IHSA
Class A Girls Preview
Bret
Buganski
The
first gun for the IHSA State Track and Field Meet is 94 days away.
If you donŐt feel like
counting or breaking out your calendar, the meet is May 19-20, 2006 on the
campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.
OŐBrien
Stadium is the site for the 35th annual IHSA Girls Track and Field
meet
and itŐs the 29th year that the state of Illinois has two divisions.
2005 IHSA Class A Girls Champion Normal (University High) has three top returning
state finalists.
Katie Tannura, who is the defending 800-meter run champion, and placed 8th
in the 1600 meter run as a freshman, now a sophomore leads the Pioneers. Senior
Nicole Neal returns as the second best 100-meter dash finalist. Junior Paige
Durchholz returns as a top five competitor in the 300-meter low hurdles.
Watch out for Rock IslandŐs
Alleman Catholic.
Alleman
Catholic has two of the top ten returning pole-vaulters: Senior Brianne
Marriott and Junior Audrey Just. They have the top returning shot putter with
Junior Megan Manning. They have a top five 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash
runner with Michelle Friedland.
2005 runner-up Carlinville has four returning state finalists. Senior Cassie
LaMar is going to have to step-up big if she wants to high jump better than
defending champion Senior Josha Rogers from Metropolis (Massac County). Junior
Kelsee Viano is the second best returning 3200-meter runner behind CarthageŐs
Junior Katelyn Basert who ran an impressive 11:03.09 and broke five minutes in
the 1600-meter run at last yearŐs state final. Viano is a top ten returning
1600-meter runner.
Junior
Natalie Strope is a top five competitor in the 200-meter dash as well.
Other
top returnees:
CartervilleŐs
Junior Katerine Hendricks is the defending pole vault champion who bested
opponents by almost a foot with a vault of 11Ő2Ó.
Sophomore Kimberly Spencer
from Pinckneyville is the returning 100-meter dash champion with a time of:
12.53.
Senior Brittany Hougton from
Dakota who was
the
state runner-up in the triple jump at 36Ő8Ó.
Senior thrower Johanna Wienke
from Tuscola who threw the discus 131Ő 6Ó that earned her a third place finish
last year. Shot Putter Allison Kereven from Oregon is top Shot Putter, but keep
on the lookout for Kari Haines from Putnam County as she made great strides in
last summersŐ Junior Olympic competition.
Senior Emily Gleehoed from
Elmhurst (Timothy Christian)
earned
a third place finish in the 100-meter high hurdles with a time of :15.61.
BentonŐs Sophomore Courtney
Smith was a runner-up in the 400-meter dash with a time of: 57.24.
Rock Falls Senior Ashley
Keaschall earned a third place finish in the 300-meter low hurdles with a time
of: 45.89.
Litchfield Senior Stephanie
Meyers placed third in the 200-meter dash with a time of :25.42.
At this yearŐs Illinois Prep
Top Times Indoor Classic, Friday, March 31, perhaps you will see a preview of
what is to come for outdoor season.
Expect some very close finishes in all of the short-distance races.
History
is being made at the 2006 indoor meet. You will see the first ever, Illinois
Prep Top Times Distance Medley Relay (800-400-1200-1600).
For more information, visit: