Huntley sends 5 entries to Class 3A finals – Shaw Local

Huntley’s Dominique Johnson is all but guaranteed to repeat as Class 3A state champion in the triple jump.

The Red Raiders junior covered 12.25 meters (40 feet, 2 1/4 inches) on her second attempt during Friday’s preliminaries at the IHSA Girls Track and Field State Meet.

Johnson also sits in third place in the long jump with 5.62 (18-5 1/4), less than 3 inches behind first, heading into Saturday’s final at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium.

Neuqua Valley’s Gabi Karvelis earned a score of 11.80 (38-8.75) to take second place in the 3A triple jump. His personal best is 39-2 1/2.

Johnson, sprinter hurdler Sophie Amin and sprinter Vicky Evtimov lead the charge for the Raiders as they also attempt to repeat as team state champions.

Huntley also sent Amin (100 high hurdles); Sienna Robertson (record); the 4×100 team consisting of Amin, Emmy Byers, K’Leigh Saenz and Evtimov; and the 4×200 team of Johnson, Byers, Saenz and Evtimov in the final.

In Class 2A, Johnsburg’s Caitlyn Casella qualified in the 100 and 200, while the Skyhawks’ Lila Duck was successful in the long jump.

Prairie Ridge’s Katie Jewell (100) and the 4×800 team (Olivia McPherson, Lila Stewart, Brenna Benjamin and Faith Wilder) will compete in the finals.

Woodstock North’s Ashley Janeczko advanced in both throws.

Woodstock’s Hallie Steponaitis will aim for her third state medal in the high jump. Amina Idris of the Blue Streaks reached the final in the 300 low hurdles and Anna Crenshaw qualified in the shot put.

Sahanna Doherty of Richmond-Burton improved in the triple jump.

Huntley’s Amin finished tied for second-fastest qualifying time in the 100 high hurdles with a 14.36, just off his best time of 14.34 at last week’s Huntley sectional. Conant’s Daisha Brunson (14.12) had the best time and Palatine’s Aisha Kazeem tied with Amin.

Robertson is in fifth place with 38.48 (126-3). Robertson has the best throw in the state this season, but committed two fouls in the preliminary round.

Evtimov ran a career-best 24.66 in the 200m, but missed the final by one place in 10th.

The Raiders’ 4×100 team had the second-fastest qualifying time at 46.95. The 4×200 team qualified in 1:39.16, the fastest time in the preliminary round.

Johnson finished second to her sister Alex in triples as a freshman, then switched places with her last season.

“I was going with confidence for the triple, I know what I can do and I know where everyone else has been,” she said. “I want to go out and get a good grade early tomorrow. I want to reach 42 (feet).

“If I can get to 19 in the long jump, I can win. I want to get a (personal best) and I will participate in the race. (The state team race) is stressful, but exciting.

Casella had a stellar senior season after missing the final 100 by one spot as a junior. Duck is in fourth place in the long jump with 5.06 (16-7 1/4).

Janeczko had a career-best shot put of 11.74 (38-6 1/4) to sit in third place heading into the final. She earned last place in the 12-competitor discus final.

“(The shot put) was a big jump from my last (personal best),” said Janeczko, who finished ninth last season. “I was just saying, ‘I have to throw far, I just took a breath and gave it my all.’ As soon as I got out, I knew that would be the case. A voucher. I’m super grateful and excited for tomorrow.

Janeczko sweated into the record until she learned she was taking part.

“It wasn’t my best throw, but my first one was a scratch,” she said. “We were watching it really closely on the phone to see if I could do it.”