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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.