Girls Track: Megan Paul, Griesbaum twins set pace
Updated: May 11, 2012 11:04PM
Senior sensation Megan Paul of Carmel, and freshman twins Brittani and Danielle Griesbaum of Lakes will be busy next weekend at the Class 2A state track meet at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
Paul won three events (100, 200 and 400) and was on the qualifying 400 relay team at Friday’s sectional hosted by Vernon Hills.
The Griesbaum twins also qualified for state in four events, with Brittani advancing with a win in the long and as part of the winning 3,200 relay team. She also qualified in the 100 and 400, chasing Paul across the finish line in both races.
Danielle was on the winning 3,200 relay team, and also qualified in the high jump, 200 and 400.
In the 400, the twins finished together, behind Paul.
In the team scoring, Vernon Hills won, as the champs got first-place finishes from Alison Peacock in the 300 hurdles and the 800 and 1,600 relay teams.
“I feel great, but I wish I could have run faster times,” said Paul. “After the 400, I wasn’t even tired. In years past, I’d be exhausted by the 200 (second-to-last event). I feel I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been. I’m excited about next week.”
Excited, as well, are the Griesbaum twins who have three years of track of ahead them without having to chase Paul.
“We were talking about it (qualifying for state in four events) before the meet,” said Danielle. “The only event we were nervous about was the 400 because we knew the girl from Carmel (Paul) was really fast.
“One of us was going to come in second, but the other was going to have to post a qualifying time.”
That’s exactly how it worked out, with the sisters finishing in 59.35 and 59.36.
“Most of my times were close to my average,” said Brittani, “but I finally set a P.R. (personal record) in the 400.”
As for the team competition, Vernon Hills coach Jason Rush was pleased with his team’s strong showing.
“We had an idea that we had a very good chance. We were probably the best team coming in,” he said. “We had a lot of good performances ... a lot of girls stepped up today and placed above their seed.
“That’s really big if you’re going to win a meet like this.”
Wauconda’s Christina Meinhardt won both throwing events in dominating fashion.
The state meet is next Friday and Saturday. Everybody competes Friday and the top qualifiers come back the next day to go for gold medals.
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