By Michael Newman

1 – Warrensburg-Latham

Notes – The Cardinals are a good bet to take home a trophy from Charleston after finishing third last year. Kathleen Young is currently ranked #2 nationally in the Shot Put and should be the favorite in that event as well as the Discus. Taylor George is the other big returner for this team. She should score points in the 100 and 200 as well as being a big part of the 400 and 800 relays. Kaitlynn Pisaniello could be a bonus in both the weight events.

2 – Effingham St. Anthony

Notes – When you have three events where you could score 30 points, fans will keep an eye on this squad. The Bulldogs have one of the best distances runners in Illinois prep history leading them. Anna Sophia Keller is the defending champion in the 3200 and 1600 and will be the big favorite in both events. Kristin Slaughter comes back to defend her title in the Pole Vault. Abby Weis is one of the top returners in the 800 and could give her team points in that event. Sarah Carr also could help in the distance events. The 1600 Relay, with Keller and Slaughter leading, could have a shot of scoring points in that event. They need to find a way to 40 points. That will get them in the trophy conversation.

3 – Seneca

Notes – The Irish only finished 28^th at state last year. They do have the talent in a lot of events to get them among the top of 1A this spring. Cora Wilkerson could be the team’s top athlete. She should be able to score in the 300 Hurdles. The possibility is also there to score in the Long and Triple Jump. Alexandra Draves is someone to watch in the weight events and could score in both the Shot and Discus. Eva Bruno did not compete last fall in Cross Country to concentrate on Basketball and Track. She could be in the mix to get points in the 800. Bruno could also be a factor in both the 1600 and 3200 relays. The Irish return all four runners from their fifth place 1600 relay team. Carina Collet could also pick up points in either the 3200 Meter Run or the 1600 Meter Run

4 – St. Joseph-Ogden

Notes – The Spartans were in the mix for the state championship last year finishing second. They will once again be in contention for a state title in this classification. Parker Francisco will be one of the favorites in the 100 Hurdles. Zea Maroon should be one of the top athletes in the 300 Hurdles. Frankie Izard was all-state in the 100 Meter Dash last year. She could score in both the 100 and 200 in 2017. He big plus of this team is their strength in the relays. SJO finished ninth in the 3200 relay and return the core of that squad. Their 400 Relay were state champs last year and return their entire quartet. The same quartet finished sixth in the 800. Their 1600 relay returns three of their four runners from last year’s 1600 relay that finished second. Also watch for Hanna Atwood who finished second last year in the Pole Vault. She will be one of the favorites this season. Faith Houston could also pick up points in the 1600 Meter Run.

5 – Chicago Luther North

Notes – There is not much room for mistakes for this team at state this year after finishing seventh in 2016. Jada Williams placed in the 200 Meter Dash last year. She should get points in both the 100 and 200 this May. Natasha Bernett scored in both the 100 and 300 Hurdles last year. She could be one of the top athletes in both of those events this season. She could also score points in the Triple Jump. Their 800 Relay was on op last season in the state finals. Williams and Kayla Armstrong are the only runners back from that squad. Both were also on the 400 Relay quartet that finished third.

6 – Urbana University

Notes – The distance events and the efforts of two athletes could push U-High close to a top three finish. Arielle Summitt is the defending state champion in the 1A 800 Meter Run. She should be the favorite in that event again this season. Summit also qualified for state in the 400 and 1600 making the finals in the one lap race. Annemarie Michael was all-state in the 3200 and made the finals in the 1600 Meter Run. She had a great race in the 2A finals last fall at Detweiller Park finishing fifth overall. Watch for her to be a threat in both of those events.

7 – Pana

Notes – The Panthers finished 12^th in 1A in 2016. They could climb up the standings’ ladder in 2017. Claudia Magnussen had a great cross-country season last fall culminating with a second-place finish. She finished third in both the 3200 and 1600 last spring and will be the runner to push Anna Sophia Keller in those events this spring. Daylee Denton gave her teams points last spring in the Long Jump. She could be among the top five in the event. Sophomore Katelin Weideman could also score in that event. Their entire quartet, led by Denton and Weideman, return in the 400 Relay where they finished eighth. This squad could also finish in the top five this May.

8 – Rockford Lutheran

Notes – It is nice to have a double state champ back leading your team. Courtney Sockwell had a great junior season winning both the 100 and 200 Meter Dash at state. She will be the favorite in both events by the time we get to the state series. With Sockwell leading the way, this school could also be in the mix in the 400 Relay. Madison Davis finished seventh in the Triple Jump last season at state. She could be one of the top athletes in this event this spring.

9 – Clifton Central

Notes – The Comets just missed a trophy last year finishing fourth in the team standings. They do have the athletes to get them close to trophy territory in 2017. Emery Podowicz will be one of their keys to success. She scored points in both hurdles races at state last year. She will be the favorite in the 300 Hurdles as well as getting big points in the 100 Hurdles. She was also a big part of the 1600 Relay that won the state title. Only Podowicz and Andrea Pace return from that squad. Their depth in that event could push them again towards the front. Pace is a good middle distance runner that could get points this season in the 400. Lindsey Anderson could be in contention to score in the 3200.

10 – Moweaqua Central A&M

Notes – The field events could push the Raiders into the top ten teams this season. Emma Meyer finished third last year in the Pole Vault and should be among the top athletes again in the event. She could also pick up points for her team in the Triple Jump. Laura Beckett finished third last spring in the High Jump. The 800 Relay made the state finals last year led by Meyer. They only return two from that team.

11 – Fulton

Notes – The strength for Fulton this spring comes from the two weight events. Double digit points in those could push this team close to the top five. Chloe Lindeman finished second in the Shot Put last year and will look to duplicate that in 2017. She did not make it to the finals in the Discus but does have one of the top returning performances. Emma Jacobs could be another athlete to watch in both the Discus and the Shot Put.

12 – Decatur St. Teresa

Notes – The Bulldogs finished fifth in 1A last year and have the athletes to get them close to that placing this spring. Sophomore DaeLin Switzer is the defending champion in the High Jump. She was also a big part of the team’s success in the 400 and 800 Relays that earned all-state honors. Three of the four runners are back for those relays. Brianna Niebrugge, who was a part of those two relays along with the 1600 Relay, could also pick up points for her team in the Discus and maybe the Triple Jump. Vanessa Nutakor could get bonus points for St. Teresa in both the Long and Triple Jump. 

13 – Pittsfield

Notes – A team to watch from western Illinois. Chandler Hayden did not make it to the finals in the Shot Put. The sophomore does have one of the top returning performances. I would keep an eye on her in that event as well as the Discus. Maggie Marable is a sophomore that I would keep my eyes on in the High Jump. Sydney Bauer advanced to the finals of the 800. She could be among the top six this spring. This team is very sophomore driven. They could be a factor in the team events for years to come.

14 – Manlius Bureau Valley

Notes – The Storm was only able to pick up a single point in last year’s state meet. They should be able to score more this May. Hailey Weidner was the only scorer last year as she finished ninth in the 3200. She could finish higher. Saige Barnett is possibility to score points in both the Shot Put and the Discus. Tiana Kennedy could be one of the finalists this year in the 400 Meter Dash. She could also play a big part in their relays.

15 – Spring Valley Hall

Notes – Madi Quinn could be the big scorer this spring for the Red Devils. She could be one of the top athletes in the Pole Vault. Kaelyn Hamalle could also give her team points in the Triple Jump as well as the 400 Meter Dash.