2021 IHSA Girls State Track & Field Championships – 1A Teams to Watch

 

 

By Michael Newman

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Winnebago looks to be the team to beat when the Class 1A Girls State Track & Field Championships begins Thursday afternoon. The Indians advanced 15 to the 1A finals. They will rely on a strong distance program and a little bit more.

 

Belleville Althoff, St. Joseph-Ogden, and DuQuoin will be on a chase for a trophy. Seneca also has the points to finish in the top three. Rockford Christian needs no mistakes to bring a trophy back home.

 

Here is a look at some of the teams to watch at Thursday’s  Class 1A State Finals. Teams are mentioned in alphabetical order.

 

 

Belleville (Althoff Catholic)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 10; 8 Individuals, 2 Relays

 

Outlook – A good home sectional meet put this team in position to contend for a state championship. Sprint events are the thing to watch from this group. Nariah Parks is the defending champion in the 400 Meter Dash and could defend. Parks could also get points in the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash. Parks is also a part of their 4x400m Relay.

 

Alaina Lester has one of the top athletes in the 100 Meter Dash. She is one of the favorites. Lester could also get some points or her team in the Long Jump. Their 4x200m Relay, along with the 4x4, are not among the final section relays. This team still could get points in both. Caitlin Conrad will be part of the relays. She could also get her team points in the 200 Meter Dash. Eris Nelson qualified in all three distance events. She could score points in the 1600 Meter Run.

 

Bloomington (Central Catholic)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 13; 11 Individuals, 2 Relays

 

Outlook – Bloomington Central Catholic won their own sectional with qualifiers in the double digits to get them among the top teams in Class 1A. Megan Becker qualified in the three sprint events. She could score points in both the 200 Meter Dash and the 400 Meter Dash. Their 4x400m Relay, with Becker anchoring it, could get some points. Natalia Garcia has the ninth fastest time in the 100 Meter Hurdles. She could get her team some points. Garcia is also one of the seeds in the High Jump. She is one of the favorites that could win the event. Their quartet in the 4x800m Relay is seeded ninth. It would be a bonus if they could get points in that event.

 

Catlin (Salt Fork)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 13; 13 Individuals, 0 Relays

 

Outlook – Salt Fork finished five points behind host St. Joseph-Ogden in last week’s sectionals. They have no relay qualifiers. They do have the individuals that could bring back a team trophy for their school. Gracie Jessup has qualified in multiple events and could bring her team some big points. Jessup will be one of the favorites in the 100 Meter Hurdles and 300 Meter Hurdles. Jessup is seeded fourth in the Long Jump. She could get points for her team there . Jessup also qualified in the 200 Meter Dash but will not be in the final section. It will be a bonus if she scores in that race.

 

Brynlee Keeran could be in the mix for points in the High Jump, Triple Jump, and the Pole Vault. Olivia Birge qualified in both the Shot Put and Discus. She has a better chance to finish in the top nine in the Discus where she is seeded sixth.

 

DuQuoin

 

Qualifiers: Total = 15; 11 Individuals, 4 Relays

 

Outlook – The defending 1A champs from 2019 have the numbers to repeat qualifying 15 from their home sectional win. The four relays that they qualified could be one of their strengths. Their quartet in the 4x800m Relay is seeded eight but does have the second fastest 1A time this season. Their team in the 4x400m Relay is seeded fourth and could be in the mix for some big points. Their 4x100m Relay and 4x200m Relay will be in one of the first two sections of their event. It would be a bonus to score in either of those races.

 

Olivia Phillips is one of the favorites in the 800 Meter Run as should provide some big points for her team. She will also be on two of the team’s relays. Jacqueline Crain is seeded fourth in that event. She should score in the 800. Jalynn Wood qualified in the 100 Meter Hurdles, 300 Meter Hurdles, and the Pole Vault. It would be a bonus to pick up points in one of those three events. Grace Alongi should be in the final section of the 400 Meter Dash. She could score in that as well as the Triple Jump.

 

El Paso-Gridley

 

Qualifiers: Total: 11; 8 Individuals, 3 Relays

 

Outlook – Their overwhelming win at Tremont put the Titans in position to challenge for a top five finish on Thursday in Charleston. Tristyn Grube qualified in three events as well as running in one relay. She could score points in both the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash. She is one of the top nine sectional seeds in the Long Jump She could score in that also. EPG qualified in three relays. The 4x100m Relay is the best bet where they could score points. Tori Witzig is among the top 10 qualifiers in the 300 Meter Hurdles and could score in that event.

 

Pleasant Plains

 

Qualifiers: Total = 11; 8 Individuals, 3 Relays

 

Outlook – The Cardinals scored 134 points to win at Beardstown last week qualifying 11. Teagan Morley qualified in the 400 Meter Dash and the 100 Meter Dash. The sophomore has a chance to score points in the 400. Morley also made it in the Pole Vault. Keep an eye on her in that event. Nikkie Shaffer qualified in both hurdle events. She is seeded sixth in the 300 Meter Hurdles and has a better to score in the longer hurdle race. The Cardinals qualified in three relays. Their best bet looks to be in the 4x400m Relay

 

Rockford (Christian)

 

Qualifiers: Total = 6; 3 Individuals, 3 Relays

 

Outlook – They do not have the numbers like some of the other teams, but the quality is there to contend for a trophy. The Royal Lions have the top seeds in both the 4x100m Relay and 200m Relay. They could win both insuring big points. They finished second in the 4x400m Relay behind Winnebago. The two teams are the top two seeds. Rockford Christian could make it three for three in the relays.

 

Paige Kirkham is among the first eight qualifiers in the 100 Meter Dash. She should score in that event. Mandy Nelson qualified in the 200 Meter Dash. It would be a bonus if she scores points. Kelly Giardina should make the final section of the 3200 Meter Run. The junior is a possibility to score points in that race.

 

St. Joseph-Ogden

 

Qualifiers: Total = 12; 8 Individuals, 4 Relays

 

Outlook – A good bet to challenge for a top three trophy. The Lady Spartans qualified 12 after winning their own sectional including all four relays. SJO had Atleigh Hamilton in their relays in 2018 and 2019. Hamilton is concentrating on individual events qualifying in four. She is the two-time defending champion in the Long Jump and is a good bet to win her third title in that discipline. Hamilton is one of the top five qualifiers in the 400 Meter Dash and could challenge for the win. The senior will not be among the runners in the final sections of the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash. I would not count her out in either of those events for a top five finish.

 

Ava Knapp is a good possibility to score points in the 1600 Meter Run. Grace Schmitz could also get her team points in the Pole Vault. Their relay teams should once again be strong. The team in the 4x800m Relay has the sixth fastest sectional time. Their 4x100m Relay and 4x200m Relay are 10th. Their 4x400m Relay is fifth and could contend for a title in the final race of the meet.

 

Seneca

 

Qualifiers: Total = 13; 9 Individuals, 4 Relays

 

Outlook – The Irish qualified 13 while winning their own sectional. Seneca should score big points in the 4x100m Relay. They have the sixth fastest time in the 4x200m Relay and should get points there. The Irish has an outside chance to score points in the 4x800m Relay.

 

Brooklyn Giertz will challenge for a top three finish in the Pole Vault. She has the second-best sectional performance. Teagan Johnson could also get points in that event. Giertz is among the top five in both the 100 Meter Hurdles and 300 Meter Hurdles and could score in both events. Faith Deering will challenge for a top three finish in the Discus. Amber Vroman has an outside shot to score in either the 800 Meter Run or the 1600 Meter Run.

 

Winnebago

 

Qualifiers: Total = 15; 12 Individuals, 3 Relays

 

Outlook – A team that I believe that could win the team title on Thursday. It is a team that is based on a strong distance program that could total up a ton of points. Their 4x800m Relay has the top time so far this season in Class 1A and should be the favorite on Thursday, Natalia Martino will be part of that relay. She also has the fastest 1A state time in the 1600 Meter Run and will be the favorite. Kaylee Woolery has one of the top five 1A state times and should score some big points.

 

Grace Erb has the third fastest sectional time in the 800 Meter Run and should bring in some big points for her team. Sophia Martino has a chance to get some points in the 3200 Meter Run. Hannah Logan could get points in both the Shot Put and the Discus. They could also get points from Renee Rittmeyer in the High Jump and Ella Maher in the Pole Vault.

 

Winnebago has the top sectional time in the 4x400m Relay. The Indians have the third fastest time in the 4x200m Relay. They should score points in both of those relays.