The Annawan-Wethersfield Titans topped the field of 17 teams Thursday night to win the IHSA Girls 1A Wethersfield Track and Field Sectional title. The host Titans scored 84 points, edging out Elmwood (79) and Mercer County (75) for the meet win.
“It truly was a surprise to win the team title,” said Titans’ Coach Ann Heller. “A week ago I put people in some different events to try and score points in all events to win the conference meet. This week was more about putting people in their best events. That left a few holes where I had to put some underclassmen,” she added
“Everyone filled the gaps with hard work and effort, though, and it paid off for us.” (The score) was very close, but this isn’t the game of horseshoes, so close was enough,” said an elated Heller.
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.
Teams scores
1.) Annawan-Wethersfield 84 2.) Elmwood 79 3.) Mercer County 75 4.) Monmouth (United) 66.66 5.) Cambridge 61 6.) Stark County 57 7.) Lowpoint-Washburn 49.33 8.) Rockridge 48 (tie) 8.) Oneida (ROWVA) 48 10.) Knoxville 39 11.) Princeville 29 12.) Orion 23 13.) Farmington 21 14.) Abingdon-Avon 8 15.) Galva 4 16.) Biggsville (West Central) 3 17.) Sciota (West Prairie) 1
Kennady Anderson and Emily Downing
The much-anticipated 800 and 1600 meter races between Kennady Anderson of Annawan-Wethersfield and Emily Downing of Cambridge didn’t disappoint. In the 1600, the two standouts raced to a photo finish (much like they recently did at the Brockman Relays). This time, however, the race was even closer (which, admittedly, I didn’t think was possible).
They both had impressive runs and times, but Downing won by one hundredth of one second, clocking in at 5:19.85 and Anderson at 5:19.86. Also going to state (via the qualifying standard) was Jana VandeKemp (also from Cambridge). She had a time of 5:30.11.
In the 800, Anderson (2:22.37) edged out Downing (2:23.04) for first place. Three other area runners also earned a trip to Charleston in the 800. Kennady’s younger sister, Camryn (2:25.65) is one of the three. The other two are VandeKemp (2:26.15) and Bethany Sennett of Princeville (2:26.77).
Relays
Three Titan relay teams will also be heading to the state meet. The 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800 teams will all be going to Charleston next weekend. The 4×800 team has a first place finish and recorded an impressive 9:54.98 effort (the state qualifying standard is 10:35.5).
The 4×800 team is made up of Paige Sierens, Alexis Wilson, Camryn Anderson and Kennady Anderson. Two other area 4×800 teams qualified for state (Cambridge and Stark County). Cambridge was third in a time of 10:18.01 and Stark County was fourth with a time of 10:20.39.
The A-W 4×200 relay team had a runner-up finish in a time of 1:51.59. Members of the team are Clara Bella VanOpdorp, Tyra Jones, Emilia Escareno and Kaylee Celus.
The 4×400 relay race came down to another photo finish. Monmouth-United topped the field in a time of 4:12.28, narrowly beating Stark County (4:12.29). The Titans placed third in a time of 4:14.09. Members of the Titan 4×400 relay team are Kaylee Celus, VanOpdorp, Camryn Anderson and Kennady Anderson.
Area state qualifiers
Chelsey Stotler and Lauren Orwig of Stark County finished first and second in the shot put. Stotler won the event with a distance of 38′ 11.25″ and Orwig went 35′ 11.75″.
Dusti Smith of Stark County punched her ticket to state in the 400 meter dash, finishing second in a time of 1:01.87. Ellie Doubet of Cambridge had a second place effort in the discus (111′ 7″).
Just misses
Titan freshman, Alexis Wilson, placed third in the 300 meter in a time of 50.55, narrowly missing the qualifying time of 49.47. The Titan 4×100 relay team also just missed the qualifying standard. They placed fifth in a time of 52.67 (the qualifying standard is 52.12).
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team than I was last Friday at the conference meet and last night at sectionals,” said Heller. “As always, sectionals were filled with tears (tears of happiness for qualifying, tears of sadness for not qualifying, tears from seniors because it was their last meet with their team, and tears from their teammates knowing that the seniors won’t be here next year.)”
RESULTS (Local and area state qualifiers)
100-meter dash (:12.95): 1.) Haven Manning, ROWVA/Williamsfield (:13.21) 2.) Erin Welch, ROWVA/Williamsfield (:13.21)
200-meter dash (:26.96): 1.) Reece Bertelsen, United (:26.54) 2.) Rosie Flynn, United (:26.65)
400-meter dash (01:01.87): 1.) Bri Harms, Lowpoint-Washburn (1:00.67) 2.) Dusti Smith, Stark County (1:01.87)
800-meter run (02:28.15): 1.) Kennady Anderson, Annawan-Wethersfield (2:22.37) 2.) Emily Downing, Cambridge (2:23.04) 3.) Camryn Anderson, A-W (2:25.65) 4.) Jana VandeKemp, Cambridge (2:26.15) 5.) Bethany Sennett, Princeville (2:26.77)
1600-meter run (5:36.9): 1.) Emily Downing, Cambridge (5:19.85) 2.) Kennady Anderson, A-W (5:19.86) 3.) Jana VandeKemp, Cambridge (5:30.11) 4.) Alyssa Higgins, Knoxville (5:35.10)
3200-meter run (12.26.55): 1.) Alyssa Higgins, Knoxville (11:55.43)
100 low hurdles (16.86): 1.) Molly Hofman, Mercer County (16:38)
300 low hurdles (:49.47): 1.) Mya Strahm, E/B (:46.86).
4×100-meter relay (:52.12): 1.) United (:50.68), E/B (:51.90)
4×200-meter relay (1:51.76): 1.) United (1:46.41) 2.) A-W (1:51.59)
4×400-meter relay (4:19.68): 1.) United (4:12.28) 2.) Stark County (4:12.29) 3.) A-W (4:14.09); E/B (4:17.56).
4×800-meter relay (10:35.5): 1.) A-W (9:54.98) 3.) Cambridge (10:18.01) 4.) Stark County (10:20.39)
Shot put (35′ 5″): 1.) Chelsey Stotler, Stark County (38′ 11.25″) 2.) Lauren Orwig, Stark County (35′ 11.75″).
Discus (109′ 9″): 1.) Brianna Brodie, Princeville (127′ 7″) 2.) Ellie Doubet Cambridge (111′ 7″)
High Jump (5′ 0): 1.) Molly Hofman, Mercer County (4′ 9.75″)
Pole vault (9′ 1″ ): 1.) Mya Strahm, E/B (10′ 0.75″).
Long jump (16′ 5″): 1.) Emma May, E/B (16′ 5.5″).
Triple Jump (33′ 5″) 1.) Teresa Harris Rockridge (33′ 9.75″)
