Sports
Hammock Anchors Two Spartans' Relays to State
Sophomore Kaitlyn Hammock anchored two Romeoville sprint relays to runner-up performances at Class 3A Naperville North girls track and field sectional to earn state inclusion.
Kaitlyn Hammock did not want to experience that feeling again.
The Romeoville sophomore vividly remembers the heartache from a year ago when two of the sprint relays that seemingly had qualified for the girls Class 3A state track and field finals in Charleston were denied on the basis of one of the team members being academically ineligible.
"The best feeling there is," Hammock said after anchoring the Spartans' 800-meter relay to second place behind team champion West Aurora Friday night in Naperville. "I have been thinking about this all week."
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The Spartans' identical quartet of Colleen Lily, Chemone Savage, Anna Skowron and Hammock had earlier qualified for the two-day state finals next weekend with its 400-meter runner-up showing.
Hammock was nursing a quad injury in her upper-left leg, but the sophomore still had the tenacity to grit out the critical anchor legs.
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"We've had problems with our team with injuries," Hammock said. "It doesn't matter anymore."
West Aurora also captured the relay title at 400 meters to deny the Spartans' any victories on the cool and blustery day.
Jasmine Jones also had a day to remember for Romeoville.
The freshman thrower exceeded her career-best in the shot put by over two feet to earn an automatic berth to the state tournament with her runner-up finish.
"This whole season has been about (preparing for the sectional)," said Jones, who unleashed a throw of 38 feet, 7 inches. "I have trained really hard since (the Southwest Prairie) Conference (meet). I wanted to make an impact right away."
The Spartans had hopes of duplicating their sectional triumph from last year at Plainfield Central of having the 1,600 relay qualify along with the two sprint relays.
But the Spartans' meet-closing quartet had to settle for fifth place.
Monika Lupo was one of several seniors who closed out their prep careers for the Spartans Friday night.
The half-miler switched spring sports after her sophomore year.
"I started track my junior year," Lupo said. "I didn't have the passion for soccer anymore."
The Spartans' three runner-up performances accounted for 24 of their 25 team points in the 17-team field, good for 12th overall.
West Aurora scored 100 points to defend its sectional championship.
