Finley cousins both earn state dates

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Sarah and Tina Finley felt the exhilaration of state qualifying for slightly different reasons Friday.

For Sarah, a senior at Richmond-Burton, qualifying provided the thrill of her first trip to the IHSA Girls Track and Field State Meet. For Tina, her senior cousin at Alden-Hebron, it was exciting, and somewhat relieving, as she will compete in state all four years of her high school career.

“It feels really good to finally reach the goal you’ve worked so hard for,” said Sarah, who qualified in the long jump, along with the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

Sarah Finley won the 100 and 200 at the Big Northern Conference Meet and took fifth and fourth, respectively, in those races at the McHenry County Meet in April.

Tina Finley was sixth in both sprints at the county meet and qualified for state in both races, as she did last season.

“I’m just happy I was able to do it,” said Tina, who is A-H’s first girl to qualify for state all four years, “and I’m looking forward to running next year at Winona State.”

Sarah will join Tina on the Warriors’ women’s team.

Tina will compete today in the Class 1A preliminaries at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium in Charleston. This is the IHSA’s first year with three classes. The Class 1A prelims will run today, with 2A and 3A prelims Friday, then finals for all three classes on Saturday.

Tina Finley developed a plan for her races at state from previous experience.

“I look at the seeds and pick out three or four girls in my heat I’m going to beat,” she said. “I know I’m probably not going to win my heat, but if I beat those girls, then I’m not disappointed in my performance.”

Tina shared some of her knowledge with Sarah on what to expect when she steps onto the blue track at O’Brien Stadium for the first time as a competitor.

“I told her not to worry about it,” Tina said. “She’s already done what she set out to do.”

R-B coach Keith Forth couldn’t be happier for Sarah Finley, who joins teammates Lindsey Wilkins and Emily Kaht in the Class 2A state meet. Sarah was close the past two years, but competing in Class AA under the old two-class system made it more difficult. Competing against schools closer to R-B’s size Friday in the Grayslake North Sectional, she led the Rockets to fourth place with wins in the 100, 200 and long jump.

“It’s long overdue,” Forth said of her state berth, “and well-deserved.”

Sarah watched Tina run last year when she joined Wilkins at the state meet. She hopes to see Tina run again today if R-B’s contingent, which was set to leave this morning, reaches O’Brien Stadium in time. She probably will get to see Tina run the 200 before the 2A and 3A competitors have their chance to work out at the stadium.

“It’s so exciting [at state],” Sarah said. “As long as I run a smart race and don’t tire myself out too much, I’ll be more competitive.”