ALAH Track & Field Preview
A blend of veteran experience and youthful newcomers provides optimism for the upcoming Track season for both the ALAH Knights Girls and Boys squads.
The ladies group has doubled in size since 2021 and will be led by Senior Alexa Miller. One of the area’s leading sprinters and jumpers she hopes to make a repeat trip to the State Championships and duplicate her triple crown day at the LPC Championship. Seniors Brooke Clark and Makayla Harsbarger will lead the throws group. Senior Sarah Rafferty and Junior Emma Edwards look to excell in the 800 and 400 respectively as well as run key legs on the 4×400 and 4×800 relays. Freshmen Maddie Kingery and Kayla Johnson hope to see continued development in the distance events after their inaugural cross country season. Hurdlers include Junior Emma Jones and Freshman Lilian Edwards. Other first timers who should contribute include Skyler Vorck, Annika Beachy and Jewlyanna Hutchcraft.
The men’ squad returns several standouts from last year’s sectional Champions. Leading the team is sprinter Max Allen who hopes to repeat his IHSA all state performance in the 200. Max will also be anchoring all 3 sprint relays at various times. He will challenge the school 200 and 400 records. Joining him in the sprint group are his brother Mason Allen, Keaton Korando, Gavin Mechling, Alex Rexroad, Austin Stutzman, Landon Waldrop and Trey Wardrip.
Waldrop, Garrett Casteel, and Wardrip will be looking to score in the jumps. Ryan Appleby should score in the hurdle events.
Senior Austin Abercrombie will lead the thrower group that includes Tanner Beckmier and Jacob Tighe.
Recent WIU signed, Senior Jace Green, paces the distance crew that comes off a great cross country season. Green and Logan Beckmier look to excell in the 1600. Beckmier and Jake Adcock should be amongst the state leaders in the 3200. Senior Jacob Duzan looks to have an outstanding spring in the 800 and be a key component of a very competitive 4 x 800 relay team. Lyle Adcock will drop down in distance and join Duzan in the 800 while also running the 1600. This group along with Freshman Cadin Binder will make up the 4 x 8 squad.
Team goals include the ladies pushing Okaw Valley for LPC Championship honors and qualifying more athletes for state. The men hope to repeat their LPC and Sectional Championships and produce enough qualifiers to make a run at the podium in Charleston on Memorial Day weekend.
Schedule 2022
Indoors
March 4- EIU Invite Girls
March 4 – EIU Invite Boys
March 9 – Mt Zion Invite Boys
March 17 – Mt Zion Invite girls
March 19 – Gene Armor Invite (UofI Armory) Boys
March 25 – Top Times State Championships at Illinois Wesleyan
Outdoors
March 22 @ Sullivan
April 2 @ Warrensburg-Lathom (Boys)
April 5 @ Home (coed)
April 8 @ Arthur Invite (coed)
April 14 @ Monticello Invitational (boys)
April 19 @ Tri County Invite @ Sullivan
April 22 @ Tuscola Open (coed)
April 29 @ Lady Sages Invite @ Monticello
April 30 @ Morton Distance Gala
May 6 @ LPC CHAMPIONSHIP @ Cerro Gordo
May 11 @ Unity JV (Boys)
May 13 – Girls Sectional TBD
May 14 – Shelby Open
May 19 & 21 – Girls State Championships
May 20 – Boys Sectional TBD
May 26 & 28 – Boys State Championships.
