DeKALB – DeKalb girls track and field coach Tywon Green said his Barbs are peaking at the right time.
Last week, the team won its first conference title in 32 years. It was a defining moment for the Barbs, who claimed victory thanks to multiple season best performances.
Still, the Barbs’ biggest hurdle remains ahead of them. DeKalb hosts a Class 3A sectional meet at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in hopes of qualifying for the state finals next week at Eastern Illinois University.
Green is hoping DeKalb can carry its momentum from winning conference championship into Thursday’s sectional.
“We want to peak at conference, sectionals and state,” Green said. “We want to run our fastest times of the year right now. So far, we’re doing that. We’re extremely confident right now.
“We’ve been wanting to win conference the past three years. To have it off our backs – it’s huge for them going to the sectional meet.”
The Barbs were victors in several events at conference. Bri Buggs won a pair of titles – winning the 100-meter dash in 12.06 seconds and the 200 in 24.71 to set a new school record.
Buggs, Kmaris Kirkwood, Sierra Long and Kyra Ozier won the 4x400 in 48.2, while the 800 relay – also featuring Buggs and Kirkwood, claimed first place at 1:43.07.
The 1,600 relay of Long, Ozier, Kirkwood and Katherine Olson finished first in 4:00.16.
Green said he’s confident the Barbs aren’t peaking too early, adding they still have plenty of room to improve.
“We’re a little more relaxed now,” he said. “They’re running exactly how we want them to run. We can be even faster once we crisp the handoffs. We want them to go out there and continue to break personal records.”
DeKalb's relay teams has consistently improved its times throughout the season. Long said the build up should give the Barbs an advantage heading into the sectional meet.
"We're constantly improving," Long said before DeKalb competed at the University of Kansas Relays. "We believe in ourselves and know we can compete with the best competition. We've shown it throughout the season and hopefully we can peak right at sectionals."
Just 15 miles north of DeKalb, Genoa-Kingston's Alison Kramer is hoping to make her second consecutive trip to state.
Kramer is coming off first place finishes in the 100 and 300 hurdles last week during the Genoa-Kingston Invitational. She isn't satisfied, though, and aspires to qualify for state again.
"I was really nervous last year at state," Kramer said. "I have a lot more confidence now."
Kramer has been battling a quad injury, however, she hopes to put together her best performance of the year Thursday at sectionals.
"I've been out for a while," she said. "I'm getting comfortable getting over the hurdles. ...I want to perfect the hurdles and running the curve. The wind hits you at the point, I need to make sure I push through."
Hinckley-Big Rock was also in attendance at the G-K Invitational. H-BR coach Greg Burks said his team is always facing an uphill battle, but has been impressed with contributors throughout the season, including Izab
The Cogs travel to Lisle for a 2A sectional meet at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, while the Royals compete in a 1A sectional meet at 4:30 p.m. Friday in Seneca.
"We had a few season bests and significant PRs (in recent weeks)," Burks said. "It's very encouraging to see. The season has gone by really fast. We lost some meets early on due to the weather. It doesn't feel like this Friday should be the girls sectional. The fact of the matter is that it is. We'll go out and perform and hope it goes okay."
Kaneland coach Doug Ecker wants his team to use the sectional meet as a building block. The Knights, which have 19 freshman on the roster, will compete at West Aurora in a 3A meet at 4 p.m. Thursday.
“They’re really really young,” Ecker said. “Some of them have the ability to do much better and they know that. I want to see them to go to (sectionals) and have their best meet of the year. They’ve run better and better with each meet, so let’s finish strong at sectionals.”
Ecker has strong confidence Cierra Kuipers could qualify for state. The senior pole vaulter needs to clear a state-qualifying mark of 10-foot-3, a leap she has surpassed numerous times this season. Kuipers is currently averaging a vault of around 11-feet, according to Ecker, while Rachel Richtman needs to finish within 11:08 in the two-mile. Richtman's best finish this season was clocked at 11:07.
“Cierra been very consistent at 11-feet and Rachel has shown she has top endurance,” he said. “Hopefully, both come through.”
Sycamore will also be at a 2A sectionalat Lisle Thursday. Sycamore coach Joe McCormick did not return messages left by the Daily Chronicle.