Kenli Nettles wins three state titles; Latin School dominates distance events

By Michael Newman

[email protected]

Charleston, Ill – DuQuoin’s Gabby Alongi had just finished second in the 800 Meter Run and was heading off the track. She looked almost zapped of energy as she was met by her coach. She had to be back on the track within the hour to race in the finals of the 400 Meter Dash.

For some runners, maybe an injury would have been a good enough excuse not to continue. For Alongi, it was a challenge.

The junior finished no worse than second in the two individual events and two relays she was a part of. She accounted for 38 of her team’s 58 points they needed to capture their Class 1A title Saturday afternoon at O’Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.  DuQuoin won two relays and finished second in the other two relay finals they were in. That was the secret of their success. Latin School finished second (46 points) with St. Joseph-Ogden and St. Teresa tying for third with 38 points.

RESULTS | STATE MEET HOME PAGE

Alongi was the anchor of the 3200 Meter Relay. Knoxville, with a strong anchor leg from Breena Shreeves, won the state title in 9:47.15. Alongi and DuQuoin held off Latin School for second (9:51.09 – 9:51.81).

Alongi’s 400 Meter Dash was fascinating to watch. She had no energy but found the strength to move to second in the final 40-meters running a personal best 59.04. Nariah Parks of Belleville Althoff Catholic had the race won at 200-meters as she pulled away for the win ahead of Alongi, Sierra Bryant of Bismarck-Henning (59.36) and Carlinville’s Rory Drew (59.84).

Alongi’s curtain call came in the 1600 Meter Relay. She had the lead when she got the baton for the anchor leg. She just extended it. Alongi brought DuQuoin in for the state title as the quartet ran 4:01.38 with the win ahead of St. Joseph-Ogden (4:05.64) and Newton (4:06.21).

DuQuoin’s Madison Davis was a part of three relays and an individual event in the final. The senior ran 12.46 to finish seventh in the 100 Meter Dash. She was the leadoff runner for the team’s winning 1600 Meter Relay. Davis was the anchor on the 400 Meter Relay with Bailey Harsy, Cyerrah Harris, and Ayanna Dunklin. The quartet ran a new school record in running 48.99 to win the state title by almost a second ahead of Fulton (49.90).

It was closer in the 800 Meter Relay as St. Joseph-Ogden’s Maclayne Taylor caught Davis at the line for the win by just one hundredths of a second (1:44.81 – 1:44.82).

While DuQuoin was dominating on the team front in the Class 1A Meet, it was Kenli Nettles of Arthur-Lovington that was on top of the individual events winning her first three state titles. It was the final time that long time rivals Nettles and St. Teresa’s DaeLin Switzer would compete against each other in a high school meet.  The two on previous occasions would bring out the best competing against each other. This final time was no exception.

Switzer had won three state titles in the High Jump looking for a fourth. Nettles and Kiah O’Neal of Rock Island Alleman had cleared 5-7 but could not get over the bar at 5-8. Nettles won her first state championship on fewer misses. Nettles cleared on her first attempt ta 5-6. O’Neal needed three attempts to clear that height. Switzer’s streak ended as she finished third clearing 5-3.

Switzer and Nettles headed to the track to compete first in the 100 Meter Hurdles. Nettles had the favorite’s role as she had run a 14.22 personal best in the prelims on Thursday. The two athletes were even through the first eight hurdles with Nettles winning title #2 running 14.29. Switzer also ran great running a personal best of 14.40 to finish second.

The 300 Meter Hurdles was perhaps the best of their races on this day. It was perhaps one of the best two races that the two have ever had. Switzer was on the outside of Nettles in this race. The Arthur-Lovington junior had made the pass coming off the final curve. Switzer would not let her pass. The final three hurdles was symphony of synchronicity as the two glided over the hurdles together. Nettles hit the penultimate hurdle giving Switzer a chance. Nettles made a final surge over the final hurdle that gave her the edge. It was the third state title for Nettles on this day. Nettles’ time was 43.68. Switzer’s time was 43.75. They were both two seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Both athletes achieved personal bests. How appropriate was that?

Nettles ran out of steam in the 200 Meter Dash final as she finished fifth. Switzer finished second. Switzer’s 8 points (she scored 31 of the team’s points) helped St. Teresa to catch up to St. Joseph-Ogden to finish in a tie for third.

Of the 46 points that Latin School scored on Championship Saturday, 38 of those came from Ava Parekh and Marianne Mihas. Their 1600 Meter Relay finished ninth with one point. Their 3200 Meter Relay finished third scoring seven points.

Parekh was supposed to be the huge favorite in the 3200 Meter Run and did not disappoint. The freshman took the lead early and never looked back. The high winds and warm temperatures slowed down all three distance races in this meet. She was in control throughout as she won in 11:01.81. Ailey Mitchell of Shelbyville moved away from the pack and finished second (11:20.75).

Just like Parekh had in the 3200 Meter Run, Mihas controlled the 800 Meter Run. Mihas waited until the final 300-meters to move away from Alongi and Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley’s Delanie Dykes finished third (2:19.66).

Mihas found shade after the 800 Meter Run waiting to be called to the track for the 1600 Meter Run. “We are teammates,” Mihas said. “But I want to win and so does she.”

The two were expected to finish 1-2 in the race and accomplished that. They had company the first two laps as St. Thomas More’s Fran Hendrickson hung close to the two Latin School runners. They pulled away on the third lap. It was Mihas who had the final move as she started to pull away from Parekh in the final 300-meters. Mihas picked up her second straight state title in this event (5:07.54). As soon as she crossed the line, Mihas turned and looked down the straightaway to make sure her teammate was next across. Parekh was as she ran 5:12.50 to finish second. Mitchell had a great double on this day as she ran 5:17.88 to finish third ahead of Hendrickson (5:19.10) and IC Catholic Prep’s Kennedy Calcagno (5:19.19). Calcagno earlier had finished fifth in the 800 Meter Run.

Chloe Lindeman of Fulton defended her title in the Shot Put with a 47-9.25 put to win the event. Teutopolis’ Claire Bushur achieved a personal best of 44-3.75 to finish second. Bushur came back to throw 133-10 to win the Discus with Putnam County’s Madison Keegan second with a 132-0 personal best.

St. Joseph’s Atleigh Hamilton won the Long Jump for her second straight state title in the event. Hamilton’s prelim mark of 18-7.75 held up for the win. Dakota Krone of Pinckneyville jumped 18-4.75 in the prelims to hold on to second. Faith Frye of Casey-Westfield moved from ninth in the prelims to finish third with a 18-1.50 personal best.

Daekota Knott of Fulton came from third in the prelims and won the Triple Jump. Her winning jump of 37-11.25 was almost a foot ahead of Krone (37-11.25).

Windsor Roberts of Tri-Valley won her second straight Class 1A title to win the Pole Vault. The sophomore cleared 12-6 to finish ahead of Tori Thomas of Rock Island Alleman who cleared 12-0 to finish second.