2014 Pre-Season Class A Girls Field Events Preview

Senior Peyton Wade of Aurora Christian will be among the very best multiple event athletes this season regardless of classification.

The key to winning any championship is doing well in the often overlooked field events.  This season will again be key factor for a number of teams vying for crucial state points after the exodus of many top athletes.  Just ask powerhouse schools like Roselle (Lake Park) and Cahokia boy’s teams.  Sure, they have done well in the track events throughout their reign, but it’s been the field event arena that has been the catalyst in winning championships. The feeling of whipping the opponent beyond submission has to be very gratifying to say the least.

Events: long jump, pole vault, high jump, shot put, triple jump, discus throw.

Long Jump-
2013 state champion: Amelia Glueck (Sr., Tremont) 18-0.50.
Key returners: Glueck, Courtney Croy (Sr., Neoga), Lindsey Hoffert (Jr., Manlius Bureau Valley), Amanda McClain (Jr., Sullivan), McKendra Barthelme (So., Newton), Peyton Rus (So., Erie).
Outlook: This season should be exceptionally strong for the second year in a row as the top six state placers return.  How many of you knew that two-time defending state champion Amelia Glueck is also an outstanding basketball player? Well she is. The multi-talented  Ms. Glueck is a starting player on her team that happens to be one of the best small school squads in central Illinois.  However, it is on the track that she will be the marked jumper once after going wire to wire winning indoors (unofficial state) and outdoor titles.  She will go after a trifecta indoors and outdoors- a feat never accomplished before in Class A. It will be hard to imagine anyone tarnishing Glueck’s shine, but if there is anyone that can challenge her it will be Courtney Croy.  Croy finished runner-up to Glueck indoors and out and had four jumps over 17-0 including a career best 17-5.5 at state.
 

Rank Mark Athlete Name Team C/O Date Meet
1. 18-6.5 Peyton Wade Aurora Christian High School 2014 06/07/2013 AAU Area 14A National Qualifier
2. 18-0.5 Amelia Glueck Tremont High School 2014 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
3. 17-7.5 Amanda Mcclain Sullivan High School 2015 04/26/2013 Monticello Girls Invitational
4. 17-5.5p Courtney Croy Neoga High School 2014 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
5. 17-4.75 Lindsey Hoffert Bureau Valley High School 2015 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
6. 17-3 Peyton Rus Erie High School 2016 04/26/2013 Sterling Night Relays
7. 16-7.5 Mckenzie Rucker Chester High School 2015 05/01/2013 Black Diamond Girls Conference Championship
8. 16-6.5 Jenny Kimbro Jamaica High School 2016 04/26/2013 Monticello Girls Invitational
9. 16-6.5 Randa Harshbarger St. Thomas More High School 2014 04/29/2013 Sangamon Valley Conference Championship (Girls)
10. 16-3.75 Nikki Danner Eureka High School 2014 04/26/2013 Eureka Invitational
11. 16-3.5 Melanie Eilers Central Camp Point High School 2015 04/09/2013 Jerry Ball Relays
12. 16-3.5p Janelle Marion Schlarman High School 2014 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
13. 16-2.5 Natasha Brown Aurora Christian High School 2015 05/04/2013 Mooseheart Relays
14. 16-2 Tessa Holland Fieldcrest High School 2015 04/24/2013 Heyworth Home Meet
15. 16-1.5 Olivia Ott Neoga High School 2015 04/22/2013 Tuscola Open
16. 16-0.25 Michelle Bigger El Paso-Gridley High School 2015 04/26/2013 Eureka Invitational
17. 15-11 Maribeth Lawrence Chester High School 2014 05/01/2013 Black Diamond Girls Conference Championship
18. 15-10.75 Erin Farley Rockford Christian Life High School 2014 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
19. 15-9.5 Lexie Davidson Newton High School 2015 04/05/2013 Shelbyville Girls Invitational
20. 15-9.25 Jessica Isaak Nashville High School 2014 04/22/2013 Tri County Championships


Pole Vault-
’13 state champion: Taylor Knauf (Aurora Christian) 12-1.
Key returners: Morgan Zacharias (Jr., Reed-Custer), Bailey Reifsteck (Sr., Tolono Unity), Zoe Gossmeyer (Sr., Tremont).
Outlook: The state champion Taylor Knauf has graduated and moved on to Illinois State University to vault. Morgan Zacharias should be ready for the vacated spot and continue to move up the ladder as she finished runner-up last year at state.  She eclipsed 11-9 as a personal best but should be above the 12-0 mark this season.  
 

Rank Mark Athlete Name Team C/O Date Meet
1. 10-6 Zoe Gossmeyer Tremont High School 2014 04/30/2013 McLean County / Heart of Illinois Conference Meet
2. 10-6 Bailey Reifsteck Unity High School 2014 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
3. 10-3 Rachel Westendorf Teutopolis High School 2015 04/05/2013 Shelbyville Girls Invitational
4. 10-3 Sarah Wortman St. Anthony High School 2014 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
5. 10-3 Katie Denby Carlinville High School 2016 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
6. 10-0 Lauren Brooks St. Joseph-Ogden High School 2014 05/03/2013 SJO Girls Spartan Classic
7. 10-0 Loren Brooks St. Joseph-Ogden High School 2014 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
8. 9-6 Hannah Bueker Teutopolis High School 2015 04/05/2013 Shelbyville Girls Invitational
9. 9-6 Haley Steffen Eureka High School 2014 04/06/2013 Metamora Co-Ed Invitational
10. 9-0 Mikaela Cole Central A&M High School 2014 04/22/2013 Tuscola Open
11. 8-7 Caroline Dodds St. Thomas More High School 2014 04/29/2013 Sangamon Valley Conference Championship (Girls)
12. 8-6 Carli Miller Lewistown High School 2014 04/04/2013 Bushnell-Prairie City 6-Team Meet
13. 8-6 Mckenna Vanmeighem Rock Island Alleman High School 2015 04/20/2013 Rockford Christian Invitational
14. 8-6 Riley Plumer Rushville-Industry High School 2015 04/30/2013 Girls Spartan Invitational
15. 8-0.5 Abby Eccles Gillespie High School 2016 04/30/2013 South Central Conference Girls Championship
16. 8-0 Emilee Monken Casey-Westfield High School 2014 03/30/2013 Teutopolis Invitational
17. 8-0 Rhiana Huff Lewistown High School 2016 04/04/2013 Bushnell-Prairie City 6-Team Meet
18. 8-0 Aly Esker St. Anthony High School 2016 04/05/2013 Shelbyville Girls Invitational
19. 8-0 Annie Lietz Nashville High School 2015 04/17/2013 Mascoutah Girls Invitational
20. 8-0 Erin Farley Rockford Christian Life High School 2014 04/20/2013 Rockford Christian Invitational


High Jump-
’13 state champion: Peyton Wade (Sr.) 5-7.
Key returners: Wade, Rachel Rhodes (Sr., Williamsville), Karissa Roman (Jr., Kewanee-Weathersfield), Tessa Holland (Jr., Fieldcrest), Hope Tewes (So., Springfield Lutheran).
Outlook: The omnipotent Peyton Wade stepped up and beat the heavy favorite Kandie Bloch (Argenta) at her own game when she won the state title last May. It was a milestone moment in her career.  However, she did not rest on her newfound laurels.  In her next stop at the World Youth Trial Games in Edwardsville she placed second among her peers with a leap of 5-7 which equaled her outdoor best.  However, during the indoor season she jumped a US#8/IL#1 5-8.  Wade will be certain to equal last year’s marks in this event. Rachel Rhodes has already equaled her lifetime best 5-8 at an all-comers meet in late December.  Now, the question will be can she be consistent and move to the forefront during the outdoor championship season? That question may be hard to answer since she can run just about any event on the track well. Karissa Roman will be a factor as well with her 5-7 season best last spring.
 

Rank Mark Athlete Name Team C/O Date Meet
1. 5-7 Peyton Wade Aurora Christian High School 2014 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
2. 5-6 Tessa Holland Fieldcrest High School 2015 04/06/2013 Don Gooden Invitational
3. 5-4 Allison Collins Rushville-Industry High School 2014 04/30/2013 Girls Spartan Invitational
4. 5-4 Paige Rus Erie High School 2014 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
5. 5-2 Raeshonda Chandler Kewanee High School 2015 04/06/2013 Don Gooden Invitational
6. 5-2 Kayli Morris Gillespie High School 2014 04/20/2013 Rochester Rocket Invitational
7. 5-2 Megan Dash Sullivan High School 2016 04/30/2013 Sullivan Redskin invitational
8. 5-2 Tori Gaesser Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School 2014 04/30/2013 McLean County / Heart of Illinois Conference Meet
9. 5-0.29 Renee Tillman Altamont High School 2014 04/30/2013 National Trail Conference
10. 5-0 Madeline Mcdevitt St. Anthony High School 2015 03/30/2013 Greenville CoEd Invitational
11. 5-0 Rachel Mammoser Newton High School 2015 03/30/2013 Teutopolis Invitational
12. 5-0 Cassie Mundekis Midwest Central High School 2015 04/04/2013 Havana (Girls)
13. 5-0 Elizabeth Bristow St. Thomas More High School 2015 04/29/2013 Sangamon Valley Conference Championship (Girls)
14. 5-0 Hannah Lehman Astoria High School 2016 04/30/2013 Girls Spartan Invitational
15. 5-0 Zoe Postula St. Bede High School 2016 04/30/2013 Brockman Invitational
16. 5-0 Shelby Clanton Fisher High School 2014 04/30/2013 McLean County / Heart of Illinois Conference Meet
17. 5-0 Kirsten Davis Putnam County 2015 05/06/2013 Illinois Valley Conference Championship
18. 5-0p Avery Mccall North Shore Country Day High School 2016 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
19. 4-10.15 Caroline Cochonour Casey-Westfield High School 2014 04/22/2013 Tuscola Open
20. 4-10 Laura Rieker Amboy High School 2014 04/06/2013 Don Gooden Invitational


Shot Put-
’13 state champion:
Megan Lauzon (Rushville-Industry) 41-6.5
Key returners: Cara Brooks (Sr., Belleville Althoff), Rachel Clowers (So., Pleasant Hill),  Jasmine Jefko (Sr., Cambridge), Shannon Cullen (Sr., Oregon), Karly Goodman (Sr., Arthur), Emily Allhands (Jr., Watseka).
Outlook: Even with the graduation of two-time defending champion Megan Lauzon, this event should experience some improvement as several high 37, low 38-foot throwers return.  Shannon Cullen leads the group in terms of state placement with her third place medal last spring. Cara Brooks has the best returning effort of 41-1.  She placed seventh in Charleston last May.  Another hurler who could be a potent force is Rachel Clowers. She was one of the top freshmen in the state last year at 39-7.5.
 

Rank Mark Athlete Name Team C/O Date Meet
1. 37-10p Emily Allhands Watseka Community High School 2015 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
2. 37-3p Karly Goodman Arthur High School 2014 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
3. 36-8.5 Emily Kauffman Arthur High School 2015 04/30/2013 Sullivan Redskin invitational
4. 35-7p Jessica Halls Bismarck-Henning High School 2015 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
5. 35-4.75p Megan Stayton Carlinville High School 2015 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
6. 35-3 Alyssa Howell Erie High School 2015 04/26/2013 Sterling Night Relays
7. 34-11 Mckayla Baillie Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School 2016 05/03/2013 SJO Girls Spartan Classic
8. 34-10.75 Abby Nicholson Jamaica High School 2016 04/26/2013 Monticello Girls Invitational
9. 33-11.05 Reise Wyatt Newton High School 2014 03/30/2013 Teutopolis Invitational
10. 33-8 Alyssa Andersen Aurora Christian High School 2014 04/20/2013 Plano Track & Field Dreams Invitational
11. 33-8 Ellen Neese Rushville-Industry High School 2015 04/24/2013 Quincy Invitational
12. 32-8.75p Ariel Shumaker Luther North High School 2015 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
13. 32-8 Rachel Liefer Red Bud High School 2015 04/24/2013 Monroe/ Randolph Bi- County Meet
14. 32-7 Mikah Maples Central A&M High School 2016 05/03/2013 Okaw Valley Girls Conference Championship
15. 32-4.75 Abigail Hilton Central A&M High School 2016 04/16/2013 Bi-County Championships
16. 32-1.5 Sydney Lebahn Bureau Valley High School 2015 04/30/2013 Brockman Invitational
17. 32-0.5 Jaylyn Williams DuQuoin High School 2016 04/25/2013 Nashville Invitational
18. 31-6 Kylie Trantina Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School 2015 05/03/2013 SJO Girls Spartan Classic
19. 31-3 Kelbi Schneider West Carroll High School 2014 04/22/2013 Bureau Valley Quad (Girls)
20. 31-1.5 Josie Flynn Illini Bluffs High School 2014 04/09/2013 ICAC Conference Meet


Triple Jump-
’13 state champion: Paige Rus (Erie Coop).
Key returners: Megan Reed (So., Cambridge), Rachel Cobert (So., Erie), Elisabeth Bristow (So., Champaign St. Thomas More), Lexi Wilkinson (Jr., Seneca), Mollie Bowman (Sr., Sullivan), Ciara Lohman (Sr., Camp Point Central).
Outlook: Going into the season this event will be up for grabs despite Megan Reed being the top returner and a runner-up effort.  Her 36-7.75 best will not run away from the field. Rachel Colbert could be one to challenge for supremacy at year’s end.
 

Rank Mark Athlete Name Team C/O Date Meet
1. 35-4.5 Isabel Watts Rock Island Alleman High School 2015 04/20/2013 Rockford Christian Invitational
2. 35-3.75 Elizabeth Bristow St. Thomas More High School 2015 04/26/2013 Monticello Girls Invitational
3. 35-1.5 Rachel Cobert Erie High School 2016 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
4. 34-2 Taylor Rich Neoga High School 2014 04/05/2013 Arthur Invitational
5. 34-0 Sarah Lauer Oregon High School 2015 04/29/2013 Big Northern Conference Fresh/Soph Girls Meet
6. 33-9.5 Mollie Bowman Sullivan High School 2014 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
7. 33-3 Monica Niebrugge Decatur St. Teresa High School 2014 04/26/2013 Monticello Girls Invitational
8. 33-2 Annie Carlson Westmont High School 2016 04/06/2013 Lisle Megameet
9. 33-0.5 Sydney Porter Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School 2015 05/03/2013 SJO Girls Spartan Classic
10. 32-9.5 Kayli Morris Gillespie High School 2014 04/20/2013 Rochester Rocket Invitational
11. 32-1 Michelle Schmidt Teutopolis High School 2015 04/05/2013 Shelbyville Girls Invitational
12. 31-11 Michelle Bigger El Paso-Gridley High School 2015 04/30/2013 McLean County / Heart of Illinois Conference Meet
13. 31-8.25 Nikki Danner Eureka High School 2014 04/06/2013 Metamora Co-Ed Invitational
14. 31-7 Maribeth Lawrence Chester High School 2014 05/01/2013 Black Diamond Girls Conference Championship
15. 31-6.5 Mckenzie Rucker Chester High School 2015 05/01/2013 Black Diamond Girls Conference Championship
16. 31-6.5 Alyssa Labonte Mt. Olive High School 2015 07/13/2013 USATF Illinois Region 7 Championship
17. 31-5.25 Kellie Kastl Neoga High School 2014 04/05/2013 Arthur Invitational
18. 31-5 Tori Gaesser Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School 2014 05/03/2013 SJO Girls Spartan Classic
19. 31-1.5 Preslie Fletcher Oakwood High School 2015 04/26/2013 Monticello Girls Invitational
20. 31-1 Randi Balgeman Aurora Christian High School 2016 04/20/2013 Plano Track & Field Dreams Invitational


Outlook: Discus Throw-
’13 state champion: Genny Rose Stringer (Moweaqua Central A&M) 140-7.
Key returners: Mikah Maples (So., Moweaqua Central A&M), Rachel Clowers (So., Pleasant Hill), Paige Putnam (Sr., Knoxville), Abby Nicholson (So., Jamaica), Easten Hoepker (So., Nashville).
Outlook: Will 1A power Central A&M produce a third straight champion with a different hurler here?  Mikah Maples is in line to do so after a breakout season during her freshman year in which she finished third at state launching a personal best 120-3. She had a great mentor in Genny Rose Stringer last season to propel her… the discus will be one of the lean events in all of track and field this season.

Rank Mark Athlete Name Team C/O Date Meet
1. 122-9 Mikah Maples Central A&M High School 2016 04/29/2013 Tuscola Fresh/Soph Invitational
2. 117-3 Megan Stayton Carlinville High School 2015 05/02/2013 Macoupin County Meet
3. 116-10.5 Easten Hoepker Nashville High School 2015 04/22/2013 Tri County Championships
4. 115-3 Abby Nicholson Jamaica High School 2016 04/22/2013 Tuscola Open
5. 112-8 Amanda Whitcomb Warsaw High School 2014 04/16/2013 Unity Invitational
6. 108-7 Monica Niebrugge Decatur St. Teresa High School 2014 04/26/2013 Monticello Girls Invitational
7. 107-10p Sydney Lebahn Bureau Valley High School 2015 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
8. 105-8 Nicole Polzin Rock Island Alleman High School 2016 05/06/2013 Western Big Six Girls Conference Championship
9. 105-5.5 Molly Hill St. Elmo High School 2014 04/05/2013 Shelbyville Girls Invitational
10. 103-6 Emily Kauffman Arthur High School 2015 04/29/2013 Tuscola Fresh/Soph Invitational
11. 102-8 Sarah Daily Schlarman High School 2014 04/26/2013 Monticello Girls Invitational
12. 101-0 Mckayla Baillie Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School 2016 04/30/2013 McLean County / Heart of Illinois Conference Meet
13. 100-10p Joanna Banasiak Beecher High School 2015 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
14. 99-6.5 Rachel Liefer Red Bud High School 2015 04/24/2013 Monroe/ Randolph Bi- County Meet
15. 97-6p Ariel Shumaker Luther North High School 2015 05/16/2013 IHSA Girls State T&F Championships
16. 97-1 Aryelle Rabuck West Carroll High School 2014 04/22/2013 Bureau Valley Quad (Girls)
17. 96-8.5 Brooke Hennis Tuscola High School 2016 04/16/2013 Mattoon Girls Invitational
18. 96-8 Ellie Buening Neoga High School 2016 04/22/2013 Tuscola Open
19. 95-8 Keely Egelhoff Southwestern High School 2015 05/02/2013 Macoupin County Meet
20. 94-0 Lynsey Gibson Gillespie High School 2016 04/20/2013 Rochester Rocket Invitational