Novotny, Slazyk Headline Lincoln-Way West’s Multi-Win Effort at Lockport Triangular

The Lincoln-Way West girls track and field team continued to showcase its deep roster of talent on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, capturing a flurry of individual titles at the Lockport Township Triangular. Competing in an open-format, unscored meet against the host Porters and Bradley-Bourbonnais, the Warriors controlled the hurdles, vertical jumps, and mid-distance races.

Junior Emma Novotny was virtually unstoppable on the track, securing two decisive individual victories. Novotny blazed through the 100-meter hurdles to take first place in 16.10 seconds, with sophomore teammate Molly Saller securing second (18.43). Novotny then shifted to the long sprints, winning the 400-meter dash with a personal-best time of 1:03.17. Junior Ally Dean ensured a 1-2 Warrior sweep in the event, crossing the line right behind her in a season-best 1:03.81.

The Warriors’ dominance over the hurdles was further cemented in the 300-meter event, where Lincoln-Way West executed a flawless 1-2-3 sweep. Senior Madelyn Schussler claimed the top spot in 57.76 seconds, followed closely by Saller in second (58.88) and freshman Lucy Galassi in third (1:00.05).

In the field events, freshman phenom Paige Slazyk continued her stellar season in the pole vault, clearing 3.37 meters to easily capture the individual crown. Slazyk also proved her speed on the track, taking second in the 200-meter dash (28.12). Freshman Mia DiBenedetto added another field title for the Warriors, winning the high jump with a clearance of 1.52 meters.

The throwing rings saw senior Emily Hendrick muscle her way to a victory in the shot put. Hendrick delivered a top heave of 10.35 meters to beat out a crowded field. Freshman Paulina Pajerski also had a strong afternoon, earning a runner-up finish in the discus with a toss of 25.65 meters.

Lincoln-Way West’s mid-distance crew was equally impressive. In the 800-meter run, freshmen Penny Pinciak (2:38.15) and sophomore Lizzie Lemke (2:39.30) controlled the pace to deliver another 1-2 sweep for the Warriors.

The Warriors also found success in the baton exchanges, highlighted by a victory in the 4×200-meter relay. The quartet of junior Kate Giroux, DiBenedetto, junior Olivia Martinez, and freshman Kaydence Golembiewski navigated the track perfectly to break the tape in 1:58.89.

Host Lockport Township flexed its muscles in the distance events and short sprints, with Abigail Kantor sweeping the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. Bradley-Bourbonnais found its brightest moments in the throws and sprint relays, taking the 4×100 relay and the discus title via Kelsi Bade.

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

Scoring Drives

• Quarter 1 (Sprints & Short Hurdles)

  • 100m Dash: Abigail Kantor (Lockport Twp.) – 13.14a

  • 200m Dash: Abigail Kantor (Lockport Twp.) – 27.45a

  • 100m Hurdles: Emma Novotny (Lincoln-Way West) – 16.10a

• Quarter 2 (Mid-Distance & Long Hurdles)

  • 400m Dash: Emma Novotny (Lincoln-Way West) – 1:03.17a

  • 800m Run: Penny Pinciak (Lincoln-Way West) – 2:38.15a

  • 1600m Run: Giana Maloney (Lockport Twp.) – 5:57.62a

  • 3200m Run: Katie Peetz (Lockport Twp.) – 11:30.85a

  • 300m Hurdles: Madelyn Schussler (Lincoln-Way West) – 57.76a

• Quarter 3 (Relays)

  • 4×100 Relay: Bradley-Bourbonnais – 50.58a

  • 4×200 Relay: Lincoln-Way West – 1:58.89a

  • 4×400 Relay: Lockport Twp. – 4:28.04a

• Quarter 4 (Field Events)

  • Shot Put: Emily Hendrick (Lincoln-Way West) – 10.35m

  • Discus: Kelsi Bade (Bradley-Bourbonnais) – 30.22m

  • High Jump: Mia DiBenedetto (Lincoln-Way West) – 1.52m

  • Pole Vault: Paige Slazyk (Lincoln-Way West) – 3.37m

  • Long Jump: Jayla Lubbers (Lockport Twp.) – 4.58m

  • Triple Jump: Violet Slowik (Lockport Twp.) – 9.19m

Individual Statistics

100 METERS: Abigail Kantor (Lockport Twp.) 13.14; Izabella Quirk (Lockport Twp.) 13.34; Isla Sievers (Lockport Twp.) 13.49.
200 METERS: Abigail Kantor (Lockport Twp.) 27.45; Paige Slazyk (Lincoln-Way West) 28.12; Suzuna Hosey (Lockport Twp.) 28.20.
400 METERS: Emma Novotny (Lincoln-Way West) 1:03.17; Ally Dean (Lincoln-Way West) 1:03.81; Miranda Powley (Lockport Twp.) 1:07.45.
800 METERS: Penny Pinciak (Lincoln-Way West) 2:38.15; Lizzie Lemke (Lincoln-Way West) 2:39.30; Sydney Cline (Lockport Twp.) 2:41.27.
1600 METERS: Giana Maloney (Lockport Twp.) 5:57.62; Eva Minshall (Lockport Twp.) 6:01.16; Leah Corrigan (Lockport Twp.) 6:08.53.
3200 METERS: Katie Peetz (Lockport Twp.) 11:30.85; Gracie Kane (Lockport Twp.) 12:38.85; Grace Seibt (Lockport Twp.) 13:01.29.
100M HURDLES: Emma Novotny (Lincoln-Way West) 16.10; Molly Saller (Lincoln-Way West) 18.43; Rachel Weinstein (Lockport Twp.) 19.72.
300M HURDLES: Madelyn Schussler (Lincoln-Way West) 57.76; Molly Saller (Lincoln-Way West) 58.88; Lucy Galassi (Lincoln-Way West) 1:00.05.
SHOT PUT: Emily Hendrick (Lincoln-Way West) 10.35m; Lillian Longtin (Bradley-Bourbonnais) 9.56m; Madelyn Mathews (Bradley-Bourbonnais) 9.26m.
DISCUS: Kelsi Bade (Bradley-Bourbonnais) 30.22m; Paulina Pajerski (Lincoln-Way West) 25.65m; Ahmadia Richie (Lockport Twp.) 24.65m.
HIGH JUMP: Mia DiBenedetto (Lincoln-Way West) 1.52m; Sarah Mack (Lockport Twp.) 1.37m; Juliana Thorgren (Lockport Twp.) 1.37m.
POLE VAULT: Paige Slazyk (Lincoln-Way West) 3.37m; Alyssa Trower (Lockport Twp.) 3.22m; Madelyn Schussler (Lincoln-Way West) 2.89m.
LONG JUMP: Jayla Lubbers (Lockport Twp.) 4.58m; Molly Saller (Lincoln-Way West) 3.81m; Lucy Galassi (Lincoln-Way West) 3.73m.
TRIPLE JUMP: Violet Slowik (Lockport Twp.) 9.19m; Arianna Tazelaar (Lockport Twp.) 9.17m.