Junior Chardae’ Bennett is enjoying her first year at Oak Park and River Forest High School with a little help from her first season of track and field.
On Thursday, Bennett joined the Huskies’ 10 entries for the Class 3A state meet by winning shot put at the St. Ignatius Sectional at Concordia University with 38 feet-1 inch – a personal best by 1-8 1/2.
“I can’t stop smiling, to be honest. I didn’t really expect to go down because this is my first year so I just gave it my all,” said Bennett, who came from Minnesota in August.
“All I was doing every day was going home and doing homework so I was kind of bored. Joining track has made my move so much better.”
OPRF won the sectional (130.5 points). Junior Norma Abdur-Rafia won the 200-meter dash (24.87 seconds, fully automatic time) and anchored three winning relays – the 400 relay (47.81) and 800 relay (1:40.44) with senior Komiyah Martin and juniors Chisom Nwoko and Myia Jones and the 1,600 relay (3:56.32) with senior Vanessa Griffin, Nwoko and Jones.
Fenwick was sixth (62). Junior Grace Cronin won the 300 low hurdles (school-record 43.58) and 100 high hurdles (season-best 14.78). Senior Olivia Ryan won the 1,600 (5:17.60) and was second in the 3,200 (season-best 11:16.75).
OPRF junior Chena Underhill won triple jump (lifetime-best 35-11) and pole vault (11-0). Senior Hannah Gorin (1,600 in 5:22.86), freshman Sydney Rayburn (5-0 in high jump) and Nwoko (10-6 in pole vault) were second.
At state in 2014, Abdur-Rafia was sixth in the 200 (25.15), the 400 relay with her, Martin and Nwoko was seventh (48.66) and the 800 relay with Martin, Nwoko and Jones was 10th (1:42.32), one place from finals.
“I’m pretty sure we’re all excited,” Abdur-Rafia said. “I know what’s coming and how it’s done (at state now).”
Cronin and Ryan also are multiple all-staters but this is their debut in 3A. Ryan competed at 3A state cross country Nov. 8.
“I think (that) definitely helped me prepare because I knew how much of a jump this would be,” Ryan said.
Ryan has qualified for state in the 3,200 and 1,600 three times. She was sixth in the 2014 2A 1,600 (5:10.63) and ninth in the 3,200 (11:15.65).
“I definitely feel stronger than I ever have for track,” Ryan said. “I’ve focused more on distance while the past three years I’ve been doing 800 workouts for the 4-by-800 (to qualify).”
Cronin was second at 2A state last year in the 100 hurdles (14.93) and third in the 300 hurdles (43.93).
Cronin dominated Thursday despite a recent bout of turf toe. Cronin also was sixth at state in high jump last year but scratched that event because of the injury.
“It hurt a little bit after the 100s and I think that’s just from my spikes but right now (after the 300 hurdles) it feels fine,” Cronin said. “My coach (Dale Heidloff) said it was my fastest start this year (in the 100 hurdles).”
Underhill, who previously never triple jumped in the 35s, eclipsed the 35-8 state-qualifying standard on her fifth of six jumps.
“That was totally a surprise but I’m so thankful. Oh my goodness,” Underhill said. “I don’t know where that came from.”
Gorin, a two-time 3,200 state qualifier, anchored Thursday’s 3,200 relay, but St. Ignatius edged the Huskies for second (9:49.13 to 9:50.02).
“It would have been so great to go with my teammates,” said Gorin, who will compete in track at Marquette. “I was disappointed, but at the same time I had to put that in the back of my head (for the 1,600).”