Dominant Royals reclaim conference championship

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After letting the Suburban Catholic Conference championship leave its grasp the last two years, Rosary (champs from 2002-06) celebrated its return by blowing the field away at Aurora Central Catholic amid showers Thursday.

On the strength of 14 first-place finishes, the Royals more than doubled up on second-place Aurora Central by scoring 220 points. The Chargers totaled 101.33, St. Francis grabbed third with 90.33 and Marian Central was fourth with 77.33.

"Especially after last year when we lost by 12 points and dropped the baton in the 4-by-200," Rosary coach Vic Mead said. "We've been really working to balance out the team, and today was a great day for us."

Monica English began the winners' parade by finishing as a double champion for the third consecutive year. She won the shot put and discus.

"I won the discus with a throw of 120," she said. "It's not my (personal record), but still pretty good. Second place was 103. In the shot put, I won with 37 feet, but the next place was 36-10, so that was a lot closer."

Rosary's Anna Deufel went English one better by racing to titles in the 100 (13.06 seconds), 200 (27.22) and 400 meters (1:01.4).

"We put a lot of pressure on Anna today," Mead said. "She won three open events and I would have named her MVP."

"The rain was cold, but I tried to keep warm and it turned out well," Deufel said. "The competition was tougher in the finals and I was in the slow heat in the prelims."

Nora Bowe was the Royals' third double winner by taking the 100 hurdles (16:13) and the high jump (5-3). Rosary's Amy Kus was second in the shorter hurdles race but won the 300 hurdles (48.34) with Bowe finishing a close second.

"Amy and I are used to racing next to each other, so as long we are one and two, that's awesome," Bowe said. "We were trying to stay warm and together. We push each other, which is really good."

Other individual winners for the Royals were Emily Launer (3,200, 12:14), Eva Doyle (pole vault, 8-0) and Meghan Gannon (triple jump, 30-7).

The relays were dominated by the Royals as well. Deufel, Kus, Katie Petrando and Aly Rindone won the 400. Bowe, Gannon, Petrando and Chelsea Becker teamed in the 1,600, and Rosary also grabbed the 800.

Aurora Central had one individual champion and four second-place finishes to ward off St. Francis in the battle for runner-up.

Sonya Steder won the long jump (15-9¼) and finished second in the high jump. Natalie Perry was a Chargers standout with seconds in the 100 and 200 and a third in the 400.

Aurora Central's 400 (Steder, Perry, Lauren Buba, Victoria Zapata) and 1,600 (Buba, Alexis Anthony, Nicole Bohr, Jaclyn Nagel) relay teams finished second, and its 800 team (Zapata, Katie Colyer, Bianca Guzaldo, Ashley Wilk) finished third.

"We finished about where we thought we would," Chargers coach Troy Kerber said. "Rosary has an outstanding team. We think we're pretty good, and we're looking forward to the sectional at Glenbard South. We need to stay healthy and focused. I think good things can happen for both of our programs."