Latavia Maines prepares to throw at last's spring state meet. She has Tayla Schwarz in the purple lurking in the background (Sabrina Mendoza photo)
Shot Put-
2015 State Champion: Cassidy Osborne-Butler (Mt. Zion) 44-2.75
Season outlook: The defending champion Cassidy Osborne-Butler is on the move again. This time she has touched down in Reno, Nevada after previously being at Oswego East. Does this mean indoor and outdoor runner-up Latavia Maines will be the heir? She does have the top returning mark of 43-9.25 and cleared about three feet from the nearest state meet performer. Fellow southern Illinoisian Sian Person has emerged with a fourth place state performance. Tayla Schwarz was impressive as a freshman with a mark that toppled 40-foot mark last season. A deep overall field includes six girls who surpassed 40-feet or better.
Top returning performers-
| 2 | 43-9.25 | 2017 | ||
| 3 | 43-7 | 2018 | ||
| 4 | 42-5.5 | 2016 | ||
| 5 | 42-1 | 2017 | ||
| 7 | 40-9.25 | 2016 | ||
| 8 | 40-7 | 2016 |
Triple Jump-
2015 State Champ: Jaimie Robinson (Chicago De La Salle) 40-0
Season outlook: A big sigh of relief was exhaled when Jaimie Robinson would transfer to 3A Homewood-Flossmoor prior to the school year. Robinson happens to be one of the nation's top triple jumpers and she will add to the already deep 3A field. In the interim, state runner-up Vicky Gruszka is ready to take the leap and become an elite in her own respect. She realizes that her future college teammate and friend Charde Golliday will have to wait to merge at Illinois State next fall. It will be a blood sport between the two on the runways this winter and spring. IMSA's Dominique Anderson disappeared during the outdoor season after a great indoor campaign that placed her behind Top Times champ Robinson.
Top returning performers-
| 2 | 38-9.75 | 1.6 | 2016 | ||
| 3 | 38-0 | 1.7 | 2016 | ||
| 4 | 37-4 | 2016 | |||
| 5 | 37-0 | 2016 | |||
| 6 | 36-10.5 | 2.6 | 2015 | ||
| 7 | 36-10 | 2015 | |||
| 8 | 36-7.5 | 2016 | |||
| 9 | 36-7 | 2015 | |||
| 10 | 36-6.75 | 1.0 | 2016 | ||
| 11 | 36-6 | 2.7 | 2015 | ||
| 12 | 36-3.25 | 2016 |
Discus Throw-
2015 State Champion: Elle Alexander (Chatham-Glenwood) 131-6
Season outlook: Eight all-state performers return this season. Let's see if any of these stalwarts can top the 140-foot watermark and be on par with their other classification mates. State 3rd placer Allison Richter was a step up performer after only having the fifth best mark coming in. It does help that she comes from a rich throws program with a ton of history. Former Lady Knights thrower Erin Wykoff won the state title in 2007. Don't forget about top returner Elizabeth Willis and Taylor Schwarz!
Top returning performers-
| 3 | 132-2 | 2016 | ||
| 4 | 129-10 | 2018 | ||
| 5 | 129-2 | 2016 | ||
| 8 | 125-3 | 2016 | ||
| 10 | 124-10 | 2017 | ||
| 11 | 123-1 | 2016 |