April 23, 2024
Shaw Local
NewsSubscribePrep SportsFriday Night DriveObituarieseNewspaperStarved Rock CountryLocal EventsGames and Puzzles

Area Roundup; Sandwich’s Claire Allen 2nd in shot, 4th in discus at Class 2A State Meet

WFC’s Kyle Uhl, Phoenix Cooper throw to sectional titles

By Jeff DeGraw

June 11, 2021 - Charleston, IL - Sandwich's Claire Allen competes for the Class 2A Shot Put title at the IHSA Track and Field State Finals on Friday. [Photo: Chris Johns/PhotoNews Media] (Chris Johns /PhotoNews)

CHARLESTON - The state finals are where you hope to perform your best, and that is what Sandwich sophomore Claire Allen did at the IHSA 2A State Girls Track and Field Meet on Friday afternoon.

Allen placed second in the shot put with a school record throw of 40 feet, 11 inches. Jayden Ulrich, a senior from East Alton-Wood River, won with a toss of 48-8 1/4.

Allen fouled on her first throw, her second throw was 39-4, and she then popped her second-place toss on her third of four attempts.

Sandwich's Claire Allen competes in the Class 2A Discus Throw during IHSA Girls State Track and Field Finals. June 11, 2021- Charleston, IL -Sandwich's Claire Allen competes in the Class 2A Discus Throw during IHSA Girls State Track and Field Finals. [Photo: Douglas Cottle/PhotoNews] (Douglas Cottle)

“I’m super happy right now, in fact I’m a little speechless and don’t know what to say,” Allen said with a smile on her face with her family and Sandwich fans all around. “To throw your best when it matters most is big, and I did that today.

“It’s also very motivating to know that now I will be the top returner in the shot put next year, and everyone will be coming after me, so I have to continue to get better.”

To put the icing on the cake for the day, Allen placed fourth in the discus with a throw of 133-5 1/2, finishing behind three seniors. The sophomore will now be the top returning thrower in both events in Class 2A next season.

Streator's Lana Krohe competes in the Class 2A Shot Put during IHSA Girls State Track and Field Finals. June 11, 2021- Charleston, IL -Streator's Lana Krohe competes in the Class 2A Shot Put during IHSA Girls State Track and Field Finals. [Photo: Douglas Cottle/PhotoNews] (Douglas Cottle)

Streator’s Lana Krohe, a senior, just missed a state medal, as she placed 10th with a put of 37-1 1/4 . Sophomore Abby Pierce placed 14th in the 300 hurdles via her time of 50.92 seconds.

Streator's Abby Pierce Competes At State June 11, 2021 - Charleston, Illinois - Streator's Abby Pierce runs in the Class 2A 300-Meter Int. Hurdles at the Illinois High School Association Track & Field State Finals. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks) (Clark Brooks)

Boys track and field

Stoeger, Uhl, Cooper score firsts in El Paso: At the El Paso-Gridley Class 1A Sectional, three Times-area performers won sectional titles and earned bids to next week’s IHSA State Finals.

A pair of Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland throwers — Kyle Uhl (15.16 meters in the shot put) and Phoenix Cooper (43.05 in the discus) — scored firsts. Fieldcrest’s Mason Stoeger was the other, winning the 1600 run in 4:33.97.