Kathleen "KD" Young heaves a 50'5.5" monster shot put throw that earned her All-American honors at last year's New Balance Outdoor Nationals (Jeff George photo)
So the long journey to the championship season officially begins January 16 says the Illinois High School Association. The state championship will be ultimately be the culmination for the majority of student-athletes on the weekend of May 18-20.
Note: The rankings are based off of the top returning marks from the 2016 outdoor season (some thoughts could include the '16 indoor season).
Events: shot put, pole vault, high jump, long jump, triple jump, discus throw.
Note: The rankings are based off of the top returning marks from the 2016 outdoor season (some thoughts could include the '16 indoor season).
Shot Put-
2016 State Champion: Kathleen "KD" Young (Sr., Warrensburg-Latham) 51'0"
Key returners: Young, Chloe Lindeman (So., Fulton), Emily Offenheiser (Jr., Stockton), Carrie Ferguson (Sr., Riverdale)
Outlook: Young has made her presence known since winning the state title as a freshman. She quickly bridged the gap between herself and fellow small school legends Dani Bunch (Mahomet-Seymour) and Kelsey Card (Carlinville). Young is now the owner of the IHSA all-time indoor and outdoor records making her the only Illinois girl to eclipse the 50-foot mark in both arenas. The University of South Carolina bound Young is US #2 returner at 51-11.5. Her primary goals for her final prep season will be to get more all-american accolades and leave behind as an iconic figure in the shot put. One would think a steady dose of 52-foot performances would do the trick. Last year's state runner-up Chloe Lindeman emerged as a freshman a year ago. She put up several 40-plus foot efforts including a personal best 44-2.5 at her conference meet. Will Lindeman continue to improve and possibly carry Young's torch? It is hard to say because there is a fleet of young throwers over 40-feet. It is essentially a great time to be a shot putter. Chandler Hayden had a bad state meet last year in that she did not make the final. It could have been freshman nerves but 42-6 is still a great personal best effort.
2016 State Champion: Kathleen "KD" Young (Sr., Warrensburg-Latham) 51'0"
Key returners: Young, Chloe Lindeman (So., Fulton), Emily Offenheiser (Jr., Stockton), Carrie Ferguson (Sr., Riverdale)
Outlook: Young has made her presence known since winning the state title as a freshman. She quickly bridged the gap between herself and fellow small school legends Dani Bunch (Mahomet-Seymour) and Kelsey Card (Carlinville). Young is now the owner of the IHSA all-time indoor and outdoor records making her the only Illinois girl to eclipse the 50-foot mark in both arenas. The University of South Carolina bound Young is US #2 returner at 51-11.5. Her primary goals for her final prep season will be to get more all-american accolades and leave behind as an iconic figure in the shot put. One would think a steady dose of 52-foot performances would do the trick. Last year's state runner-up Chloe Lindeman emerged as a freshman a year ago. She put up several 40-plus foot efforts including a personal best 44-2.5 at her conference meet. Will Lindeman continue to improve and possibly carry Young's torch? It is hard to say because there is a fleet of young throwers over 40-feet. It is essentially a great time to be a shot putter. Chandler Hayden had a bad state meet last year in that she did not make the final. It could have been freshman nerves but 42-6 is still a great personal best effort.
Key returning performances:
| RANK | MARK | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51-11.5 | 2017 | ||
| 2 | 44-2.5 | 2019 | ||
| 3 | 42-6 | 2019 | ||
| 4 | 41-4 | 2018 | ||
| 5 | 39-3.75 | 2019 | ||
| 6 | 38-8.5 | 2017 | ||
| 7 | 37-10.5 | 2019 |
Pole Vault-
2016 State Champion: Kristina Slaughter (Effingham St. Anthony) 11'9"
Key returners: Slaughter, Hanna Atwood (Sr., St. Joe-Ogden), Emma Meyer (Sr., Central A&M), Sarah Craig (So., Danville Schlarman)
Outlook: Defending champion Slaughter is back as one of the state's best vaulter despite not being a huge name yet. This could be the year that we see her and Hanna Atwood move toward the mid 12-foot range. Atwood won the Illinois Top Times a season ago but has tremendous range including cross country where she narrowly missed all-state honors running a solid 18:26 for three miles. She may be a vaulter and multis athlete when she enters Indiana State in the fall.
Key returning performances:
| RANK | MARK | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12-0 | 2017 | ||
| 2 | 11-9 | 2017 | ||
| 3 | 11-6 | 2017 | ||
| 4 | 11-0 | 2019 | ||
| 5 | 10-11 | 2017 | ||
| 6 | 10-10 | 2017 |