Riverside Brookfield High School senior Jorie Eggers’ fourth major race in the 300-meter low hurdles was her best and most memorable. She finished third at last year’s Class 3A Lyons Township Sectional in a personal-best 49.77 seconds, 1.28 seconds from an automatic state berth for a top-two finish and just shy of the 47.23 state-qualifying time.
“[That race] was upsetting but also very rewarding. I knew I could have beat those girls, but I let the nervous energy take over,” Eggers said. “It was still a good race. I had only been running hurdles for a few weeks prior so I thought of it as just the beginning.”
The Bulldogs are starting anew this season. They join the Upstate Eight Conference after winning their final Metro Suburban Conference meet (197 points) by 38 points in 2024.
Eggers, who came the closest to a state berth, senior Gianna Gelb, and juniors Addie Vaia and Kira Hanson return as MSC champions. Juniors Emma Acamovic, Carley Freeman, Mariella Hutar, Sophia Maietta and Adriana Svora also were All-MSC performers based on top-three individual or top-two relay finishes at the conference meet.
Other key athletes include senior Isabel Oliver, juniors Rebecca Dosek, Bella DeMatteo and Aniya Jackson, sophomores Ava Alfaro, Avery Long, Naomi Ostrowski and Sirikit Streng and freshmen Madison Kelly, Kennedy Malone, Giselle Miranda and Aileen Rivera.
“Jorie has been having an incredible season, picking up right where she left off last year,” second-year RBHS head coach Lillian Holubek said. “She had a great performance at our indoor conference meet. We’re all excited to see her transition to outdoor season.”
At the indoor UEC meet, March 22 at Glenbard South, Eggers was second in the 400 (1:04.16), .21 from first, and the 4 x 400 relay of Hanson, Dosek, Eggers and Ava Alfaro (4:36.82) also was second. RBHS finished ninth (25 points). The UEC combines both divisions in track and field.
Taking first at last spring’s MSC meet were Eggers (300 hurdles in 51.41), repeat champion Gelb (1,600 in 5:47.88), Vaia (800 in 2:36.83) and the 4 x 800 with Gelb, Vaia and Hanson (10:48.72). Second-place Svora (400) and 4 x 400 relay with Vaia, Acamovic, Maietta and Eggers and third-place Freeman (discus) and Hutar (100 hurdles) also were All-MSC.
At last year’s sectional, Gelb was fourth in the 3,200 (12:26.75) and Vaia was fifth in the 800 (2:28.27). Dosek, a cross country teammate of theirs, already is making an impact in her first track season after previously playing soccer.
For Eggers, the 300 hurdles state cut is now down to 46.88.
“Knowing how close I was to qualifying [last year], I know it is definitely possible. That thought keeps me motivated during practice and meets,” Eggers said.
“I’d say my outlook is more serious this year. I had taken the previous years seriously, but this year I am realizing it’s now or never.”
Lyons Township girls track and field
Lyons Township senior Jordyn Hoffenberg has made two distinct state trips with the 4 x 200 relay. As a sophomore, Hoffenberg joined a group of three seniors. Last season, she was the veteran with three non-seniors who had never gone to state.
“[In 2023] I was kind of a quirky sophomore who wasn’t really a part of them. They were nice but I still kind of felt like an outside,” Hoffenberg said.
“[Last year] I kind of felt a switch from kind of being shy and just being there to being a leader. I had to show the younger girls what to do. But I also wanted them to feel included. It felt more like a community to me.”
The Lions will try to bring another large group to state after taking second at the 2024 LT Sectional.
Senior Leigh Ferrell goes for her third state berth in pole vault after taking 26th at state last year (3.10 meters/10 feet-2 inches). Ferrell holds the all-time school record of 11-1 from 2024 indoors and cleared 10-7 this indoor season.
The 4 x 200 state relay remains intact with Hoffenberg, junior Gwen Smith and sophomores Mia Toulios and Lucy Laux (43rd, 1:48.72) and senior Natasha Lumb is back from the 4 x 400 relay (31st, 4:11.08).
Others contributors will be seniors Maya Coglianese, Vesta Samuolis, Clarissa Gonzalez, Ella Cuttica and Nora Ezike, juniors Lindsey Dunneback, Karenna Knop, Jenna Lally, Avery Mezan, Chloe Russell and Sarah Wiggins and sophomores Abby Sullivan and Ada Flynn.
At the indoor West Suburban Conference Silver Division meet, March 21, the Lions were sixth (42 points).
“We only had eight seniors compete along with 15 juniors and a sophomore, so we do have room to grow and improve,” LTHS coach Greg Frandsen said. “Our sprinters have run faster times this year, but our conference has gotten faster as well. I think we will do better later in the season and have a chance to qualify quite a few events.”
Ferrell was second in pole vault at indoor conference (5.12m/10-6). Dunneback was third in long jump (5.02m/16-5½) and the 4 x 200 relay with Laux, Dunneback, Knop and Samuolis was fourth (1:51.28).
At last year’s sectional, the 4 x 100 relay with Hoffenberg, Smith, Toulios and Laux third (50.36). Knop (100 high hurdles in 17.41) and Gonzalez (800 in 2:17.89) were fourth.
Coglianese was an individual 3A state cross country qualifier this past fall. All-state girls basketball standout and Stanford recruit Ezike and Mezan are joining fellow basketball standout Smith for the first time. Ezike plans to compete as a sprinter and also serve as a manager for the LTHS girls soccer team.
This past fall, Hoffenberg was a standout defender for the first LTHS girls flag football team. She missed most of the indoor track season with a hamstring injury.
“I’ve definitely decided to try and switch my mindset from letting track be something stressful that weighed on my mind to something fun,” Hoffenberg said. “Well, state always is the goal. Personally what would make the season successful is to have the most fun possible.”