2023 IHSA State Track & Field Championships - 3A Girls Teams

By Michael Newman

It is no surprise that Prospect is in the position that they are in heading into this weekend. They have been the favorite since the beginning of the season for the Class 3A title. The Knights did what they needed to do in their sectional meet last Wednesday at Glenbrook South scoring an astounding 165 points. The next closest team in that meet was New Trier scoring only 76 points.

Is Prospect the favorite on Saturday? Yes.

Could it be closer than you think? The same answer as above.

Normal Community has come on strong at the right time helped by multi all-state runner Ali Ince who will compete in four events. Fox Valley Conference teams Huntley and Prairie Ridge could be the teams to surprise.

Here is a look at some of the teams that could contend for a state trophy.

Teams to Watch

Mt Prospect (Prospect) – 18 Total, 14 Individuals, 4 Relays

Outlook – Prospect enters this weekend with the most qualifiers that will be challenging for a state championship. It gives them a little wiggle room for error. The Knights earned a trophy last year finishing third. They would like to go two places higher on Saturday. Prospect qualified in 14 of the 18 events in this meet. They could score in eight of those events. This team is distance oriented and will pick up points in that discipline. Their 4x800 Meter Relay team ran the third fastest time ever for an Illinois team in the event. They could have their sights on the third straight win, and possibly the fastest time ever for an Illinois team. Lily Ginsburg, who could be the anchor for their team in that event, will be in the 800 Meter Run and could finish in the top three. Meg Peterson has a spectacular freshman season going should be in the 4x8 and possibly finish near Ginsberg in the 800 Meter Run. Prospect could also have two scorers in the 1600 Meter Run. Hailey Erickson and Cameron Kalaway have run under 4:58 this year this distance. Both could score in the top five in this wide open event. Charlotte Deines is a big plus for Prospect all season. She will score points in both the sprint events as well as the two relays. Deines has a #8 time in the 100 Meter Dash and could score in the top five. Deines ran a #4 time of 24.80 last week. Keep an eye on her to challenge for the win. Prospect is #7 in the 4x200m Relay and could get points. Getting their 4x1 into the finals will be a bonus. The Knights have the #4 time in the 4x400m Relay and will also get big points in that event.

Normal Community – 10 Total, 6 Individuals, 4 Relays

Outlook – The question that was asked early in the season is what Ali Ince would run in the state meet. They made the right decision where she would be placed after Normal won the Bloomington Sectional. The Ironmen qualified in nine events and could score in five of those events. Ince could lead her team to four event wins in this meet. She is the defending champion in both the 800 Meter Run and the 400 Meter Dash. Ince has the fastest time in both events and could defend both titles. Normal has a talented quartet in the 4x800m Relay. That showed as they ran the fastest sectional time and #2 time in the state. They will push Prospect for the win in that event. The quartet in the 4x400m Relay has the fastest time in the state and will also be the favorite in that event. Normal could also gets points from Queen-Patricia Lubala in the 300 Meter Hurdles. She has the ninth fastest sectional seed time in that event.

Huntley – 11 Total, 9 Individuals, 2 Relays

Outlook – This team missed a team trophy by 10 points in last year’s state meet placing fifth. The Red Raiders could place much higher at this weekend’s meet. Huntley qualified in eight events and should score in six of those events. Alexandria Johnson will be attempting to win her third straight title in the Long Jump. The senior has jumped 6.25m and has one of the top 10 marks in the nation. She is the favorite in this event. Johnson also has the top mark in the state in the Triple Jump and will look to defend her title in that event. Her sister Dominique Johnson is ranked #7 in the state in the Long Jump and #4 in the Triple Jump. The sophomore will score big points in both of those events. Alexandria is part of the Huntley team that is fourth in 3A in the 4x1. Dominique leads the 4x2 that is #3 in Class 3A. Watch for big points in both of those events. Ally Panzloff has the longest throw in the 3A Discus heading into this state meet. She could earn a state championship this weekend. Sienna Robertson is also in the Discus and is seeded tenth. She could pick up points for her team. Breanna Burak could be one of the top five finishers in the 3200 Meter Run. Brittany Burak could also be one of the top nine finishers in that same event.

Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge) – 7 Total; 6 Individuals, 1 Relay

Outlook – The Wolves will rely on two athletes to score the points this weekend. Prairie Ridge qualified in seven events in this meet. They could score in six of those events. Rylee Lydon’s final appearance at the IHSA State Meet could be a great one. She could pick up a few state titles and earn medals in all four events she is entered in. Lydon is the defending state champion in the High Jump. She will be one of the favorites in that event. Lydon also jumped the second longest distance this season in the Long Jump and could also challenge for the win in that discipline. Lydon was the state champion as a sophomore in 2021. She has the second fastest time this spring in the event and could challenge for a win. The Texas A&M signee has the fourth seeded time in the 100 Meter Hurdles and should earn all-state honors in that event. Rachel Soukup is having a standout senior season that will culminate in this meet. Soukup has the second fastest 3A time in the 3200 Meter Run and will score big points. She will double back in the 1600 Meter Run. If she can advance from the prelims on Friday, it would not surprise me if she were among the top five in the finals.

Naperville (Neuqua Valley) – 13 Total, 11 Individuals, 2 Relays

Outlook – The Wildcats got some good qualifying marks readying themselves for this weekend’s state meet. Neuqua Valley qualified in 10 events with the chance to score in six of those events. Zawadi Brown will play a big part of her team’s success.  Brown ran the second fastest time in the 3A 200 Meter Dash and the top seed coming out of sectionals. Brown ran a #6 time in the 100 Meter Dash. She should account for some big points in both of those races. Brown was a part of the Wildcats state leading time in the 4x200m Relay. The Wildcats is #6 in the 4x100m Relay. If they can get through the prelims, Neuqua could pick up big points in both events. Carissa Hamilton missed most of last fall’s cross country season and indoor track. She could be on the verge of earning all-state honors in the 3200 Meter Run. Hamilton is also entered in the 1600 Meter Run. The team could also get points from Kamila Szczepanik in the Pole Vault.

Chicago (Kenwood) – 7 Total, 4 Individuals, 3 Relays

Outlook – The Broncos will rely on the sprints to help them get a trophy this weekend in Charleston. They only qualified in five events but could score in those five events. Asia Thomas will compete in four events. The senior has the top time in Class 3A in the 100 Meter Dash and is one of the favorites in that event. Thomas ran 24.55 two weeks ago and is ranked #3 in Class 3A. Watch her also challenge for the win. Jaliyah Shepherd will run the same events and could finish in the top five in both events. Kenwood qualified in all three sprint relays. The Broncos ran the #2 time last week behind Homewood-Flossmoor in the 4x100m Relay. They are #8 in the 4x200m Relay and will need to make the finals in that event. The same holds true in the 4x400m Relay as they have the #7 time in Class 3A.

Flossmoor (Homewood-F) – 16 Total, 12 Individuals, 4 Relays

Outlook – The chances for a state title for the Vikings took a hit when Ana-Liese Torian clipped a hurdle in her sectional race failing to finish and ending her chances to defend her title in that event. Homewood-Flossmoor qualified in 14 of the 18 events. They could score in five of those events. Torian ran the 23rd fastest time out of the 29 qualifiers in the 300 Meter Hurdles perhaps due to the earlier fall. If she is 100% healthy this weekend, she will be a good bet to win a state title. The Vikings ran the fastest time in the state last week in the 4x100m Relay and will be the favorites in that event. They qualified for state in the 4x200m Relay but have the #11 time out of sectionals. A good preliminary race could mean bigger points in the finals. Angela Alozie has the third fastest time from the sectional in the 400 Meter Dash and should get big points. Alozie also qualified in the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash.

Lake Zurich – 13 Total, 11 Individuals, 2 Relays

Outlook – The Bears could finish anywhere from the top three to outside the top 10 teams in Charleston. Lake Zurich got qualifiers out of sectionals in 11 events. They could score in seven of those events. Baelyn Zitzman has been one of the top athletes in the 3A High Jump all season. She will be one of the favorites in that event. AJ Burk is seeded third in the Pole Vault and will challenge for the state title. Emilia Kubik qualified in the event and could also get her team some points. Allie DiCanio is seeded fourth in the Discus with the possibility of finishing in the top five. Brooke Johnston, after missing most of the season due to  injuries, made it to state in both the 800 Meter Run and the 1600 Meter Run. She could score in both events if she chooses to run both. Lake Zurich has a good 4x2 team that has the fifth fastest time in Class 3A. The Bears have a good chance to score some big points in that relay.