On Friday, March 17, the girls track and field team competed at York High School in Elmhurst for the conference meet. Only select athletes are invited to this based on performance throughout the season. Selection is made based on the best distances and times. Two girls are chosen for each event in two different levels. 

Pat Richards is the head girls track coach and this is his 36th year coaching. 

“I love the kids, they work really hard and have awesome attitudes,” Richards said. “We are competitive but it’s still fun.”

The team has been practicing Monday through Saturday for weeks leading up to this meet. Practices are not the only thing that get these girls ready to race and compete.

Mai Jeanna Sakho, senior, mostly runs the 800 and the 400 but has tried shorter distances such as the 200 and longer like the mile.

“What I eat on the day of my race depends on when I am racing, ” Sakho said. “I have little good luck traditions to pack, like ribbons and earrings. I also like to listen to music before the meet starts, before my warmup.”

Finley Bisch, junior, competes mainly in the pole vault but runs the 55, 100, 200, 4×100 and 4×200 when needed. 

“Since I pole vault I would like to try to in college, there aren’t a ton of pole vaulters in the NCAA,” Bisch said.

The whole girls varsity team came in as a close second to York High School who won by two points. 

“Catie McCabe is one of the top distance girls in the state, ” Richards said.

McCabe came in first place for the 800 meter run. Along with McCabe, Sarah Skora, Ana Hodneland, and Sakho, came in first for the 4×400 meter relay. 

There are a few weeks left in the indoor season. With the weather starting to warm up, the team will start heading outside soon. 

“Indoor season is a lead up to our outdoor season,” Richards said.

 The big IHSA state meet takes place during the outdoor season.

For all of the results from the York invite, click here.