Parker English claims four events, leads Evanston to girls track and field sectional crown

SKOKIE — Not only was Parker English a handful to compete against Thursday, the Evanston senior had her hands full at the end of the Class 3A track and field sectional at Niles West.

English said she was so impressed by her team’s first-place performance in the 1,600-meter relay, she offered to hold all four of girls’ warmups while they went through their cool-down routine.

“My teammates did such a great job, so it was the least I could do,” English said.

English looked in top form, too, winning all four of her events. She was first in the long jump (17 feet, 8.25 inches), 100 meters (12.09 seconds), 200 (24.64) and 400 (55.50).

The two top girls in each event and the two top relay teams earned automatic bids to the state meet.

Evanston coach Fenton Gunter said Thursday was a “good workout” for English.

“I tried to do my very best and follow the plan the coaches gave me,” said English, who is keeping her college decision quiet until after next week’s Class 3A state meet at Eastern Illinois University. “That’s all I can ask for.”

The Wildkits, who claimed six sectional championships, won the sectional title with 124 points. New Trier took second with 96. Highland Park (67), Wheeling (63) and Loyola (41) rounded out the top five in the 14-team field.

“Our No. 1 goal is to get a good number of girls to the state meet,” Gunter said.

Maine East senior Elanta Slowek was the meet’s other multiple winner. She won the discus (119-5) and high jump (5-3). Highland Park won both the 400 relay (49.17) and 800 relay (1:44.77).

Loyola senior Sarah Kelley and sophomore Kathryn House both had big days in the distance events. Kelley and House combined with senior Jackie McDonnell and junior Caroline Zaworski to win the 3,200 relay (9:24.39). They also teamed up to take second in the 1,600 relay (4:04.99).

Individually, House won the 1,600 meters in 5:01.38, while Kelley qualified for the state meet in the event with a time of 5:06.75.

“Winning the 4×800 at the start I think gave us confidence for the rest of the meet,” Kelley said. “That gave us a really good boost.”