Busy Gierke brings home three medals

CHARLESTON -- Batavia's Natalie Tarter, who claimed four medals, wasn't the only area "iron girl" at Saturday's state track meet at O'Brien Stadium.

Kaneland junior Lindsay Gierke won three medals to lead the rest of the local contingent. Area athletes who weren't wearing the red and gold of Batavia claimed 13.

Gierke was fifth in the 300 hurdles (44.23), sixth in the 100 dash (12.42) and seventh in the 200 (25.25). Waubonsie Valley's Shakeia Pinnick was second in the 300 hurdles and fourth in 100 hurdles and Rosary freshman Amy Kus took third in the high jump.

"I was pleased to qualify in three events, especially winning the two heats on Friday," said Gierke. "I was hoping to qualify in all four (missing out in the 100 dash) but three is pretty good, plus these are the ones I like the most. I was really tired today, though."

Next year, when track is divided into three classes, Gierke and the Knights will likely move to 2A.

"It will be different," she said. "I'll kind of miss it, though. I like going against the big schools. They really push me."

Pinnick struggled out of the blocks in both hurdles races and continued to have problems with her steps between barriers in the longer hurdles race.

"I usually take 17 but I'm running faster down here and taking 16," she said. "When I take 17 I jump off the same leg over very hurdle, when it's 16, you have to switch legs."

And that's giving her problems as she tries to adjust on the fly.

"I'm disappointed (overall) because every time I got the chance, something bad happened," she said.

That's how Rosary freshman Amy Kus, who lives in Batavia, was feeling after taking third in the high jump. She matched her personal record by clearing 5-5 on her second attempt.

"I made it at Kaneland, too," she said. "It's kind of thrilling.

"I seriously had no idea how I'd do. On the bus ride down, everybody was asking me if I was nervous. I thought it was just another big meet but once I got down here it was totally awesome."

Another freshman high jumper, Hinckley-Big Rock's Tess Godhart, agreed after taking eighth in Class A.

"It was kind of overwhelming," she said. "It was fun to see all the photographers behind the mat ready to take your picture when you were getting ready to jump."

Geneva's Lexie Tomchek took seventh in the AA field.

Waubonsie Valley senior Toni Ogundare went out in style, taking fourth place in the 800-meter run. Batavia's Alexis Sampson passed her on the final curve but Ogundare ran her down in the final 100.

"I just wanted to place and finish with no regrets since it was my last high school race," said Ogundare. "My coach had said, if anyone has footspeed in this race, it's you. So don't let anybody pass you the last 100."

Marked leaders

The young Geneva 3200 relay quartet of Kat Yelle, Kelly Whitley, Myra Yelle and Tess Ehrhardt finished sixth after emerging as the top seed in Friday's qualifying heats with a time of 9:16.47.

"Yesterday we were more pumped up," Myra Yelle said. "Today, I think the nerves got to us and there was like no adrenaline rush. Having the best time Friday was a lot of pressure. We knew the other teams were gonna be ready and come faster."

The Vikings were only three seconds off their Friday time, but Barrington came back with a meet record run of 9:04.14.

"We wish we could have switched the races but we're gonna get stronger," said the sophomore of she and her three freshmen teammates.

• Aurora Christian senior Ann Schuette led early then settled for seventh in the Class A 3200.

"That's just from cross country. I always felt good about going out in front and trying to keep (the lead)," she said.

Five stress fractures in her legs have hampered her during her high school career and one forced her to miss last fall's cross country season.

• H-BR sophomore basketball standout Jenna Thorp gave up soccer this season, went out for track and brought home a sixth-place medal in the shot put.

"I competed in track in junior high," she said after setting a personal record of 38-2.25 in the finals.

She headed to Champaign after getting her medal to join her travel basketball teammates in a weekend tournament playing for Full Package Lady Lightning Elite.

• West sophomore Shanice Andrews took fifth in the long jump after being unable to improve upon her Friday qualifying mark.

• Allie Pace of Geneva was 11th in the AA pole vault final.

• Plano freshman Karson Greiter was 25th in the 3200.

• Oswego's Christine Sliepka was 32nd in the AA 3200. Girls State Track Notebook