By Michael Newman

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The six field events that will be contested at this year’s IHSA State Meet in May are loaded. Five of the 2018 state champions return. There will be one more showdown between DaeLin Switzer of Decatur St. Teresa and Kenli Nettles of Arthur-Lovington in the High Jump.

There will also be action in the ring as Chloe Lindeman of Fulton looks for back to back titles in the Shot Put. She will look for the sweep with a win in the Discus. Lindemann finished fourth in last year’s finals.

Here is a look of what we could see this season in the six 1A Girls Field Events.

High Jump

Top Athletes from 2018

Outlook – This could be the toughest of all the field events in the 1A classification with nine all-state athletes back to contest for the 2019 title. All eyes will be on DaeLin Switzer and Kenli Nettles in this event. Switzer is looking for the career state championship sweep in this event. She has won the title the previous three years. The senior knows what it takes to win a championship. She also returns with the highest clearance (5-8).

The only time that Nettles finished ahead of Switzer outdoors was at the Sullivan Sectional when she cleared a season best of 5-7. The following week, Nettles finished second the following week in Charleston. Nettles finished third as a freshman and will look to take the final step to the top of the podium in May.

Zofia Lehew, who finished seventh in the finals last year, cleared 5-5 during the season and will be one of many athletes to challenge for a top three finish. Seven athletes are back that cleared 5-4 or better.

Shot Put

Top Athletes from 2018

Outlook – Five of last year’s top seven in this event return. The focus athlete will be defending 1A champion Chloe Lindeman. There was no surprise that Lindeman would take over the top spot from graduated legend KD Young. Lindeman made her presence known finishing second at state her freshman and sophomore season. She stepped into the national spotlight last March by finishing third at the New Balance Indoor Nationals. She followed that last season with wins at the Illinois Top Times Championships and the IHSA State Meet.

Lindeman has a 47-5 best from her sophomore season. Her junior best was established with her 47-3.75 throw at state. 49 feet is within her grasp. Perhaps she will go beyond that distance outdoors.

Chandler Hayden finished third last year and had a 44-8.5 best. Claire Bushur, who finished fourth at state, is the next closest with a 43-2,5 seasonal best. There is no other athlete within two feet of Hayden and Bushur. All state athletes Katelyn Young, Saige Barnett, and Zoe Evans could challenge for the top three. Ellie Lamb might be the surprise athlete in the event.

Discus

Top Athletes from 2018

Outlook – This event is just as tough as the Shot Put with seven all-state athletes returning. Eight athletes are within six feet of each other in their seasonal bests. Hope Jackson has the top returning throw (138-11) out of all these athletes. Jackson finished fifth at state. Claire Bushur finished second at state and is the top returning state finisher. She had a best of 138-5. Chloe Lindeman finished fourth at state and comes in with a 136-2 best.

This event is ripe for surprises considering how close the athletes are. Noelle DeJaynes would be one athlete to keep an eye on. She did not have her best at the state meet finishing 11^th. The senior does return with the third best throw (137-10). Her state experience could payoff in something big this May.

Pole Vault

Top Athletes from 2018

Outlook – This event could come down to a three athlete battle similar to what we saw in last year’s state finals. Windsor Roberts, Tori Thomas, and Emma Smith all cleared 12-0 at one time during last season. It was the then freshman Roberts who cleared that height to claim the state championship.

Seven athletes are back that earned all-state honors in 2018. It should be last year’s top three mentioned above that will challenge for the state title. Sarah Craig is a foot behind the trio clearing 11-0 last spring but missing the top nine by one spot. Four other athletes are back that have 10 foot or better clearances led by Sarah Litchfield and Micah McWhorter.

Roberts, Thomas, and Smith could push each other to 12-6 or even higher this season.

Long Jump

Top Athletes from 2018

Outlook – This event is also abundant with talent with seven all-state athletes back led by defending state champion Atleigh Hamilton. She had jumped longer than 17-6 heading into the state meet. She peaked at the right time with a 1A best of 18-2. She will give her team a boost in the relays but is a good bet to repeat as a state champion as a sophomore.

It could be another sophomore, Kamryn Kolb, that could replace her at the top in this event. Kolb did jump 18-2, like Hamilton, last year. Kolb did finish sixth at state. She will be looking for a higher place in 2019.

Brittney Oakley, who finished ninth last year, did jump over 18 feet (18-0.5) and could be a factor in this event. Paige Knuffman, Capria Brown, and Jaden Christian could be some of the athletes in this crowded event that could find themselves going past the 18-foot barrier and possibly close to a state title.

Triple Jump

Top Athletes from 2018

Outlook – Like most of the other field events, seven all-state athletes return for a chance at the state title. Danielle Taets is the defending champion and could be tough to beat in 2019. Her closest competition could come from Daekota Knott who finished second last year and only four inches behind Taets. Taets enters this year with a 38-7 best with Knott a best only five inches back. Both will push each other beyond 39 feet with 40 feet within their grasps.

Only three other athletes returning have bests of 36 feet or better. Autumn Switzer, Jade Christian, and Grace Alley are athletes that could also challenge for the state title.