Girls track wins FVC; aims for State Meet bids

HUNTLEY — There’s no place like home for the Huntley girls track and field team.

The Red Raiders wrote another chapter in its dominance of the Fox Valley Conference Track and Field Meet at Red Raider Stadium May 5. With four conference records and individual championships, the HHS squad amassed 149 points to swamp runners-up Prairie Ridge’s 82.

The effort gives the Red Raiders momentum heading into the Class 3A IHSA Sectional Meet May 10 here, ahead of the Girls State Track and Field Meet May 18-20 at Eastern Illinois University.

“We had great performances all the way through,” HHS coach Jason Monson said of the FVC championship. “The great thing about this group is it always does better than its seeds. We thought before the meet we would score about 120 points and we finished with almost 150 and we did that with making some changes in the relays. We have seven or eight good sprinters.”

It was in field events where Huntley secured double winners. Senior Alex Johnson, the defending state champ in both, concluded with the triple jump title in 12.5 meters, an FVC record,  edging sister Dominique Johnson’s 12.06 meters. For the triple jump, Alex Johnson, who is headed to Arizona State University next season, won the event at a record 6.01 meters.

“It’s the (good) weather and I  have been really focused on my form,” Alex Johnson said. “I did my best ever in the triple jump and I’m pretty proud of that.”

Alex Johnson was looking forward to later hand-off to sister Dominique Johnson joined K’Leigh Saenz and Emily Byers in the 4×200 meter relay, which set a new FVC record in 1:49.29. Also in relays, the 4×100 meter group of Lily Sanwick, Addison Busam, Vicky Emitov and Saenz broke the conference record at 49.98 seconds.

“It was crazy,” she said of the baton exchange with Dominique.

Meanwhile, senior Ally Panzloff recorded titles in the shot put with a 1.67 meters and discus with a 44.51 meter throw. The effort to win the shot put was considered more of a surprise of the two. Both results notched FVC records. Panzloff, who will play volleyball next season at Brown University, was happy with her meet.

“I was surprised at the shot put,” Panzloff said.

Another individual winner was Emitov in the 200-meter run, with a 25.94 seconds effort.

Also a highlight of the meet for the Red Raiders included senior Breanna Burak in the 1,600 meters. She met a big goal with a  4:59.3, a personal record to sister Brittney’s 5:07.41. Afterward several teammates ran to Breanna’s lane to congratulate her.

“My goal has always been to run a sub 5 minutes,” Breanna Burak said. “It was great to hear the support all the way through because normally you don’t hear anything with the race being so fast.”

Breanna Burak, who is headed to Illinois State to run cross country, appreciate the next meet is 10 days from graduation.

“I want to savor it all in,” Breanna said. “Every work out, every rep, and every race.”