Ellie Niemann placed 5th last year in the state high jump (Mark Capapas photo)
High Jump-
2016 State Champion: Daelin Switzer (So., Decatur St. Teresa) 5'6"
Key returners: Switzer, Lucy Rulon (Jr., Champaign St. Thomas More), Laura Beckett (Jr., Central A&M), Haley McCaslin (So., Hillsboro), Ellie Niemann (Sr., Litchfield)
Outlook: Switzer came of nowhere last year to win the state crown as a freshman. Ironically, Switzer comes from a distance rich program but things may have changed over to field events and speed. The top three returners are back along with Switzer include Rulon and Niemann will have to share the stage. Niemann was the indoor leader at 5-5. She may be the best at the end of the season if she can be a little more consistent.
Key returners: Switzer, Lucy Rulon (Jr., Champaign St. Thomas More), Laura Beckett (Jr., Central A&M), Haley McCaslin (So., Hillsboro), Ellie Niemann (Sr., Litchfield)
Outlook: Switzer came of nowhere last year to win the state crown as a freshman. Ironically, Switzer comes from a distance rich program but things may have changed over to field events and speed. The top three returners are back along with Switzer include Rulon and Niemann will have to share the stage. Niemann was the indoor leader at 5-5. She may be the best at the end of the season if she can be a little more consistent.
Key returning performances:
| RANK | MARK | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5-6 | 2018 | ||
| 1 | 5-6 | 2019 | ||
| 1 | 5-6 | 2017 | ||
| 4 | 5-5 | 2019 |
Long Jump-
2016 State Champion: Jenny Kimbro (Salt Fork) 17'10.25"
Key returners: Bryn Guthrie (Sr., Litchfield), Casey Berberich (Sr., Lebanon), Daylee Denton (Sr., Pana), Carmen DeVries (Jr., Lena-Winslow), Cora Wilkinson (Sr., Seneca)
Outlook: The all world champion Jenny Kimbro has graduated and moved on to the University of Iowa. State runner-up Bryn Guthrie returns as one of two girls over 17-feet. She has to potential to go over 18-feet this year. Watch out for Casey Berberich to challenge hard. She took 4th at state a season ago.
Key returners: Bryn Guthrie (Sr., Litchfield), Casey Berberich (Sr., Lebanon), Daylee Denton (Sr., Pana), Carmen DeVries (Jr., Lena-Winslow), Cora Wilkinson (Sr., Seneca)
Outlook: The all world champion Jenny Kimbro has graduated and moved on to the University of Iowa. State runner-up Bryn Guthrie returns as one of two girls over 17-feet. She has to potential to go over 18-feet this year. Watch out for Casey Berberich to challenge hard. She took 4th at state a season ago.
Key returning performances:
| RANK | MARK | WIND | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17-5 | 2017 | |||
| 2 | 17-3.25 | 2017 | |||
| 3 | 16-11.75 | 2017 | |||
| 4 | 16-11 | 2018 | |||
| 5 | 16-10.5 | 2019 |
Triple Jump-
2016 State Champion: Megan Reed (Cambridge) 37'7.75"
Key returners: Tarynn Mays (Sr., DuQuoin), Cora Wilkinson (Sr., Seneca), Madison Davis (Jr., Rockford Lutheran)
Outlook: Seven state finalists return including 4th place finishing Tarynn Mays. Mays jumped 36-4.5 as a personal best. She will have plenty of balance behind her with several girls who leaped over 36-feet. One of those girls is Madison Davis. She took 7th at state and will be added an added threat to her team who has the classification's top sprinter in Courtney Sockwell.
2016 State Champion: Megan Reed (Cambridge) 37'7.75"
Key returners: Tarynn Mays (Sr., DuQuoin), Cora Wilkinson (Sr., Seneca), Madison Davis (Jr., Rockford Lutheran)
Outlook: Seven state finalists return including 4th place finishing Tarynn Mays. Mays jumped 36-4.5 as a personal best. She will have plenty of balance behind her with several girls who leaped over 36-feet. One of those girls is Madison Davis. She took 7th at state and will be added an added threat to her team who has the classification's top sprinter in Courtney Sockwell.
Key returning performances:
| RANK | MARK | WIND | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36-8.25 | 2017 | |||
| 2 | 36-4.5 | 2017 | |||
| 3 | 36-0.5 | 2019 | |||
| 3 | 36-0.5 | 2018 |
Discus Throw-
2016 State Champion: Kathleen "KD" Young (Jr., Warrensburg-Latham) 155'0"
Key returners: Young, Alexandra Draves (Jr., Seneca), Katie Witte (Sr., Salt Fork), Emily Offenheiser (Jr., Stockton)
Outlook: Young returns as the three-time state champion in her secondary event. Evenso, she was able to lauch a career best 156-7 which is IL overall #1 and the 11th best mark in the country. Young cares about the discus because she does not want to be labled just a great shot putter. Young's father Brett Young said there is going to be some emphasis on the hammer throw as well when the outdoor season is underway. This will undoubtedly assist KD in all areas of the throwing game. The event overall is not super strong so it will be interesting to see who will emerge this season. Megan McElroy competed at state last year but finished 18th in the preliminaries. She has the second best mark coming back. Rachyl Anderson was her team's third best thrower a year ago. She returns as the classification's #3 heaver.
2016 State Champion: Kathleen "KD" Young (Jr., Warrensburg-Latham) 155'0"
Key returners: Young, Alexandra Draves (Jr., Seneca), Katie Witte (Sr., Salt Fork), Emily Offenheiser (Jr., Stockton)
Outlook: Young returns as the three-time state champion in her secondary event. Evenso, she was able to lauch a career best 156-7 which is IL overall #1 and the 11th best mark in the country. Young cares about the discus because she does not want to be labled just a great shot putter. Young's father Brett Young said there is going to be some emphasis on the hammer throw as well when the outdoor season is underway. This will undoubtedly assist KD in all areas of the throwing game. The event overall is not super strong so it will be interesting to see who will emerge this season. Megan McElroy competed at state last year but finished 18th in the preliminaries. She has the second best mark coming back. Rachyl Anderson was her team's third best thrower a year ago. She returns as the classification's #3 heaver.
Key returning performances:
| RANK | MARK | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 156-7 | 2017 | ||
| 2 | 137-10 | 2017 | ||
| 3 | 132-3 | 2018 |