Published: May 15, 2008 12:05 pm            

Newton girls' track looks to make run to finals

NEWTON — For the past few years, Newton High School has made its presence known at the IHSA Class A state track meet thanks to the sheer volume of athletes the Eagles have qualified out of sectionals.

This year, Newton's girls' team is getting in on the act in a big way.

A dozen different girls will be representing the Eagles Friday at Eastern Illinois University's O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, looking to combine their efforts, qualify out of the preliminary round to Saturday's finals and hopefully bring home the best-ever finish for a Newton girls' squad.

"The kids set three goals for the end of the season," said second-year Newton coach Jackie Schackmann. "Win the Apollo, win a sectional and finish higher than 12th at state, which is the best we've ever done. That's just what we've worked toward as a team."

Newton has accomplished the first two feats in impressive fashion, first ending Charleston's 35-year run as champion of the Apollo meet before absolutely dominating the field at last week's Robinson Sectional.

The Eagles scored 157 points, more than doubling the 69 put up by second-place Neoga.

"If you were to ask me Friday evening (before the sectional meet) if I thought me team would win its sectional by 88 points, I would've laughed at you," said Schackmann. "I think everybody on the team PR'd Friday."

Schackmann's point is this: anything can happen on any given day. That's why she won't predict Newton will accomplish its third goal, but at the same time won't rule it out.

"We don't look too far ahead," said Schackmann. "Kids have good days and bad days, so my assistants and I just take it one meet at a time and one day at a time.

"If they all do well on Friday and do what they're capable of, though, I think they definitely have a shot at finishing better than 12th."

Leading that charge will be junior Leeann Michl, who is making her third trip to Charleston and last year medaled twice with a second-place effort in the 800 meter run and a fourth-place finish in the 400.

She will again be participating in those events; she had the state's best sectional qualifying time in the 400 at 58.46 seconds and also ran the anchor leg of the 400 relay, one of three Newton relays (400, 800, 1600) to qualify.

In addition, Schackmann looks to use Michl in the 1600 relay on Friday; the Newton coach says Michl can shave seven or so seconds off the group's time and should get it qualified for Saturday's finals.

On Saturday, though, Michl wouldn't be a part of the 1600 relay as her plate will be full enough if she takes care of business in her individual races.

"It's hard on her to run the 800 and 400," said Schackmann. "Friday is pretty easy on her because of all the heats and prelims between, but Saturday is a killer. Last year she ran the 800 five seconds faster than she'd run it all year then turned around about 15 minutes later and had to run the 400.

"It was hard on her last year, and if you'd asked me then if we'd do this to her again, I'd have probably said no. As an athlete, though, she's matured. Her recovery time is lower, and she wants to do well. Part of this is her decision, and it's hard to talk any of my girls out of anything."

Senior Nikki Snearly makes a return trip in the high jump; she is a three-year qualifier and cleared 5 feet, 2 inches in last year's qualifiers before clearing only 5-0 on Saturday for a ninth-place finish.

Snearley also ran on all three of Newton's qualifying relays at sectionals; Schackmann says that relays are a big strength of this year's team.

"(Relays) are kind of my territory," said Schackmann. "We work on them and really break apart the exchanges. We probably work on handoffs more than anything.

"There's a lot of trust involved in relays that a lot of people don't understand. Relays without that trust seem to flounder, so we try to get a mix of girls that trust each other and it seems to work."

At Robinson, the 400 relay qualifying team was Sierra Smith, Snearley, Calla Niebrugge and Michl.

The 800 relay team was Snearley, freshman Maura Cummins, Calla Niebrugge and Sierra Smith. The 1600 relay was Snearley, Taylor Rauch, Cummins and Shelby Matson.

Smith, a junior, is another three-year state qualifier. She ran the 200 last year and didn't make it out of prelims, and will try to get over the hump this year in that event as well as the 100.

Along with Michl and junior Megan Ochs, Smith was on Newton's 800 meter medley relay team that took eighth at the 2006 meet when they were all freshmen.

This year, Ochs returns but will throw the shot put while junior Nikki Tipsword makes her second straight appearance as a discus thrower, looking to earn her first Saturday berth.

Hollie Bloemer is long jumping while junior Chelsey Probst is making a return trip in the 100 hurdles, trying to qualify for Saturday after missing out last year. Angela Shamhart is also entered in that event.

Dustin White can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 123 or dustin.white@effinghamdailynews.com.