Paul Hess ’64, along with assistants Phil Hofreiter, Phil Smith ’67, and Jay Rhodes, coached the 1993 S.H.S. Girls’ Track team to numerous victories and ultimate success. As many school records were broken, the team ran and hurdled their way to first place in multiple meets. The varsity team had a 7-0 finish in dual and triangular meets for the third year in a row. As for the junior varsity team, they had a record of 8-0 in their dual meets. The team won every meet except the Illini Prep meet, where they placed second; the United Township Invite, where they placed fifth; and the IHSA State meet, where they placed ninth.
Both varsity and junior varsity teams became the 1993 NCIC champions. This was the sixth continuous year for the varsity team and the second for the junior varsity team.
Following the conference meet, the team continued on to earn the sectional crown for the fifth year out of the previous six years. Sterling finished with 112 points and qualified several for the IHSA State Meet. Nine different events advanced to state: the high jump (Christine Kent ’93 and Caroline Kent ’93), discus (Kelly Vaughn ’94), 800m medley relay (Melissa Estrada ’95, Natalie Marks ’94, Christine Kent, and Caroline Kent), 3200m relay (Megan Cunningham ’96, Amy Beveroth ’94, Jennifer Lawrence ’94, and Jacqui Vazquez ’95), 100m high hurdles (Stephanie King ’95), 800m run (Megan Cunningham), 800m relay (Christy Zbinden ’96, Natalie Marks, Christine Kent, and Caroline Kent), 1600m run (Jennifer Lawrence and Jacqui Vazquez), and the 1600m relay (Christy Zbinden, Christine Kent, Jenny Hawk ’95, and Caroline Kent).
At state, 12 people qualified for finals: the 3200 relay (Megan Cunningham, Amy Beveroth, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jacqui Vazquez), 1600 relay (Christy Zbinden, Christine Kent, Jenny Hawk, and Caroline Kent), high jump (Christine Kent and Caroline Kent), 800 medley (Melissa Estrada , Natalie Marks, Christine Kent, and Caroline Kent), and 1600m (Christy Zbinden, Christine Kent, Jenny Hawk, and Caroline Kent). These scores— a total of 19 points— placed Sterling ninth place in the Class AA final team ranking. Christine Kent placed second and Caroline Kent placed seventh in the high jump, the 4x400-meter relay team placed fifth overall, and the 800-meter medley relay received a fourth place medal. The 4x800 competed in finals but did not medal- they placed tenth.
Led by co-captains Christine Kent, Caroline Kent, and Megan King, the 1993 Girls’ Track team became one of the most successful teams in Sterling High School history.
Lawrence, in the 1600m run, held the school record at 5:09.3 until it was broken in the 2017 season by Margaret McPherson ’17. Overall, their dedication provided the girls with the ability to truly go the distance.
Coach Paul Hess noted, “The whole team put forth a tremendous amount of effort during the season to make this one of the best teams in Sterling Track.”
Varsity team members include: Caroline Kent ’93, Christine (Kent) Leventhal ’93, Megan King ’93, Kristin (Kobbeman) Cofer ’93, Emily Tinley ’93, Dani (Bailey) Hussung ’94, Amy (Beveroth) Nutial ’94, Heather (Gerdy) Pierceson ’94, Jennifer Lawrence ‘94, Natalie (Marks) Schneiderman ’94, Kelly Vaughn ’94, Melissa (Estrada) Delgado ’95, Natasha Harris ’95, Jennifer Hawk-Riemer ‘95, Stephanie (King) Miller ’95, Jacqi Vazquez ’95, Rachel Wade ’95, Megan (Cunningham) Lawless ’96, Jessica Shore ’96, Christy Zbinden ’96.