GIRLS TRACK: Niles West’s Hellwig hurdles obstacles

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

GIRLS TRACK — Crashing into hurdles probably isn’t the best strategy for success, but one Niles West runner was able to pull it off anyway.

Sophomore Sydney Hellwig bumped her last three hurdles in the 300-meter lows during the CSL South Meet on Friday and still was able to finish second.

“In the 300, I kind of screwed up in the end and I got exhausted, but I dropped time in both races and I’m happy with that,” she said.

The sophomore also placed second in the 100 hurdles. She achieved both feats despite battling a long-standing injury.

“Here’s a girl that missed almost the entire indoor season, and her first meet was our last meet of the indoor season,” said head coach Mark Medland. “It’s really nice to see her progress. We always knew that she could hurdle. The thing is having her healthy so she can do what she’s capable of doing.”

Hellwig suffered a injury in her foot, in October, and was in a walking boot until February.

“It’s been on and off pain, but I’ve got stuff from the doctor, inserts for my shoes,” Hellwig said. “It’s been OK, and I wish that it wasn’t there, but it’s there. It’s an injury and it’s going to heal.”

With sectionals looming, Hellwig knows what she needs to work on.

“This meet put a lot into perspective for me with what I need to do to get ready for sectionals,” she said. “With the 300, I need to work on my endurance to finish it, and in the 400, I need to work on the handoffs. So I think we know the game plan and hopefully we achieve it.”

For the second straight season, Niles West placed third in the CSL South outdoor meet with 102 points, behind Evanston (130) and Maine South (114).

The Wolves were victorious in three of the 18 events and finished in the top three in nine.

“The nice thing about it is we’ve got a large group of girls who are invested in doing well and that’s what’s fun about it,” Medland said. “To see them be successful in their various events is really what it’s all about.”

Senior Kellion Gordon was one of the big names heading into the meet, considering her pair of third-place medals in the 100 and 200 dashes at last year’s State Meet.

Gordon set a season-best with a 12.5 in the 100, but a fourth place in the 200 left her dissatisfied.

“I know she was frustrated, but I think she’ll be fine there,” Medland said. “I’ll get more time to talk with her, but it’s one of those things with athletes that you don’t talk about it right away because it’s too new. I’m fully confident that she’ll be OK.”

In field events, Jasmine Townsend won shot put with a toss of 36-feet-1 and Callie Sher took pole vault with a leap of 9-0.

Lily Chatman also placed second in high jump, clearing 4-10.

“It’s nice to be going into sectionals with lots of opportunities, but at the same time, everything has to come together,” Medland said.

The Wolves will participate at the Loyola Sectional, along with seven other CSL teams, beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday.