St. Charles East Girs Track sends seven entries to state after runner-up finish at IHSA Sectional

St. Charles East turned in a strong postseason performance Thursday, finishing second at the IHSA Sectional and qualifying seven entries for next week’s state finals at Eastern Illinois University. The Fighting Saints’ advancing group showed off the program’s range, from the 800 meters to three relays and the horizontal jumps, as the team put together one of its most important meets of the season in Hoffman Estates.

Nicole Mayer helped lead that charge in multiple events, earning a state berth in the 800 meters and returning later to qualify as part of the 4x400-meter relay. Mayer’s double was one of the clearest signs of the Saints’ depth and endurance on a high-stakes day, and it gave St. Charles East a steady presence in both the open middle-distance event and one of the meet’s marquee relays.

The Saints were especially dangerous in the relays. Siri Forsell, Mady Piekarz, Fiona Post and Luca Ketter combined to move the 4x100-meter relay on to state, and Forsell, Piekarz, Post and Ketter also qualified in the 4x200-meter relay. That same all-around versatility showed up again in the 4x400, where Forsell, Piekarz, Ketter and Mayer secured another state entry. Between those three races, St. Charles East repeatedly delivered under pressure and turned its sprint corps into a major factor in the team standings.

Individual field events added more points and more celebration for the Fighting Saints. Forsell advanced in the long jump, giving her four total state-qualifying events on the day. Post qualified in the triple jump, and Addie Schilb also moved on in the triple jump, adding another important breakthrough for the program. Piekarz rounded out the individual qualifiers by advancing in the 100 meters, another key result in a meet where every point mattered.

In all, St. Charles East qualified athletes in seven events for the state finals, a rewarding return for a team that rose to the occasion when the stakes were highest. With a sectional runner-up finish secured and a large group headed downstate, the Fighting Saints now carry plenty of momentum into next week’s state meet at Eastern Illinois University.