February 07, 2025
Sports

High school girls track and field: Lindsey Payne a state champ, Glenbard West wins combined team title

By BILL STONE

Glenbard West sophomore Lindsey Payne competes in the 3,200-meter run on May 21 at the Class 3A state meet. Payne won the race and the Hilltoppers captured the title for teams that also had athletes compete in wheelchair races. (Chris Johns)

CHARLESTON – Lindsey Payne enjoys the success of her Glenbard West girls track and field teammates as much as her own.

The first state finals appearance for the sophomore included plenty of celebration for herself and her team.

Payne won the Class 3A 3,200-meter run by 3.72 seconds with a time of 10:35.40 and was an all-state ninth in the 1,600 run in 5:03.65 in the finals May 21 at Eastern Illinois University.

“It was cooler than even to win the two-mile [3,200] to say that we won as a team,” Payne said.

She contributed to the Hilltoppers’ state championship in the first IHSA combined team awards among three teams that qualified wheelchair athletes.

Glenbard West freshman Ahalya Lettenberger and sophomore Daniela Polencheck swept the three state titles among the minimum four required wheelchair athletes. The state crown adds to the Hilltoppers’ Class 3A third-place trophy in 2013.

“It feels amazing,” Lettenberger said. “I think we are [trail blazers] for the movement to grow.”

The 4x800 relay of senior Grace Rogers, freshman Katie Hohe, senior Kathryn Kenwood and junior Janie Nabholz was an all-state fourth in 9:18.89.

The Hilltoppers tied for 14th overall in Class 3A with 14 points.

Thanks to Lettenberger and Polencheck, Glenbard West (43 points) dominated Metamora (26) and Niles West (8) in the combined points standings to earn that title.

“Probably the best part is creating history and being the beginning point,” Glenbard West coach Kelly Hass said. “There weren’t a lot of sports the last few years for kids in wheelchairs. The IHSA is opening their doors. Glenbard West is opening their doors. It’s amazing to see athletes at work and turning over new ground.”

Lettenberger won the Wheelchair 400 (1:22.23) and 200 (40.54) with state-finals record times and was second in the 100 (21.82).

Polencheck won the Wheelchair 100 (21.80) after 100 and 200 titles in 2015. She was second in the 400 (1:32.62). Polencheck scratched from the 200 at the sectional because of a shoulder injury.

“[Ahalya and I] support each other in everything we do,” Polencheck said. “We’re like, ‘Let’s win this. Let’s be No. 1, No. 2.’”

This is Payne’s first outdoor track season after playing soccer as a freshman. At the Class 3A state cross country meet Nov. 7, 2015, Payne was second to the state-record time by Naperville North senior Judy Pendergast, the 3,200 state champion in 2015 who ran a then national-best 10:07.18 April 23 at Glenbard West.

Pendergast scratched at state May 21 with a foot injury and was among the first to congratulate Payne after her victory.

“She’s really inspired me, so I really aspire to be like her, closer to her times,” Payne said. “I never really won a title like that. It’s obviously such an overwhelming, awesome feeling. I wasn’t sure if Judy was going to run. I was just hoping to get top three or so.”

The Illinois-bound Rogers contributed to a Glenbard West-record five state trophies – two in track and three in cross country, including the 2013 3A state championship.

Hohe placed 11th in the 3,200 run (10:57.65). Jessica Michel (pole vault); Kenwood (1,600 run); the 4x200 relay of Michel, Isabela Salafatinos, Chloe Arduino and Sophie Cvengros; and the 4x400 relay of Micah Love, Cvengros, Sharon Murray and Nicole Rogus competed in preliminary races at state.

–

Unified team scores

1. Glenbard West, 43 points

2. Metamora, 26

3. Niles West, 8