By Michael Newman

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It could come down to two athletes that could decide the IHSA 1A State Team championship Saturday afternoon. DaeLin Switzer of St. Teresa and Rebecca Waite of Milledgeville are hoping to be competing in four events during Championship Saturday. Top three finishes by both athletes could mean grandiose things for both of their schools. They will be in different events except for the 200 Meter Dash towards the end of the meet. It could decide the meet.

There are other teams that have designs on a state title. St. Joseph-Ogden has some powerful relay teams that could put this school in front at the end of the day. Rock Island Alleman has the numbers to sneak up on teams and into the top three.

Arielle Summitt of Urbana University will be the 1A athlete to watch on Saturday. The two-time defending champion in the 800 Meter Run will be looking for her third straight title at that distance. It could be a freshman, Marianne Mihas of Latin School, that could prevent her from accomplishing that.

Here is a look at some of the teams to watch as well as previews of every event that will be contested this weekend.

State Meet Schedule | State Meet Records

 

1A Teams to Watch

 

Decatur St. Teresa

Qualifiers – 12 (10 Individuals, 2 Relays)

Outlook – The Bulldogs may have the inside track to the 1A state title. It should all come down to the legs of DaeLin Switzer. The junior qualified for four individual events. Switzer will be one of the favorites in the High Jump. She has the top sectional times in the 100 Hurdles, 300 Hurdles, and the third fastest time in the 200 Meter Dash. If she has a good meet, she could score as little as 34 points. Four wins gives her team 40 points. That could be enough to win.

Noelle DeJaynes qualified in both the Discus and the Shot Put. She could get her team points in both events. Veronica Hein is also a possibility of scoring in either the 3200 Meter Run or the 1600 Meter Run.

 

St. Joseph-Ogden

Qualifiers – 13 (9 Individuals, 4 Relays)

Outlook – The strength of this team comes down to their relays. Their 400 and 800 Meter Relays are among the best in 1A and should get their team big points on Saturday. The Lady Spartans traditionally have a strong 3200 Meter Relay. They could make some noise in that event this weekend.

Atleigh Hamilton won the Long Jump last week at Salt Fork. She could score in that event. Hamilton also qualified in the 200 Meter Dash and could make the Saturday finals. Zea Maroon qualified in both hurdle races. She should be among the top five in the 300 Meter Hurdles. It would be a bonus getting to the finals in the 100 Hurdles. Hannah Rajich qualified in the 1600 Meter Run and could make Saturday’s finals.

 

Rock Island Alleman

Qualifiers – 12 (10 Individuals, 2 Relays)

Outlook – The Pioneers set themselves up nicely for this weekend winning their own sectional. Another great weekend could get Alleman into the top three. Tori Thomas is having a great freshman season in the Pole Vault. She should be one of the favorites in the event. Thomas also qualified in the 200 Meter Dash. It would be a bonus if she makes the finals.

Kiah O’Neal is one of the top athletes in the High Jump and could get her team big points in that event. Ali Van DeHeede is among the top six in the Discus. Watch for points from her in that event.

Addie Pulley continues to run strong after a good cross-country season. Pulley could be among the favorites in the 3200 Meter Run and could make the finals in the 1600 Meter Run. The 400 Meter Relay is wide-open this spring. Alleman could get bonus points making the final nine.

 

Milledgeville

Qualifiers – 9 (6 Individuals, 3 Relays)

Outlook – This team is like St. Teresa relying on one athlete to get their majority of their points. Rebecca Waite could get the Missiles in contention for a state championship. Waite is having a great senior season with among the top times in the 100, 200, and 400 Meter Dash. She will score big points this weekend. Waite will also be a part of their 400 Meter Relay that enters this meet with the top sectional time in that event.

Milledgeville’s 800 Meter Relay is also tough and should get big points on Saturday. Alyvia Woodward could also get her team points in the Long Jump.

 

Farmington

Qualifiers – 6 (3 Individuals, 3 Relays)

Outlook – The numbers are small in their qualifiers, but the quality is there for the Farmers to make a run for a state trophy. But where there are small numbers means not a lot of wiggle room for mistakes. Jordan Peckham will be one of the favorites in a wide-open 100 Meter Dash. Peckham will also be a part of three strong relays that could get big points. Their 1600 Meter Relay time of 4:05.73 was the best sectional performance in that event. Their 400 and 800 Relays are close to the top and could be in contention for the win.

Sarah Litchfield could be among the top nine in the Pole Vault. Megan Gilstrap was the sectional champion in the Shot Put. She could be in the mix for getting points in that event.

 

Champaign St. Thomas More

Qualifiers – 9 (7 Individuals, 2 Relays)

Outlook – The Sabers depend on a couple of athletes used in many ways. It does help this team that the 1A prelims are on Thursday with a day’s rest before the finals. Lucy Lux-Rulon qualified for state in three events. She could be among the top athletes in the High Jump as well as in the Long Jump. She could also pick up points in the 100 Meter Hurdles.

Marguerite and Fran Hendrickson are the nucleus of a strong 3200 Meter Relay team that could be among the favorites in that event. Both sisters qualified in both the 800 and 1600 Meter Run. If it is warm on Saturday, the heat could be a factor on their attempted triple. Success in that could get St. Thomas More within the top three.

 

Teutopolis

Qualifiers – 9 (7 Individuals, 2 Relays)

Outlook – Winners of the Altamont Sectional, the Lady Shoes could be in contention for a trophy with a good weekend of competition. Sophomore Claire Bushur come be among the top athletes in the Shot Put and Discus and could get her team some big points. Micah McWhorter, another sophomore, is coming on strong in the Pole Vault and could earn all-state honors in this meet. Morgan Mette could make the finals in the 400 Meter Dash. Their 3200 Meter Relay squad could finish in the top five in that event. Keep an eye on their team in the 1600 Meter Relay. Teutopolis could be a surprise in that event.

 

Pleasant Plains

Qualifiers – 7 (3 Individuals, 4 Relays)

Outlook – The Cardinals set themselves up for a good run this weekend after winning the Beardstown Sectional. With only seven qualifiers, there is not much room for mistakes. Caroline Jachino had the top sectional time in the 3200 Meter Run. She will be one of the favorites in that event. Jachino could also get big points in the 1600 Meter Run. Their teams in the 800 and 1600 Meter Relay are in the possible position of placing in the top five on Saturday.

 

Manlius Bureau Valley

Qualifiers – 8 (6 Individuals, 2 Relays)

Outlook – This could be the 1A surprise team on Saturday if they have a successful prelim day on Thursday. Kamryn Kolb had the top sectional performance in the Long Jump. The freshman could be one of the favorites in the event. Haley Weidner is a possibility to pick up points in both the 3200 and 1600 Meter Run. The Storm is one of the favorites in both the 400 and 800 Meter Relay. Wins in those events could push this team among the top five by the end of the meet.

 

Warrensburg-Latham

Qualifiers – 8 (5 Individuals, 3 Relays)

Outlook – The Cardinals won a trophy last season finishing second behind Luther North. It could be tough to duplicate that performance, but this team could contend for a trophy if everything breaks right. Their 400 and 800 Meter Relays are among the best in 1A which could result in some big points. Brittney Oakley, who should be part of those relays, will be one of the favorites in the Long Jump. It would be a bonus if Oakley make the 200 Meter Dash finals.

 

FIELD EVENTS

 

LONG JUMP

1A Seasonal Best – 18-2 - Kamryn Kolb, FR, Manlius Bureau Valley

1A Sectional Best – 18-2 - Kamryn Kolb, FR, Manlius Bureau Valley

Outlook – There are four to five athletes that could contend for the 1A state championship. Kamryn Kolb came on strong with the 1A state leading jump last week. Brittney Oakley of Warrensburg-Latham just eclipsed the 18-foot barrier jumping 18-0.5 last week in her sectional competition. Faith Frye of Casey-Westfield won the Illinois Top Times Championships in March with a 17-11 jump. She does have a personal best of 18-2 from last summer. She could be a threat for the title.

Jaeylyn Robertson of Cowden-Herrick, Jaden Christian of Reed Custer, and Atleigh Hamilton of St. Joseph-Ogden are the only athletes in this event that have gone past 17-6 this season. The top eight state qualifiers in this event are either freshmen or sophomores. Expect the unexpected in this competition.

 

TRIPLE JUMP

1A Seasonal Best – 38-7 - Danielle Taets, JR, Orion

1A Sectional Best – 38-7 – Danielle Taets, JR, Orion

Outlook – The Rock Island Alleman Sectional produced the top two performances in this event with Danielle Taets jumping 38-7 with Fulton’s Daekota Knott close behind at 38-2.5. Taets finished second in this event last year and is hungry to take one more step up the podium this weekend.

Four other athletes went past 36-feet last week with Jaden Christian of Reed-Custer, Grace Alley of Seneca, Camren DeVries of Lena-Winslow, and Autumn Switzer of Wilmington all in position for the title if Taets or Knott fall back to the pack. DeVries finished third in last year’s 1A finals.

 

HIGH JUMP

1A Seasonal Best – 5-7 – Kenli Nettles, SO, Arthur-Lovington

1A Sectional Best – 5-7 – Kenli Nettles, SO, Arthur-Lovington

Outlook – This could be one of the top 1A Field Events in this state meet. St. Teresa’s DaeLin Switzer is the defending state champion and could make it two in a row. Switzer has cleared 5-6 this season. Kenli Nettles finished third last year but did clear 5-8 indoors as well as the top 1A outdoor performance clearing 5-7. Kiah O’Neal of Rock Island Alleman finished third last year with a 5-7 best indoors this season. She’s only cleared 5-2 in this outdoor campaign. I would keep an eye on her.

Natalia Garcia of Bloomington Central Catholic and Paige Tucker of Sesser Valier both cleared 5-6 last week in their sectional meets. Keep an eye on them. Lucy Lux-Rulon of St. Thomas More has cleared 5-6 this spring. She did not make the finals last year and could be inspired for a big meet in her final season. Kaela Wellman of Liberty and Jillian Hubbard of Maroa-Forsyth are athletes that could also contend for the top prize.

 

POLE VAULT

1A Seasonal Best – 12-0.5 – Tori Thomas, FR, Rock Island Alleman

1A Sectional Best – 12-0.5 – Tori Thomas, FR, Rock Island Alleman

Outlook – Could it be a freshman that wins this event on this 1A level? Youth has taken over this event up top with Tori Thomas clearing 12-0.5 last week in her sectional and Tri-Valley’s Windsor Roberts clearing 12-0 during the season. Both could claim the win on Saturday. Carlinville’s Emma Smith has cleared 12-0 this season. Her experience could be a difference maker in the finals. Smith finished third in the 2017 finals.

Whitney Bramm of Erie-Prophetstown and Sarah Craig of Danville Schlarman are the only other athletes that have gone past 11-feet and could be factors in this event. Sarah Litchfield of Farmington has cleared 10-9 and could be the surprise in the top five.

 

SHOT PUT

1A Seasonal Best – 45-1.75 – Chloe Lindeman, JR, Fulton

1A Sectional Best – 45-1.75 – Chloe Lindeman, JR, Fulton

Outlook – The question of who would replace KD Young on the top of the 1A Shot Put ring was answered indoors when Chloe Lindeman finished third at the New Balance Indoor Nationals earning her All-American honors. Lindeman has the top mark indoors or outdoors in 1A (48-2.5) and should be tough to beat. Lindeman finished second behind Young at last year’s state meet.

Claire Bushur of Teutopolis threw 43-2.5 at the end of March. Chandler Hayden of Pittsfield has a 42-10 seasonal best. Emily Offenheiser of Stockton had a 42-7.25 in her sectional meet. One of these three athletes could put the pressure on Lindeman. Fithian Oakwood’s Katelyn Young could be the surprise in this event.

 

DISCUS

1A Seasonal Best – 148-5 – Emily Offenheiser, SR, Stockton

1A Sectional Best – 148-5 – Emily Offenheiser, SR, Stockton

Outlook – Emily Offenheiser unleashed a 148-5 throw last week at the Lena-Winslow putting her in the favorite position. I think this event could be closer than people think. There are at least six athletes that have thrown over 130-feet that could contend for the state championship. Hope Jackson of Riverdale and Chloe Lindeman of Fulton finished 1-2 at the Alleman Sectional and could be the lead contenders. Rachyl Anderson of Salt Fork, who finished third in 2017, has a 132-1 seasonal best and could finish again in the top three in her final state meet. Ali Van DeHeede of Rock Island Alleman and Claire Bushur of Teutopolis are among some of the other athletes to keep an eye on.

 

TRACK EVENTS

 

4x800 Meter Relay

1A Seasonal Best – 9:57.50 – Hamilton/Warsaw

1A Sectional Best – 9:58.44 – Hamilton/Warsaw

Outlook – Hamilton/Warsaw is the only 1A team that has gone under 10 minutes so far this season. That should change this weekend. Tremont also ran under 10 minutes last week (9:58.74) and should be a threat in this event. Deer Creek-Mackinaw is the defending champion and ramped up their chances with the third fastest sectional time. Springfield Lutheran will have a presence in the front in the finals. St. Thomas More, with Fran and Marguerite Hendrickson leading the way, won the Illinois Top Times Championships in this event in March and will be near the front.

St. Joseph-Ogden has a good quartet and will also push for the win along with Teutopolis, Elmwood, Timothy Christian, Mendon Unity, and DuQuoin.

 

4x100 Meter Relay

1A Seasonal Best – 49.89 – Milledgeville

1A Sectional Best – 49.89 – Milledgeville

Outlook – It is too close to call in this event. Milledgeville, with Rebecca Waite anchoring, edged Bureau Valley by one hundredth of a second last week at the Alleman Sectional. The two teams will go at it again this weekend. St. Joseph-Ogden is always a strong front-runner in this event at this meet. They have a seasonal best of 50.07 that should go under 50 in the prelims. Farmington, with Jordan Peckham part of the quartet, has been running strong as of late and could stake the claim as the best in this event.

Warrensburg-Latham, Mercer County, Rick Island Alleman, Peru St. Bede, and Pittsfield all were under 50.9 and could chaise after a top five finish.

 

3200 Meter Run

1A Seasonal Best – 10:58.21 – Arielle Summitt, SR, Urbana University

1A Sectional Best – 11:24.62 – Caroline Jachino, SO, Pleasant Plains

Outlook – It will be strange not to see Anna Sophia Keller ahead of the pack in this event. Keller had won the state title for the past three years. This race should be a competitive one. Caroline Jachino edged Liberty’s Katelyn Robbins by a second last week at Beardstown and should be pushing each other again on Saturday. Laura Krasa of Judah Christian won by a minute at the Salt Fork Sectional and already has run 11:16 this outdoor season. Krasa won Illinois Top Times running 11:10 and defeating Robbins and Jachino by 20 seconds. It should be much closer between the three on Saturday.

Sterling Newman’s Karlie Hey and Addie Pulley of Rock Island Alleman pushed each other in sectionals with Hey winning by three seconds. Both runners could be near the front in this race. Nygia Pollard of Harvest Christian Academy only ran 12:05 in her sectional race but did run 11:18.06 at Distance Night in Palatine and be close to the front as well.

Haley Weidner of Bureau Valley, Natalia Martino of Winnebago, and Kirsten Huffman of Jacksonville Routt all have run under 12-minutes outdoors. All three could find their way into the top five in the finals.

 

100 Meter Hurdles

1A Seasonal Best – 15.12 – Alayna Stalter, SR, Fisher

1A Sectional Best – 15.24 – DaeLin Switzer, JR, St. Teresa

Outlook – This should be a fun final to watch. The top three athletes coming out of sectional competition are only separated by two hundredths of a second with DaeLin Switzer leading the way. This will be the first of two great battles on the track between Switzer and Kenli Nettles of Arthur-Lovington. The two will face off in the High Jump. Nettles finished second behind Switzer at the Sullivan Sectional by just two hundredths of a second. Danielle Taets of Orion ran 15.26 at Alleman last week and will also contend for the title.

Alayna Stalter enters this meet with the seasonal best of 15.12. She finished third in the 2017 1A Finals and would like to improve on that placing. Lucy Lux-Rulon of St. Thomas More, Jaelyn Robertson of Cowden-Herrick, Katie Moore of Red Hill, and Gracie Jessup of Salt Fork all have run under 15.8 this spring and should be on the line in the Saturday finals.

 

100 Meter Dash

1A Seasonal Best – 12.35 – Rylei Jackson, SR, Palos Heights Chicago Christian

1A Sectional Best – 12.35 – Rylei Jackson, SR, Palos Heights Chicago Christian

Outlook – There will be a new champion in this classification with the graduation of two-time champion Courtney Sockwell. This race is wide-open showing how tight and good the sprints are in 1A. Rylei Jackson ran the 1A best 12.35 last week and will be one of the favorites. Seven Hicks of Peoria Heights, who finished fourth as a freshman in 2017, has been under 12.4 twice including 12.37 in her sectional race. Three athletes are a tenth of a second back of these two led by Janiya Collins of Madison. The junior won the 60 Meter Dash in March at Illinois Top Times. Rebecca Waite of Milledgeville and Jordan Peckham of Farmington will be right with Collins and could be factors up front in this race. Katelyn Lang of Hume Shiloh, Vivica Coleman of Walther Christian, and Betsy Currens of Winnebago are some of the runners to watch in the finals.

One of the bigger questions was answered at last Friday’s Lena-Winslow Sectional when Bella Uscilla of St. Edward opened her outdoor season by finishing second in the finals of the 100 Meter Dash. Uscilla went down in the 60 Meter Dash Finals at Illinois Top Times with a hamstring injury. Uscilla had the fastest indoor time in the state running 7.51. With the weather being on the cooler side, Uscilla had to wait until last Friday’s race. It is hard to say what kind of shape she is in or if she is 100% healthy. If she is ready to go physically, she could be the runner to watch in this race. Uscilla finished third in the 1A Final last year.

 

800 Meter Run

1A Seasonal Best – 2:15.72 – Arielle Summitt, SR, Urbana University

1A Sectional Best – 2:19.56 – Arielle Summitt, SR, Urbana University

Outlook – All eyes will be on Arielle Summitt in the Saturday final as she seeks her third straight 1A title at this distance. Summitt did run 2:15.72 at the beginning of April at the Arcadia Invitational in California. Her experience in the finals could again be a difference maker in this race.

The one runner that could challenge her in this race is Marianne Mihas of Latin School. The freshman ran 2:16.65 at New Trier at the end of April and does have the finishing speed to challenge Summitt. Zarra Humphry of Hamilton/Warsaw most likely will be coming back from the 3200 Meter Relay. The junior has a 2:19.20 seasonal best. Breena Shreeves of Knoxville and Maleigha Huston of Bushnell-Prairie City have seasonal bests under 2:22 and could be among the chase pack on Summitt and Mihas. Katie Springer of Delavan finished third in this race last year and will look to improve on that finish. Delaine Dykes of Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley finished second behind Summitt at Illinois Top Times and could be chasing after the win. Gabby Alongi of DuQuoin, who finished eighth last year could be a factor. Marguerite Hendrickson along with her sister Fran could play a part in the front if they both are in this race. Marguerite finished fourth in 2017.

 

4x200 Meter Relay

1A Seasonal Best – 1:46.00 – Manlius Bureau Valley

1A Sectional Best – 1:46.00 – Manlius Bureau Valley

Outlook – Bureau Valley shocked some by running the fastest 1A time last week at Rock Island Alleman. They care capable of running faster. We could see a time in the upper 1:44’s this weekend. St. Joseph-Ogden is waiting in the wings. The Lady Spartans ran 1:46.21 at the end of April at Urbana and should be one of the teams challenging for the win. Farmington ran 1:46.63 in winning their own sectional. The Farmers should be a threat in the front.

Milledgeville was second behind Bureau Valley in that sectional race and could be a threat for the win. Trenton-Wesclin and Warrensburg-Latham are among some of the teams that could finish in the top five.

 

400 Meter Dash

1A Seasonal Best – 58.62 – Jordan Peckham, SR, Farmington

1A Sectional Best – 58.99 – Rebecca Waite, SR, Milledgeville

Outlook – With 1A seasonal list leader Jordan Peckham opting for the 100 and relays, sectional list leader Rebecca Waite will step into the leader’s role in this event. Waite was passed by Kayla Armstrong in the final 10-meters of last year’s state final race. I am sure that will be a motivating factor when she enters the blocks on Saturday.

There is a gap of almost one second between Waite and the rest of the pack based on sectional times. Camren DeVries of Lena-Winslow, Capria Brown of Danville Schlarman, and Taylor Larson of Bushnell-Prairie City all have dipped under 60 seconds in this race and could be Waite’s chief competition. Delanie Dykes of Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley also has dipped under 60 seconds but will be coming back on a double in the 800 Meter Run. She is experienced in this double and could challenge for the win. Freshmen Lauren Lodico of Riverdale and Maleigha Huston of Bushnell-Prairie City could be surprises in this event.

 

300 Meter Hurdles

1A Seasonal Best – 45.03 – DaeLin Switzer, JR, Decatur St. Teresa

1A Sectional Best – 45.03 – DaeLin Switzer, JR, Decatur St. Teresa

Outlook – This is Act #2 of between DaeLin Switzer vs. Arthur Lovington’s Kenli Nettles in hurdle races. Switzer has the edge in this race running a surprising 45.03 to win the Sullivan Sectional with Nettles at 45.46. Her sectional time was a personal best improvement of four tenths of a second. This race could be a redemption in a way for Switzer. The junior just missed the finals in this event last year by just one spot. Nettles and Switzer could push each other to under 45-seconds in the Saturday finals.

Four other athletes besides Switzer and Nettles have run under 47-seconds with Katie Moore of Red Hill running 46.28 last week. Claire Wilhour of Brownstown, Danielle Taets of Orion, Katie Springer of Delavan along with Katie Walker of Rockridge all could leave Charleston with a third-place or higher finish.

 

1600 Meter Run

1A Seasonal Best – 4:55.68 – Marianne Mihas, FR, Chicago Latin School

1A Sectional Best – 5:11.67 – Arielle Summitt, SR, Urbana University

Outlook – This will be a rematch from the 800 Meter Run race between Arielle Summitt and Marianne Mihas. Both will have 90 minutes of rest between the 800 and this race. These two athletes will be the ones to watch. Both have run under 5-minutes at this distance. Both are 20-seconds faster than the rest of this field.

St. Thomas More sisters Fran and Marguerite Hendrickson along with Caroline Jachino are the only 1A athletes this spring that have run under 5:20. Both Hendrickson sisters have qualified in the 800 Meter Run and the 3200 Meter Relay. Hard to say at this point if one or both will toe the line on Thursday’s prelims. Jachino will be doubling back from the 3200 Meter Run and will be one of the runners in the “chase-pack”.

Lexy Henrikson of Williamsville and Anna Heffren of Lewistown will be two of the runners that could be among the top five in this race. Katelyn Robbins of Liberty, Mackenzie Goldring of Lewistown, and Hannah Rajlich of St. Joseph-Ogden are some of the other runners to keep an eye on in this event.

 

200 Meter Dash

1A Seasonal Best – 25.35 – Seven Hicks, SO, Peoria Heights

1A Sectional Best – 25.35 – Seven Hicks, SO, Peoria Heights

Outlook – Seven Hicks ran the fastest 1A time in this event in her sectional race with Milledgeville’s Rebecca Waite running 25.48 in her sectional win. This will be DaeLin Switzer’s fourth event of the day if things work out right. I would not count her out. Amber Hilliard of Robinson and Alyssa Busker of Aurora Christian both ran 25.72 during season. They are two runners that could threaten for the win. Emma Ginther of Abington Avon, Catelynn Hofmann of Mercer County, Katelyn Lang of Hume Shiloh, and Tionne Pointer of Hope Academy are some of the athletes to keep a close watch on.

 

4x400 Meter Relay

1A Seasonal Best – 4:05.73 – Farmington

1A Sectional Best – 4:05.73 – Farmington

Outlook – Farmington dropped their seasonal best from 4:12 to running 1A leading 4:05.73 in winning their sectional last week. Having Jordan Peckham as their anchor could gibe the Farmers a leg up on the rest of the competition. Stark County ran 4:06.11 just behind Farmington in the sectional race and remains a threat. Teutopolis ran 4:09.88 and could be towards the front. St. Joseph-Ogden ran a seasonal best of 4:07.65 at the end of April at Urbana. The Lady Spartans will also be a threat.

Some of the teams to also watch for in this event include Tremont, Knoxville, Amboy, and Rockridge.