Illinois Prep Top Times
2007
Class A Girls
Track and Field Preview
Aurora Christian took home a team trophy from last years' state meet
and has high hopes to bring home another this season.
Last year was an incredible year for seniors at the State Track and Field meet. There seemed to be a balance between the classes in exciting moments and some great senior only moments like the 400m Dash. Seniors like Stephanie Myers, Rachel Stalzer, Theresa Brokaw, and Cassie Lamar gave great moments on the track that weekend. This coming season is filled with expectation by the youth movement in the short sprints and distance races. A solid core of performers returns in the vertical jumps leaving the biggest surprises of the season in the...
The Horizontal Jumps:
Nothing was decimated more by graduation than the long and triple jumps. This is were we are likely to see the possibility of emerging talent in Illinois. There are some pretty big shoes to fill and Anisha Johnson seems ready to take up the slack and looking to guide her team to a possible State Title. She's the top returning finalist, but being the favorite depends on if Courtney Smith is going to jump or not in the long jump. Kimber Barrett will likely have something to say about the matter as well. Brooke Smith seems a likely medalists in both horizontals, while Megan Laughlin could solidify her own state title if she chooses to do so as the top returning medalist in the triple jump.
Long Jump:
1 Anisha Johnson (So), Seton Academy
2 Kimber Barrett (Sr), Liberty
3 Melissa Wagner (Sr), Pawnee
4 Katelyn Moore (So), Camp Point Central
5 Brooke Smith (So), Metro-East Lutheran
6 Courtney Smith (Jr), Benton
Triple Jump
1 Megan Laughlin (Sr), Flanagan
2 Brooke Smith (So), Metro-East Lutheran
3 Kendra Jennings (So), Camp Point Central
4 Jessica Ibendahl (Jr), Nashville
5 Kristina Hardin (Jr), Anna-Jonesboro
6 Jessica Bradburn (Sr), Hinckley-Big Rock
The Throws:
The oddity of women's throws is the relative lack of returning discus throwers compared to shot-putters. Carlie Wear is the only one breaking the trend this year as the lone returnee in each event. Expect her to compete for both titles, but she won't be the favorite in either. Maria Pretnar and Amanda Alvey share the preseason shot put honor. The shot put field is deep and the list of returnees only scratches the surface and anyone of those ladies could win the shot put title. The discus title seems likely it will hold firm in Tuscola former teammate of last year's winner Joanna Wienke from Tuscola. Only Wear and Chelsea Armstrong seem like canidates to contend for the title, but the other returnees will likely improve as well.
Shot Put:
1 Maria Pretnar (Sr), Hillsboro
1 Amanda Alvey (Sr), Harrisburg
3 Carlie Wear (Sr), Sciota (West Prairie)
4 Tabitha Smith (Sr), Oregon
5 Tracy Olson (Sr), Argenta-Oreana
6 Allison Kereven (Jr), Oregon
7 Alyssa Duffy (Jr), Mendon
8 Alissa Patient (Jr), Macon (Meridian)
9 Kelsey Harper (Jr), Beardstown
Discus:
1 Kelsi Hoey (So), Tuscola
2 Carlie Wear (Sr), Sciota (West Prairie)
3 Chelsea Armstrong (Jr), Litchfield
4 Kristen Garst (Sr), Illini Bluffs
5 Hannah Wilkins (So), Salt Fork
The Vertical Jumps:
These verts have no rivalry this season. With 17 of a possible 24 finalists returning, no event group has a better percentage of returning finalists. Not even the sprints or distance and those fields are loaded. Considering the graduated high jumpers and the relative short tenure of girls pole vault one has to feel good about field presence at this years meet.
Pole vault:
9 of top 10 returning, including last year's winner and state meet record holder Kat Hendricks. Kat is the favorite again and barring any major developments in her competitors she will win again. The real race is for 2nd between Heather Cox, Lisa Livingston, Rachelle Harbert, and Brittany Knodle.
1 Katherine Hendricks (Sr), Carterville
2 Heather Cox (Sr), Rochester
3 Lisa Livingston (Sr), Clinton
4 Rachelle Harbert (Jr), Pana
5 Brittany Knodle (Jr), Byron
6 Emily Schumacher (Sr), Teutopolis
7 Holly Wiersema (Jr), Rockford Christian Life
8 Ashley Duley (Jr), Farmington
9 Deborah Helmink (Sr), Newton
High Jump:
Jennings is the surprise defending champ and she'll have plenty of competition back behind her. Expect Gingerich and Orley to push her all year for the top spot. With 8 returning finalists it will be one of the deepest fields considering the talent that graduated.
1 Kendra Jennings (So) Camp Point
2 Megan Gingerich (Sr), Arthur
3 Leah Orley (Jr), Benton
4 Courtney Hafenstein (Sr), Metro-East Lutheran
5 Tiffany Kocher (Sr), Olney East Richland
6 Jessica Childers (Sr), Rushville-Industry
7 Antonette Palumbo (Sr), Rochester
8 Kelly Tenboer (Sr), Morrison
Distance:
Katelyn Bastert will
try to win her 4th consecutive 3200m title and 3rd
1600m title in 4 years. Super Soph Stephanie Brown will try to hold off
a trio Juniors and an incoming IESA record holder at this distance. It
will be interesting to see if Olivia Klaus gives up more relay duties to
concentrate on individual events while to challenge Brown or Bastert at
the 1600m or 800m races. Ryan Eichelberger and Teneal Pinkston looked
ready to stand and deliver after very successful XC season. Incoming
Freshmen in Erin Kelley and Kelly Curran will likely be the biggest
impact freshmen this season.
Katelyn Bastert and Ryan Eichelberger will see
each other again at this years' final.
3200m Run
1 Katelyn Bastert (Sr), Carthage
2 Ryan Eichelberger (Sr), Reed-Custer
3 Teneal Pinkston (Jr), Robinson
4 Vanessa Bain (Jr), Addison Driscoll
5 Kortney Ellingboe (So), Warsaw
6 Megan Herrman (So), Havana
7 Kelsee Viano (Sr), Carlinville
8 Rachel Schultz (Jr), Herscher
9 Megan Johnson (Sr), Plano
10 Tiffany Draughan (So), Williamsville
11 Raven Pettry (So), Henry-Senachwine
1600m Run
1 Katelyn Bastert (Sr), Carthage
2 Stephanie Brown (So), Tri-Valley
3 Ryan Eichelberger (Sr), Reed-Custer
4 Hayley Thomas (So), Winnebago
5 Shelbie Pettie (So), Sherrard
6 Rachel Schultz (Jr), Herscher
7 Vanessa Bain (Jr), Addison Driscoll
8 Teneal Pinkston (Jr), Robinson
800m Run
1 Stephanie Brown (So), Tri-Valley
2 Amy Byers (Jr), Carthage
3 Aftan Noon (Jr), Warrensburg-Latham
4 Olivia Klaus (Jr), Eureka
5 Kelly Curran (Fr), Bloomington Central Catholic
6 Leann Murphy (Sr), Rochester
7 Megan Gingerich (Sr), Arthur
8 Katie Cooper (Sr), Plano
9 Ashlyn Duckwitz (Sr), Altamont
10 Shelbie Pettie (So), Sherrard
11 Brittany Weede (Sr), Galena
The Hurdles:
Remember these names, Leah Orley, Tori Stone, and Sara King, they will dominate both hurdle events all year long. Ashley Kasnik will be back to defend her 100H title as will Leah Orley in the 300H race. King ran some dominating races until the finals last year and will be gunning for Kasnik, but not paying attention to Stringer or Stone could cost either of them in the 100H come State. Orley and Stone look not to have much competition till except from Byers come state time, but Byers will have already expended herself in the 800m race.
100H
1 Ashley Kasnik (Sr), Aurora Central Catholic
2 Sara King (Jr), PORTA
3 Megan Stringer (So), Central A & M
4 Tori Stone (So), Altamont
5 Leah Orley (Jr), Benton
6 Kelly Tenboer (Sr), Morrison
300H
1 Leah Orley (Jr), Benton
2 Tori Stone (So), Altamont
3 Amy Byers (Jr), Carthage
5 Courtnee Brown (Sr), Bushnell-Prairie City
6 Elyssa Zielke (Sr), Aurora Christian
7 Kelly Tenboer (Sr), Morrison
8 Sara King (Jr), PORTA
The Sprints:
Welcome to the land of Courtney Smith, Kimberly Spencer, Ashura Jenkins, Camille Smith, Anisha Johnson, and Natalie Strope. Only Smith competed at the state meet over all 3 sprint distances. As exciting as the other events are going to be this year one only needs to look to the sprints to solidify this track season as being as good and as competitive as last year. This year's state team title will likely be a showdown between Courtney Smith and the Seton Academy runners, Ashura Jenkins and Kimberly Spencer hold their teams trophy chances. Some holes have to be filled at the 400m distance, preferably by the sprinter types as the top 3 departing seniors gave one heck of a finish in the 400m race last season.
100m dash
1 Kimberly Spencer (Jr), Pinckneyville
2 Natalie Strope (Sr), Carlinville
3 Ashura Jenkins (Sr), Aurora Christian
4 Courtney Smith (Jr), Benton
5 Kayla Heal (So), Henry-Senachwine
7 Lindsey Holden (So), Greenville
8 Macey Black (So), Pleasant Hill
9 Ellen Kindelsperger (Sr), Sherrard
200m dash
1 Courtney Smith (Jr), Benton
2 Natalie Strope (Sr), Carlinville
4 Macey Black (So), Pleasant Hill
5 Lindsey Holden (So), Greenville
6 Kimberly Spencer (Jr), Pinckneyville
7 Kayla Murphy (Jr), Ashton-Franklin Center
9 Whitney Tarble (Sr), Marshall
400m dash
1 Jackie Cahill (So), Stockton
2 Courtney Smith (Jr), Benton
3 Leeann Michl (So), Newton
4 Camille Smith (So), Seton Academy
The Relays:
These events will be dominated by Sherrard, Seton Academy, and Timothy Christian. Expect some of the bigger schools to play a role in the relays, because of depth and the ability to overcome injuries. Somewhere along the way Benton will have a sprint relay with Courtney Smith and Leah Orley, if it's the 4x1 they could be the favorites.
4x800m Relay
Defending champion Eureka loses 3 veteran runners, and Sherrard and Monmouth return all of their runners. It will be tight between the Top 5 of Sherrard, Bureau Valley, Monmouth-Roseville, Urbana Uni, and PORTA. The rest will need to find 1 or 2 more runners to make a move on these five, but each is a sub 10:00 team waiting to happen.
1 Sherrard
2 Bureau Valley
3 Monmouth-Roseville
4 Urbana Uni-High
5 PORTA
6 Rochester
7 Central A&M
8 Fairfield
9 Tremont
10 Elmhurst Timothy Christian
11 Warsaw
12 Olympia
13 Tolono
14 Eureka
4x100m Relay
Defending champion Aurora Christian loses a valuable runner, but returns 3, one of which is Ashura Jenkins, but it will unlikely be enough to hold off Seton Academy or Pickneyville. Expect Sherrard and Seton Academy to be fighting for a trophy and laying it on the line in this race to start the fireworks.
1 Seton Academy
2 Pinckneyville
3 Sherrard
4 Aurora Central Catholic
5 Elmhurst Timothy Christian
6 Aurora Christian
7 Liberty
8 Olympia
9 Forreston
10 PORTA
11 Rockford Christian Life
12 Herscher
13 Galena
4x200m
Seton Academy just returns too many strong sprinters not to dominate this race, last year's relay execution cost them a title. Don't expect the same type of outcome. Sherrard returns many good runners and expect them to be the only team to contend unless one of the others listed finds themselves a couple of 25s relay legs (like 3 or 4 of them).
1 Seton Academy
2 Sherrard
3 Kewanee Wethersfield
4 Aurora Christian
5 Rockford Christian Life
6 Carterville
7 Paris
8 Forreston
9 Olympia
10 Effingham St. Anthony's
11 Eureka
12 Altamont
13 Georgetown-Ridge Farm
4x400m
Almost everyone will have to find another 400m runner, but with a likely trophy or state title hanging in the balance. One would have to go with Sherrard as the favorite. Although Newton will be the team most likely to surprise the field. Once again it should make for an exciting race as the 3 teams should be near 4 minutes again.
1 Sherrard
2 Bureau Valley
3 Kewanee Wethersfield
4 Plano
5 Newton
6 Forreston
7 Port Byron Riverdale
8 Altamont
9 Stockton
10 Eureka
Teams:
Everybody wants team rankings and when looking over who's returning v. who's graduated, one finds that not much has changed. The incredibly strong sprint, jumps, and relay teams are the more successful teams at track meets. Therefore one has to conclude the teams with the best speed characteristics are the top teams. Teams like Sherrard and Timothy Christian are strong in pure depth compared to a Benton or Seton Academy with 2 great runners, while Aurora Christian and Pickneyville are anchored by exceptional runners. A distance oriented team like Eureka has a difficult task when a Katelyn Bastert is in the way and when she has teammate like Amy Byers they too make a powerful team of Carthage at the state meet, but not in a Saturday invitational. So the 5 team rankings are not just based on what is expected at the state meet, but how they would likely stack up against other Class A schools team wise.
1. Benton
2. Seton Academy
3. Sherrard
4. Elmhurst Timothy Christian
5. Porta