KEWANEE — A global pandemic could only slow down the Bureau Valley Storm’s streak, it could not stop it.
The Bureau Valley girls got back on track in the TRAC, winning their sixth straight Three Rivers track and field conference championship Thursday night in Kewanee.
The Storm won three events with five seconds to beat out Erie-Prophetstown 142-130 to claim the Three Rivers East title. St. Bede placed fourth (99), Princeton was fifth (83) and Hall seventh (49).
“It meant everything to us because it was our first year with our new coach (Jennifer Backer), so we all wanted to make her proud. But we also wanted to show (former coach Dale) Donner we still got it,” said BV senior standout Kamryn Kolb, who won two individual events and ran on a winning relay.
“This is six years straight winning conference, but I’m sure if we had it last year we’d be at seven.”
BV’s previous five championships came as part of a full conference meet. This year’s Three Rivers meet gave way to COVID-19 protocols with the divisions split at separate sites. The West division was held at Morrison Thursday in which Sherrard dominated, 192-109 over Orion.
“I knew going into the meet that we had a lot of good athletes to compete against. However, the girls have worked hard throughout this season knowing that this year was definitely unlike any other,” Backer said. “Trying new events and excelling in the ones that they have already worked in helped them to win this coveted title of conference champs. After winning five years in a row, it was nerve wracking with the idea of “can we keep the streak going?”
Kolb took part in all three of the Storm’s winning efforts. She won the 200-meter dash (27.63) and the long jump (15 feet, 4 inches) and teamed with Lexie Marquez, Jade Aber and Addison Wessel to win the 800 relay (1:56.03).
“I was happy with how my events went,” Kolb said. “It’s certainly fun working with two new relays and even though we are all trying to figure it out during this pandemic, we still remain as a team and it still feels like a family.”
Aber also won the triple jump (33-4), while sophomore Kate Salisbury claimed the 400 (1:06.27).
The Storm also finished second in the 400, 1600 and 3200 relays while Ashley Nordstrom was second in the 100 hurdles (18.17).
St. Bede’s fourth-place showing was boosted by three conference champions and three runners-up.
“We had a PR night. The girls ran fantastic,” SBA coach Marty Makranski said.
Sophomore Anna Lopez won the 100 (13.25) and placed second in the 200 (27.78) and triple jump (10.11m).
Teghan Tillman was first in the high jump (1.52m) and second in the long jump (4.43m).
The Lady Bruins also won the 4×100 relay with Macy Zeglis, Tillman, Rubi Deletorre and Lopez with a time of 53.85.
Fifth place Princeton scored their most points with its pair of freshmen throwers.
Made a trip to Kewanee to shoot today’s TRAC meet with phs, bv, hall and st Bede and company. Always good to see my @CoachAtwell and the Boiler gang. Nice to be an honorary Boiler pic.twitter.com/GBbTcxVmuq
— Kevin H Sports Editor (@bcrsportsed) May 27, 2021
Morgan Richards was second in the discus (32-6 1/2) and third in discus (90-2) while Morgan Foes was second in discus (96-6) and third in shot put (32-5 3/4).
Jenna Loftus finished second in the 300 hurdles (53.97) and third in the 3200 (13:24.38).
Sophomore Promise Giocometti led Hall with a pair of second-place finishes in the 100 (13.75) and 400 (1:07.08).
* Notes: A pair of former state medalists, Saige Barnett (Bureau Valley) and Kaelyn Hamalle (Hall) were in new roles with their respective schools as coaches Thursday. Barnett said it was different not being able to participate and was itching to compete, but enjoys her new vantage point. Hall head coach Nick Hanck said it’s a plus having Hamalle’s extra pair of eyes and knowledge to help. “She has been awesome to have back. Gives me a chance to wander to other field events at a meet and not just sit at the jumps. She has a way of relating to the kids and they have really taken to her,” he said. … Girls sectionals will be held Thursday with Bureau Valley, Hall, St. Bede and Putnam County at the Rockridge Sectional in 1A and Princeton at Geneseo in 2A.
Source: The Daily Chronicle
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