DGN story at Proviso West Quad

There could be a lot on the mind of Downers Grove North senior Megan Sybeldon, but that’s not how she plans to approach the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Indoor Meet Friday at York.

“(My key is) just pretty much not thinking about it prior to the meet,” Sybeldon said.

Sybeldon and the Trojans had their final tune-up Tuesday in a four-team meet at Proviso West. The varsity (71 points) finished second to Schaumburg (85) while beating Proviso West (36) and Timothy Christian (18). The sophomores (109 points) dominated their level over Proviso West (36.5), Timothy Christian (34) and Schaumburg (26.5).

Varsity winners were senior Rebecca Ridderhoff in the 400-meter dash (1:00.9), junior Meghan Bonfield (800 in 2:23.3) and the 1,600 relay of junior Stephanie Urbancik and Mary Rounce, sophomore Zayna Jan and Bonfield (4:15.7).

At the 2012 indoor Silver Meet, Downers North finished fourth on the varsity level and sixth on the sophomore level. Lyons Township captured both titles.

“It’s kind of sad (as a senior) to think about the year’s almost over and my track career is pretty much done,” Sybeldon said. “I think just if all of the girls have their personal bests or meet their season records or beat some records, they’d be really happy.”

Ridderhoff, the defending outdoor Silver 400 champion, earned the No. 1 seed for Friday with her winning time.

Bonfield led a 1-2-3-4 sweep by the Trojans in the 800, followed by Grace Maletich (2:25.3), Kaitlyn Bonfield (2:25.6) and Urbancik (2:26.4). Bonfield also had a team-best 1:02.8 split for the 1,600 relay.

Sybeldon’s 32 feet-2 inches in triple jump was among several second-place performances for the Trojans. Evangeline Tuohy (season-best 31-8 1/2) and Jessica Ridderhoff (30-2) were third and fourth.

Sybeldon joined the track team as a sophomore and soon preferred triple jump to long jump. At her 2012 indoor Silver Meet, Sybeldon finished sixth in triple jump (32-1 1/2) behind two girls she will compete against Friday. Her 32-3 from Feb. 16 has her entering as the No. 7 seed. Last April, she jumped 32-8.

“I’m hoping to hit a 33-0. Basically, if I can get in the top five, that would be great,” Sybeldon said. “I’m hoping on making my third phase of my triple jump better.”

Rebecca Ridderhoff (9.3) and Lauren Dawson (10.3) finished second and third in the 55 hurdles and Sophie Temple-Wood (15-6 1/2) and Jessica Ridderhoff (15-3) were 2-3 in long jump. The 3,200 relay (Alana Osterling, Micah Pfotenhauer, Sandra DiPauli, Maggie Smith in 10:45) and 800 relay (Rachel Schuetz, Temple-Wood, Jessica Ridderhoff, Rounce in 1:53.0) each placed second.

Alize Chester (31-7 in shot put) and Schuetz (200 in 28.8) were third. Grace Marek (4-2) and Kaitlin Downey (4-0) were fourth and sixth in high jump, Marissa Marzullo (300 in 49.2) and Pfotenhauer (1,600 in 5:53.5) were fifth and Temple-Wood (8.0) and Mary Bedalov (8.2) were fifth and sixth in the 55.

On the sophomore level, freshman Elisabeth Vlasak won long jump (16-2 1/2) and triple jump (31-6) with two season-best distances.

Hannah Henry, Rachel Krusenoski and Angela Budach also contributed to two victories. Henry won the 200 (29.6) and was part of the winning 800 relay with Angela Budach, Aysia James and Mercedes Gonzalez). Krusenoski won the 800 (2:36.4) and was part of the winning 1,600 relay with Maci Schaub, Budach and Jenna Murphy (4:37.2).

Other event champions were Shannon Koegel (300 in 48.8), Anne Provenzano (400 in 1:15.7) and the 3,200 relay (Alyssa Blashill, Alexandra Hohnsen, Claire Schneider, Karina Wise in 12:05.5).

The Trojans finished 1-2-3-4 in long jump with Vlasak and Wendy Goes (13-7 1/2), Megan Scantlen (13-4) and Lily Kollker (13-3) and the 200 with Henry, James (29.8), Gonzalez (30.5) and Mackenzie Cady (30.7) and were 1-2-3 in the 800 with Krusenoski, Schaub (2:39.9) and Murphy (2:43.2).

In the 1,600, the Trojans were second through fifth with Shannon Kennedy (5:48.8), Hohnsen (6:12.4), Olivia Vander Leest (6:42.0) and Margaret Michaels (6:59.8).

Also taking second were Emily Wilson (4-4 in high jump), Cady (55 in 8.1) and James (55 hurdles in 11.1). Arianna Calleja (49.6) and Sara Arnquist (51.5) were third and sixth in the 300, and Kollker (4-2) and Gonzalez (4-2) were fourth and fifth in high jump. Kollker (26-1) and Goes (25-3) were fifth and sixth in triple jump, and Elizabeth Heyler (55 hurdles in 11.8), Sadie Paulin (800 in 3:08.9) and Samantha Wilson (24-7 1/2 in shot put) also were fifth.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 -- by Bill Stone