2021 IHSA Girls State Track & Field Championships - Class 1A Preview

 

By Michael Newman

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Running Events

 

4x800m Relay

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 8:59.03 – Wheaton-Warrenville South - 2012

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 9:20.40 – Palos Heights (Chicago Christian) - 2010

 

2021 1A Best – 9:48.03 – Winnebago

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 10:13.11 – Marshall

 

Preview – Winnebago enters Thursday with the fastest 1A time in the state with four runners that have seasonal bests under 2:26. DuQuoin ran 9:49.13 in May at Centralia and does have the talent to challenge Winnebago led by 800 favorite Olivia Phillips. Marshall and Casey-Westfield ran under 10:20 last week during sectional competition and could challenge for the win in this meet.

 

Knoxville has the tradition in this event and will be a team to watch in the front. Another team with tradition in this event is St. Joseph-Ogden. I would not count them out in this race. Harvest Christian Academy is a team that could surprise on Thursday.

 

4x100m Relay

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 46.04 – Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) - 2014

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 48.51 – Chicago (Seton Academy) - 2012

 

2021 1A Best – 50.44 – Rockford (Christian)

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 50.44 – Rockford (Christian)

 

Preview – What will be interesting to see is how they set up the sections. With 28 teams qualified, we could see four sections of seven.

 

Rockford Christian comes into this meet hot running the fastest time in Class 1A last week. Nashville ran 50.55 earlier in the year, 50.80 in their sectional win at Altamont. Seneca is the only other team in this field under 51 seconds. The Irish should contend for the crown. Maroa-Forsyth won at Tuscola last Friday and could surprise in the final section.

 

Warrensburg-Latham, St. Joseph-Ogden, and New Berlin have the talent from an earlier section could be able to finish among the top five. Newark is a team that I would also keep an eye on.

 

3200 Meter Run

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 9:56.94 – Kayla Beattie, Woodstock - 2011

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 10:13.0 – Suzie Tuffey, Peoria Bergan - 1984

 

2021 1A Best – 11:15.60 – Carly Manchester (JR), Elmhurst (IC Catholic Prep)

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 11:36.59 – Kate Ahmari (SO), Urbana (University)

 

Preview – Carly Manchester has the potential to get close to that 11-minute mark on Thursday after running 11:15 at Palatine at the beginning of May. Remember, Manchester is also in two other events. One runner that I think will challenge for the win is Kate Ahmari. She came on strong at the end of last cross-country season and could take the next step up in this race. Julia Wolke of Christian Liberty Academy finished second behind Manchester last week at Hope Academy. She could be a runner to watch in the front. Brooklyn Bender of Marshall is one of two other runners in this field that has run under 12-minutes in this field. She will be coming right back from running the 4x8. Let’s see how much she has left for this race.

 

Mattie Kindelsperger of Sherrard is the other runner in this field that has run under 12-minutes having run 11:29 in her conference meet on May 27. She ran to qualify last week. She will run for the win at EIU. Jolee Larson of Indian Creek and Aleigha Garrison of Judah Christian are two of the runners that we could see in the front in this race.

 

100 Meter Hurdles

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 13.54 – Dawn Harper, East St. Louis-Senior - 2001

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 13.97 – Jenny Kimbro, Catlin (Salt Fork) - 2016

 

2021 1A Best – 14.57 – Gracie Jessup (SR), Catlin (Salt Fork)

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 15.12 – Grace Nelson (FR), Altamont

 

Preview – There are two runners in this field to keep an eye on in the final section of this event. They are the only two runners that qualified that have run 15.1 or faster. Gracie Jessup ran her Class 1A best at the end of April. She has run under 15 seconds three more times since that point. The senior ran 15.23 last week to win at St. Joseph-Ogden. Grace Nelson has the fastest sectional time and will challenge for the win. Nelson has run 15.15 or faster in her last two races. This freshman could win a state title in this event.

 

Katie Moore of Red Hill and Cambria Geyer of Tremont ran under 15.4 last week. The next fastest sectional time is 15.8. Brooklyn Giertz of Seneca should make the final section and could challenge for a top five finish.

 

100 Meter Dash

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 11.41 – Alexandria Anderson, Chicago (Morgan Park) - 2004

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 11.41 – Morolake Akinosun, Aurora (Waubonsie Valley) - 2012

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 11.95 – Courtney Sockwell, Rockford Lutheran - 2016, 2017

 

2021 1A Best – 12.14 – Alyssa Williams (JR), Tuscola

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 12.14 – Alyssa Williams (JR), Tuscola

 

Preview – Alyssa Williams is the hot runner in this field with the top Class 1A time in the state-run last week on her home track. The junior is the only 1A runner in this field that has run 12.2 or faster twice. Even though Tyrah Taylor of Hope Academy ran 12.46 last week, Taylor does have a 12.19 time this season to her credit. The Althoff Catholic duo of Alaina Lester and Nariah Parks were within six hundredth of a second of ach other in their sectional last week. The two have the talent to challenge for a top three finish.

 

Atleigh Hamilton of St. Joseph-Ogden will not be in the final section of this event. She could threaten for a top three finish overall. The senior ran 12.97 last week in her sectional but has a seasonal best of 12.63. Bre Crose of Hoopeston finished behind Hamilton last week and could be a surprise in one of the earlier sections. Maria Lambert of Aurora Christian could be a runner to watch along with Paige Kirkham of Rockford Christian and Jordan Gallentine of Morrison. This is an even talented field in this event. We could see a ton of surprises from the earlier sections of this event.

 

800 Meter Run

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 2:07.05 – Courtney Clayton, Rockton (Hononegah) - 2013

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 2:09.12 – Stephanie Brown, Downs (Tri-Valley) - 2009

 

2021 1A Best – 2:17.91 – Maleigha Huston (SR), Bushnell (B.-Prairie City)

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 2:17.91 – Maleigha Huston (SR), Bushnell (B.-Prairie City)

 

Preview – Maleigha Huston has the fastest 1A time heading into this weekend. She is the only pre-race favorite that will be fresh for this race. Olivia Phillips of DuQuoin and Grace Erb of Winnebago are the only runners in this event that have run 2:23 or faster in 2021. The two will be running the 4x8 earlier in this meet. Amber Vroman of Seneca from the second section, along with Elle Nohren of Shelbyville and Kennady Anderson of Kewanee Wethersfield are runners that could be among the top five finishers. The talent is not super deep in this event. We could some runners that achieve big personal bests that take the opportunity to become all-state runners.

 

4x200m Relay

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 1:36.86 – Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) - 2013

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 1:42.82 – Sullivan - 2012

 

2021 1A Best – 1:47.51 – Rockford (Christian)

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 1:47.51 – Rockford (Christian)

 

Preview – There are four teams in this field that have run 1:49 or faster this spring. All of them ran in that range last week. Rockford Christian has the momentum with the fastest time of last week at 1:47.51 at Winnebago. The Royal Lions could dip into the 1:46’s in this meet. At the same time, so could Nashville Winnebago, and Maroa-Forsyth.

 

Sherrard and Seneca could be surprises in the final section. It would not count out St. Joseph-Ogden and Newark who missed running in the final section of this event.

 

400 Meter Dash

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 52.63 – Alexandria Anderson, Chicago (Morgan Park) - 2005

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 55.18 – Amanda McClain, Sullivan - 2015

 

2021 1A Best – 57.89 – Nariah Parks (SR), Belleville (Althoff Catholic)

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 57.89 – Nariah Parks (SR), Belleville (Althoff Catholic)

 

Preview – Nariah Parks has been waiting two years to defend her title in this event. She gets that chance to do so on Thursday. Parks dipped under 58 seconds for the first time in her sectional last week. She is close to her 57.81 personal best from 2019. She will need to run faster if she wants t capture anther state title.

 

There are four other runners in this field that ran under 60 seconds last week. Megan Becker of Bloomington Central Catholic ran 58.15 and could be the main threat to Parks in this race. Atleigh Hamilton of St. Joseph-Ogden ran 58.83 to win her home sectional last week. She has run splits faster than that for her team in the 4x4. She is a competitor that I would not count in this race. Jordan Gallentine of Morrison and Lindley Johnston of Stark County surprised some with their times last week. They won’t be surprises if they finish in the top three in the final section. Cali Minkie of Dakota is someone to watch for along with Brooke Oakley of Warrensburg-Latham.

 

300 Meter Hurdles

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 40.61 – Shalina Clarke, Evanston Township - 2005

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 42.57 – Jenny Kimbro, Catlin (Salt Fork) – 42.57

 

2021 1A Best – 44.59 – Grace Nelson (FR), Altamont

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 44.97 – Katie Moore (SR), Bridgeport (Red Hill)

 

Preview – This could be one of the top events on Thursday. Class 1A leader Gracie Nelson and Katie Moore have run under 45 seconds this spring. There is a difference of three seconds between the two and the rest of the field that feels more like a chasm than mere ticks on a clock. Nelson is a runner to watch having run 45.5 or faster five times this spring. Moore ran her best time of the year last week at Newton. She had been in the 46’s all spring and made her dip down in the sectional race. She could run faster on Thursday.

 

Gracie Jessup of Salt Fork ran 47.68 in her sectional win las week. The senior ran 46.15 in a meet more than three weeks ago. Don’t count her out in this race. Katie Cox and Ellie Ten Eyck of Pittsfield along with Nikkie Shaffer of Pleasant Plains could find their way into the top three.

 

1600 Meter Run

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 4:43.65 – Kayla Beattie, Woodstock - 2011

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 4:46.5 – Suzie Tuffey, Peoria Bergan - 1984

 

2021 1A Best – 5:07.85 – Natalia Martino (SR), Winnebago

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 5:15.21 – Natalia Martino (SR), Winnebago

 

Preview – Natalia Martino comes into this race as the big favorite even though she should be on her team’s 4x8 earlier in the meet. She is one of three runners that have seasonal bests that qualified for state in this event. The other runner is Julia Wolke of Christian Liberty Academy. She will be doubling back from the 3200 Meter Run. This is a wide-open event.

 

Maleigha Huston of Bushnell-Prairie City ran 5:22 last week and will be back from the 800. Kaylee Woolery of Winnebago ran 5:19.21 at Palatine. She could give her team big points in this race. Kate Ahmari of Urbana University should not be discounted in this race even though she will be coming back from the 3200 earlier in the meet. This will be the third race of the meet for Carly Manchester of IC Catholic Prep after the 3200 and 800. She could play a part in the winning outcome. Kennady Anderson of Kewanee Wethersfield will double back from the 800. I would not count out this freshman. Eris Nelson of Althoff Catholic could get points for her team in this race.

 

200 Meter Dash

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 23.32 – Alexandria Anderson, Chicago (Morgan Park) - 2005

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 24.90 –  Shelly Smith, Kewanee (Wethersfield) - 1992

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 24.90 – Jennifer Hoffman, South Holland (Seton Academy) - 2001

 

2021 1A Best – 25.20 – Tyrah Taylor (SR), Chicago (Hope Academy)

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 25.68 – Nariah Parks (SR), Belleville (Althoff Catholic)

 

Preview – This could be an event that could clinch the team title for Althoff Catholic. Nariah Parks enters this meet with the top sectional time. It is also her fastest time this season. Tyrah Taylor, Alyssa Williams of Tuscola, and Grace Nelson all have faster times than Parks. Nelson qualified for state but will not be in the final section. She could set a high standard in her race for the final section to shoot for.

 

Williams is running hot and will challenge for a state title. Atleigh Hamilton, like Nelson, missed the final section and could push Nelson in the third section. Megan Becker has also been running hot and could play a factor in this event. Caitlin Conrad of Althoff Catholic could get bonus points for her team in this event.

 

4x400m Relay

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 3:45.0 – East St. Louis-Lincoln - 1984

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 3:56.90 – Freeburg - 2005

 

2021 1A Best – 4:08.78 – DuQuoin

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 4:09.19 – Winnebago

 

Preview – Winnebago will be going after a state team championship and will put themselves in a good position as the top seed in this relay. DuQuoin has the fastest 1A time in the state this season and are always a factor in this event. Rockford Christian finished second behind Winnebago last week and will look to improve on that finish at EIU. Althoff Catholic missed making the final section by six hundredth of a second. They could set the standard for that final race. St. Joseph-Ogden, Newton, and Pittsfield should be watched for in the final event of the meet.

 

Field Events

 

High Jump

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 1.8288m (6-0) – Jelena Rowe, Chicago Heights (Bloom Township) - 2017

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 1.8034m (5-11) – Melinda Morris, Buffalo (Tri-City) - 1980

 

2021 1A Best – 1.68m (5-6.25) – Brooke Probst (JR), Shabbona (Indian Creek)

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 1.67m (5-5.75) – Kylie Periman (JR), New Berlin

 

Preview – Hard to figure out this event. There are so many quality athletes that advanced to this moment. Brooke Probst has the best height in Class 1A having cleared 5-4 or higher three times. Sectional leader Kylie Periman has been stuck under 5-2 all season. The 5-5.75 that she cleared at North Mac is an eye opener. We will see if she tops that in this meet. Natalia Garcia of Bloomington Central Catholic, Lindley Johnston of Stark County, and Brooke Oakley of Warrensburg-Latham are all possibilities to win. This field is big with 35 qualifiers. This could be a long afternoon for the pit next to the south end zone.

 

Pole Vault

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 4.064m (13-4) – Lindsey Murray, Harrisburg - 2014

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 3.9264m (13-0) – Morgan Zacharias, Braidwood (Reed-Custer) - 2015

 

2021 1A Best – 3.81m (12-6) – Windsor Roberts (SR), Downs (Tri Valley)

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 3.79m (12-5.75) – Windsor Roberts (SR), Downs (Tri Valley)

 

Preview - Just like Nariah Parks in the 400 Meter Dash, Windsor Roberts has been waiting for two years to defend her title since she won it in the 2019 State Meet. The senior has been stuck at 12-6 all outdoor season having cleared that height four times. There could be a height past 13-0 in this meet for her. If she does that, she could set the new 1A record.

 

Brooklyn Giertz of Seneca is her closest competition in this meet. The senior cleared 12-4 to win her sectional last week. Most of the year she has been at 11-0 with her best before sectionals being 11-5.75. Sophia Sumer of Tremont cleared 12-0 at the Windy Pole Vault Summit and could challenge for a top three finish. Brynlee Keeran of Salt Fork has a 11-9.75 best and could challenge in this meet.

 

Shot Put

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 15.5448m (51-0) – Kathleen Young, Warrensburg-Latham - 2016

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 15.5448m (51-0) – Kathleen Young, Warrensburg-Latham - 2016

 

2021 1A Best – 12.60m (41-4) – Brenna Noon (SR), Oregon

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 12.42m (40-9) – Brenna Noon (SR), Oregon

 

Preview – Brenna Noon comes into this event as the favorite with the 1A best mark and sectional leader in the event. She could be tough to beat having gone past 40 feet six times this spring. Olivia Campbell of Pittsfield should be her closest competition having a 40-4.25 put in last week’s sectional meet. Maddie Boley of Beecher has a 39-10 seasonal best and could challenge for the win. Julia Hahn of Liberty and Alexis Evrley of Pana should also challenge for the win on Thursday.

 

Discus

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 51.0032m  (167-4) – Kelsey Card, Carlinville - 2010

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record  – 51.0032m  (167-4) – Kelsey Card, Carlinville - 2010

 

2021 1A Best – 45.62m (149-8) – Olivia Campbell (JR), Pittsfield

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 41.91m (137-6) – Olivia Campbell (JR), Pittsfield

 

Preview – Olivia Campbell will be the favorite having throw over 140 feet three times this season. She had a 137-6 sectional best last week. Charlotte Frere of Sherrard and Cassidy Clark of Mt. Pulaski are the only other athletes in this field that have gone past 130 feet. Unless Campbell has a bad day, she could be a lock to win a state title.

 

Long Jump

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 6.3246m (20-9) – Alexandria Anderson, Chicago (Morgan Park) - 2005

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 6.1341m (20-1.5) – Jenna Hermann, Breese (Central) - 2011

 

2021 1A Best – 5.77m (18-11) – Grace Nelson (FR), Altamont

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 5.58m (18-3.75) – Alyssa Williams (JR), Tuscola

 

Preview – Two-time defending champion Atleigh Hamilton of St. Joseph-Ogden is the fifth seed in this event. We’ve seen this story before. Hamilton’s last state meet in 2019 had her jumping 17-4 in her sectional and then winning the state title with a 18-7.75 personal best. She jumped 18-5.75 at Tolono on May 21. She could be the athlete to watch.

 

Grace Nelson has the best 1A mark but did not compete in this event at sectionals. Alyssa Williams jumped a personal best of 18-3.75 last week and will challenge for the state title. Cali Minkle of Dakota, Kate McCann of Wilmington, and Kamryn Kolb of Bureau Valley all have the talent to win. Gracie Jessup will be a factor in this event along with Althoff Catholic’s Alaina Lester. Alia Johnson of IC Catholic Prep could surprise with a top five finish.

 

Triple Jump

 

IHSA State Meet Record – 13.0175m (42-8.5) – Jaimie Robinson, Homewood-Flossmoor - 2017

 

IHSA Class 1A State Meet Record – 11.96975m (39-2.25) – Kendall Rush, Spring Valley (Hall) - 2009

 

2021 1A Best – 10.99m (36-0.75) – Brynlee Keeran (JR), Catlin (Salt Fork)

 

2021 1A Sectional Best – 10.91m (35-9.5) – Jade Aber (SR), Manlius (Bureau Valley)

 

Preview – One of these field events that it is hard to figure out who the favorite is. Brynlee Keeran has the top 1A jump in the state having jumped over 35 feet in three of her last four meets. She jumped 34-0.75 to win her sectional. Jade Aber has the sectional best of 35-9.5. She’s jumped over 35 feet twice and could be the athlete that wins this event. But who knows? This event is wide-open. Cali Minkle of Dakota could win this event. Elly Jones of Amboy is a freshman to keep an eye on.