IL Top Times Preview: Top 5 Class A Girls Items To Watch


Date: Friday, March 24, 2023
Location: Illinois Wesleyan University; Shirk Center 302 E. Emerson St; Bloomington IL
Time: Field events- 3p; Running- 3:25p
How to follow: TWITTER- @milesplitil ; #ITT23
-Just like the boy's side of the game, it would be in your best interest to not only be in the high-energy Shirk Center but also pay close attention to items that are about to come to you.

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High Jump: This is one of the later starting events on the schedule which is slated to start at 5p. That is enough time to get settled in as a fan. The sophomore Aubrey Phillips of El Paso-Gridley put herself in the overall must-see mix after leaping a huge personal best of 5-7 at the Clinton Indoor Last Chance meet. The fact that the state's third-best mark was achieved inside the Shirk Center should provide an ample amount of confidence. But success in the high jump is about consistency and multi-talented Kiara Wesseh of Newmark is a problem. She was fourth here last year which springboarded her to national elite status last summer.  Wesseh almost equaled Phillips' PB on several occasions and will be right there when it counts.

Defending champion Mia Range (So., Father McGivney) is much improved over last year's 5-3 winning effort with a 5-5 PB on her resume. 

Add in Lindley Johnston (Sr., Stark County) to the mix on the strength of her 5-5 clearance. 

Pole Vault: This event will kick off the meet and when it's Livia Binder's turn to begin her journey toward a title. The senior from Maroa-Forsyth comes in with the state's third-best clearance of 12-8.5 and will be looking to achieve that magical 13-foot barrier. 

Fellow 12-foot club member Teagan Johnson (Jr., Seneca) will be just as ready to win her first ITT crown. She is trending well going from 11-6 to 12 feet in just three competitions. Also, Reagan Gibson (Jr., Indian Creek) and Payton Carter (Jr., St. Joe-Ogden) are added value in a strong field. 

60 Meter Dash: The first speed item comes right here out of the gate with all three prelims possessing the top three girls in the classification. Meridian senior Kaylin Moreland checks in with the fastest time of 7.92 in heat one. Kaitlyn Vahling (Jr., Teutopolis) is Class A #2 at 7.94 and will be in heat two. The hurdler extraordinaire Cambria Geyer (Sr., Tremont) should breeze to the final out of heat three.

The final could be fast with the winner eclipsing 7.90 and crowning themselves as the queen of the undercard.

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Ahry Comer has proven not only to be among the best distance runners in Class A but in the entire state. The junior from Pope County is entered in the 800m and the 1600m. Comer will compete in the four-lapper first and look for her to establish herself right away against the field that should feature class leader Elena Rybak (So., Father McGivney). The winning time could be in the sub 2:14 range. Comer has competed in just two 1600/mile races on the season but that should not matter to the seasoned veteran whose 5:07 full mile puts her in contention to run near the 5:00 barrier.

The 200m Dash: The class record of 25.70 by Tominique Boatright when she ran for Aurora Central 22 years ago. It will stand another year. However, let's not discount the final section four which is billed as the championship. 

It is fitting that the top four girls in the classification will duel. Lindley Johnson will return from the high jump with the best time of 26.06.

Cambria Geyer has clocked 26.49 and will be strong coming off of the final curve. 

Lia Patterson (So., Tuscola) will also return after competing in other events but she should contend or better her seed time of 26.58. 

Speed is the name of the game for Kaitlyn Vahling whose 60m jet legs will keep her in contention for the title.