By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
Shepard junior track star Kyla Motley was a sectional champion in three events for the second year in a row.
Motley won the 100 high hurdles with a time of 15.31, the long jump with an 18-2.5 effort, and the triple jump with a 36-9 at the Class 3A Lyons Sectional.
Motley, who finished fourth in the state in the long jump and seventh in the high jump in 2023, leads a large area contingent to the IHSA girls track and field state meet starting May 16 at O’Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
The area also has a healthy chunk of sectional champs heading to the big show.
Also at Lyons, Richards senior Dior Newson won the 100 in 12.30 and the 200 in 25.43.
Stagg junior Nickie Rudnik claimed the 400 in 1:00.07 and teammate Amanda Pocica won the 1600 in 5:19.78.
Lyons senior Julianne Melby won the 3200 in 11:17.19. The 3200 relay team of Anna Bylsma, Shannon Cranny, Madison Findley and Kristina Findley won in 9:32.43. Leigh Farrell won the pole vault with a 10-9.
Mother McAuley junior Maya Hooks won the shot put with a throw of 37-4.5 and teammate Mary Claire Deacy won the high jump with a leap of 5-1.75.
Reavis’ Alexa Penes Flores won the discus with a throw of 119-3.5.
At the Lockport Sectional, Sandburg’s Katie Roche won the 800 in 2:16.71 and teammate Ava Giblin won the 1600 in 5:19.51 — both in photo finishes.
In Class 2A, De La Salle’s Samantha Soto was a sectional champion at South Shore with a 2:37.07. Freshman Aniya Hamilton had a spectacular postseason debut, winning the long jump with a leap of 15-7.75.
At the Hillcrest Sectional, Evergreen Park’s Rachel Thomas won the 800 in 2:29.57. Jadie Chavez of St. Laurence won the 3200 in 12:57.57.
In Class 1A, Chicago Christian’s Grace Mullin won the 1600 in 5:7.21 and the 3200 in 11:06.71.