Molly Grohmann en route to winning the 2A title at last year's Illinois Top Times
TOP RETURNING HJ'ers
--------
The high jump has been on the rise for well over ten years which has included a six-foot clearance from former Bloom Township great Jelena Rowe. It may or may not happen this year but one is for sure is that the depth of talent is going to be as tough as it ever has.
The multi-talented Rylee Lydon (Sr., Crystal Lake Prarie Ridge) sits atop the food chain in several events and the high jump is one of those events. She is the defending 3A Illinois Top Times champion with a clearance of 5'8." As good as that US #4 returning mark is, there is no room for complacency during the indoor portion of the season. Lydon, of course, has to focus on other events as she will be a future heptathlete at Texas A&M University.
Another outstanding multi-eventer is Annie Wirth (Sr., Geneseo) whose overall credentials are just as impressive as Lydon's. Wirth has not competed full-scale during the indoor season because of basketball. She is currently playing and that may keep her out of most of the season once more. Wirth skyed 5'10" which was a top-five mark outdoors nationally in 2022, she could still be a factor in limited.
Brianna Dixon (Sr., Rantoul) in most onlookers' eyes is a hurdler. Though she is very good at it and may concentrate on the barrier event at the next level, she is tough in the high jump. Proof? She nearly cleared 5'7" en route to placing second in the 2A division of the Top Times Meet. Some say had Dixon not run back and forth to the track starting blocks, she might have won. Look for her to keep the pressure on anyone who stands in her way.
Molly Grohmann (Sr., Waterloo) made a name for herself by winning the 2A Top Times crown last year and was undefeated. Grohmann was able to clear 5'8" outdoors en route to taking third in the state meet.
Adding depth to the indoor field is Annastasia Murphy (Jr., Aurora Metea Valley). She is not a huge name like some of the previously mentioned but she has talent and is consistent. She has a number of clearings between the 5'4" and 5'6." This could be the year that she jumps among the top five performers this year.
Honorable mention: Lindley Johnston (Sr., Stark County), Baelyn Zitzmann (Jr., Lake Zurich), Mia Range (So., Glen Carbon [Father McGivney]), Kiara Wesseh (Jr., Newmark), Paige Greenhagel (Sr., Burlington Central), Ashley Banaszek (Jr., Loyola Academy), Grace Rodebaugh (Sr., Mahomet-Seymour), Sam Veto (Sr., Moline), Valerie Sarros (Jr., Benet Academy)