South Shore sprinter Lisa Chess used to be called ”Little Bit.” Then Chess said she needed a change because other people were using her nickname.
Now Chess has the perfect solution. She`s known as ”Little Bit Better.” Don`t believe it? Well, it`s plainly inscribed on her jacket.
”That`s what I have to be, a little bit better than the year before,”
Chess said.
The sophomore proved Saturday she`s better than most female high school sprinters. She won the 200-meter dash in 24.4 seconds, took second in the 100 (12.1) and anchored the winning 800 relay (1:39.6) at the Class AA state meet at Eastern Illinois University.
That`s more than a little bit better than the rest.
South Shore finished fourth with 33 points, two behind third-place Thornton. East St. Louis Lincoln won the meet with a record 107 points. Lincoln`s Nicolle Thompson broke the state record in the 100 hurdles with a 13.3 in the semifinals. She won the finals on Saturday with a 13.4 and also set a national mark in the 200 hurdles with a 27.0.
When Chess finished second to St. Francis` Tonya Scott in the 100, she left the track with her spikes in hand and a determined look on her face. She wanted to come back with a victory in the 200.
”I wasn`t disappointed about the 100 because I knew I did the best I could,” Chess said. ”It gives me more to come back and do what I`ve got to do next year; help set my goals.”
The previous weekend, Chess ran a 23.9 at the Public League state qualifying meet. It was the second fastest girls` time ever in the state.
”I was going for it today,” Chess said of the 23.9. ”Maybe I was a little more mentally prepared last week. Last week, it was really hot. I do better in the heat. That may have contributed. My muscles tighten up. The heat just relaxes them.”
The 800 relay also included Lena Roberts, Juanita Macon and Linda Wilson. South Shore`s 1,600 relay of Macon, Rhaltarria Price, Michelle Henderson and Wilson placed fourth (3:55.8).
Lane Tech scored eight points in the meet thanks to a Public League rarity–a successful distance runner.
Lane`s Michelle Giampapa finished second in the 1,600 (4:59) behind Crete-Monee`s Shelly McBride (4:49). Giampapa believes it shouldn`t matter what school a runner attends or how good the facilities are. To Giampapa, a runner can be as good as he or she wants to be.
”It doesn`t matter where you`re from,” said Giampapa, who will attend Iowa in the fall. ”It`s just how hard you want to work. You can do it yourself if you want it bad enough.
”You know you don`t have the best facilities. You just do the best you can with what you have.”
Giampapa didn`t have any grand, involved strategy for her only race of the day.
”I just wanted to run as fast as I could,” she said. ”I wanted to stay with Shelly as long as I could because I knew (Wheeling`s Dana) Miroballi had a really good kick.” Miroballi finished fourth.
Vera Larry of Collins wasn`t too far behind Chess in the sprints. The junior took second in the 200 (24.6) and fourth in the 100 (12.1).
Lyons junior Samantha Caffey should be a name to watch next year. She took third in the 100 (12.1) and fourth in the 400 (56.6).
Freshman Dana Miroballi was Wheeling`s star, winning the 3,200-meter run in 10 minutes 24.5 seconds and taking fourth in the 1,600 meters (5:00.2). Sophomore Alice Doyle also made a big contribution to Wheeling`s second-place team finish by taking third in the 1,600 (5:00.0) and fourth in the 3,200
(10:44.5).
”I`m glad it`s over,” Doyle said. ”It was nerve-wracking. Those two events were real tough. Illinois has some tough distance runners. You have to give it your all in both races.”
Also finishing third were Wheeling`s Teresa Wilkens in the long jump (17 feet 10 1/4 inches), Darleen Reichmuth in the 800 (2:12.2) and the 1,600-meter relay (3:54.9) of Dawn Samuelson, Debbie St. Pierre, Laura DeVogelear and Reichmuth.
In Class A, Luther North sophomore Julie Stahlecker placed second in the 3,200 (11:26.3) behind University High`s Ella Schoenberg (11:19.1).
A freshman to watch in Class A is Walther Lutheran`s Pam Ashford. She showed promise by finishing third in the 200 (26.0).
Teutopolis won the Class A title. Rosary of Aurora was second.
