Girls track & field: Eastland’s Krogman goes out in style in Charleston

CHARLESTON – Eastland senior Karlie Krogman was a rare five-sport athlete in the 2020-21 school year, having participated in cross country, basketball, volleyball, softball and track & field.

She finished off this action-packed season in style, with a third-place finish in the shot put at the Class 1A Girls State Track & Field Meet held Thursday on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

“It feels really good,” Krogman said. “We didn’t get last season, so that was kind of a bummer. I was coming here, senior year, and I was like, ‘I might as well go for it.’”

[ Check out more photos from Thursday's Class 1A finals at the IHSA state track & field meet ]

Krogman began with a throw of 10.7 meters, and moved up from there. She went to 11.34 meters, then 11.52, and finally an 11.66-meter heave on her last attempt. It was only .01 off her personal best.

“I didn’t need to be so nervous,” Krogman said. “My leg was shaking so bad on the 10.7 throw that I couldn’t get it underneath me when I threw. That didn’t help. I needed to calm myself down and know that I got it.”

Morrison’s Jordan Gallentine had a race to remember in the 400, when she turned in a time of 59.12 seconds. It was good for fourth place, and broke the school record of 59.38 set by Jenny Schaefer in 1995.

“Running against these fast girls definitely helped me, especially at the end, to have girls in front of me to chase down,” Gallentine said. “That helped a lot.”

Gallentine also competed in the 100 and 200 dashes. Her time of 12.75 seconds in the 100 left her in 10th place, one spot out of a medal. She is the first Filly to qualify for the three sprints since Schaefer did so in 1995.

Bureau Valley’s Kamryn Kolb took sixth place in the long jump with a leap of 5.27 meters.

“I’m not upset with that, coming here off an interesting year,” Kolb said. “I was happy I made it here. I was aiming for a top-five, so sixth place isn’t bad.”

Amboy-LaMoille’s Elly Jones had a busy day, as she competed in four events. Her top finish was in the 100 hurdles, with a sixth-place time of 15.76 seconds, a personal best.

“I didn’t hit any hurdles,” Jones said, “but at the fourth hurdle I was like, ‘Oh gosh, these girls are really far ahead.’ I definitely pushed a lot more, and I think that’s why I got my best time.”

Jones was also eighth in the 300 hurdles in 49.10 seconds, and she matched that finish in the triple jump with a distance of 10.32 meters. It was well off her sectional distance of 10.7 meters, but a hectic state schedule played a part in that.

“I didn’t get a warm-up because I was at the 100 hurdles,” Jones said. “I went to the track, coach Rob [Mike Robinson] put out my mark for me and said, ‘Jump. They’re taking your distance.’”

Jones was also 12th in the long jump at 5.06 meters.

Oregon’s Jenae Bothe placed in both of the throws. She took eighth in the discus at 35.5 meters, after starting her day by placing ninth in the shot put at 11.36 meters – an event she had gone 11.82 earlier this season.

“I needed to go faster and use more legs,” Bothe said of her shot put distance. “I was just not using my power effectively, so it was time to do that. … Honestly, I’m a little disappointed. I was hoping to do better, but a medal’s a medal. I’m proud of it, but now the focus is on next year.”

Fulton won its heat and placed eighth in the 4x200 relay. The foursome of Abbigail Thyne, Grace Dykstra, Mikayla Gazo and Lara Bielema was clocked in 1:50.44.

Oregon’s Lydia Cermak just missed earning a medal after placing 10th in the long jump. Her top distance was a season-best 5.09 meters on the last of her four jumps. Amboy’s Lauren Althaus was 11th in the 400 in 1:01.03, and Erie-Prophetstown’s Riley Packer took 12th in the 800 in 2:27.35. Forreston-Polo’s Letresse Buisker tied for 13th in the high jump after clearing 1.52 meters.