By Fred Kroner
St. Joseph-Ogden won five events on Wednesday (May 12) in the Spartan Classic and senior Atleigh Hamilton was involved in four of the victories, helping SJ-O to a runner-up finish in the five-school event.
Tolono Unity amassed 131 1/3 points. Runner-up SJ-O had 107 points. Third-place Paxton-Buckley-Loda ended with 54 2/3 points.
Hamilton swept the sprint races, winning the 100 meters in 12.84 seconds and the 200 meters in 26.65 seconds. She also prevailed in the long jump with a 17-foot, 5 ½-inch leap and anchored the victorious 400-meter relay team, which was timed in 51.89 seconds.
Joining her on the relay were Payton Carter, Raegan Crippen and Hope Rajlich.
Crippen captured the other SJ-O victory, taking top honors in the triple jump (30-4 ¾ ).
Four SJ-O individuals and three relays secured runner-up finishes.
Individually, Angie Chahine was second in the 400 meters (1:09.76), Abby Behrens was second in the high jump (4-7 ½ ), Grace Schmitz was second in the pole vault (9-1 ¾) and Ashley Eldridge was second in the shot put (31-2).
The 800-meter relay foursome of Carter, Crippen, Schmitz and Rajlich was second in 1:55.35.
The 1,600-meter unit was also the runner-up in 4:32.93. Macy Reed-Thompson ran the leadoff leg and was followed by Ashlyn Lannert, Helene Jones and Rajlich.
Also placing second was the 3,200 group of Maya Chahine, Jones, Taryn Sexton and Addie Allen. Their collective time was 11:24.62.
Other squad members who finished among the top eight individually were: Haleigh Maddock (third in the 100 meters, 14.24); Jayci Hayes (third in the 400 meters, 1:13.70); Malorie Sarnecki (third in the 800 meters, 2:40.00); Ava Knap (third in the 3,200 meters, 12:22.59); Yamilka Casanova (third in the triple jump, 25-5); Hayes (fourth in 100 hurdles, 20.94); Lannert (fifth in 800 meters, 2:42.80); Eldridge (fifth in the discus, 84-0); Chloe Burkhalter (sixth in 1,600 meters, 6:13.99); Reed-Thompson (sixth in high jump, 4-5); Casanova (sixth in long jump, 12-6 ¾ ); Behrens (seventh in 200 meters, 29.81) and Alyssa Hamilton (eighth in discus, 80-4).
SJ-O returns to action on Friday (May 21) at the Unity Invitational.
