Is it Urycki’s time to shine in 2015 2A Field Events?

By Michael Newman

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There will be so many interesting stories to watch in the 2A Girls Field Events in 2015. There will be many new faces on top of the leaderboards with 5 of the 6 state champions graduated. Only Triple Jump champion Vicky Gruszka (Notre Dame HS, Peoria) is back to defend her crown.

Gillian Urycki (Metamora HS) earned all-state honors in the High Jump and Long Jump. She step up to the top of the podium in her junior year. Raynesha Lewis (Cahokia HS) had a breakout season in the horizontal jumps and could be among the favorites in those events in 2015.

With Lena Giger and Gabi Jacobs graduated, the weight events are wide open. It will be interesting to see who steps into the spotlight in this classification.

Here is a look at each of the six events and some of the athletes that could play a part in 2015.

Long Jump

Top Returnee from 2014 State – Raynesha Lewis – JR – Cahokia HS – 3^rd AA

Preview – This event was up for grabs most of last season. It looks like we will have the same kind of scenario in 2015. Lexy Duncan stepped up when the time was right to capture the 2014 championship. With her graduated, who will step up? Six all-state athletes in this event are back. Raynesha Lewis rocketed a 19-1 wind aided jump at her conference meet and has the top returning performance. The rest of the year she was jumping in the upper 17’s. She finished third a year ago.

Gillian Urycki (Metamora HS) stepped up in the post season jumping 18-5 to finish third in her age group at the AAU Nationals. She will use that performance as a stepping stone into this season. Lilia Edwards (Sycamore HS) had a breakout performance at the state meet last year. She had jumped in the mid to upper 16’s most of last year. She stepped up her game at the state jumping a seasonal best of 17-6 ¼. She could be a surprise here.

The one athlete that could step up is Madison Meyer (Carterville HS). The junior had an 18-1 best jump during last year. She finished 4^th in 1A. Do not discount Meyer in any of the events that she is in. Mariya Hudson (Cahokia HS) finished 7^th last year as a freshman. Expect her to improve on that this season. Vicky Gruszka is the defending champ in the Triple Jump. She finished 6^th in this event last year. Expect her to make some noise in this event in 2015.

Triple Jump

Top Returnee from 2014 State – Vicky Gruszka – JR – Peoria Notre Dame HS – 2014 2A State Champion

Preview – This should be a great event in 2015. The top 4 finishers from last year’s state meet are back with three of the top four of these athletes being underclassmen. Vicky Gruszka is back to defend her title. She had five jumps over 37 feet last season. Her best jump of 38-6 ½ came when it counted at the state meet. Jaimie Robinson (Delasalle Institute, Chicago) caught every one surprise last year as a freshman when she finished second. She will challenge for the championship in 2015.

Raynesha Lewis popped a gigantic 40-6 jump at her conference meet and has the top returning performance. She had three jumps over 38 feet last year. She did not have a great state meet in the Triple Jump finishing third. She will also be a threat at the championship.

High Jump

Top Returnee from 2014 State – Lundeen Henry – JR – Springfield Southeast HS – 3^rd AA

Preview – 2 time champion Haleigh Knapp has graduated and moved on to the next level. Four athletes’ return that have cleared 5-5 or better and will be the ones to watch. Lundeen Henry spent most of the season at 5-4. She received a boost before state when she cleared 5-6 at the Springfield Sectional. Gillian Urycki was stuck on 5-4 all year including her fourth place finish at the state meet. She cleared 5-6 at the AAU Nationals. Dasia Evans (Rich South HS, Richton Park) was the hot jumper earlier last year when she cleared 5-7 and 5-6 in April. She had to settle for seventh at the state meet.

Destiny Smith (Monmouth-Roseville HS) had an up and down sophomore season failing to qualify for the state meet. She still cleared a personal best 5-5 during the year. Smith could be a surprise in this event.

Pole Vault

Top Returnee from 2014 State – Kassadee Ifft – JR – Fairbury Prairie Central HS – 2^nd AA

Preview – Lindsay Murray controlled this event last season. She has graduated and now doing some great things already at Southern Illinois University. The story for 2015 should come down to two athletes. Kassadee Ifft was stuck on 12-0 most of last season. She stepped up at the state meet pushing Murray and finishing second with a personal best 12-9 clearance. She started her 2015 season at the Reno Pole Vault Summit clearing 11-8.

Claire Buck (Triad HS, Troy) was perhaps the most consistent athletes in this event last year outside of Murray. She cleared over 12 feet seven times last year. She cleared 12-6 three times including a clearance that placed her third. Buck and Ifft should be challenging each other for the state championship.

Betsy Lovett (Clinton HS) cleared 11-6 last year and finished eighth at the state meet. She has already cleared 11-4 this indoor season. She could have her sights set on Ifft and Buck. Laryn Sapetti (Rochester HS) finished sixth at state last year and cleared 11-0 in her last two meets. She could be the other athlete that could challenge for a top three finish. It will be interesting to see who steps up to challenge these four athletes this season.

Shot Put

Top Returnee from 2014 State – Christina Meinhardt – SR – Wauconda HS – 4^th AA

Preview – Gone is the dominance that Lena Giger and Gabi Jacobs exhibited the past couple of years. The big question will be who will step into the spotlight for the two weight event disciplines. In the Shot Put, it could be close. Seven athletes return that are within 15 inches of each other. Christina Meinhardt finished fourth a year ago and will be one athlete to watch. Allison Richter (Triad HS, Troy) finished two inches behind Meinhardt at state. The junior should challenge for the title in 2015.

One athlete that I would keep an eye on is Latavia Maines (Centralia HS). She did not make the state finals but had a 40-6 put at her conference meet. She had three performances over 39 feet last season. Bralon Mack (Herrin HS) finished seventh a year ago and could be a threat at the top. Monica Voudrie (Notre Dame HS, Peoria) finished outside of the top nine last year. She has the talent to be in the top three this season.

Discus

Top Returnee from 2014 State - Christina Meinhardt – SR – Wauconda HS – 6^th AA

Preview – This is an event where there is opportunity for someone to slip out of the shadows into the spotlight. The top five athletes from last year’s state meet have graduated. Christina Meinhardt is the leading returnee from last year’s state meet with her sixth place finish. Her 124-5 seasonal best is 15 feet behind that of Elle Alexander (Glenwood HS, Chatham). The senior unleashed a 139-6 throw at the Capitol Area Classic five days before the state meet. She finished seventh at the state meet. She has the top three throws from last year of all of the athletes coming back.

Emily Kauffman (Mahomet-Seymour HS) is the only other all-state returnee with her 8^th place state finish. She will be a threat at the top. Allison Richter, Mary Grace Inyart (East Richland HS, Olney), and Alyssa Fuerbach (Sycamore HS) would be athletes that I would keep an eye on.