By Michael Newman

[email protected]

3A GIRLS

It was a toss-up on who to choose in this category entering the Girls State Track & Field Championships. There was no question on who it would be after the meet was over.

Taylor Gilling of Highland Park made her presence known during her junior season after finishing fourth in the 100 Meter Dash and second in the 200 Meter Dash at the 2018 3A State Meet. She stepped it up a notch last March when she defeated a strong field to win the 60 Meter Dash at the Illinois Top Times 3A Championships.

Gilling did not run under 12-seconds for 100-meters heading to state and was considered a runner to watch in the event. She changed everyone’s mind around when she ran a prelim leading 11.65 on Friday. In the finals, she blew away the field running a wind-aided 11.32 to capture the state title. It is one of the top five times nationally regardless of conditions. She came back to a mind boggling 23.10 (wind-aided) to capture the state title at 200-meters.

Halle Bieber of Naperville North was also considered in this category. Bieber ran 43.78 to win the Class 3A State title for the third consecutive year. Ashanti Denton of Homewood-Flossmoor was also considered after she ran 54.45 to win the 400 Meter Dash ahead of two-time defending champion Dajour Miles.

Congratulations to Taylor Gilling of Highland Park High School as the 2019 ILXCTF.com 3A Girls Sprint/Hurdles Event Athlete of the Year.

2A GIRLS

There was no question on who to choose in this classification. Serena Bolden of Springfield Southeast was the “boss” of the 2A sprints this spring with her only loss in the 100 Meter Dash to 3A’s Ameia Wilson at the Urbana Invitational and to teammate Raven Moore in the 200 Meter Dash at the Lincoln Sectional.

Bolden could not be touched at state running 11.74 to win the 100 Meter Dash by a quarter of a second as well as running 24.41 to win the 200 Meter Dash.

Congratulations to Serena Bolden of Springfield Southeast High School as the 2019 ILXCTF.com 2A Girls Sprint/Hurdles Event Athlete of the Year.

1A GIRLS

It was close decision with two worthy athletes to choose from.

Alyssa Busker of Aurora Christian peaked at the right time winning the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash at the state meet in May. She stayed in the shadows most of the season including finishing third in the 60 Meter Dash at Illinois Top Times in March. Her state championships in the two sprints puts her in the discussion in this category.

Kenli Nettles of Arthur Lovington took her performances to the next level this spring especially in the hurdle events. Not only did Nettles win the High Jump at state, but she also put up impressive times in winning the 100 Meter Hurdles and the 300 Meter Hurdles. Her winning time in the 300 Meter Hurdles was second fastest this year in the state regardless of classifications. Her season’s best time of 14.23 in the 100 Meter Hurdles was one of the top ten times in the state.

Acknowledgements in this category also have to go out to DaeLin Switzer of St. Teresa. Switzer pushed Nettles during the season and in the state finals. Switzer finished second in the 100 Meter Hurdles just 11 hundredths of a second behind Nettles. The margin was closer in the 300 Meter Hurdles as Switzer finished just seven hundredths of a second behind Nettles with the third fastest time this year in the state. Switzer ended her state meet and her high school career by finishing second behind Busker in the 200 Meter Dash.

Congratulations to Kenli Nettles of Arthur-Lovington High School as the 2019 ILXCTF.com 1A Girls Sprint/Hurdles Event Athlete of the Year.