Northwest Herald girls track and field preview: 5 athletes to watch in 2022

Huntley's Alexandria Johnson Competes At State Huntley's Alex Johnson floats toward the sandpit in the Class 3A long jump on June 12, 2021 at the IHSA Girls Track and Field State Meet in Charleston. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Alex Johnson, Huntley, junior

Johnson won the Class 3A long jump at the IHSA Girls Track and Field State Meet when she landed her career-best of 19 feet, 5 inches. She also finished sixth in the 100 meters. She was Fox Valley Conference champion in the long jump and 100 as well, and runner-up in the 200. She had the top triple jump performance in the state in indoor meets and was second in the long jump.

Dominique Johnson, Huntley, freshman

Johnson has similar jumping prowess as her older sister Alex. They had the top two triple jumps in the state in the indoor season. Between the two, the Red Raiders will cover jumps, sprints and relays quite well.

Prairie Ridge's Rylee Lydon clears the high jump bar to win the 2021 Fox Valley Conference title on May 29, 2021 in Carpentersville. (Daryl Quitalig for Shaw Local/Daryl Quitalig for Shaw Local)

Rylee Lydon, Prairie Ridge, jr.

Lydon was the 2021 Northwest Herald Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year after almost winning two Class 3A state titles. She won the 400 meters in 56.25, almost by one second, and was edged out for the high jump title by Gurnee Warren’s Annika Bynum on her third jump at 5-8. She was FVC champion in the 200, 400 and high jump. Lydon may be looking at other events this season.

Woodstock's Hallie Steponaitis competes in the Class 2A high jump during IHSA Girls Track and Field State Meet on June 11, 2021 in Charleston. — Woodstock's Hallie Steponaitis competes in the Class 2A high jump during the IHSA Girls Track and Field State Meet on June 11, 2021 in Charleston. (Douglas Cottle/PhotoNews)

Hallie Steponaitis, Woodstock, so.

Steponaitis won the Kishwaukee River Conference high jump title at 5-5 as a freshman, then finished fourth in the Class 2A state meet with a jump of 5-3 1/2. She also plays volleyball and is a 6-foot outside hitter, which could be her college sport.

Marian Central's Bella Zecchin finishes second place in the 400-meter run on June 2, 2021 at the Class 2A Carmel Sectional in Mundelein. (Daryl Quitalig for Shaw Local/Daryl Quitalig for Shaw Local)

Bella Zecchin, Marian Central, jr.

Zecchin competed in three events, winning eighth-place medals with the Hurricanes’ 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams in the Class 2A state meet. She also qualified in the long jump and in the 400, although she scratched from that race to run in the 4x200 with Kat Strode, Lily Bures and Dominique Thomas. Molly Iden, Strode, Thomas and Zecchin took eighth in the 4x100.