Area Competitors Do Well At Illinois Top Times Indoor State Track Meet

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Published on March 31 2025 12:28 pm
Last Updated on March 31 2025 12:48 pm
Written by Millie Lange

Area competitors did well at the Illinois Top Times Indoor State Track Meet this past weekend in Bloomington.

The Effingham High School track and field teams took part in six events.

On the girls side, the 4x800 relay team of Baylee Summer, Emery Spicer, Drew Weis and Jessica Larsen placed sixth overall with a time of 9:52.57.

On the boys side, Alex Gordon placed fifth overall in the 800m run with a two-second personal record and ran 2:00.57 minutes.

"Alex making the podium at the indoor state meet is a testament to how hard he trained over the winter, throughout pre-season, and every week since the official start of our season," said Coach Quenten Austin. "He's the cornerstone of our mid-distance/distance group, and I can't wait to see what he will do this outdoor season! 

"Additionally, sophomore Maxx Kistler competed in the 60m hurdles and ran a PR of 8.84 seconds. He entered the meet ranked 19th out of 24 and finished 16th out of 24. He was one of the youngest hurdlers at the meet today. Maxx started hurdling last year, so to watch him compete at this level this early on in his hurdle career is really exciting!"
 
On the girls side, the 4x800 team consisting of Baylee Summer, Emery Spicer, Drew Weis, and Jessica Larsen placed sixth overall with a time of 9:52.57," said Coach Shayna Scott. "Senior Jessica Larsen also medaled in an individual, placing sixth overall in the 800 with a time of 2:23.21. Freshman Keagyn Koenig competed placing sixth overall in the shot put with a throw of 10.87m. Drew Weis competed in the open 400.
 
 "Overall, a great weekend for the Hearts! We will kick off our outdoor season this Monday, March 31 at home against Altamont, Cumberland, and Dieterich."
 
Effingham St. Anthony qualified three girls in six events.
 
"It was a very good day for the lady Bulldog track team," said Coach Randy Blake. "Aubrey Denning won two events. She won the 800 with a time of 2:17.24. Then came back to win the 1600 in 5:09.39.
 
"Reese Hoene finished fourth in the 400 with a time of 1:00.06. Reese also finished ninth in the long jump at 16 feet, 4 1/4 inches. Liv Hoene finished 17th out of 25 in 60m hurdles, her time was 10.30. Liv also competed in the pole vault at 10.67 meters."
 
Altamont's Ben Roedl took second in the high jump at 1.98 meters and second in the triple jump at 13.38 meters. He was fourth in the long jump at 6.56 meters. Jacob Veteto finished fourth in the pole vault at 4.26 meters. Hayden Summers finished eighth in the 1A 400 with a time of 52.31 seconds.
 
Altamont's Abigail Weishaar finished 15th in the 400 with a time of 1:02.86. The 4x200 relay team of Ada Roberts, Gabriella Weishaar, Katie Tedrick and Abigail Weishaar finished 14th in 1:55.25. Roberts finished 13th in the long jump at 4.89 meters.
 
"Highlights for the Newton girls were Karasyn Martin got second in the pole vault with a height of 3.42 meters and Camryn Martin tied for third in the pole vault at 3.27 meters," said Newton Coach Tim Bower. "Sidney Kinder was fifth in the triple jump at 10.89 meters.
 
"The 4x200 relay team of Stella Schackmann, Makayla McVicar, Morgan Schafer and Sidney Kinder finished fourth with a time of 1:50.83 and the 4x800 relay team of Layna Marshall, Camryn Martin, Karasyn Martin and Grace Schumacher finished sixth in 4:21.54."
 
Also competing were Stella Schackmann who finished 21st in the 60 meter dash prelims in 8.20 for a personal record and 15th in the 60 hurdles prelims in 10.28. The 4x400 relay team of K. Martin, C. Martin, Schumacher and Kinder finished 10th in 4:21.54. 
 
For the Newton boys, Owen Schackmann competed in the 60 hurdles and finished 15th with a personal record of 9.08. The 4x800 relay team of Hayden Borgic, Parker Harris, Jackson Sornberger and Tanner Whitaker were 10th in 8:46.57. Wade Wickham was 11th in the pole vault at 3.66 meters.
 
Cumberland's Reid Carlen took fourth in the 1A 60 meter dash in 7.02 seconds. Cameron Roedl was 13th in the 800 finals with  a time of 2:06.30.
 
The Pirates' Hannah Shoemaker finished 11th in the 60m hurdles prelims in 10.14
 
Dieterich's Trevor Crutcher finished eighth in the 1A 3200 meter finals in 9:58.46 minutes.
 
Teutopolis' Karson Zerrusen was fifth in the 1A 60 hurdles in 8.74 seconds. Brant Niebrugge finished ninth in the pole vault at 3.81 meters.
 
For the Wooden Shoes girls, Adrienne Koester finsihed 13th in the 800 in 2:26.05 with a personal record. Ella Niehls was eighth in the triple jump at 10.47 meters.