Kwaza the Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year

Easily in state qualifying position, Sycamore sprinter Lake Kwaza could have coasted when she was handed the baton for the anchor leg of the 4x100 meters in the Class 2A Sterling Sectional.

But Kwaza, the fastest female sprinter in Sycamore history, saw first-place Freeport about 10 yards ahead and wanted more.

“I love to compete,” Kwaza said later when she was asked why she enjoys running.

Like coach Joe McCormick has seen so many times before, Kwaza dug in and set her sights on first place in her first of four races that day, even after she felt a tug in her hamstring. The Spartans finished second, despite Kwaza pulling her hamstring.

“She’s such a fierce competitor. Lake being Lake, she wanted to win,” McCormick said. “She dug a little too hard and tweaked it.”

That competitiveness hurt Kwaza in the sectional, but it helped her earn the 2012 Daily Chronicle Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year honor.

Even with a pulled hamstring, Kwaza easily won the 100 after scratching from the 200 and 400 meters.

What she did in the state meet was even more impressive.

After pulling out of the 4x100, Kwaza coasted to the finals in the 100 meters, taking care not to hurt herself more.

After leading for 85 meters of the finals, Kwaza finished second to Springfield Southeast’s Charday Crawford, winning her ninth state medal and setting her personal best time of 11.62 seconds. Both runners broke the previous Class 2A record in the event.

“I knew that even with a pulled hamstring, anything was possible,” Kwaza said. “I just had to put that aside and I had nothing to lose.”

The finish was her third second-place finish in the 100 in the state meet. Her 11.62 time was 0.23 seconds faster than her best time last season.

Even though she didn’t accomplish her ultimate goal of winning a state championship, Kwaza was satisfied given the circumstances.

“I’m happy with what I got,” Kwaza said. “I PR’d with a pulled hamstring, so I thought that was fine.”

McCormick is just coming to grips with the fact he won’t have his star runner next season, when she heads to Iowa. But he knows he witnessed one of the best athletic careers of all time at Sycamore, something that can’t be taken away.

“Out of Sycamore athletes in general, I think she’s probably the best,” McCormick said. “I know she wanted to win it. I’m sure on some level she’s disappointed because she wanted to be a champion. … I’m ecstatic, I’m proud. I was thankful she made it to finals, let alone take second place.”

DAILY CHRONICLE GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD ALL-AREA TEAM

FIRST TEAM

Lake Kwaza, Sycamore, senior, sprints
Kwaza finished second in the 100 meters at the Class 2A state championships with a pulled hamstring. Her personal-best time gave Kwaza her ninth medal and third second-place finish in the 100.

Jasmine Brown, DeKalb, junior, jumps
Brown finished fourth in the triple jump at the Class 3A state championships and 10th in the long jump after missing most of last season. She should contend in both next year.

Jaylaan Slaughter, senior, DeKalb, sprinter
Slaughter had a breakout season, winning the 400 meters and 100 hurdles at the Northern Illinois Big 12 Championships before qualifying for the state meet in the 400.

Sydney Strang, sophomore, Kaneland, middle distance
Strang qualified for the state meet in the 800, finishing 11th, the 4x400 and the 4x800.

Kelsey Schrader, sophomore, DeKalb, distance
Schrader followed an impressive cross country season by finishing 11th in the 3,200 meters at the Class 3A state meet. If DeKalb were in Class 2A, Schrader would have medaled in the event.


SECOND TEAM

Lauren Zick, Kaneland, sophomore, sprints

Jennifer Howland, Kaneland, senior, distance

Chantel Kyler, Indian Creek, freshman, high jump

Danielle Neisendorf, Genoa-Kingston, junior, high jump

Amanda Lesak, Kaneland, junior, middle distance


HONORABLE MENTION

Elle Tatonni, Kaneland, freshman, throws

Danielle Dlabal, DeKalb, junior, middle distance

Monica York, DeKalb, sophomore, distance

Nicole Ketza, Kaneland, senior, throws

Kaltrina Ismaili, Kaneland, freshman, sprinter

Maggie Lalowski, Sycamore, sophomore, distance

Tessa Strack, Sycamore, senior, distance

Ali Schroeder, Sycamore, senior, distance

Stephanie Cole, Sycamore, sophomore, distance