On Friday, March. 10, the Antioch boys and girls track teams competed at the District 117 fieldhouse for the Northern Lake County Conference championship. This was the second meet for the boys and the third meet of the season for the girls, the Sequoits had high expectations and goals of individual titles along with a team championship.

The varsity boys came into the meet knowing that a win was unlikely, as Grayslake Central is one of the top all-around teams in the state this year, but they would be satisfied with a second or third-place finish. The varsity girls knew that if they had a good day on the track and a solid showing in the field events, they would have a good chance of seeing themselves on the top of the leaderboard.

Senior Payton Holmes led the varsity boys in scoring, helping to collect 23 of the team’s 90 total points. Holmes is a first-time track athlete and came into the competition a bit raw, as this was his first conference meet and the most important meet for him up to that point.

“I prepared a little different coming into the meet,” Holmes said. “I stayed after a few practices to work on my block starts, that was the main thing I needed to work on but for my first year of track I am really happ with how I did.”

After having a neck-and-neck battle with Lakes Community High School throughout most of the night, the varsity girls ultimately placed third overall with 202 points. For some of the team, it was more important to just keep improving rather than face the added pressure of trying to get first place.

“My goal was to make all-conference in the mile and set a personal best,” sophomore Piper Ipsen said. “I was able to get all-conference by placing fourth but I missed my personal best by two seconds.”

The Sequoits performed well at the junior varsity level as well. The girls placed fifth but were only two points away from third-place, while the boys placed second and were led by another track and field first-timer, junior Aiden Van Alstine, who collected 20 points and 3 all-conference medals for the team.

“I am very happy with how I performed at the meet,” Van Alstine said. “For me, it was just about getting a routine and ritual so I know what to do and build off of for the next meet.”

The Sequoits look to use this event as a stepping stone for the rest of the season and continue to get better. Their next meet is April 4, at Grayslake Central.