Date posted online

Date posted online: Sunday, May 21, 2006
Good performance, but bad luck
Illiana's VanderZee settles for ninth in triple jump
BY KEN KARRSON
kkarrson@nwitimes.com
219.933.3232

GIRLS TRACK | STATE NOTES

CHARLESTON | Two school records in as many days meant Illiana Christian's Crystal VanderZee was at the top of her game at the girls state track meet.

And that would have also placed her at the top of the heap had the Vikings still been competing in Class A. But the IHSA multiplier changed Illiana's residence this season and, instead of placing first in the triple jump, VanderZee was forced to settle for ninth in Class AA Saturday afternoon at O'Brien Stadium.

While she was understandably unhappy about her circumstances, VanderZee felt they may have actually helped her jump 37-2 3/4, a 5 1/2-inch improvement over Friday's record-setting effort. Illiana's previous best in the event had been 35-10 3/4.

"I really didn't have anything to lose, so I wanted to show them what I can do," VanderZee said. "It gives me a lot more confidence for next year and makes me more competitive. I'm going to want to do better in the triple jump even more than I did this year."

ON THE 800 WATCH: Competing in, not watching, the 800-meter run is how Sequoia McKinney has gotten her name known in track.

A failure to check in on time for Friday's prelims put McKinney on the sidelines for Saturday's finals, but the Thornwood senior made sure to still view the race.

"I was thinking, 'Man, it could have been my third one (to win),' but there was nothing I could do," she said. "In a way, I knew it would be a good learning experience to see what the competition would have been and what the times would look like."

SATURDAY'S A SNAP: Marian Catholic's Melissa Gergel just missed capturing the Class AA pole vault championship Saturday, but even in the midst of a stern challenge, she claimed she felt more comfortable than in Friday's prelims.

"First-day prelims are terrible," said Gergel, who went 12-6 in the finals and finished three inches behind Batavia's Brittney Bernardoni. "You have to play the waiting game and I don't like that. It messes you up.

"There has to be some other way they can do this. In the finals, it's not as nerve-wracking."

PLANNING AHEAD: Thornton's Diane Lindsey has chosen volleyball as her fall sport the past two years, but that's about to change.

"We're kind of weak on that sport, so I'm going to do cross country," the sophomore said. "I think it'll make me run more relaxed and help me get my stride out." Lindsay ran the opening leg for the Wildcats in the 400 and 800 relays, where they took second and third, respectively. She wound up fifth in the long jump.

LEARNING FROM THE BEST: Evanston's Shalina Clarke was a four-time champion in Class AA, but Thornton's Clarissa Rice was glad to have gone head-to-head with her in the 100 high hurdles.

"It's hard, but it motivates me to keep up and stay with her," said Rice, who placed third. "Last year, I came downstate and got fifth, so I stepped it up."