Seniors and varsity veterans Julia Brown and Bella Brauc lead top-nine, all-state expectations for the Oak Park and River Forest girls track and field team at the Class 3A state meet.
For seniors Blaire Brown and Alana Gerona, this will be their first time competing, Friday and Saturday, at Eastern Illinois University.
“It’s super-rewarding to see all of the hard work pay off,” Blaire Brown said. “We had long, long practices where we’d feel like it would never end. I’m glad that I sought payoff somehow and it contributed to this greater goal of qualifying for state.”
The Huskies bring 11 entries to state after easily winning the program’s historic first sectional at its new facility, which played host to the boys conference on Thursday.
Julia Brown, who swept the 400-meter dash (55.58 seconds) and 200 (25.06), and junior Oliwia Slezak (36.29 meters/119 feet in discus) were sectional champions along with three relays — the 4 x 400 with Brauc, Julia Brown, junior Chloe Kozicki and senior Amelia Hammersley (4:00.97), the 4 x 100 with Brauc, Julia Brown, Blaire Brown and Hammersley (47.83), and the 4 x 800 with sophomore Lucy Stein, junior Violet Schnizlein, sophomore Lillian Harmon, and senior Nora Butterly (9:39.20).
Also advancing were second-place Brauc in the 400 (57.81) and high jump (1.57m/5-2), Hammersley in the 100 (12.34) and 200 (25.88) and Gerona (3,200 in 11:37.37).
“Going 4-for-4, I’m going to be super-busy but I’m just really excited,” said Brauc about her fourth state trip. “I love competing.”
In cross country, Gerona was part of sectional teams that missed state by one place last season and eight points in 2023.
“Making track my senior season, it’s unbelievable. I’m so excited,” Gerona said. “Last year I was dealing with some low-iron issues, but this season I felt really strong and really ready.”
In 2024, Brauc was an all-state ninth in the 400 (58.83) and high jump (1.60m/5-3). Julia Brown’s personal-best 400 was the No. 4 fastest sectional time. Her 55.96 at the conference meet May 9 shattered the 57.17 meet record from 2011.
“I’ve kind of put a lot of pressure on myself but I’m trying to use that to run faster,” said Julia Brown, 20th in 2024. “These last few meets I’ve had Bella as my competition. I’m excited for state to have some very neck-and-neck competition.”
To return to state in high jump, Brauc had to clear the 5-2 state-qualifying standard to share second. She did so on her last attempt.
“That was so scary,” Brauc said.
Slezak, 19th at state in 2024, has improved to 128-0. Kozicki, Schnizlein, Stein and Butterly return with their respective relays.
Hammersley competed at 2023 state but missed 2024 to attend the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles.
These are her first individual berths. From Lane 1, her second-place, personal-best 100 beat the 12.42 state cut.
“I’ve improved a lot and worked really hard in the offseason. It’s really nice to see that come to fruition,” she said. “Especially our 4 x 100 is all seniors. We’ve all been here since freshman year working hard together. We’re super-excited to see what we can do.”
At the Class 2A Glenbard South Sectional, May 16, Fenwick finished third with 77.5 points. The Friars qualified six individuals, along with one relay, for the state finals.
“I could not be more proud,” said Fenwick coach Latoya Zubowicz-Hill. “We had so many personal records, a lot of freshmen stepped up, and it was a win across the board.”
Fenwick sophomore Maeve Bonakdar was victorious in both the discus (30.46 meters) and the shot put (10.23). Freshman Avani Williams won the high jump with a height of 1.57 meters, while classmate Molly Madden was second in the discus with a toss of 27.72 meters.
Sophomore Juliana Gamboa and senior Mia Menendez, a Santa Clara University commit, each clinched return trips downstate. Menendez took third in the 800 meters with a school-record time of 2:18.60, while Gamboa was fifth in the 3200 in a personal-best 11:37.54. Gamboa, Menendez, and Williams combined with junior Teresa Urso on the Friars’ 4 x 400 relay, which advanced with a time of 4:18.44, good for second place.
Williams, one of the state’s top girls basketball prospects in the Class of 2028, nearly qualified for a third event as she finished fourth in the 400 in 1:01.19, missing the advancing standard by .44 seconds.
“Avani is also playing AAU basketball and hasn’t been at many meets, so we didn’t have a 400 time to slate her in for sectionals,” Zubowicz-Hill said. “We knew what she was capable of, but they didn’t allow me to put a hand time and she was placed in the slow heat. Just imagine if she’d been put into the fast heat. “Overall, I’m pleased with where we are. I love this group, and Mia is the only senior qualifier, so our future is bright.”
Trinity junior Molly McGreal is heading downstate for the third consecutive season. She placed third in both the 1600 (5:20.96) and 3200 (11:32.88).
McGreal is Trinity’s sole state qualifier as the Blazers placed ninth at Glenbard South with 45 points.