ALAH’s Bella Romine 7th in triple jump; CGB’s Willard ninth in triple jump in girls state
Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond sophomore Bella Romine (center) just started competing in the triple jump this season. On Thursday, May 21 at the IHSA Class 1A State meet she advanced out of a field of forty athletes to be in the medal hunt on Saturday at the state finals. As you can see in the picture, she succeeded in that quest. Her jump of 35’ 8” was her best jump of the season and good for seventh place at the State meet. Bella also ran in two of the Knights’ qualifying relays on Thursday, May 21.
CGB freshman Maddie Willard, pictured here with her medal, has come a long way since her first high school pole vault competition back in April where she cleared a height of 7’ 6”. On Saturday, May 23 in the IHSA Class 1A State meet she earned a ninth place medal with her PR and new school record of 10’. A great way to end her first year of high school track and field and give all Bronco fans something to look forward to in the future to see just how high she can go. Congratulations, Maddie!
By Mike Monahan
CHARLESTON – After last Thursday’s IHSA girls state track meet two from Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond and one from Cerro Gordo/Bement had made the finals, which were last Saturday. Both the prelims and finals were at Eastern Illinois University. Appearing in the finals for the Broncos was freshman Maddie Willard in the pole vault, while Alex Clark and Bella Romine were in the discus and triple jump respectively.
Romine finished seventh in the triple jump with a personal best 35-8, while Clark’s best discus throw was 117-4, good for 12th place. Willard was ninth with a school record 10-0.
“Considering she (Bella Romine) just started the triple jump this year, we’re definitely so happy and so proud that she medaled,” said ALAH coach Ryan Jefferson. “She made a lot of progress and I know she will work hard in the offseason to be ready to make another appearance next season.”
As for Clark, Jefferson said, “She was so close to finals last season, so I was so excited when she qualified.”
Last season Clark’s throw was 15th (top 12 advances to finals) with a throw of 113-9.
“It was a great senior year for her,” said Jefferson. “She leaves ALAH as one of the most accomplished throws in ALAH history.”
Clark holds the indoor shot put record and second in shot put and discus. She is also the only ALAH (believed to be Arthur-Lovington and Arthur as well) student-athlete to make the finals in the discus.
“I am honestly proud of that as I know there have been some really good discus throwers before me who maybe just didn’t have a chance to get to state,” said Clark.
Romine becomes only the second from ALAH, Arthur-Lovington or Arthur to place in the triple jump at state. The other one…none other than Kenli Nettles, who just completed her stellar college career at Ball State after going to Iowa and Illinois. Nettles was eight in 2018 going 35-9.
“That means a lot to me,” said Romine. “I take it as a big accomplishment due to the fact Kenli was an exceptional athlete at ALAH and excelled at the Division I level.”
ALAH
Clark was happy she made the finals.
“It means a lot to me that I was able to improve on my finish from last year,” said Clark. “I did a lot of extra practicing and put in a lot of time in the ring and it was great to feel that all the extra effort paid off.”
Clark’s best throw was her second one in the prelims., just one inch behind her personal best. She was in 12th place after the prelims.
The discus is held outside of O’Brien Field and as a result the discus throwers have a big crowd watching them.
“I really don’t like having a huge crowd watching me throw, but going to state last year helped me prepare for that. Plus we had larger crowds at conferences and sectionals that helped me get used to throwing in front of a large group of people.”
Clark has been throwing the discus and shot put since seventh grade.
“I’m grateful for the sport that has allowed me to grow and improve,” said Clark. “I have made some lifelong friendships with my teammates and even competitors from other teams.”
Clark, who talked to throws coach Mitch Wilson in between throws, plans to attend Eastern Illinois University and major in human services with a minor in political campaigning and will not be in track.
On Saturday Romine entered having gone 35-7 ¼ in the prelims. Her first throw Saturday was 34-6 ¼ and her second was 34-5. On her final jump she went 35-8.
“I knew the other girls that had been jumping further than me and I had been knocked back a few places,” said Romine. “Before my third jump, all that I really thought about was that this was it. No matter what happens, this was the last jump of the season. So, with that in mind I gave it everything I had and left it all out there. When I looked back at the sand to see where I had landed, I knew it would be close to what I jumped Thursday, but definitely further than my other two jumps that day. It was definitely a great jump to end on.”
Romine said the weather was the perfect condition for jumping.
“Getiting seventh was an amazing feeling,” said Romine. “I went in on Thursday ranked 12th and so I knew that I was going to have to bring my best if I wanted to make it to finals Saturday because they only took the top 12.I was not even expected to place. So, that was a great feeling and accomplishment.”
Romine becomes the first medalist for ALAH since Nettles in 2019.
CGB
In the Lincoln Prairie Conference meet and the Class 1A sectional Willard went 9-0 ½. However in the prelims she went 9-10 to make the finals and went two inches farther in the finals as he increased her vault by just under a foot in just eight days.
Willard, who was in pole vault in junior high as she got interested due to Lauren Hill, a teammate.
“One day I saw her in the gym practicing with a long stick in her hand and I decided that it looked pretty cool,” said Willard. “I joined the pole vault and instantly fell in love with it. I think having Lauren, and her having me, really helped us to push and become the best versions of ourselves. We are constantly competing, but also pushing each other and wanting each other to succeed. I truly do not believe I would be anywhere near where I am today without having her push me an I think she would say the same.”
Willard becomes the first for CGB to medal since Jazzie Hicks placed fifth in the shot put in 2023. She is the first for the Broncos to medal in the pole vault.
“Truly, 10 feet was a big surprise to me,” said Willard. “I think it was a mix of adrenaline, and maybe also a little bit of fear. I had never cleared it before and I think a big part of it was that I had my whole family there to support me.”
As for going up against older student-athletes Willard said, “It definitely got in my head during prelims as I saw them going way over the 11-0 bungee that I was barely hitting with my knees. However, after continuing to practice and work on it and keep my own positive mindset, I started watching them in their technique, and saw what they were doing well so that I could sue those techniques to better myself.”
Willard said there was some wind, but it was the perfect amount.
“Knowing that I got there this year makes me excited for upcoming years especially with all of my teammates. Overall, this was a very fun and exciting year, and I can’t wait to see how next year goes.”
ALAH, CGB girls state finals Saturday at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Field
Team scores: 1. Tie, Effingham St. Anthony, Maroa-Forsyth; 66. Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond 3; 74. Tie, Cerro Gordo/Bement, Rockford Christian, Tremont, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 1
CGB and ALAH placers
Pole vault: 9. Maddie Willard, CGB 10-0*
Discus: 12. Alex Clark, ALAH 117-4
Triple jump: 7. Bella Romine, ALAH 35-8*
ALAH, CGB girls state prelims, Thursday at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Field
400: 17. Madisen Callaway CGB 1:00.92
4×100: 19. ALAH (Grace Romine, Bella Romine, Leighton Poulos, Summer Melton) 51.07*
4×200: 32. ALAH (Grace Romine, Macelyn Boddy, Melton, Bella Romine 1:50.33
4×400: 41. ALAH (Norma Mendoza, Sophia Johnson, Lily Vanda, Ruby Burton 4:22.48*
4×800: 23. ALAH (Embrey Reardon, Lily Vanda, Johnson, Burton) 10:27.57; 25. CGB (Cassie Block, Aubrey Ferguson, Sarah Hill, Callaway) 10:31.70
Pole vault: 13. Maddie Willard, CGB 9-10@*; 16. Lauren Hill 9-6 ¼
Shot put: 20. Alex Clark, ALAH 35-8 ¾*
Discus: 12. Clark, ALAH 117-4@
Long jump; 20. Bella Romine 16-1
Triple jump: 7.Bella Romine 35-7 ¼@
*-personal best; @-made finals
