Stearns and sophomore Samantha Baeten.

Hinsdale South finished in sixth place with 27 points.

“The 4x400 is the most exciting race in a meet,” said Downers Grove South coach Katerina Claiborne. “It’s exciting that this race gave us the chance to clinch it. We were really focused today. On a day like (Friday) when the winds are (gusty), every point counts. We try to win every meet and this was not an exception.”

Franklin created a philosophy that the Mustangs followed on a daily basis: ‘Make it happen.’ Making it happen is exactly what the Mustangs did.

Franklin led the Mustangs by qualifying for state in the 400-meter dash (58.09), long jump (18-01.50), triple jump (39-03.25) and the clutch 4x400 relay. The Michigan State-bound dasher was the sectional champion in all four events. This is Franklin’s third trip to the state meet.

“I didn’t expect to qualify for long jump,” Franklin said. “It kind of pushed me on my other events. There was pressure on the last relay, but I let the adrenaline get me through the race. Our team really executed (Friday).”

Stearns, who also was apart of the advancing relay team, qualified for state in the 800-meter run with a 2:19.94 second place finish (800-meter champion was Downers Grove North senior Gabriella Effrein). This is Stearns second trip, and first individually.

Besides qualifying in a relay, Radek also qualified in the 300-meter hurdles. Radek, who’s planning on attending University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was the sectional champion posting a 45.75 win. This is Radek’s second trip to the state tournament.

“It’s awesome,” Radek said when asked about how important the sectional championship was in her senior season. “I’m not running next year so I want to end my career on a good note. The best race is coming up so we have to see what we can do.”

Other Mustang state qualifiers were senior Kathleen Riordan and sophomore Katherine Strelau. Riordan placed second in the high jump, recording a 4-11 finish, while Strelau placed fourth in the 3200-meter run at 11:19.22.

Hinsdale South sent junior Uzo Okoro as a state qualifier in the long and triple jump. Okoro placed second in the high jump with a 36-05.50 (behind Franklin) and third in the long jump at 17.08.25 (following Franklin and Downers Grove junior Tess Johnson).

Hinsdale South also sent a first-timer in freshman Sarah Warren to the state tournament. Warren placed fourth with a 59.18 in the 400-meter dash.

Both Hinsdale and Downers Grove South look to post a strong showing at the state tournament in Charleston next Thursday.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better meet,” Franklin said. “I’m so proud of my team. We have a good chance to win. All of us need to pull a good showing in our events.”