Posted Friday, May 12, 2006, The OG, sports

For the second week in a row, the Uni girls 3,200-meter relay team defeated its seasonlong rival from Tolono — only this time it earned the Illineks a trip to state.

The 4x800 team of sophomore Ruthie Welch, freshman Laura Hazlett, sophomore Shivani Khanna, and senior Josie Chambers scorched the field today despite chilly and rainy conditions at the Gibson City Class A sectional.

The foursome easily won first place with a time of 10 minutes, 16.00 seconds — a full 10 seconds better than runner-up Unity (10:26.10) and more than seven seconds better than the automatic state qualifying time (10:23.5 manual timing, 10:23.74 fully automated timing). Welch and Hazlett battled closely with their Rocket counterparts in the first and second legs respectively. But Khanna took a commanding lead in the third, and Chambers was never in danger as she headed to the finish line.

By winning their sectional, the Uni girls advanced to the Class A state finals Friday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. (To qualify for state, competitors must finish in the top two of their event or meet automatic qualifying standards.)

No other Illineks advanced to state, although there were some close calls.

Freshman Elaine Gu placed third in the 3,200 with a time of 12:40.60, just one second behind Salt Fork's Brittany Catlett (12:39.60). Senior Leah Imlay was fifth (12:54.40).

Uni's 4x400 team of Welch, Chambers, freshman Lizzy Warner, and junior Aria Collopy placed third with a time of 4:22.20, slightly more than one second behind Fisher (4:21.00).

Warner was fifth in the 400 (1:04.50). Khanna placed sixth in the 1,600 (6:00.80). Junior Paige Martin was fifth in the triple jump.

With 29 points, Uni tied with Fisher for eighth overall at the 17-school meet. Salt Fork placed first (128), followed by Unity (79). Doug Mynatt is the Illineks' head coach.

Today's time of 10:16.00 was yet another personal record for the 4x800 squad. Last week the girls won their event at the Lady Spartan Classic in St. Joseph by clocking in at 10:17.33 — more than seven seconds better than Unity (10:24.56). Since mid-April, the girls have cut 31.92 seconds off their time.

Also notable today was Hazlett's return to the squad. Sophomore Samantha Nguyen had run in her place this spring as the freshman recovered from an injury.

The OG will run photos from the Gibson City sectional later this weekend.

— Gargoyle staff