And it's probably also going to be a great year for Maine South in girls track.

A lot of outstanding performances at the Wheeling boys and girls varsity indoor track invites confirmed that last Saturday.

In a 10-team girls competition, Wheeling was first and Maine South one point behind on team points. St. Viator was ninth. Wheeling and Maine South scored 93 and 92 points, respectively.

On the boys side, Wheeling won an 11-team competition with 99 points, with Hersey fourth with 78.5 points, and St. Viator ninth.

In the girls contest, Wheeling won four events and took seconds in three others.

Wildcat winners were Staci Hendrickson in the 200 meters in 28.7 seconds, Jessie Morgenthal in the 800 meters in 2:26.1, Gada Qafisheh in the mile run in 5:28, and Alison Coren in the two-mile in 11:28. In Morgenthal, Qafisheh and Coren, the 'Cats boast three of the state's best distance runners, who have consistently been competing at the top of the state's level as underclassmen.

Taking second places for Wheeling were Katrina Vuyk in the 55-meter hurdles in 9.7 seconds, Katie Schwind in the pole vault at seven feet (actually a tie for first with Laura Solar of Jacobs), and Hendrickson again in the 55-meter dash (7.6 seconds).

Maine South, for second place, won all of the jumping events (long, triple, and high), and won second places in the mile relay, pole vault, and the 400 meters. Claire Forde won thew 400-meter silver medal, Allison Fullman leaped six feet to take second in the pole vault, Theresa Spencer won the high jump in 4-10 and the triple jump in 42-7, and Ashleigh Morris won the long jump with a leap of 15-3.

Other top performances by the Hawks included Karen Magiera, fifth in the 200 meters (29.6), Katie Coppin, fourth in the 800 meters (2:36.3), Annie Eriksson, third in the mile run (5:58.7), and Eriksson again in the two-mile in 12:56.5.

On the boys side, Wheeling event winners were Julio Perez in the mile run (4:49.5), Juan Reyes in the shot put (43-2). amd Ermest Holton amd Art Nerwood, who were 1-2 in the triple jujmp (4-7 and 4-5, respectively). Also, Art Norwood won the 500-meter dash in 6.5 seconds, and took second in the 200 meters in 24.9 seconds.

Hersey winners were Andrew Wiseman in the 400 meters (55.7 seconds), Matt Fulton in the 800 meters (2:09.3), the Huskie mile relay in 3:47.5, and Andrew Rode in the long jump with a leap of 19-2 (tied by Holton of Wheeling).