May 20, 2024
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Girls Track: Genoa-Kingston freshman Bianchi qualifies for state

G-K, Sycamore each send 2 athletes to season finale

By Eddie Carifio
Genoa-Kingston’s Natasha Bianchi competes in the long jump Wednesday, May 8, 2024, during the girls track Class 2A sectional at Rochelle High School. Bianchi was a state qualifier in the event.

Genoa-Kingston’s Natasha Bianchi competes in the long jump Wednesday, May 8, 2024, during the girls track Class 2A sectional at Rochelle High School. Bianchi was a state qualifier in the event. (Mark Busch)

ROCHELLE – Three personal records, a school record and a trip to state.

Genoa-Kingston sprinter Natasha Bianchi had a day Wednesday at the Class 2A Rochelle Girls Track and Field Sectional, her first track postseason event.

“It’s just kind of fun,” the Cogs’ freshman said. “I’m just really happy I can make it. I did not expect to make it to state for anything. I’m just happy.”

She and teammate Addison Vicary qualified for the state meet next week in Charleston, helping the Cogs take sixth with 43 points. Vicary set a personal best in the high jump, leaping 5 feet, 2¼ inches to take second.

Sycamore’s Kaitlyn Lisafield and Layla Janisch also qualified for state. Sycamore took fifth with 52.5 points. Sterling won the meet with 97.5 points.

Bianchi leaped 17-6¾ in the long jump to take first and qualify for state. It was actually the one event she didn’t get a personal record in.

“My coach told me to use more power in my right leg when I jump, and I did,” Bianchi said. “And I did it, and I got so high I almost fell.”

Her day was also sprinkled with near-misses in the 4x100 relay and the 100 dash.

In the 100, Bianchi was third in 12.9 seconds, only 0.15 off the qualifying standard. The 4x100 relay team of Bianchi, Ava Hardy, Faith Johnson and Haley Oranger was third in 50.68, barely missing the 50.59 qualifying time.

Hardy is a junior, but the other relay members, including Bianchi, are freshmen.

“At first I was seeing it as disappointing, but then I realized I’m only a freshman,” Bianchi said. “I have three more years, and I hit three PRs.”

Janisch qualified in the 800, taking third in 2:23.48. Kaitlyn Lisafeld won the pole vault, clearing 10-2¾ and setting a personal record by more than a foot.

Lisafield battled through injuries last year, missing the whole season.

“It was surprising because my PR was 9 [feet] before this meet,” Lisafeld said. “I’m very happy I did. I didn’t really have that many goals. I just wanted to try my best and I didn’t really care what I got. But after I got 9-9 I just wanted to see what I could do.”

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