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2017 IHSA Girls State Track & Field Championships - 1A Events

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Illinois IHSA Outdoor State Championships   May 17th 2017, 2:15pm
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By Michael Newman, ILXCTF.com Editor

[email protected]

 

This is the end of an era in Class 1A. Both Kathleen Young and Anna Sophia Keller will compete as a high school athlete in the IHSA State Meet at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium for the final time trying for four state championships between the two of them.

Young, the senior from Warrensburg-Latham, has won the 1A Shot Put and Discus the past three state meets. She could become the first individual to win two events for four straight state meets.

Keller is in the same situation. The St. Anthony senior could become the most decorated Girls distance runner in state history. She has won four 1A state cross country titles during the fall. Keller has won two titles in the 3200 Meter Run and three in the 1600 Meter Run. She could pick up state titles #10 and #11 on Saturday.

Both athletes will also be trying to help their teams win a state championship. That will make this day even more special.

Here is a look at the 1A events. Prelims take place on Thursday with the finals on Saturday.

 

FIELD EVENTS

Shot Put

Kathleen Young of Warrensburg-Latham goes for her fourth straight 1A state championship in his discipline. The senior has the second-best throw in the nation outdoors (50-10). It could be tough to stop her winning streak in Charleston where she is undefeated against Illinois competition. It could be closer for Young than in previous years. Chloe Lindeman, a sophomore from Fulton, threw a personal best 47-5 last week at her sectional meet and could challenge Young. After that, there is over a five-foot margin between Young and Lindeman with the rest of the pack. Emily Offenheiser of Stockton, Carrie Ferguson of Riverdale, Saige Barnett of Bureau Valley, and Rachyl Anderson of Salt Fork are athletes that have gone past 41-feet this season. They could challenge for finishes in the first three.

Discus

Kathleen Young is again the favorite to walk away with her eighth and final state championship. She has the top throw in the state in this event (157-9). Her sectional throw of 152-0 was 15-feet longer than the rest of the qualifying field. Rachyl Anderson only threw 127-4 last week but has a 149-4 throw in a small meet at the beginning of the month that could make things closer if Young has an “off” day. Emily Offenheiser, Hope Jackson of Riverdale, Katie Witte of Salt Fork, and Sabrina Martinez of Bismarck-Henning all have throws this season past 130-feet. Watch for them to challenge for a spot on the awards’ podium.

Pole Vault

Kristin Slaughter of St. Anthony is the defending champion in this event. She has the highest 1A clearance his season (12-0). The top sectional mark of 11-9 from Moweaqua Central A&M’s Emma Meyer will make things closer. Six other athletes have gone past 11-0 this season including Maddie Kelly of Bloomington Central Catholic, Cassie Wilson and Jenna Ring of Tri-Valley, Emma Smith of Carlinville, Hanna Atwood of St. Joseph-Ogden, and Cameryn Baldwin of Winnebago. Also watch for the weather conditions for Saturday’s finals. If predicted thunderstorms hit on Saturday, this event could be moved indoors with then anything possible happening in the vault.

High Jump

The surprise that occurred from last week’s sectionals was the 1A leading 5-9 clearance from Rock Island Alleman’s Kiah O’Neal. In adverse conditions this season, O’Neal cleared 5-6 once and 5-4 three other times. O’Neal finished 10th in last year’s state finals. She could be an athlete to watch. Defending state champion DaeLin Switzer of St. Teresa has been consistent all outdoors clearing 5-7 in April and clearing 5-6 four other times. She could defend her state title with another performance like that.

Kenli Nettles of Arthur-Lovington could be a surprise as she won the IESA State title last year and has cleared 5-7 this outdoor season. Lucy Lux-Rulon of St. Thomas More and Ellie Niemann of Litchfield all have that state meet experience with the potential to win that event.

Long Jump

If there is one athlete to keep an eye on in this horizontal jump discipline, it could be DuQuoin’s Tarynn Mays who jumped a 1A leading 17-8 last week at the Fairfield Sectional. Mays did not make the finals last year. Freshman Britney Oakley jumped 17-7 at Clinton a month ago and could be a threat to Mays. Bryn Guthrie of Lichfield, who finished second last year, could also be a threat to win in Charleston as she has jumped 17-4.5 his season. Lucy Lux-Rulon, Katie Kidwell of Watseka, Paige Yoder of Keith County-Day, and Katelynn Parkhurst of Amboy have been pas 17-feet and could contend for a top spot. Keep an eye on Rebecca Waite of Milledgeville. He four-time qualifier in this meet only jumped 16-3 in her sectional meet but has a season best of 17-1.5. She could finish among the top three.

Triple Jump

Tarynn Mays finished fourth last year in this event and could be the favorite. She has the longest 1A jump this season (37-2). Danielle Taets of Orion could be the athlete to watch. The sophomore jumped a personal best 36-11.5 at last week’s sectional. Maddie Meyer of Argenta-Oreana has been past 36-feet his season and could be a challenger for the state title. Cora Wilkinson of Seneca, Allison Scott of Knoxville, and Natasha Bernett of Luther North are some of the other athletes to keep an eye on.

 

SPRINTS / HURDLES

100 Meter Hurdles

With multi-state champion Jenny Kimbro graduated, a new state champion will be crowned. Parker Francisco of St. Joseph-Ogden has the fastest 1A time this season (15.08) and one of the runners to watch in his race. Danielle Taets ran the fastest sectional time (15.14) and could be a threat to Francisco. DaeLin Switzer, Alyana Stalter of Fisher, and Morgan Atchison of Chester are all within a tenth of a second of Francisco and Taets and could contend for the win. Janika Peitzmeier of LeRoy and Natasha Bernett are athletes also to watch for.

100 Meter Dash

This could be one of the most exciting 1A events of the weekend. At last weekend’s Oregon Sectional, Bella Uscila of St. Edward ran 12.45 to win ahead of defending state champion Courtney Sockwell of Rockford Lutheran by seven hundredths of a second. Uscilla finished fifth last year but will be one of the runners to watch in this event. She has a 12.35 seasonal best. Sockwell is the defending champion. That experience will help this weekend.

Seven Hicks of Peoria Heights jumped on the state scene with her sectional leading 12.36 at the Tremont Sectional and could challenge Sockwell. Rebecca Waite, who finished second last year, who ran 12.51 at sectionals and will be one of the challengers. Luther North’s Jada Williams and Kayla Armstrong are among the front runners at sectionals and could be among the first five. Frankie Izard of St. Joseph-Ogden, Taylor George of Warrensburg-Latham, and Kyra Huber of Hillsboro all have the talent to be among the top five finishers.

400 Meter Dash

Wide-open is a good description of the competition in his one-lap race.  Rebecca Waite has both the top 1A state 1A time (58.58) along with the fastest sectional time (59.21). She is one of the favorites. Emma Henderson of Tuscola ran 59.52 last week at Shelbyville and has the second fastest sectional time. Aubrey Harrod of Hinckley-Big Rock, who finished second last year, will be doing the same 800/400 double that she did last year with success. Her 59.60 seasonal best demonstrates she is again ready for his challenging double.

Kayla Armstrong, Taylor Larson of Bushnell-Prairie Central, and Kaylan Schinzler of Moweaqua Central A&M all ran under 60-seconds las week and will push for the state title. Kaelyn Hamalle of Spring Valley Hall has run under 60-seconds his season and could be a surprise in his race.

300 Meter Hurdles

This event is too close to call with five athletes with sectional times within a second of each other. Morgan Atchison ran the state’s best 1A time on her home track last week of 45.57. Katie Springer of Delavan and Gracie Feeney of El Paso-Gridley were within five hundredths of a second of each other at the Tremont Sectional (46.00-46.05). Emery Podowicz of Clifton Central finished third last year and ran 45.84 in her sectional race last week. She is ready to run in the low 45’s in this race. That would be enough to win. Casey Berberich of Lebanon is the only other runner in this field under 47-seconds and could place in the first three places.

200 Meter Dash

Taylor George and Seven Hicks share the fastest sectional time (25.47) heading into this meet. Bella Uscila, who has the fastest 1A seasonal time (25.22), defeated defending state champion Courtney Sockwell by one hundredth of a second last week, is another runner to keep an eye on. Sockwell should not be dismissed in this race. She has been here before. That experience could be a tremendous help. Luther North’s Kayla Armstrong and Jada Williams have 25.4 and could give their school high points. Rebecca Waite will challenge for the win. George finished second last year while Waite finished fourth. It could be the freshman Hicks that could step into the spotlight in this meet.

 

DISTANCE EVENTS

3200 Meter Run

It is hard to think that St. Anthony’s Anna Sophia Keller will be challenged in his race. She has run under 10:35 twice this season with her sectional win at Newton her fastest (10:26.76). She could have company for some of this race. Claudia Magnussen of Pana finished third last year. She ran 10:51.11 to win her conference meet two weeks ago and could push Keller. Daly Galloway of Dwight is in the best shape of her life as evidenced by her sub-five 1600 a Palatine and then 11:14 last week at Seneca. She will be towards the front in this race.

The top three spots are secure in this race. It will be a battle for the fourth position. Urbana University’s Annemarie Michael, Katelyn Robbins of Liberty, April Van Ryn of Chicago Christian, and Haley Weidner of Bureau Valley are among the runners that could push for that spot and possibly a sub-11:15 time.

800 Meter Run

Last year’s final had Urbana University’s Arielle Summitt running 2:12.29 to defeat Audrey Harrod by two seconds. The two should face-off again on Saturday. Summitt has the season’s fastest time (2:16.25) but only ran 2:25.99 to finish fourth in her sectional race. Harrod ran the fastest sectional time to win at Seneca. Ignore Summitt’s sectional time, she should be towards the front. Chelsea Pawlak of Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Rachel Olroyd of Carlinville, and Maraguriettte Hendricksen of St. Thomas More all have the talent to run under 2:19 and finish among the first five placers.

1600 Meter Run

The final high school race for Anna Sophia Keller on Saturday could be her best. I could also be her most challenging as Daly Galloway has run 4:59.10 and Claudia Magnussen has run 5:02.65. Keller has a seasonal best of 4:54.92. All three will be coming back after running the 3200 Meter Run. Freshman Anna Heffren of Lewistown has run under 5:10 and could challenge for a top five spot. Arielle Summitt will be coming back from back from the 800 but could be a factor in this race. The same applies to Summitt’s teammate Annemarie Michael who will be doubling back from the 3200 Meter Run. Madison Franssen of Rockford Christian, Fran Hendricksen of St. Thomas More, and Chelsea Pawlak are other runners to watch in this event.

 

RELAYS

4x800 Meter Relay

Knoxville, with Ryan Block anchoring, ran the fastest time in 1A (9:51.12) in winning the Orion Sectional. They will be one of the teams to watch in this event. St. Joseph-Ogden has also run under ten-minutes two weeks ago and will be a team that could win this race. They finished second behind St. Thomas More at sectionals last week. St. Thomas More won indoors at the Illinois Top Times Championships. Their team will be a factor in this race. Deer Creek-Mackinaw is traditional power in his event. This team ran 10:00.11 to win at Tremont last week. Watch for them to be towards the front. Chicago Christian ran 9:57.72 last week and will be a front-runner. Also watch for Seneca and Kewanee-Wethersfield in that front mix.

4x100 Meter Relay

St. Joseph-Ogden, led by Frankie Izzard, is the only 1A team to run under 50-seconds this season, looks to be the team to beat. Warrensburg-Latham, who will have Taylor George on the anchor, could give the Spartans the most problems. Mercer County ran 50.77 last week and could be a threat. Luther North, with Jada Williams and Kayla Armstrong, had success in winning the 4x2 last year and third in this event. I would watch for them. Trenton-Wesclin, St. Teresa, Winnebago, and DuQuoin are some of the other teams to keep an eye on.

4x200 Meter Relay

Warrensburg-Latham could be the big favorite having the fastest sectional time (1:46.14) by more than two seconds. Pana, Rockridge, and Bureau Valley all ran under 1:49 and could push he Cardinals. Clifton Central and Milledgeville lead the pack and could find their way into the top three.

4x400 Meter Relay

The last event of the meet is always supposed to be wild and unpredictable in some cases. It will be considering the first five sectional teams are within three quarters of a second of each other. St. Anthony, with Anna Sophia Keller and Kristin Slaughter part of their quartet, has the fastest sectional time, will need big points to get a trophy. Defending event champion Clifton Central will have Emery Podowicz and Andrea Pace a part of their quartet. They could repeat their 2016 win. St. Joseph-Ogden, Stark County, Rockridge, and Teutopolis all have good teams that could win this state title.

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