![(L-R): Natalie Kowalski, Ashley Wrublik]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1717192316/lhs210net/trs7zgi15ot3wnixp89u/2024GirlsTrackStateQualifiers.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1717192316/lhs210net/trs7zgi15ot3wnixp89u/2024GirlsTrackStateQualifiers.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1717192316/lhs210net/trs7zgi15ot3wnixp89u/2024GirlsTrackStateQualifiers.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1717192316/lhs210net/trs7zgi15ot3wnixp89u/2024GirlsTrackStateQualifiers.jpg","width":960}])
Lemont High School’s girls’ track and field program advanced two athletes to the final rounds of their respective events in state finals competition. Both senior Natalie Kowalski and junior Ashley Wrublik made their state finals debuts at the 2024 IHSA Class 3A Girls’ Track and Field State Finals, which were contested on May 17-18 at O’Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
Kowalski’s second attempt in the first round of the discus throw was 116’01”, which was 10th in the preliminary round and made her one of 12 competitors to move on to the final round. She became the first in program history to reach the final round of the state finals in the discus, and her first round effort placed her 10th overall in the event.
Wrublik’s second attempt in the first round of the shot put was 38’06.25”, which placed her seventh in the preliminary round and made her one of 13 to move on to the final round of the event. That mark ultimately placed her 11th overall in the event.
IHSA Girls' Track and Field Website
Kowalski and Wrublik earned their state finals berths thanks to their efforts at the IHSA Lockport Sectional on May 10, with each eclipsing the IHSA qualifying standards in their respective events. Wrublik was second in the shot put with a career best effort of 39’02.50”, while Kowalski was fourth in the discus with a school record throw of 119’11”.
Kowalski and Wrublk each were the runners-up in their respective events at the 2024 South Suburban Conference-Blue Division meet, as head coach Tim Plotke’s team placed third in the team standings.
Lemont’s best girls’ track and field state finals finish came in 2014 when Vika Marmaite finished as the IHSA Class 3A runner-up in the triple jump. Other state medalists have included Elissa Bitterman ‘12 (High Jump - 7th, Class 2A, 2010), Jacque Desmond ‘15 (Pole Vault - 6th, Class 3A, 2014), Nikole Hoster ‘98 (1600 meter run - 8th, Class AA, 1997), Kaylie Politza (800 meter run - 9th, Class 3A, 2019) and Jessica Semenic ‘98 (100 meter hurdles - 8th, Class 2A, 1997).