CHARLESTON — Lincoln-Way East senior Katie Sciarini took full advantage late Saturday night.

After two weather delays pushed back the Class 3A state meet, Sciarini grabbed a few of her teammates’ medals, put them on her neck and pranced around O’Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

Sciarini, a Milwaukee recruit, earned the right to celebrate after running a memorable leg in the 1,600-meter relay that propelled Lincoln-Way East to its first state team state championship in girls track since 2016.

The Griffins won just one event, relying on a collective effort to finish with 56 points. They edged out Homewood-Flossmoor, which ended up with 50 points.

Before the start of the 1,600, Lincoln-Way East and H-F were locked in a battle for the team title.

Sciarini stayed strong throughout her 400-meter leg, not letting H-F’s Adriana Brunson to pass her in leading the Griffins to sixth place with a time of 4:01.62. The Vikings, trying to repeat as state champs, were ninth in 4:04.37.

Wearing several first-place team medals around her neck, Sciarini celebrated the program’s fifth state title by grabbing the first-place trophy to mug for pictures.

“I think the rain delay helped calm everybody down and gave me a good recovery time,” Sciarini said. “We handled our business. Winning this feels so good after not competing last year.

“I just tried to finish strong. I saw the shadow of (Brunson), so I knew I had to push it.”

Lincoln-Way East coach Brian Evans said the final weather break that lasted four hours was critical, allowing several of his athletes to rest.

“We knew during the delay that we were in first place and the final three events would be crucial,” Evans said. “We also knew the (1,600) relay was the key. Katie is a veteran and a senior and an all-state athlete.

“If I had to put the baton in someone’s hands to bring home a championship for us, it’s going to be a senior like Katie. She brought home the title for us.”

Junior Mariam Azeez added her name to the Griffins’ impressive list of state champions in the sprint events.

In the 100, Azeez won with a 12.09. She placed second in the long jump with a 5.83 meters and took third in the 200 with a time of 24.68. Azeez joined Sciarini, Paige Watson and Sophia Barnard on the 400 relay that took third in 47.85.

“I felt a lot of pressure, but just focused on myself and trying to get a personal record,” Azeez said. “I had a good block start in the 100 and was so happy to win it to help the team.”

H-F sophomore Ana-Liese Torian built upon her reputation as one of the best sprinters in the state. She won the 100 hurdles in 13.87, took second in the 200 with a 24.59 and added another second with the 400 relay in 47.41.

“Everybody wants to win, but I did my best and we all did what we could,” Torian said. “I was happy to win my first state championship in the 100 hurdles. That was special to me.”

Junior Alexandra Edison scored valuable points for Vikings, snaring a second-place medal in the 400 in 57.23 to go with running the third leg of the 400 relay. She took seventh in the 200 in 25.20.

“We did well as a team and we’re just going to prepare ourselves to come back stronger next year,” Edison said. “We’re all happy with our placing, but it wasn’t in the cards for us with our young team this year.”

Thornwood senior Christine Nosike finished second in the discus with a 40.77 meters. She set a personal record in the shot put with a 13.01, ending up fourth.

Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.