The road to Charleston begins Thursday for all area girls track and field teams. Seventeen teams will be competing at the Wethersfield Class 1A Sectional at Wethersfield High School in Kewanee. The field events will begin at 4 p.m. and the running events will get underway at 6 p.m.
“We’re excited to be hosting the sectional,” said Ann Heller, head coach of the Annawan-Wethersfield girls track and field team. “We have quite a few girls that have reached the state qualifying standards throughout the season and we’ve had some that are very close,” she added.
“It doesn’t matter if you hit those marks during the season, though – all that matters is if you can do it at sectionals,” she emphasized.
Heller believes the Titans will be one of the teams in the mix for the sectional title. “I think it’ll be very close between Lowpoint-Washburn, Cambridge, Mercer County and Annawan-Wethersfield. If we were to win the team title that would just be icing on the cake,” said Heller.
“The main purpose for our team (at sectionals) is to get as many people down to Charleston as possible. I’d like to be able to have to take a bus,” she quipped.
The IHSA Girls State Track and Field Championships will be held May 16-18 at O’Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.
Kennady Anderson
Heller feels the Titans will very competitive in several events at the sectional level. Senior leader Kennady Anderson, who’s had quite a storied high school track career, will be looking to make one final trek to the state championship meet.
The middle and long distance specialist has already earned seven state track medals and she’s the defending sectional champ in the 800 and 1600 meter races.
She’s also a multi-year state qualifier in the three primary distance events (including the 3200) as well as being a member of the state-qualifying 4×400 relay team.
This season Anderson’s primary focus has been the 800, 1600 and two relays (4×400 and 4×800). She’s also happens to be the school record holder in the 800 and 1600 meter races.
Anderson’s’ record in the 800 meter run is 2:15.91 (2022) and her record in the 1600 is 5:08.41. At last week’s LTC conference meet, she clocked in at 2:18.36 in the 800, well under the state qualifying standard of 2:28.2.
At the Sailor Invite on April 23, Anderson had an effort of 5:14.24 in the 1600. Her record of 5:08.41 was set in 2022 during her sophomore campaign. The state qualifying standard is 5:36.9.
Emily Downing
The 800 should be one of the more exciting races of the night. Anderson and sophomore standout Emily Downing of Cambridge will be two of the primary contenders in the event. Downing (2:18.29) beat Anderson (2:18.36) by the narrowest of margins at last Friday’s LTC conference meet.
An additional feature will be that Kennady’s younger sister, Camryn, will also be competing in the 800 race. A possible passing of the proverbial torch, so to speak. Camryn Anderson, a sophomore, has consistently been placing third or fourth in the event. Jana VandeKemp of Cambridge may also be vying for a top three finish.
Anderson and Downing will most likely be the front-runners in the 1600 meter run as well. Downing ran a PR of 5:09.56 in the event at the recent LTC meet.
Stark County
Chelsey Stotler will be a front-runner to win the shot put and Lauren Orwig (both from Stark County) will also be a contender.
Ellie Doubet of Cambridge has fared well in the discus throughout the season and will be a threat in that event. Orwig and Stotler will also have a shot at qualifying in the discus.
Freshman middle distance runner, Dusti Smith, has been under the qualifying standard in the 400, which is 1:01.9. Her top time in the event is 1:00.39.
Two Stark County relays (the 4×400 and 4×800) are hoping for a state berth as well.
Other possible A-W state qualifiers
Freshman Alexis Wilson of A-W, has been coming on strong in the 300 meter hurdles. She recently had a personal best of 49.31, which is under the state qualifying standard of 49.47.
Tyra Jones, a sophomore, will be hoping to secure a spot at state in the long jump. At the Titan Invite on April 26, Jones recorded a PR of 16′ 5.75,” which is close to the state qualifying standard of 16′ 5″.
Junior Clara Bella VanOpdorp has been hovering around the qualifying standard in the 100 meter dash. She ran a time of 13.06 this season at the Titan Invite. The automatic qualifying time is 12.95.
Titan relay teams
All four of the Titan relay teams have had varying levels of success this season. The 4×800 team has been the most dominant of the four relays, boasting seven invite wins.
At the recent LTC meet, the team recorded an impressive time of 10:01.87, smashing the qualifying time of 10:35.5. Members of the team are Paige Sierens, Alexis Wilson, Camryn Anderson and Kennady Anderson.
Monmouth (United) had first place finishes in three of the four relays at the LTC meet and will be looking to capitalize on their speed. The A-W 4×400 relay had a runner-up effort with a time of 4:14.45, while United placed first in a time of 4:11.94. The qualifying standard is 4:19.7.
The Titan 4×100 and 4×200 teams will also be in the mix. The 4×100 team is comprised of VanOpdorp, Alevia Dickens, Escareno and Celus. Their top time this season is 53.34 and the state qualifying time is 52.12.
The 4×200 team is made up of VanOpdorp, Wilson, Escareno and Jones. At the Don Golden Invite (April 6) they had a time of 1:52.76. The state standard is 1:51.8.
“Those are our strongest events, but there always seems to be a surprise at every sectional and those you expect to make it sometimes don’t – and some come out of nowhere and punch their ticket to state,” said Heller.
