Roundup: L-P’s Emily Strehl qualifies for state in three events

LaSalle-Peru junior Emily Strehl will have a busy day at the Class 2A girls state track and field meet next week.

Strehl won one event and qualified for state in two others on Thursday at the Geneseo Sectional.

Strehl won the triple jump with a personal-best 10.56 meters, beating Sterling’s Alice Sotelo by 0.27 m.

This is Strehl’s first year of competing in triple jump, but has been able to work with the coaching staff on her form.

“It’s kind of different because you’re using your opposite leg, cycling, it’s kind of hard to get used to,” she said. “It’s very different compared to long jump.”

She also was third in long jump with a leap of 5.21 m. The state-qualifying standard is 5.2 m. Geneseo’s Annie Wirth won the event, leaping 5.65 m.

Strehl took second in the 100 hurdles in 16.32 seconds. Geneseo’s Ali Rapps won with a time of 15.36.

“I was a little nervous because we have a really good hurdler (Rapps),” Strehl said. “I was ranked second and I was just trying to keep up with her.”

Strehl was the only qualifier for the Cavaliers, who placed sixth with 31.75 points.

Mendota and Princeton did not have any athletes qualify for state.

At Taylor Ridge

Six area athletes qualified for state in 11 events out of the Class 1A Rockridge Sectional on Thursday.

Amboy co-op freshman Elly Jones qualified in four events to help the Clippers place fourth with 56 points. Sherrard won with 81.

She won the 100-meter hurdles (16.03 seconds) and the 300 hurdles (48.96) while placing second in the long jump (4.94 meters) and the triple jump (10.71).

“Of course, I was happy, but there’s always room for improvement,” Jones said. “I’m going to be working hard this week to get the times. I definitely need to snap my leg more on the hurdles and get a little faster in between, but it’s easy fixes.

“I only did one triple jump today since I had already qualified and didn’t want to risk getting injured. Long jump, I definitely need to work on a little bit, but I’ll get there.”

Teammate Lauren Althaus advanced to state by placing second in the 200 (27.1) and the 400 (1:00.9).

“I’m really excited,” Althaus said. “First of all, I’ve been trying to make it to state my three years in high school track.”

St. Bede, which placed seventh with 37 points, had a pair of qualifiers in sophomore Anna Lopez and senior Teghan Tillman.

Lopez placed second in the 100 in 13.27.

“I went to state in junior high so it’s not my first time,” Lopez said. “I’ve definitely run better times than that before and I’m not that happy with the time I had.”

Tillman cleared 1.52 (4 feet, 11.75 inches) to win the high jump.

“I want to make 5-1 and 5-2, for sure,” Tillman said. “I’ve heard the starting height (at state) is 5 feet. I think I can definitely make that, and then 5-2 is what I’m going for.”

Bureau Valley, which placed third as a team with 58 points, is sending two athletes to state in seniors Jade Aber and Kamryn Kolb.

Aber won the triple jump (10.91) and placed second in the high jump (1.47), while Kolb won the long jump (5.09).

“It definitely took my dad (Dan) coaching me and telling me I needed to get higher,” Kolb said. “That’s where I’ve been faulting recently. Anger helps. Seeing that I was second, I know I qualified, but that pushes you to get that farther jump.”

Hall and Putnam County, which tied for 13th with seven points, did not have any qualifiers.

At Tremont

Nakeita Kessling led a strong performance by Henry-Midland at the Class 1A Tremont Sectional on Thursday.

Kessling qualified for the state meet in two individual events and helped a relay qualify as well to help the Mallards to a third-place finish with 60 points. El Paso-Gridley won with 127 and Tremont was second with 64.

Kessling won the long jump with a leap of 5.21 meters and placed second in the 400-meter dash in 1:00.04.

Kessling teamed with Daphaney Kessling, Jersey Johnson and Nadia Kessling to win the 1,600 relay in 4:25.72.

H-M sophomore Laney Lester qualified for two events as well, placing second in the shot put and the discus with tosses of 10.13 and 37.2, respectively.

Fieldcrest’s Carol Megow advanced to state with a second-place finish in the 300 hurdles (51.88).

SOFTBALL

St. Bede 16, Eureka 3 (6 inn.)

Marissa Boehm was a single short of a cycle Thursday, hitting a home run, triple and double while driving in six runs and scoring three runs to lead the No. 5-seeded Bruins to a rout of the No. 4 Hornets in a Class 2A regional semifinal.

Ella Hermes was 3-for-4 with two triples, three RBIs and a pair of runs, while Ryann Stoudt went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs for the Bruins, who scored eight runs in the third inning.

Payge Pyszka tossed a complete game, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out 11 batters and walking none.

The Bruins (12-6) advance to the final to play No. 1 Olympia (18-3) at 4:30 p.m. Friday in Stanford.

Olympia 15, Hall 0 (4 inn.)

The No. 9-seeded Red Devils did not manage a hit against the No. 1 Spartans in a Class 2A regional semifinal loss Thursday in Olympia.

Oregon 5, Mendota 0

Mary Defore had the lone hit for the No. 7-seeded Trojans in a Class 2A regional semifinal loss to the No. 2 Hawks on Thursday in Oregon.

Stillman Valley 15, Bureau Valley 0 (4 inn.)

The No. 8-seeded Storm lost to the No. 1 Cardinals in a Class 2A regional semifinal Thursday in Stillman Valley.

Henry-Senachwine 7, Galva 0

The No. 4-seeded Mallards advanced to a Class 1A regional final with a forfeit win.

Henry plays at No. 1 Williamsfield in the regional final at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

WRESTLING

At Plano

La Salle-Peru split a pair of Interstate Eight Conference duals Thursday, beating Plano 51-24 and losing to Rochelle 51-21.

Austin Christmann recorded two pins, while Gunnar Skoog, Connor Lorden, Gage Swiskoski and Rylan Poole each won two matches as well.

At Sterling

Princeton split a pair of duals Thursday, beating Newman 53-22 and losing to Lena-Winslow 56-15.

The Tigers finish 12-11 overall and 9-2 in the Three Rivers Conference.