Area Athletes Headed To Class AA Junior High State Track

For the 16th consecutive year, the EastSide Centre in East Peoria will host the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Class AA State Final Track and Field Meet. Over 3,100 athletes will participate in the two-day meet this Friday and Saturday. East Peoria Central District #86 serves as the host school.

Local tracksters competing will be:

Seventh-Grade Boys -- Pole Vault: Dawson Whitten (Effingham), Dalton Greene (Effingham); High Jump: Clayton Cramsey (Effingham); 200: Clayton Cramsey (Effingham); 800 Relay -- Effingham

Eighth-Grade Boys -- 110 Hurdles: Kendall Ballman (Effingham); 100 -- Zach Lee (Effingham); 800 Relay -- Effingham

Seventh-Grade Girls -- High Jump: Emma Budde (Effingham); 100: Josie Grunloh (Jasper County); 800 Relay -- Effingham; 1600 Relay -- Effingham

Eighth-Grade Girls -- Shot: Allison Russell (Jasper County); 100 Hurdles: Kiyah Kuhlman (Effingham); 1600: Abigayle Weis (Effingham); Long Jump -- Miranda Fox (Effingham); 400 -- Miranda Fox (Effingham); 200: Kiyah Kuhlman (Effingham); 800 Relay -- Effingham; 1600 Relay -- Effingham

The IESA state series in boys track and field began in 1932 and the girls state series began in 1972. This will be the 84th year for the boys and the 44th year for girls. A total of 268 member schools entered the 2015 Class AA state series and 240 of those schools will be represented at this year's state meet. The sectional qualifying meets were held last Saturday, May 16. The following link will list all qualifiers:

http://www.iesa.org/activities/tr/qualifiers_State_AA.asp?Year=2015

There are 14 events in each of the four classes (7th grade girls; 7th grade boys; 8th grade girls; 8th grade boys). There will be a grand total of 56 events. Field event competition begins Friday at 12:00 noon. In the field events, the preliminaries and finals are conducted on the sa.m.e day that the respective event is held. Some field events are held on Friday and some are held on Saturday. The running events get under way Friday at 1:15 p.m. with the preliminaries and semifinals of the hurdle event followed by the 400 meter dash, the 1600 meter run and the preliminaries and semifinals of the 100 meter dash. Only the hurdle event and the 100 meter dash are held with preliminaries and semifinals. In all other running events, timed finals is the format. The best times from all the heats or sections in a respective running event determine final places in that event.

Competition on Saturday begins at 9:00 a.m. with the finals of the hurdles followed immediately by the finals of the 100 meter dash. Those eight races should be completed by 9:30. Running events will then resume with the 4 x 200 relay and run continuously throughout the day. After the conclusion of the 4 x 200 relay, then the 4 x 100 relay will be held, followed by the 200 meter dash; the 800 meter run and then the 4 x 400 meter relay. Field events that are not held on Friday will also get started at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and will also continue throughout the day. The event is expected to conclude around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. The complete time schedule for the weekend is available at the following link:

http://www.iesa.org/activities/tr/IESA-TR_Schedule.pdf

Results will be updated continuously throughout the weekend and all final results should be available by 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, weather permitting, on the IESA home page www.iesa.org. Final results for all events that are concluded on Friday will be available Friday evening.

Single-session tickets will be on sale at the stadium each day. Tickets are priced at $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for students K-8 and seniors. Gates open to the general public at 10:30 a.m. Friday and at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

Gates for the competitors and tea.m.s will open at 10:00 a.m. on Friday and 7:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Parade of Athletes will take place on Friday at 11:15 a.m. and at 8:20 a.m. on Saturday. The parade is a chance for the competitors to walk the track with their tea.m. a.m.idst applause, music, and cheers from coaches, parents, fa.m.ily, and fans. At the conclusion of the Parade of Cha.m.pions, the Athlete Oath will be read by four athletes who will be competing in this year's meet.

All athletes who place 1-8 in their respective event will be recognized on the infield after the conclusion of their event. The time schedule has periods built into it for presentation of the medals to the individuals and relay team members.

Fans are encouraged to visit the FanZone icon on the IESA home page for information that spectators should know regarding the meet.

Should weather impact the meet, any rescheduling that might be needed will be posted on the IESA website.