DGN story at Palatine Invite (junior varsity)

Downers Grove North sophomore Alexis Nystedt had a strong season of throwing discus in 2012, even though she never quite perfected spinning in the ring to build momentum for her release.

“I did it once, and I almost hit someone. So we’re like, ‘We’re not going to do that.’ ” Nystedt said. “When people move in the back of the field, it catches my eye when I’m spinning and then I’ll release it towards the region. If they’re not paying attention, it’s like a ton of screaming.”

Nystedt soon hopes to intimidating onlookers and opponents more by longer distances after having her training hampered by bad weather. Like last year, Nystedt took first place in discus on the junior varsity level at the Palatine Invitational Saturday with 77 feet-5 inches.

Senior Alana Osterling (800-meter run in 2:39.6 manual time) and freshman Arianna Calleja (400 in 1:08.0) and the 1,600 relay of freshmen Maci Schaub and Angela Budach, Calleja and sophomore Aysia James (4:35.5) also won in the five-team meet that awarded individuals but did not keep team scores. Sophomore MacKenzie Cady and freshman Samantha Wilson  joined junior Cassidy Santen and senior Megan Sybeldon in winning a 400 relay (1:00.06) for athletes who competed in field events. 

The host Pirates, Hoffman Estates, Libertyville and St. Viator also competed. Even though the meet was Saturday morning, it was welcome competition especially because Friday night’s varsity-only Lockport Invitational was canceled because of bad weather.

“I was excited and tired at the same time,” Calleja said. “It was really cold, though, so I think everybody got not their best times but they ran hard. It’s just for the place, I guess, (in those conditions, but) running as hard as you can to get first, hopefully, but not your best time.”

Nystedt won by three inches with a distance 11 inches better that her winning 76-4 as a freshman. Nystedt actually had the sixth-best overall throw of the meet, just behind senior teammate Alize Chester’s fifth-place 79-4 on the varsity level.

Nystedt’s lifetime best is 81-0 3/4 from last year. Saturday’s distance was a season best.

“For this year, it is (a good mark) because it’s been so cold outside,” Nystedt said. “I’m a lot smaller than a lot of the other girls. I can move twice as fast but since it’s been so cold it’s been hard to go fast.”

Perhaps the biggest confidence boost was that Nystedt returned to trying the spin Saturday. As she perfects that, she also should gain quickness since she’s been able to again use throwing shoes, which have smoother soles. She has been using regular shoes because the concrete ring areas have been so slick, partly because of the weather.

Her season goal is to reach 90 feet.

“Our ring (at Downers North) is way smoother so you have less traction,” Nystedt said. “I was nervous because it was the first time I was doing the spin in meet. That was scary and completely different. And our ring has a completely different surface than all of the other rings so I had to re-adjust to the new ring – and then spin in it.”

Osterling pulled out the 800 by .3 over Palatine sophomore Carley Lynch (2:39.9) with Kate Weyers third (2:41.3).

Calleja won the 400 by 1.1 seconds and had a 1:09.2 split for the 1,600 relay. The Trojans had four placewinners in the 400 with Shannon Koegel (1:13.1) third and Karen Klein (1:15.7) and Kathleen Moralde (1:16.3) fifth and sixth.

The 1,600 relay led from the get go and had a five-second margin on second-place Palatine. Budach (1:08.0) and Schaub (1:08.3) had the fastest splits, followed by James (1:10.1).

“It was really fun. I like relays,” Calleja said. “I’m trying to get (a 1:02) by my last time for the 400, but if I don’t, that’s all right. I’ve already made a lot of progress so I’m happy.”

Megan Scantlen (29-5 1/2 in triple jump), Wilson (26-10 1/2 in shot put), Emma Burkhardt (3,200 in 12:25.7) and the 3,200 relay of Fiona Kelly, Schaub, Jenna Murphy and Katie Portman (10:51.3) all finished second.

The Trojans were 2-4-5 in triple jump with Scantlen, Emily Wilson (27-9) and Wendy Goes (27-8 1/2) and the 3,200 with Burkhardt, Micah Pfotenhauer (12:41.5) and Olivia Vander Leest (13:35.3) and 2-5-6 in shot with Wilson, Erin Dunphy (25-0 1/2) and Cady (24-5 1/2).

Hannah Henry was third in the 100 (13.8) and 200 (30.6). The 400 relay (Heather Kwityn, Budach, Cady, James in 56.8) and the 800 relay (Maggie Haider, Budach, Cady, Mercedes Gonzalez in 2:00.5) also were third.

The Trojans finished 3-4-5 in high jump with Emily Wilson (4-6), Caroline Meier (4-2) and Gonzalez (4-0) and 3-5-6 in long jump with Goes (12-10), Scantlen (12-7 1/2) and James (12-6 1/2).

James (59.0) and Giselle Downs (1:00.0) were third and fourth in the 300 low hurdles, and Downs (20.8) and Elizabeth Heyler (21.3) were fourth and sixth in the 100 high hurdles. Kelly was fourth in the 1,600 (5:44.9), Gonzalez was fifth in the 200 (31.1) and Cady was sixth in the 100 (14.0).

-- By Bill Stone