McNeil makes most of good weather at sectional

TRACK-- Timothy Christian senior Shannon McNeil was not looking forward to the Class 1A Lisle Sectional Friday.

"I was down the whole day because it was raining and I really didn't want to compete," McNeil said. "It was going to be horrible conditions and I was frustrated about the weather."

So when she finally heard the meet was being postponed until Saturday she perked up and ended up having her best sectional meet.

McNeil took first in the 100-meter dash (12.69 seconds), tied for second in high jump (5-1) and teamed with sophomore Krista Lodewyk and freshmen Brittany Alston and Alexis Cameron to take second in the 400 relay (52.66) to qualify in three events for the Class 1A state meet today, Thursday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

The top-two finishers in each event or those achieving qualifying standards advanced.

"It's exciting because I've never gone in three events, especially two open events," said McNeil, who made it to state in the 100 and 400 relay last season. "I'm really excited."

Timothy (85 points) finished third Saturday behind Walther Lutheran (112) and Chicago Christian (107) in a meet that was held at Wilde Park in Lisle because the facility at Benedictine University was unavailable.

Timothy also received state-qualifying performances from sophomore Ashley Barak (2nd in discus, 93 feet, 7 inches), freshman Tessa Bosman (2nd in 3,200, 13:03.96) and senior Elizabeth DeGroot, freshman Kelah Freeman, senior Samantha Goedeke and sophomore Lauren LeDay (2nd in 1,600 relay, 4:17.66).

Lodewyk is thrilled to be heading back to state after being on the 400 relay that took 27th last season.

"We've been running on the relay together every meet this year," Lodewyk said. "We knew we had a lot of speed coming in this year with the freshman, which was exciting, but we've had trouble with handoffs this season. It's exciting and it's a fun experience being down state. Last year was nice because I had three seniors on the relay that could tell me what it was like. This year, even though I'm just a sophomore, it's cool that I can tell the freshmen about the experience and kind of be a leader."

Lodewyk also became the first female pole vaulter in Timothy Christian history this season.

After finishing second in the pole vault at the Private School League Meet, Lodewyk narrowly missed a state berth in the event Saturday. She cleared 7 feet to tie for second, but had more misses than Westmont's Erika McCracken, who got the second spot.

"I just started pole vault this year," Lodewyk said. "Last year when we went to the state meet, me and my friend Sam Goedeke were watching pole vault and started joking that we should try it. It would be so cool. We were joking at the time, but then I started thinking it would be cool to get some points at our league meet and I went to this camp in February at Maine South. That helped me get started and I really liked it. It would've been cool to make it, but I still have two more years."

Bosman was surprised to qualify for state as a freshman and credits her sister Leah Bosman for making it happen.

"She pushes me to go faster and it's nice to have her on the team," Tessa Bosman said. "She's disappointed that she didn't make it this year, but I think she's going to come down and cheer me on. I didn't think I'd make it because I'm not that fast. It was only my second time running the two-mile. My coach (Kevin Hackert) made me do it and I didn't think I'd ever make it because I usually run the mile. The two-mile is not that bad once it's over. It will be nice to go down and compete."

Barak is also looking forward to her first state trip. Barak has been competing in the discus since she was a fifth-grader at St. Andrews in Park Ridge. Her brother, Justin Barak, competes in the shot put and discus for the boys team.

"My dad (Dan) did both events when he was in high school and that's kind of how we got started," Barak said. "I think it's cool that it's something me and my brother can share. I think it will be a great experience to go to state as a sophomore. I was hoping to make state next year, but I didn't think I'd make it this year. I was just hoping to get a (personal-best throw), which I did."