Friday-
Big 12
Ali Ince! Allison Ince (Jr., Normal Community) has been leaning into her team's relays more this season and we will likely see more of this at the conference meet. If this is the case, she has a difficult decision about whether to contest the 4x800, 400, or 1600 at the state series. Maybe this conference meet will be an early indicator. The Normal Community 4x400 has been the best in the state thus far, thanks in large part to breakouts from Lily Cavanaugh (Fr.) and Queen-Patricia Lubala (Jr.).
The Richwoods sprint lineup, led by Lena Jackson (So.) has been a strong relay group and sneaky 2A title contender. They will match up once against Champaign Central. Isabella Roundtree (Fr.) has broken out for Central, and Richwoods will also use Jessy Tran (Jr.) and Mia Jackson (Sr.) heavily. Claudia Ifft (Fr., Bloomington) is one of the nation's top vaulters in the class of 2026 and has cleared 12 feet this season. To round out the strong freshman group in this conference, Normal West's Julie Bach and Renee Warren have been the most consistent distance performers.
Fox Valley
Perhaps the most top-heavy conference meet. The Johnson sisters: Dominique Johnson (So.) and Alex Johnson (Sr.) from Huntley), as always, will go at it in both jumps, with Rylee Lydon (Sr., Prairie Ridge) added to the long jump mix. The long jump may be the best event in the meet with these three and Paige Greenhagel (Sr., Burlington Central) all with 19' potential. Lydon may choose some 'off' events that she won't contest at state, but everything is on the table for her, from 100 to 800, hurdles included, and both jumps and throws events. Lydon will amass as many points as possible along with classmate Rachel Soukup (Sr.), who is the strong favorite in the 1600/3200. Breanna Burak (Sr., Huntley) is the conference's best competition for Soukup in both events.
Victoria Evtimov (Jr., Huntley) has been a strong enough sprinter in her own right and will be a major scorer for Huntley in this meet. Depending on entries, the 800 could be exciting. Lydon is the only athlete with a faster season best than Alyssa Moore (Sr., McHenry), who will score in distance events along with teammate Danielle Jensen (Jr.). Allyson Panzloff (Sr., Huntley) is IL #2 in the Discus, but can't let her guard down with Tiana Foreman (Sr., Burlington Central) in the field too.
Interstate 8
Sunny Weber (Fr., Sandwich) has come along strong as one of the best freshmen distance runners in the state this year and will be challenged by familiar foe Joy Dudley (Sr., Morris) in those events. The sprint favorite is Armoney Clay (Sr., Plano). The star event athlete is Claire Allen (Sr., Sandwich), IL#4 in the Discus and one of just eleven girls to pass 40' in the shot so far this outdoor season.
Lincoln Prairie
Cerro Gordo and Okaw Valley are the strongest two teams in this meet. Aly Douglass (So., Okaw Valley) should get a handful of individual wins on the track. Jazzi Hicks (Sr., Cerro Gordo) is a 40' shot putter this year and will try for 120' in the disc in what should be a double win for her.
Metro Suburban
Three athletes stick out, those being Madi Jenkins (So., Wheaton Academy) and teammates Isabella Orozco (Sr., Aurora Central Catholic) and Cecilia Hilby (Fr., Aurora Central Catholic), all who will be very strong in the sprints and mid-distance. A recent breakout however did come from Grace Mullin (Jr., Chicago Christian) who ran 5:09 to win her section of the Mile at Distance Night in Palatine. Overall depth from Riverside-Brookfield will make them competitive in the meet as well.
Mid-Suburban League-
This conference is strong overall, but Prospect rises to the top as having potential event winners in every single event. Charlotte Deines (Jr.) is the best sprinter, with Daisha Brunson (Fr., Hoffman Estates Conant) her best competition. The entire host of distance runners for Prospect will cover many of the single events and relays. Scout Storms (So., Barrington) and Anna Harden (Sr., Hersey) is in the midst of outstanding seasons and have gone head-to-head a few times, with Storms always coming out ahead. There will be a strong match in the shot put between Antenise Williams (Sr., Schaumburg) and multi-event specialist Amaya Hendrickson (Sr., Hoffman Estates). Hendrickson also figures as a scorer in the hurdles. Can Prospect sweep the relays? Conant will be their biggest obstacle to the sweep, in the 4x100.
WB6
Geneseo will show all their cards here, as they are heavy favorites with their depth especially in the relays and the technical events. It starts with Annie Wirth (Sr.) who has hit another level in the long jump and high jump. Jocelyn Cechowicz (Fr., Geneseo) is a pole vault star in the making as well. Phoebe Shoemaker (Sr., Geneseo) is on Wirth's heels in the hurdles. The Geneseo field dominance will be stopped in the throws by Nai'lah Anders (Sr., Moline) who is a 41', 130' thrower. Expect the sprints to be led by Syriah Boyd (Jr., Galesburg) and Ty-Asia Wiggins (Jr., East Moline United).
West Central Conference
The best athlete in the West Central meet is Arianna Neisen (Jr., Liberty) who has run 5:23 and 11:03 so far this season. Rushville-Industry, Camp Point Central and Illini West will compete for the team trophy.
WSC-Silver
One of the best conferences that should feature close scoring between York, Lyons, Downers Grove North, Hinsdale Central, and OPRF. York won the indoor meet by only two points over Hinsdale Central and nine points over DGN. York's Elaine Paul (Jr.) will go head to head with Dakota Washington (Jr., Downers Grove North), Maya Reed (So, Hinsdale Central), and her teammates in the sprints. The distance races will be fantastic, with Catherine Sommerfeld (Sr., Lyons), Bria Bennis (Sr., York), Katherine Klimek (Jr., York), Lily Eddington (Fr., DGN), Catie McCabe (Sr., Hinsdale Central), Sarah Fischer (Sr., Hinsdale Central), Natalie Quinn (Sr., OPRF) and many others with legitimate chances to win races. Watch the 800, though, where emerging freshman Mackenzie Gilbert (Fr., Glenbard West) will try to challenge McCabe and Sarah Skora (Sr., Hinsdale Central). Ava Gilley (So., DGN) is in that mix too. The 4x800 tends to re-write the state leaderboards at this meet. Reese Garland (Sr., OPRF) is the class of the throws field and is favored to win both events. Lastly, watch for Elyssa Chandler (Sr., Hinsdale Central) to make an impact in the hurdles.