ILXCTF.com 2022 IHSA Girls Track & Field Previews - 2A Field Events

By Michael Newman [email protected]

One of the reasons why Geneseo finished second in the Class 2A State championships last June was their strength in the field events. The one athlete that perhaps had the most influence in the field events and on their team is Annie Wirth. She had a great sophomore season winning the High Jump and finishing second in the Long Jump. Wirth also helped Geneseo with wins in the 4x200m Relay and 4x400m Relay. Not much will change for Wirth as she enters her junior season. Wirth should be the favorite in both of those field events as well as again doing spectacular things in the relays.

The 2A field events should be fun to watch is we determine five new state champions while watching to see if Wirth can defend her High Jump crown. Here is a look at each of the six field events.

Long Jump

Notes – Four of the top five athletes that return in this event are underclassmen led by Geneseo’s Annie Wirth. Wirth finished second in the State Finals. She also claims the longest returning mark at 18-8. Abby Venhaus of Columbia finished fourth in Charleston and could be Wirth’s closest competition. The lone senior of the five, Kylie Gormann of Centralia, finished sixth and could have a say in who wins the state title. Teagan Sullivan of Dunlap, who finished eighth, and Ellie Lowe of Mascoutah are two athletes also to keep a watch for.

The Long Jump could be more open than we think. Alaina Lester of Belleville Althoff Catholic, Janyah Brown of East St. Louis, Keymora Hayes of Cahokia, Paige Greenhagel of Burlington Central, Hana Ling of Payton Prep, and Emily Strehl of LaSalle-Peru are a group of athletes to watch for in 2022 in this event.

Triple Jump

Notes – A wide open event with four all-state athletes leading the way. Kylie Gormann of Centralia is the highest returning placer finishing fourth. Gormann also at 36-11.75 has the longest returning mark. Larissa Sager of Peoria Richwoods did not qualify for state but is the only other athlete back that went past 36 feet (36-2).

Reese McCuan of Lincoln, Karli Mann of Herrin, and Na’Kyrah Cooks of Kankakee finished in the top nine last June and will look for top five finishes. Janyah Brown of East St. Louis, Matilyn Mumm of Kaneland, Katie Janvrin of Mt. Zion, and Madison Hancock of Mt. Zion are part of a group of 15 athletes that could earn all-state honors this May.

High Jump

Notes – Annie Wirth of Geneseo should be the athlete to watch in this event in 2022. The junior won seven of eight competition last outdoor season. She jumped 5-5.75 in extreme conditions in Charleston to win at state. Her best from 2021 was 5-8.

The High Jump is deep with state meet experience as seven all-state athletes are back. Kaci Papin of Hillsboro and Brianna Dixon of Rantoul finished second and third and lead this group. Hallie Steponaitis of Woodstock, Rhiannon Marshall of Mt. Zion, Molly Grohmann of Waterloo, Harper Smith of Dunlap, and Michaela Almeida of Marengo will also look to improve on last year’s performances. Morgan Ahle of Breese Central, Valerie Sarros of Benet Academy, Audrey Remole of Tolono Unity, and Karissa Clawson of Sycamore are some of the other athletes that will challenge for all-state spots.

Pole Vault

Notes – We will be crowning a new state champion in this event led by six returning athletes. Libby Saloga of Rosary should be the one athlete to watch for. The junior has the best returning mark (12-2.75) by almost a foot. Saloga has the best state finish by placing second last year.

This event is talented and deep behind Saloga eight other athletes having cleared 11-0 at some point last year. Normal University’s Sawyer Schoon and Sydnee Scott lead that group having cleared 11-3. Olivia Lee of Mascoutah, Kailani Egli of Metamora, and Caelyn Kleparski of Tolono Unity were all over 11 feet and earned all-state honors. They could be in the push for a state title or high finish.

Katarina Schneider of Mascoutah, Josie Gates of Lakes Community, Cora Heller of Kaneland, Chelsea Wetzel of Dunlap, and Morgan Noyes of Troy Triad are some of the athletes to also watch in the front in meets.

Shot Put

Notes – Two-time state champion Jayden Ulrich has graduated and moved on to the next level. Five all-state athletes are back to challenge for the position of the new queen of the ring. Claire Allen of Sandwich leads this group having finished second in last year’s state meet and having a best returning put of 40-11. Gabrielle King of Lakes Community finished sixth in the 3A State Finals last June. Her school moving down to Class 2A puts herself in position to challenge for a state championship.

Alice Mihas of Latin School, Maryiah Menicucci of Marion, and Madyson Swope of Carbondale could be among the top three in the Shot by the time we get to the state series. Desire Poole of East St. Louis had a seasonal best of 39-4.75 but finished 13 in the state finals. I can see her challenging for a state championship in May.

Some of the other athletes to watch for in the ring this spring include Drayana DeBeof of Geneseo, Tiana Foreman of Burlington Central, Maya Cook of Mattoon, and Josie Hapack of Highland.

Discus

Notes – The same principal athletes that we talked about in the Shot Put preview will be among the favorites in this weight event. Claire Allen of Sandwich and Desire Poole of East St. Louis finished fifth last year and lead three other all-state athletes coming back. Allen had a best of 138-1 last year more than 10 feet ahead of that from Poole.

Josie Hapack of Highland, Madyson Swope of Carbondale, and Alice Mihas were all-state and will challenge for a top finish. Danielle Crockett of Chicago Heights Marian, Maryiah Menicucci of Marion, and Makenzie Welch of Dixon lead a group of five athletes that could also be in the hunt for a top nine finish this spring.