Photo - Rebecca Waite looks for the sweep in the 2018 sprints (Laura Duffy Photo)

By Michael Newman

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It could be Rebecca Waite that steps to the head of the class in the 1A Girls sprints in 2018.

The senior from Milledgeville came close to winning a state championship finishing second in both the 200 and 400 Meter Dash. She also picked up all-state honors in the 100 Meter Dash finishing sixth in the finals.

Waite winning all three 1A sprint races at state is not an open and shut case. Bella Uscila of St. Edward and Seven Hicks of Peoria Heights are two athletes that could win the short sprints. Taylor Larson of Bushnell-Prairie City should challenge Waite at 400-meters.

The two hurdle events should be fun to watch this spring. The 100-meter hurdles should be just as climatic as last year led by defending champion Janika Peitzmeier of LeRoy.

Here is a look at the three individual sprint events as well as the two hurdle events in 1A Girls this spring. Also included are the three sprint relays that will be contested at the state meet.

100 METER DASH

Top Returnees

Notes – Two-time champion Courtney Sockwell has graduated and is now at Northern Illinois University. The one runner that could step up this spring is Bella Uscila of St. Edward. She had a great junior season including defeating Sockwell in both sectional sprint races. Uscilla finished third the following week in this event at state. She is the top placing returnee.

There are three all-state runners coming back in this event. Seven Hicks of Peoria Heights emerged as a top runner during her freshman season finishing fourth in this event. Rebecca Waite was all-state in the three sprints including sixth in this event. Vivica Coleman of Walther Christian, who finished ninth last year, is another runner to keep an eye on.

Other runners to keep an eye in this event include Kyla Huber of Hillsboro, Rylei Jackson of Chicago Christian, Aubrey Beyers of Pana, and Zakila Wiskirchen of Camp Point Central.

200 METER DASH

Top Returnees

Notes – This will be a tough event even with 200 champion Courtney Sockwell graduated. Five all-state runners return including second-place finisher Rebecca Waite. Bella Uscila, who finished sixth last year, has the fastest returning time (25.22) and should be one to watched.

Seven Hicks finished strong at this distance at the end of the year placing fifth and should be a threat for the title.

Janiya Collins of Madison finished eighth and could be a surprise this spring in this event. The St. Joseph-Ogden duo of Maclayne Taylor and Frankie Izzard have two of the top ten returning times. They could give their team big points at state in this event.

400 METER DASH

Top Returnees

Notes – Six runners return that have gone faster than 60 seconds at this distance. Five of last year’s finalists return. This could be Rebecca Waite’s championship to win. It appears to be the distance that is suited best for her. The senior had the lead coming down the stretch only to be caught by Kayla Armstrong. That experience could drive Waite to bigger things in 2018. It would not surprise me to see her run under 56 seconds sometime during the season.

Taylor Larson of Bushnell Prairie City could be Waite’s chief competition this season having finished fourth and running 58.14. Darcie Pilon of Riverdale, Presley Scarborough of Williamsville, and Hollie Johnson of Pana made the finals and will look to challenge for a finish in the top three.

Delanie Dykes of Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley and Kaelyn Hamalle of Spring Valley Hall also ran under 60 seconds last track season. Don’t overlook these two runners by the time they get to Charleston.

100 METER HURDLES

Top Returnees

Notes - Janika Peitzmeier of LeRoy was not on anyone’s radar as she entered last year’s final in this event having the fifth fastest time in the prelims. She improved on her personal best by eight tenths of a second (14.55) in winning the 1A state title. She will not be overlooked this season as she goes for back to back championships. (Note: Peitzmeier was an exchange student and will not compete for Leroy in 2018)

All eyes were on Fisher’s Alayna Stalter last year. She did run a personal best (14.80) in the finals finishing third. Peitzmeier and Stalter are the only runners back that have run under 15 seconds. They are the two runners to watch.

Kenli Nettles of Arthur-Lovington and Danielle Taets of Orion were all-state last year and have the talent to challenge for the title. DaeLin Switzer of St. Teresa, Kaylynn Schlipf of El Paso-Gridley, and Alexandra Mack of Orion all ran under 16 seconds in 2017. One of those three could threaten for a top three finish or perhaps a state title.

300 METER HURDLES

Top Returnees

Notes – The event is open in 2018 with three all-state athletes returning. All eyes should be on Katie Springer of Delavan who finished fourth in the finals. This was after she finished third in the 800 Meter Run. It is one of the toughest doubles on the state schedule and Springer did a pretty good job on that day. Springer has the fastest time by more than a half a second ahead of the rest of the athletes in this event.

Claire Wilhour of Brownstown and Zea Maroon both made the finals last year. Both should challenge Springer for the evnt title. DaeLin Switzer, Danielle Taets, and Liv Lawley of Putnam County are some of the runners to watch. There are 11 runners within a second of Peitzmeier who is the seventh returnee. It should be tight in making the nine final positions in Charleston this May.

4x100 METER RELAY

Top 2017 Times

Notes – Luther North won the state title last year. With the school closing last June, there will be a new champion in this event. St. Joseph-Ogden finished second last year. They are loaded returning all four runners from that team led by Frankie Izzard and Zea Maroon. Warrensburg-Latham finished third but did lose their anchor Taylor George to graduation. They do return the rest of their quartet.

Peoria Heights, with Seven Hicks leading them, Trenton-Wesclin, Winnebago, and Mercer County have the talent coming back to challenge for a top three finish. Camp Point Central, Sterling Newman Catholic, and IC Catholic Prep are some of the teams to watch for.

4x200 METER RELAY

Top 2017 Times

Notes – Defending champion Warrensburg-Latham and runner-up St. Joseph-Ogden were both under 1:45 in last year’s final. The loss due to graduation of Taylor George puts St. Joseph-Ogden in the driver’s seat in this event as they return their entire quartet. Milledgeville is a team on the rise. They finished third in last year’s final with three freshmen and a sophomore in their lineup. Last year’s state experience could push this team closer to the Spartans.

Teutopolis, Ridgeview, and Bismarck Henning all made the finals last year and could find their way into the top three. Amboy and Pleasant Plains are some of the other teams to keep an eye on.

4x400 METER RELAY

Top 2017 Times

Notes – One of the reason’s why that St. Joseph-Ogden could win the 2018 1A state championship is their strength in the relays. This event is another example of the Spartans’ strength. They are defending champions in this event. St. Joseph-Ogden retires their entire quartet from that state team. Going under four minutes in this event is a possibility for this team.

It could be a battle for the second spot at state considering how strong the defending champions are. Stark County had three freshmen running on last year’s sixth-place team and should be a factor in this event. Teutopolis also returns all their runners from last year’s seventh-place team and will push for the second spot.

Pana returns three and should be tough. Ridgeview, Rockridge, Pleasant Plains, and Farmington are among the teams to watch.