DGN story vs. Hinsdale Central, Metea, Barrington, Proviso East

Downers Grove North senior Alize Chester came as close to surpassing 30 feet in shot put during the 2012 girls track season without ever reaching it.

At last year’s indoor West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet, she even threw 29-11 3/4.

“She threw from 29-9 to 29-11 1/2 on about 10 occasions. She could not break 30,” Downers North coach Tim McDonald said.

In this year’s indoor season opener at Glenbard West Feb. 6, Chester took her first throw. She got 30 feet exactly.

“I was really excited. I just think from that first meet to be able to get over 30, every one of my meets I’ve (had personal records),” Chester said. “This year I’m pushing myself harder and lifting more and being more positive. That’s been a part for me to reach 30 feet.”

Chester hasn’t looked back. On Feb. 23, she continued easily surpassing her former barrier with a second-place 31-2 1/2 in the Trojans’ five-team meet at West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet at Hinsdale Central.

The Downers North varsity (78 points) finished second to the host Red Devils (128), followed by Barrington (68), Metea Valley (58) and Proviso East (3). The sophomores (69) were third to Hinsdale Central (129.33) and Metea Valley (98.66) followed by Barrington (18) and Proviso East (8).

Senior Rebecca Ridderhoff won the 300 (43.9) and led off the victorious 1,600 relay with junior Meghan Bonfield and sophomores Zayna Jan and Rachel Schuetz (4:25.8).

Chester was coming off a career-best 32-11 1/2 two days earlier at Lyons Township, but that distance still would not have beaten the 33-7 1/2 at Hinsdale Central by Metea sophomore Holly Julifs, who was 10th in 3A discus at the 2012 state meet.

It was no coincidence that Chester’s 32-11 1/2 came on her first attempt.

“We thought the sophomores and freshmen were throwing first, and then at the last minute they told us it was varsity (going first),” Chester said. “I was thinking, ‘Why didn’t they tell us earlier?’ and I didn’t have much time to warm up. When I went in, I was mad and didn’t have that smile like I usually do. When I threw the first one (32-11 1/2), I was like, ‘What the heck?’ (I thought), ‘Why didn’t they tell me (varsity was first)?’ I could have thrown even further.”

Even with the order snafu, the timing couldn’t have been better for Chester in one aspect.

“It was the first meet my dad came to so it made me feel good. He just moved back from Georgia,” Chester said. “I was really proud of myself and just glad that I got over 30 feet.”

Ridderhoff won the 300 by .7 with senior Barbara Armstrong (45.2) and junior Meghan Bonfield (45.6) third and fourth. The 1,600 relay won by 3.0 seconds over Hinsdale Central.

The 4-lap relay of junior Rachel Schuetz, sophomore Sophia Temple-Wood, Armstrong and junior Mary Rounce was second (1:29.3) in a virtual dead heat with Hinsdale Central.

Also taking second were juniors Grace Marek (4-11 in high jump) and Evangeline Tuohy (31-5 in triple jump) and freshman Kaitlyn Bonfield (800 in 2:29.3). Temple-Wood tied for second in the 55 (7.7), .1 from first.

Finishing third were Stephanie Urbancik (1,600 in 5:31.2), Rounce (200 in 28.6) and Emma Burkhardt (3,200 in 12:31.5) with Maggie Smith fourth (12:43.6). Ridderhoff was fourth in the 55 hurdles (9.6), and the 3,200 relay (Micah Pfotenhauer, Sandra DiPauli, Alana Osterling, Kate Weyers in 10:57.2) also was fourth.

On the sophomore level, Downers North sophomores Rachel Krusenoski (1,600 in 5:48.2) and Hannah Henry (300 in 47.6) each won their races by .1, sophomore Megan Scantlen (29-1) won triple jump by one inch, and freshmen Fiona Kelly (2:40.3) and Margaret Schaub (2:41.0) finished 1-2 in the 800.

Peyton Winters tied for second in high jump (4-5). Taking third were Imani Jenkins (24-3 in shot put), the 1,600 relay (Shannon Koegel, Sara Arnquist, Aysia James, Margaret Michaels in 5:01.3), the 4-lap relay (Mackenzie Cady, Henry, James, Mercedes Gonzalez in 1:37.0) and the 3,200 relay (Alexandra Hohnsen, Shannon Kennedy, Olivia Vander Leest, Michaels in 11:47.3). Henry tied for third in the 200 (29.9), Arianna Calleja (400 in 1:10.6), Wendy Goes (13-6 in long jump) and Jenna Murphy (1,600 in 5:55.7) were fourth, and Lily Kollker (4-3 in high jump) tied for fourth.