By Bobby Narang
Rosary High School junior Katie Kostro made a point to keep her weekend simple.
Kostro was aiming to move up a few spots on the Class 2A State track and field podium in the high jump.
“I’ve been working really hard during the season and grown physically and mentally,” Kostro said. “I had a big improvement from last season. I just learned to have fun and not put too much pressure on myself and do the best I can.”
Kostro was among the top performers at O’Brien Stadium, collecting a first-place medal in the 2A high jump with a top leap of 1.70 meters (5-7). In her lone event on Saturday, Kostro made the best out of her time with a historic jump.
“I’m really happy with how I jumped,” Kostro said. “I think I really focused on my speed and acceleration and made sure to take a deep breath before I went and really believed in myself.”
In the 2A 800-meter run, St. Francis junior Margaret Andrzejewski nearly pulled out a stunner, placing third in a time of 2 minutes, 13.05 seconds. St. Francis sophomore Erin Hinsdale, who finished second in the event last season, took fourth with a clocking of 2:13.91. Aurora Central Catholic junior Cecilia Hilby notched sixth (2:15).
“I felt good and didn’t really have a plan going into it and just went out there and seeing how I felt and trying to do the best I could,” Andrzejewski said. “I’ve never run an individual event at state before, but it felt great.”
Hinsdale said she was happy with her race, but she’s motivated for next season’s state meet.
“I’ve been dealing with a lot of injuries this season, which is hard to get back into but the fitness I’ve maintained from cross country helped me get through it,” Hinsdale said. “Obviously, I got second last year, but the field is getting faster and faster. It’s a lot of competition and a good opportunity to get a good time. Next year I’m going to try and come back stronger and am looking at it as an opportunity to get a few personal records.”
St. Francis couldn’t capture a second consecutive 4×800 relay state championship, ending in 12th place on Saturday. Andrzejewski snared 10th in the 1,600 in a time of 5:08.
Also, St. Francis sophomore Elena Mamminga claimed sixth in the 3,200 (10:46). Aurora Central Catholic sophomore Molly Russelburg had an inspiring showing in the 2A pole vault to record a fifth-time medal (3.30). IMSA sophomore Charlotte Okulaja placed third in the 2A long jump (5.45).
In Class 3A, Wheaton North sophomore Sophia Dalrymple had a day to remember by taking fourth in the long jump (5.60).
St. Charles North’s 4×800 relay earned seventh place in a time of 9:16.28), and St. Charles East’s 4×400 relay collected a ninth-place medal (3:55). Wheaton North’s Megan Wozniak finished ninth (3.55) in the pole vault. Burlington Central’s LaRaiya Cunningham-Duncan netted a sixth-place medal in the triple jump (11.64).