Chargers Go for the Gold

It’s a Friday night. While most teens are getting ready to go out with friends, the Lady Chargers were lacing up their spikes and getting ready to race at the Fifth Annual City of Lights Indoor Track and Field Meet at the Vaughn Athletic Center. The Lady Chargers started the night off right in the first race, the Varsity 3200 meter relay, also known as the 4x800 meter relay. Leading off was Anna Sestak, who handed off to Nicole Bohr, who passed the baton on to Kari Hinterlong, and finally, the relay was anchored by Bailey Shemenski. The Lady Chargers placed third in this event, despite Bohr’s knee injury, Jenna Koerner’s absence, and Sestak and Shemenski not running for the past couple weeks. Hinterlong, just a freshman, is looking to have a great racing career here at ACC. Just two races later, Emily Schwendner claimed sixth place in the Varsity 3200 meter run. That’s two miles, people! The JV sprinting side was led by Katie Coyler and the girls performed well in the 4x200 meter relay and the 4x400 meter relay. Jessica Wesley placed fifth in the shot put and Jordan Clifton placed sixth. Even though key athletes were missing or not up to par because of sickness or injury, the Lady Chargers still performed very well.

The next day, the boys’ side of track and field had their chance to shine at their side of the Aurora City Meet at the VAC. Just like the Lady Chargers, the boys’ team had a great start to the meet, claiming the title in the 3200 meter relay, only two seconds off of the meet record. Leading off the relay was Danny Kottkamp, next was Jimmy Spencer, then Alex Duncan, and finally John Jochum. This relay team has already obtained the qualifying time to race at Illinois Prep Top Times. Again, the guys had a teammate place in the 3200 meter run just two races later. Manny Saucedo placed second, only a few seconds behind the winner. Later in the day, Jimmy Spencer came back to place third in the 1600 meter run.

This is only a preview of the coming track and field season for the Chargers. They will continue to aim high and push new limits. They placed second overall at their meet at Proviso West High School, competing with schools almost ten times our size, and as the second smallest school there! For those looking to come and support the team, the Chargers will run their third indoor meet on Saturday, March 20 at Byron High School in Byron, Illinois, their final indoor meet before Illinois Prep Top Times.