Suffice to say, Oswego East track coach Lisa Cook can spot talent.
She noticed sophomore cheerleader Tara Schumacher tackling an obstacle course during a school pep assembly in the fall of 2013 and immediately began recruiting her.
“I saw her go over a pile of mats and I had her in (a graphic communications) class at the time and I told her she needed to run track,” Cook said.
Schumacher balked at the idea, but finally relented, coming out for the team in March after practices for the outdoor season had started. On Thursday night, the junior hurdler and sprinter reaped her rewards at the Class 4A Naperville North Sectional, qualifying for next week’s state meet in three events — the 300 hurdles, 100 hurdles and 1,600 relay.
It was a big night for three area teams in the tightly contested meet, in which the top six teams finished within 12 points of each other.
Host Naperville North edged Naperville Central for the team title 75-73.
Oswego, qualifying two relays and five individuals, was third with 68 points. Oswego East (65.6 points) was fourth and Yorkville (63) sixth. Both qualified a pair of relays and six individuals.
The top two finishers in each event and any other competitor meeting the state qualifying time, height or distance advance to state at Eastern Illinois University.
Schumacher, now a junior, and Oswego senior Princess Shodipo held their own duel in each of the meet’s two hurdles races. Shodipo won the 100 hurdles in 14.69 to Schumacher’s 15.15.
In the 300s, Schumacher prevailed in a personal best 45.74, while Shodipo finished second in 49.36.
“We’re always like neck and neck that last 100 meters (of the 300),” Schumacher said. “At times we’re super close. I’ve gotta push it like it’s all guts because that race is so mentally tough.
“Last year I was sixth in the sectional in the 300s and that’s all I ran. I’m really glad I came out for track, I love it now.”
Later, she joined teammates Ashley Buado, Morgan Harris and Abby Flammersfeld on the winning 1,600 relay. Harris and Flammersfeld qualified in the 400, Sade Akinfe won the long jump with a personal best 18-9.25, Brittany Davis was second in the discus (111-11), and the 400 relay of Harris, Akinfe, Flammersfeld and Maya Taylor also won (48.83).
Natajah Simmons paced Oswego’s efforts with a win in the 100 (12.18) and a second in the 200 (25.56), and Carol Ottesen took first in the pole vault (11-0).
The Panthers’ 800 relay of Simmons, Destinee Haugabook, Kardia Dunah and Kyley Vicik won in 1:45.28. Jenny Cisneros joined Simmons, Haugabook and Dunah to place third in 49.36 in the 400 relay but beat the qualifying mark by .08 of a second.
Yorkville got a win from Skyler Bollinger in the 800 and individual qualifiers in Maddie Dearborn (1,600), Rachel Augius (high jump), Sydney Anderson (high jump), Louisa Washburn (pole vault) and Mackenzie Lee (shot put).
The Foxes’ 3,200 relay of Piper Buyansky, Lauren Daffenberg, Maddie Dearborn and Becca Jasutis was second in 9:32.47 and the 1,600 relay of Bollinger, Stephanie Schlichting, Washburn and Julia Schultz was second in 4:02.29.
Brooklyne Wilson won the discus with a throw of 120-1 and was the lone qualifier for a young Waubonsie Valley team.
Twitter: @RickArmstrong28
