While 15 state meets highlight this weekend's results, numerous conference and state qualifying meets take place as well. From Alaska to Illinois to Pennsylvania, results keep on coming in. Check back all weekend long as we continuosly update what's going on.
State Meet Highlights
Weekend Highlights & Results (5/16 - 5/18)
Illinois Sectionals Recap (IL)
Illinois Sectionals Recap: Official IHSA Website / Illinois Coverage (ILRunners.com)
While the Illinois Girls T&F Championships capture most of the headlines this weekend, the boys in Illinois have their sectional competitions, the last round before state. Across the state some of the best athletes in the nation showed their cards one more time before state and the results were great. Leading the way was the performance of Foot Locker runner-up Chris Derrick (Sr., Neuqua Valley, IL), who despite being under the weather, ran 8:58.88 for 3200m and 4:14.72 for 1600m at the West Aurora Sectional.
A few field events dominated the West Aurora Sectional as well. Brett Einbecker (Sr., Waubonsie Valley, IL) threw 59-08 in the shot put and 190-07 in the discus. Nearly every year in Illinois this would be one of the best throw doubles in the state, but Dan Block (Jr., Lake Park, IL) threw 61-01 in the shot put and 196-09 in the discus at the Palatine Sectional. Josh Winder (Jr., Plainfield Central, IL) vaulted 15-07 at West Aurora, while Mick Viken (Jr., Rolling Meadows, IL) lept 16-04 at Palatine.
Also at Palatine, Kevin Havel (Sr., Hersey, IL) ran a great distance double of 9:09.20 for 3200m, coming back later in the evening to run 4:14.70 to win the 1600m over Jeff Thode (Jr., Conant, IL). Earlier in the evening, Thode helped his Conant team beat Hersey in the 4x800m relay, winning the race 7:51.90 to 7:52.20.
State powers Cahokia (IL) and East St. Louis (Sr.) (IL) dominated at the Belleville East Sectional. These two teams are the co-favorites heading into the boys state meet next weekend and both showed their strength at the sectional. Cahokia edged East St. Louis 135-130 running behind the strength of Darien Donald (Jr., Cahokia, IL). Donald won the the 400m dash in 47.60h, then finishing second to teammate Ernest Winters at 200m.
Kraig Appleton (Jr., East St. Louis, IL) helped lead his squad by winning the 300m hurdles in one of the best times in the country of 36.60h. In the relays Cahokia edged East St. Louis in the 4x200m relay with a 1:26.8h, while East St. Louis came back to win the 4x400m relay in 3:19.0h. Both squads finished with a 41.10 time in the 4x100m relay, with Cahokia just edging out East St. Louis.
Region IV T&F Championships (AK)
Region IV T&F Champs: Meet Page / Results: Boys - Girls
Jordan Clarke (Sr., Bartlett, AK), who threw a U.S. #1 in the boys shot put last weekend at a last chance meet, furthered his U.S. #1 ranking by tossing the shot 70-06 at the Region IV T&F Championships Friday evening. The Arizona State-bound senior threw an impressive series in the shot put, then coming back on Saturday to throw 194-08 in the discus.
More Results & Highlights Coming All Weekend
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