Girls Track: Lyons wins WSS crown; Hinsdale Central’s Jill Hardies hurt

Updated: May 4, 2012 10:33PM

With four of the top 10 runners in the state, the marquee event at Friday night’s West Suburban Silver meet was easily the 1,600-meter run.

The race featured four runners from the same conference with some of the best times in the state, according to dyestat.com. But the race couldn’t quite live up the billing when one of the favorites, Hinsdale Central junior Jill Hardies, dropped out after 1,200 meters. Hardies was running in third behind Glenbard West’s Madeline Perez and Lyons’ Lisa Gordon when she decided that she could no longer continue.

Hardies was running the 1,600 for only the third time this outdoor season after suffering an injury to her left foot in the preseason. It was that injury that may have flared up again when Hardies left the race. Her next scheduled race is the Class 3A Downers Grove North Sectional Thursday.

“Tonight she said it was bothering her a little,” said Mark McCabe, Hardies’ distance coach. “It got worse as the race went on. It’s hard to know [about the sectional]. We certainly hope so. She’s managed it well.”

Perez won with a season-best 4:59.04 to beat Gordon (5:06.33). Glenbard West freshman Lisa Luczak, who owns a previous time to reach the state’s top 10, finished fourth (5:08.87) behind York’s Sharise Lund (5:08.70). Luczak placed second in the 3,200 earlier.

“This was pretty amazing. This was one of my better 1,600s. I felt strong,” said Perez, who led from beginning to end. Perez said she knew Hardies was no longer in the race when her coach yelled, “It’s just you and Lisa Gordon.”

Gordon, who placed third in the 3,200, did not even know Hardies left the race.

“I didn’t realize it. She’s such a strong runner whenever she’s in the race,” Gordon said. “We all have our good and bad days. Some days it comes down to a little bit of luck.”

Lyons (120.5 points) won its first conference title since 2002. The 1,600 relay of Sarah Kreikemeier, Julie Dambra, Melissa Hoo and Olivia Cabanban (3:57.96) set a conference record, beating the 3:59.1 time of Colleen Caplice, Patrice Agnant, Tristan Rackow and Amanda Radochonski of Lyons from 2003. The same combination of Lyons’ Gabby Pavletic, Kreikemeier, Hoo and Cabanaban won both the 400 and 800 relays.

“We’re a very deep team. This is probably the most complete team I remember us over here having. This year, we’re strong in distance, field and sprints,” Lyons coach Greg Frandsen said.

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