On Wednesday, May 3, the Antioch Community High School girls track team attended the NLCC championship at Round Lake High School. With the team previously winning invitationals at Lemont, District 117 and Woodstock, the hopes were high for a successful night at conference.
Junior Addison Lane and sophomores Piper Ipsen, Annalise Lowrance and Angela Ortiz ran the 4×800 meter relay. Prior to the NLCC championship, the ACHS record for the 4×800 was 10:09. When Lane, Ipsen, Lowrance and Ortiz stepped onto the track, their strength and determination led them to running the fastest time in ACHS history: 10:05.
“I was focused on our goal and at that point, nothing else mattered,” Lane said. “My mindset changes from race-to-race, but for this meet in particular, I was feeling confident and ready to leave it all on the track.”
While this was a major accomplishment for the girls, their focus continues to stay on sectionals, coming up on Thursday, May 11. The excitement of the conference meet was an eye-opener for what the girls are capable 0f in future meets.
“Coach Dan read out the time so it was very exciting and we are excited to see what we could do at sectionals,” Ipsen said.
Dan Oslage has been the girls track and field head coach since 2003. He has had many successful teams and athletes throughout his time at Antioch, but this may be one of the greatest accomplishments achieved under him.
“This was definitely a memory that I won’t forget, knowing how important it is to the girls is what makes it so special,” Oslage said. “We have already expressed to the girls that just because the record is in their hands, they are not done yet. The ultimate goal is for these four girls to qualify for state, and lower their time even more.”
The teamwork aspect of track is a very important part of the success of the relay team. Each girl has a task to complete that will impact their overall performance. Knowing their individual skill set, each girl always puts her best effort into each race.
“Yes, each girl always has to pull their own weight, but in reality, it is the team as a whole that wins and loses together,” Lane said. “That is something that this 4×800 relay does really well. We never get down on ourselves and when one of us is having an off day.”
The girls continue to work hard at practice and get into the right mindset for their upcoming sectional meet at Palatine High School.
