Girls track and field: West Aurora's Spagnola wins another state hurdles title

CHARLESTON - It was the greatest lean of her young lifetime.

Tori Spagnola literally had the finish line in her sight - but with an equally determined Hallee Thomas bearing down with an identical goal of capturing the Class 3A state championship in the 300-meter hurdles.

Spagnola, after five previous all-state performances in the two hurdles distances, matched the exploits of her older sister Emma, the greatest athlete in West Aurora program history.

The younger Spagnola stretched her upper torso to edge Johnson by four one-hundredths of a second with her career-best time of 43.98.

"Absolutely amazing," Spagnola said. "I am glad I was able to run my race. I had to go, dig deep, go and get it. I stutter-stepped a couple of hurdles early that almost cost me. I knew (Johnson) was right behind me. My last 300 hurdles race, now it's the 400 hurdles (at the University of Minnesota)."

The senior was third in the 100 hurdles earlier in the afternoon in 14.57.

The Blackhawks led all area programs with 22 points after their 800 relay finished fifth behind all-state candidates Savannah Ming and Zoe Littlejohn.

Moments after the Spagnola triumph, the fourth in family history, a four-hour weather delay intervened.

In the opening field-event of the afternoon, Alex Johnson inaugurated the festivities at O'Brien Stadium at Eastern Illinois University with the long jump crown.

The Huntley sophomore soared 19 feet, 5 inches to deny three-time Neuqua Valley triple-jump state champion Riley Ammenhauser, among others.

Like Spagnola, Johnson also medaled in the 100 dash (seventh).

"She was one of the people I was looking at the most," Johnson said of Ammenhauser. "I didn't think (my mark) would hold up. I thought I would get passed in the next two jumps."

St. Charles North jumpers Natalie Buratczuk and Kaylee Hopp ended their seasons as all-state performers.

The former failed at 5-7 to settle for third place with an official mark of 1.67 meters in the high jump.

"I was really hoping to get that 5-7," said Buratczuk, a junior. "I was hoping for the best going into my senior year."

Hopp, a junior, watched helplessly as Ammenhauser won a third straight championship in the triple jump.

But Hopp had a major-consolation prize with her fourth-place effort at 39-2.

"I am feeling pretty good," Hopp said. "I was jumping 40 feet all season. I am excited for the competition next year (at Marquette). It was a good taste of what is to come."

The final three events of the state meet - the 1,600, 200 and 1,600 relay - were conducted after a long weather delay.

Batavia junior Katrina Schlenker was a late edition to the drama of an extraordinary metric mile.

Ali Ince, the Normal Community freshman phenomenon who missed the 800 record by one-hundredth of a second for a first championship, was one of three girls to break the Class 3A record with her all-class new benchmark of 4:40.85.

Schlenker had a late surge in the frenetic finish to earn the Bulldogs' third state medal with her sixth-place result in 4:52.99.

"In the 800 my legs didn't feel right," said Schlenker, who failed to medal despite entering as the third seed. "I was really disappointed in the 800. I have been very centered this year."

Bartlett sprinter Gavin Stephan then authored a second all-state effort by finishing sixth in her final prep race in the 200.

Spagnola and her West Aurora 1,600 relay teammates barely missed placing in the final event as they settled for 10th place.

The Blackhawks once again cemented their status as the model program in the area with their ninth-place tie with Evanston. Lincoln-Way East captured its fifth state title since 2013 with 56 points.

The following athletes were all state from the area: Gavin Stephen, Bartlett, 100, fourth; Naomi Ruff, South Elgin, 800, ninth; Lauren Swartz, St. Charles East, 300 hurdles, seventh; Kelly McCloughan, Geneva, 300 hurdles; McCloughan, triple jump, sixth; St. Charles East, 400 relay, eighth; Kelly Fletcher, Cary-Grove, discus; Mackenzie Bunkers, Batavia, pole vault, fourth; Katie Beitzel, Geneva, pole vault, seventh; Abby Peeler, Kaneland, shot put, fifth; Sylvia Bruzga, Batavia, shot put, seventh.