Coming off of notable sectional championships, the boys and girls track and field teams each completed their season at the Class 2A state meet held at Eastern Illinois University — May 23-24 for girls and May 30-31 for boys. The boys team placed 24th at state, tying for 10 points, and the girls placed 70th. Senior Simon Lane placed first in the 3,200-meter run.
Prior to going to state, the boys team won its first-ever sectional title on May 21 at St. Rita High School. The girls team won its first sectional title since 2016, ending their eight-year title drought on May 15 at Hope Academy and advancing 12 athletes to state.
Boys 2A track and field state results are below.
Results:
- 800m: Marko Nagel set a personal record (PR) of 2:05.28 but did not advance to finals.
- 1,600m: Simon Lane ran a 4:20.39 in prelims but did not run in finals; Connor Lane ran a 4:37.05 but did not advance to finals.
- 3,200m: Simon Lane placed first with a time of 9:12.79; Connor Lane placed 32nd with a time of 10:06.42.
- 4×800 relay: Team of Mikey Skolarus, Benjamin O’Donnell, Connor Lane, Simon Lane had a time of 8:19.07 but did not advance to finals.
- Discus: Alexander Hunter did not advance to finals.
- High Jump: Ty Quiles did not advance to finals.
Earlier in the season, Simon Lane shattered the 1,600m school record, clocking a 4:10.70 at the Palatine Distance Night April 26, while also clocking a 3,200 school record of 9:08.78 at the Arcadia Invitational April 11 in California.
Ninth grader Alex Hunter had a strong showing this season, breaking the school 1.6-kilogram discus record with a 134’ 0’’ and a ISL championship record.
The girls 2A track and field state results are listed below.
Results:
- 800m: Suna Choi-Hortascu set a personal record (PR) of 2:44.11 but did not advance to finals.
- 1,600m: Taara Sajdeh set a PR of 5:10.27 but did not advance to finals.
- 3,200m: Taara Sajdeh placed ninth with a time of 11:06.18; Celia Lucas placed 22nd with a time of 12:19.42.
- 300m hurdles: Julia Grotthus did not advance to finals.
- 4×400 relay: Team of Keani Harris, Kayla Monterola, Xia Nesbitt, Julia Grotthuss set a PR of 4:40.45 but did not advance to finals.
- 4×800 relay: Team of Sofia Picciola, Karis Lee, Anya Shi, Nutan Ganigara set a PR of 12:13.65 but did not advance to finals.
- Shot put: Eve Dyson did not advance to finals.
- Discus: Maxine Hurst placed 36th.
For ninth grader Anya Shi, one of the most surprising and meaningful parts of her first high school track and field season was the team’s close-knit dynamic which helped them support each other to overcome challenges that occurred.
“When joining track, what I found shocking was how close the team was, because I was also on middle school track and the team was nowhere as close as how the team is in high school,” Anya said.
Anya was one of the only ninth graders to compete in state, qualifying in the 4×800 relay. As a long-distance runner, Anya was used to training apart from the sprinters, but the time spent together at state gave her a chance to connect beyond her usual group.
“The state trip made me personally closer to a lot more of the sprinters, since I’m on long distance,” Anya said. “Honestly, I feel like there weren’t that many challenges because everyone knew each other well and then everyone was committed.”
