Girls track gains 3rd straight FVC title
HUNTLEY — The Huntley girls track and field squad turned in multiple first-place efforts as the Red Raiders continued their dominance of the Fox Valley Conference May 2 at Jacobs.
The FVC championship was the third straight for Huntley, giving it momentum leading to the May 8 IHSA Class 3A Sectional meet at Red Raider Stadium. The Red Raiders are defending sectional and IHSA Class State Champs. Qualifiers go on to the IHSA State Meet May 17-18 at Eastern Illinois University.
“I’m incredibly proud of how the girls performed (at the FVC meet and it’s a great jumping point for the sectional. We had some state level, podium worthy performances and we will look to continue that success,” Huntley head coach Jason Monson said.
Monson said he was pleased with efforts in several events. Huntley concluded the meet with 157 points, while Hampshire was next with 83 for second.
Junior Sienna Robertson threw the discus a personal record 45 feet, 18 inches. Her mark topped state champ Ally Panzloff’s league best mark last year.
“Robertson’s throw was huge. Being back on top of the state leader board is a huge confidence booster,” Monson said.
Junior Dominique Johnson turned in a stellar effort in the triple jump, where she is defending IHSA State Champion, with a 12.64 meters leap. Dominique Johnson’s effort topped that of sister Alex’s at last season’s FVC meet.
“I’m very happy for Dominique Johnson. She has been triple jumping well all season, so it was great to see her hit a mark and record she has been searching for,” Monson said.
Senior Vicky Evtimov set a record in her 200-meter run triumph, in 24.80 seconds, which is ranked 10th in Illinois.
“I’m happy for Evtimov to get the 200 meter outdoor record. She has been so important for our relays her entire four years, to see her get an individual record is extremely satisfying and puts her in a great spot to perform at state,” Monson said.
For relay events, the 4×100 meter relay of Sophie Amin, Emily Byers, K’Leigh Saenz and Evtimov concluded at 47.61 seconds for a title and a meet record. The 4×200 meter quartet of Amin, Evtimov, Izzy Whitehouse and Addison Busam ended with a 1:44.84 and was also a record. The 4×400 meter relay of Busam, Saenz, Williams and Whitehouse took second.
In distance races, it was sophomore Cori Klivinger crossing the finish line first in 15.51 seconds, a personal best. Sophomore Aspen Maldonado won the 800-meters in a personal best, 2:24.95.
Amin won the 100 meter hurdles in 14.69 seconds, a personal best.
Adding depth and team points were Elena Fetzer with a 10.34 meters shot put throw for second place; Brianna Felde was fifth in the event at 9.96 meters; Emma Garofalo, ended runner-up in the pole vault, 9.04.25. Freshman Haley Ramon took fourth in the 3,200-meters, 11:35.82.
Robertson’s discus title
Robertson had a good feeling when she let the discus fly. When it landed 45.18 meters farther, Robertson had secured a conference title and a personal best as well as a meet record. Robertson commented on her season’s progress leading up to the record throw.
“The past few weeks specifically days I had been working on my reverse and refining smaller skills. I think the reverse has helped a lot for me to seek that improvement but also refining those smaller details that make big differences,” Robertson said.
“My first reaction of the throw was that I knew it was good. Once I had stopped in the ring and saw the flight I knew it was a solid and was excited but eager to hear the mark. As I was walking back to shag my disc I was trying to estimate where I thought it would be until I heard the call, and got really excited. My goal for the season was to ultimately hit 40 meters and once that happened I wanted to throw consistently at 40 but if I hit the 45 meters mark that would be great too. So me and throws coach Zach Borring were very excited,” Robertson said.
