By Daniel Makarewicz, danmak@qconline.com

GALESBURG -- Before learning where her 100-meter hurdles preliminary time officially stood in the record books, Geneseo senior sprinter Kaci Storm termed her final race of the day Friday as "disappointing."

A record eventually eased the frustration.

Crafting a 14.96-second run in the 100 hurdles preliminary race, Storm broke the 21-year-old meet record in the Galesburg Invitational at Van Dyke Field. She could not set the record again in the finals, but the preliminary set the stage for her sweep of the hurdles events.

"You're not always going to run your best. It's a learning experience. There are little things I could have done better in the finals," said Storm, who surpassed the previous record of 15.1 set in 1991 and again in 2006. "But I got first. I'm happy with my performance overall."

Storm, a Class 2A state medalist in both hurdles events as a junior, won the 100 in 15.2 and followed that by running a 48.2 to easily win the 300. Those two wins helped the Maple Leafs snag the title in the 10-team event with 102 points, 10 more than runner-up Galesburg.

United Township (64 points) finished fourth, Moline (54) was fifth and Alleman (13) 10th place.

Unaware she set the record until Galesburg athletic director Ralph Henning said it was official after the meet was finished, Storm examined her first time and realized it was a building block for bigger things to come. The more she thought about finishing under 15 seconds, the better she felt.

"It shows me that I can do it and I can go faster," Storm said. "There's always stuff to do. It builds me up knowing that I can do it. I'm excited."

On this sun-splashed afternoon, the Maple Leafs were thrilled as well. Competing in its first outdoor meet of the season, Geneseo scored in 14 events, winning six titles.

"We did well," Geneseo coach Phil Paulson said. "We have areas to improve, areas that were really positive. We're on the right track of where we need to be."

What added to the excitement was the Maple Leafs winning four titles on the track and two more in the field events. Jamie DeFauw (5-foot-2) won the high jump and Darrian Hartman (9-0) captured the pole vault to get Geneseo started.

A bit later, the quartet of Kelcey Adams, Halle Olson, Amber Fobert and Emily Ford took the 4x800 relay crown in 10:06.1, winning the title by more than five seconds over Rock Falls.

Capping the Maple Leafs' titles was Olson, who won the 400 in 1:02.8.

"Well, in the beginning I was kind of behind and was thinking, 'This isn't looking too good right now,'" Olson said. "My teammates told me that I have a signature where I sprint in the end. I just pulled that out."

With that, Geneseo opened its season with a solid, all-around display.

"We're pretty balanced," Paulson said.

- Jefford wins long jump: Moline sophomore Taylor Jefford won the long jump title in a season-best leap of 15-11.5. The title came on Jefford's final attempt.

"I thought I did really well," Jefford said. "I finally got my feet out in front of me, and I never get my feet out in front."