It was an inauspicious start to the season for the Ridgewood girls track and field team’s 4×100-meter relay.
At River-Brookfield’s Gary Johnson Bulldog Relays, the team was not able to execute a handoff within the legal zone and was disqualified on April 8.
Since then, the relay finished sixth with a time of 53.53 seconds at the Vernon Hills invite on April 15 and captured first at the Elmwood Park Tiger Classic on Friday with a time of 53.41
“I think we have improved a lot since the beginning of the year,” sophomore Rachel Guler said. “We’ve grown much stronger as a team.”
Guler, who is in her first season running track for Ridgewood, is one of two regulars on the 4×100. Junior Vicky Ignacik, who has qualified for the Class 2A state meet the past two seasons in the 100-meter hurdles, is the other.
Ignacik is the glue for the relay, as she brings a wealth of experience to a team bereft of it. The other runners include junior Thalia Valdes, junior Marisa Iannotta and freshman Nicole Woloszyn. All three are in their first season on the track team.
Ignacik is the team’s leadoff runner and leader, which is a change of pace from the past two seasons when she was its anchor.
“It a really different format than my last two years, because I would always work with the same girls,” said Ignacik, a Norridge resident. “This year it’s completely different girls. Most of them are new to the track team. So, I’m kind of like the mom of the team.”
Guler said Ignacik’s presence has made life easier on her and the other 4×100 members, and that has been a big reason for the group’s recent success.
“That first time I met her I was really intimidated because I know that she’s really talented and a track star, you know. I mean she’s gone to state,” said Guler, a Norridge resident. “But she’s been really, really encouraging me and really helpful. She gives really good tips. I just really appreciate her helping me out and it’s made the transition a lot easier.”
Given recent performances, the talent on the Rebels 4×100 team is evident. Finding the right combination and blending together as one cohesive unit is still a work in progress, however.
“I feel like as of right now, having a set 4×1 team would be perfect for us, because it’s always changing,” Ignacik said. “Getting used to the steps that we have to take. Having a set person to hand the baton off to, because I’ve worked with a couple girls and I would like to have just one girl that I can pass off to.”
Coach Tony Guagenti said he’s used the early portion of the team’s schedule to experiment with the 4×100 relay. He’s kept Ignacik as the first leg and Woloszyn might have the inside track as the team’s anchor. Valdes, Iannotta and Guler have moved around. In the win at Elmwood Park, Iannotta ran the second leg, Guler ran the third and Woloszyn was the anchor.
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Whatever he settles on, Guagenti is confident the team can be a contender at the sectional meet if it can improve its fundamentals.
“I feel like we can take at least another second or second and a half off our time, which should make us pretty competitive come sectional time,” Guagenti said. “In a 4×1 relay you never know what happens, if you have good handoffs and the rest of the field misses a handoff, you can take advantage. So I think that’s something we can look at in the weeks to come.”
Brett Christie is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press