The sprint action will be exciting from the beginning to the end of the year
Sprint-oriented events are the bread and butter of track and field whether you like it or not. There are a lot of coaches that will build their teams around just a handful of talent because they know points can be racked up very quickly in a championship setting. This year’s crop of talent will be wide spread forcing the power broker leaders to rethink plans of over-taxing their star athletes. We didn’t even factor in the play of relays to the mix. It will be quite interesting to see how the season will transpire in April and May.
Events: 100m, 400m, 200m, 100H, 300H
Note: The rankings are based off of the top returning marks from the 2013 outdoor season and do not include wind-aided times.
100m-
2013 State Champion: Amelia Glueck (Sr., Tremont) 12.50 [NWI]
Key returners: Glueck, Danielle Crawley (Sr., Sherrard), Kalli Hentis (Sr., Red Bud), Tia McCarty (So., Williamsville), Bri Branch (Jr., Chicago Hope Academy), Natasha Brown (Jr., Aurora Christian), Lauren Nagle (Sr., Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley).
Outlook: The long jump ace Amelia Glueck returns to defend her state title but it won’t be a cake walk. In fact the journey will be like a walk over a moat of alligators…. Danielle Crawley will lead a group of girls under 12.70 who are capable of going much faster this season. Let’s add seniors Miranda Marry of Fisher and Peyton Wade of Aurora Christian for depth and balance.
400m-
’13 State Champion: Rayanne Wright (Clifton Central) 56.60.
Key returners: Amanda McClain (Jr., Sullivan), Katelyn Rhea (Sr., Camp Point Central), Rachel Rhodes (Sr., Williamsville), Miranda Marry (Sr., Fisher), Tessa Holland (Jr., Fieldcrest), Sophie Keith (So., Pinckneyville).
Outlook: With two-time state champion Rayanne Wright now competing at Illinois State, it will be interesting to see who will step up and lead the charge. Amanda McClain was the state-runner up and has the top returning time of 56.92. She will have an opportunity and the inside track on becoming the state champion in this event because Miranda Marry will be concentrating on the long hurdles in the post-season. Rachel Rhodes is a great high jumper but she can run the quarter-mile too. Also, add in Katelyn Rhea as she placed fourth in state last year.
200m-
’13 State Champion: Chelsea Miller (Sessar-Valier) 25.74 [-3.5]
Key returners: Danielle Crawley (Sr., Sherrard), Amanda McClain (Jr., Sullivan), Peyton Rus (So.), Amelia Glueck (Sr., Tremont), Emily Neuhauser (Jr., Sullivan), Peyton Wade (Sr., Aurora Christian), Courtney Croy (Sr., Neoga), Miranda Marry (Sr., Fisher).
Outlook: The half-lapper always seem to get the shaft at the state level (in this classification). It could be that the depth is not there. It usually comes down to the same handful of girls running all the same events on the event log and by the time the 200 rolls around they are bushed. Danielle Crawley came within an eyelash of winning the event last year. She should be back in force and extremely motivated to win it all in her final state championship event. Peyton Rus is just a sophomore and will hopefully have many more opportunities to taste the gold medal shall play the apprentice.
100H-
’13 State Champion: Peyton Wade ([pic above] Sr., Aurora Christian) 14.86 [+2.1]
Key returners: Wade, Jenny Kimbro (So., Jamaica), Cydney Long (Sr., Oregon), Devin Hasson (Sr., Rockridge), McKendra Barthelme (So., Newton), Miranda Marry (Sr., Fisher).
Outlook: A strong field returns led by state champion Peyton Wade in what may be her best event. If pre-season marks are any future implications, Wade should be a heavy favorite in this event throughout the season. Jenny Kimbro and Cydney Long, who logged second and third place at state last year, will add excitement for the masses. Miranda Marry is primarily a long hurdler but it looks as though she is working hard on her short hurdling technique during the pre-season. Miranda is a stout flat runner who could surprise if she decides to add this event to her event log at season’s end.
300IH-
’13 State Champion: Taylor Adcock (Moweaqua [Central A&M]) 44.56
Key returners: Sarah Bindel (Sr., Chester), Miranda Marry (Sr., Fisher), Jenny Kimbro (So., Jamaica), Devin Hasson (Sr., Rockridge), Tateum Rosentreter (Sr., Gillespie).
Outlook: This event may not be as deep but overall times should be faster. We could see someone challenge the classification record of 42.96. Let’s start with last year’s state runner-up Sarah Bindel. Bindel came into her own at the end of the year with a solid sectional performance followed by good state preliminary and final state final- all personal bests. If the 44.88 that she put up was not a one-time wonder, then she will be a factor again this season. But let’s also look at Miranda Marry. She has to be considered the favorite in this event. In last year’s final, she was in position to win until she hit a hurdle on the homestretch and lost her balance. “I started to see that I was in first place and then my steps were off and my knee [hit the hurdle] and studdered and stumbled,” Marry said after the awards ceremony in obvious emotional distress. Despite all of that she still ran 45.11 and finished third overall. The foes better watch out for Marry this spring and then the summer in the 400H.