Long Jump-
Key returners: Hamilton, Dakota Krone (Sr., Pinckneyville), Brittney Oakley (Sr., Warrensburg-Latham), Kaylenn Hunt (Jr., Shiloh), Kamryn Kolb (Jr., Bureau Valley), Nakeita Kessling (So., Henry-Senachwine), Carly Konneck (Sr., Bureau Valley), Paige Knuffman (Sr., Liberty), Kylee Brown (So., Amboy), Capria Brown (Sr., Danville [Schlarman])
Outlook: Two state championship appearances in two seasons has netted two gold medals for Atleigh Hamilton. Hamilton will once again be the spotlight leaper ready to continue her dominance and perhaps be a consistent 19-foot performer this season. She certainly has the basics in terms of speed and grit to move up on the all classification chart. Her biggest threat, Kamryn Kolb, was sidelined for the season due to contracting mononucleosis after a terrific state sectional performance, but her silver-lining is she is the classification's top returner at 19-5.
Dakota Krone was a fierce competitor last season after taking state runner-up honors, so look for her to continue to improve and make things very difficult for Hamilton and Kolb.
In addition, 11 of the 12 state finalists return making this by far the deepest and most talented event on the slate. It is easy to think it will be a wide-open year with the potential to see some emerging faces step up.