Normal University in the driver’s seat to win their second straight team state championship; Schardan qualifies for four finals

By Michael Newman

Charleston, Ill – Defending Normal University did the little things right when the Class 2A prelims began Friday morning at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Field. When the final 2A prelim race ended, the Pioneers had advanced 12 qualifiers to Saturday’s finals.

Tolono Unity is their closest competition advancing nine to Saturday. DePaul College Prep and Eureka both have six advancing. There are five teams that advanced five to the finals. The most notable was Troy Triad led by Sophia Schardan who won her two heats and anchored to wins in the 4x100 Meter Relay and 4x200 Meter Relay.

There are two things that could propel U-High to their second straight state title. The Pioneers did advance all four of their relays to the finals. There is second thing in the field events. U-High is 1-2 in the Discus as Isabella Thurston threw 144-9 on her second throw to take the lead. Her teammate MacKenzie Matejka threw 139-7 also on her second attempt to move into second place. Cassie Brady of DePaul College Prep is currently third throwing 134-0 on her final prelim attempt.

Here are highlights of each other events that took place on Friday. The 3200 Meter Run will be contested in a two-section timed final.

Track Events

4x800 Meter Relay – Rockford Boylan pulled away from the field in the final heat running a season best 9:27.99 for the win. St. Francis did not run Erin Hinsdale of Margaret Andrzejewski in their quartet, still ran 9:50.56 to finish second ahead of Waterloo (9:59.31) who was the final qualifier. Tolono Unity ran 9:31.26 to win the second heat with Rochester (9:35.81), DePaul College Prep (9:36.45), Sherrard (9:43.15), and Eureka (9:43.48) all making the finals. Richland County came from behind to run 9:45.20 to win the first section with Sacred Heart-Griffin (9:47.84), Normal University (9:52.36), and Williamsville (9:56.15) advancing to Saturday.

4x100 Meter Relay – This five-heat prelim favored Marian Catholic who ran 47.69 to win the fourth heat and the fastest of the nine qualifying teams. South Shore International was the only other qualifying team to advance from that heat finishing second (48.53). Normal University pulled away in the final heat as they ran 48.06 for the win. Southland College Prep ran 48.53 to finish second and qualify. Troy Triad gave Sophia Schardan the baton with a lead and she took it from there. The Knights ran 48.16 to win the opening heat and the only qualifier from that race. Freeport (48.38) and North Chicago (48.55) the other heat winners.

100 Meter Hurdles – Jordan Hamb of South Shore International is ready to defend her state title. She was convincing running 14.24 to win the opening heat in the event. She was the only runner in the event that ran under 15 seconds in the five heats. Other heat winners included Kendall Gray of Southland College Prep (15.02), Hannah Safranek of Normal University, Jamison Love of Mascoutah, and Baylie Nena of Metamora.

100 Meter Dash – Sophia Schardan set the standard in the final heat. The junior ran 11.81 to win and the only runner under 12 seconds. The other heat winners were close together including Ta’Leiah McElroy of Freeport (12.03), Kamaree Pollard of Mt. Vernon (12.05), Rege Cooper Smith of North Chicago (12.10), and Alyssa Stacy of Sycamore (12.30).

800 Meter Run – The final could come down to Emily Stecky of DePaul College Prep and Klarke Goranson of Manteno. Stecky ran the fastest time of 2:13.22 to win the opening heat. Erin Hinsdale Of St. Francis (2:16.85) and Savannah Franzen of St. Joseph-Ogden finished second and third. Goranson took the lead in the final 10 meters of the third heat as she ran 2:13.45 to hold off Ashlynn Denney of Tolono Unity (2:13.74 for the heat win. Kate Murray of Payton Prep ran a big personal best of 2:16.55 to win the second heat with Margaret Andrzejewski of St. Francis (2:17.22) and Francesca Mora of Latin (2:17.64).

4x200 Meter Relay – Schardan took her gas of the pedal when she got the baton with a huge lead in the final heat. Triad ran 1:43.15 to win by almost two seconds and third overall in the preliminaries. Normal University had the fastest time running 1:42.06 to win the third heat opening heat finishing ahead of Tolono Unity (1:44.28) and Evergreen Park (1:44.30) who both qualified. North Chicago ran 1:42.77 to win the opening heat just ahead of Freeport (1:43.20). Sacred Heart Griffin (1:43.34) and Marian Catholic (1:43.52).

400 Meter Dash – Defend champion Madalyn Marx of Mahomet-Seymour cruised to the finals running a prelim leading 56.86 to win the fourth and final heat. Mickaylee Patton of Charleston ran 57.97 to win the opening heat. Jadyn Geraldi of Anna-Jonesboro ran a personal best of 57.34 to win the third heat. Kamaree Pollard of Mt. Vernon ran 57.10 in capturing the win in the second heat.

300 Meter Hurdles – Brenna Stearns of Marion ran the fastest time in the prelims running 45.56 to win the final heat. In a close finish in the fourth heat, Kendall Gray of Southland College Prep ran 45.58 to edge Jamison Love of Mascoutah (45.59) to win the fourth heat. Raylie Nena of Metamora (45.81), Brielle Seiler of Richland County (46.11), and Alyssa Wollenzien of Reed-Custer (46.82) were the other heat winners.

1600 Meter Run – Sundara Weber of Sandwich tuned up for a big day on Saturday as she ran 5:02.28 to win the first heat ahead of Emily Decker of Tolono Unity (5:04.23) and Zoe Carter of Normal University (5:04.32). Brooke Zeibert of Rochester took off in the final 200-meters of the second heat and held off Klarke Goranson to win in a prelim leading 5:00.41. Goranson ran 5:01.30 to finish second ahead of Emaline Foster of Prairie Ridge (5:02.54), Abigail Radich of DePaul College Prep (5:02.66), and Reese Kohnle of Boylan Catholic (5:03.07).

200 Meter Dash – Four runners were under 25 seconds in the four heats that took place in this event. Rege Cooper Smith ran 24.76 to lead all qualifiers to win the second heat just ahead of Symone Holman of Joliet Catholic (24.99). Madalyn Marx was in control in the fourth heat running 24.88 for the win by almost a full second. Sophia Schardan easily won her third heat (24.99) as she was the only runner to advance out of that heat. Katherine Jewell of Prairie Ridge won the opening heat (25.30) ahead of Alyssa Stacy (25.39) and Te’Leyah Covington of Thornridge (25.47).

4x400 Meter Relay – DePaul College Prep will be the top seed in the final of the 4x400 Meter Relay as they ran 4:01.00 to win the fourth heat ahead of East St. Louis who missed making the by a second. Eureka was a lone qualifier as they ran 4:01.92 to win the fifth heat. Mt Zion won a loaded second heat as they ran 4:02.10 ahead of qualifiers Waterloo (4:03.76) and Normal University (4:05.97). Tolono Unity won the third heat (4:02.96) with Sacred Heart-Griffin qualifying for their third relay final of the meet (4:06.11). Galesburg won the opening heat (4:04.12) just ahead of qualifier Highland (4:04.64).

Field Events

Long Jump – Maria Long of Pontiac was a surprise leader in the Long Jump as she jumped 18-1.50 to claim the preliminary lead. Charlotte Okulaja of Illinois Math & Science Academy jumped 17-10.5 to stand currently in second.

Triple Jump – Taya Rice of Agricultural Science was in third after the prelims in the Long Jump. Rice jumped 37-6 to hold a tint lead ahead of Kylee Garner of South Shore International who jumped 37-5.75 to stand in second. Mary Elliott of Robinson (36-10.5) and Alannah Lowery of Springfield Southeast (36-9) stand third and fourth after preliminaries.

Shot Put – Emma Skeate of Marion unleashed a 38-2 heave in the final attempt of her flight to lead the competition after Friday. Erin Murphy of Rochelle also achieved a 36.75 final attempt to stand in second.

High Jump – It could be a long afternoon in the Class 2A High Jump on Saturday afternoon as a record 24 qualifiers advanced to the finals all clearing 5-1. Sterling was the only school from this list that had two qualifiers with Abby Ryan and Kaelee Varden.

Pole Vault – 10-6 was the magic height in this event as 13 qualifiers cleared that height to make the Saturday finals. Molly Russelburg of Aurora Central Catholic was one of the lead qualifiers.