The IHSA girls track and field postseason is heating up, and the Peoria area is well-represented at the state finals. After a competitive slate of sectionals held Wednesday, May 13, athletes from across the region have punched their tickets to the biggest stage of the season.
The IHSA state finals are set for May 21-23 at Eastern Illinois University's O'Brien Stadium in Charleston. To qualify, athletes needed to finish in the top two of their event at sectionals or meet the state's qualifying standards. In total, 138 entries from local schools earned their spots, with two more Class 1A sectionals for the Peoria area scheduled for Thursday, May 14.
Here's a look at the standout performers and teams who advanced, broken down by event and sectional. These athletes have put in the work all season, and now they're ready to compete for state glory.
Distance Dominance
The 4x800-meter relay saw strong showings from Bureau Valley and Wethersfield. Bureau Valley's team of Maddie Wetzell, Abby Stabler, Gemma Moore, and Harper Wetzell clocked a 10:06.86, well under the qualifying standard of 10:35.51. Wethersfield's quartet of Camryn Anderson, Kyleigh Anderson, Lucy Landwehr, and Alexis Wilson followed closely with a 10:12.61. In the 3200-meter run, Maddie Wetzell (Bureau Valley) powered through with a 12:51.16, while Harper Wetzell secured her spot in the 1600-meter run with a 5:35.03, just under the 5:36.90 standard. Camryn Anderson (Wethersfield) also impressed in the 800-meter run, posting a 2:25.06.
Sprints and Hurdles
Lily Bosnich of St. Bede was a force to be reckoned with, qualifying in three events. She took the 100 high hurdles in 15.34 seconds, the 100-meter dash in 12.91, and the 300 low hurdles in 46.38—all well within qualifying marks. In the 400-meter dash, Elise House (Bureau Valley) blazed to a 58.90, while Wethersfield's 4x200-meter relay team of Tyra Jones, Kyra Galbraith, Kyleigh Anderson, and Abbey Carman secured their spot with a 1:50.82.
Relays and Field Events
The 4x400-meter relay was packed with talent, as Wethersfield (Camryn Anderson, Kyleigh Anderson, Jordan Nelson, Abbey Carman) posted a 4:11.51, and Bureau Valley (Gemma Moore, Abby Stabler, Mya Shipp, Elise House) followed with a 4:14.42, both under the 4:19.68 standard. In the field events, Mya Shipp (Bureau Valley) leaped 16-1.75 in the long jump, while Abbey Carman (Wethersfield) cleared 9-6.5 in the pole vault. Madisyn Shipp (Bureau Valley) rounded things out with a 34-2 triple jump, surpassing the 33-5 qualifying mark.
Looking Ahead
Stark County and Elmwood/Brimfield also made their mark in the 4x800-meter relay. Stark County's team of Cheyenh Smith, Norah Rorem, Paytin Terwilliger, and Dusti Smith ran a blistering 9:54.07, while Elmwood/Brimfield's Taylor Forney, Madalyn Ori, Charlotte Walker, and Bristol Schmidgall secured their spot as well.
With the state finals just days away, these Peoria-area athletes are ready to represent their schools and communities. Whether you're a fan, a teammate, or just love the thrill of competition, mark your calendars for May 21-23—it's going to be an unforgettable weekend in Charleston.