2023 IHSA State Track & Field Championships - 1A Girls Teams

By Michael Newman

The teams that have the most qualifiers to the IHSA State Meet sometimes are not the favorites for the team title. It is technically not the case heading into Thursday’s 1A Preliminary session. Seneca has quality points plus a large group of qualifiers that makes them one of the favorites in this meet. Winnebago has finished second and third the past two years. They should go back to Winnebago on Saturday night with some more hardware.

Defending champion Tuscola does not have the same lineup. They will have two athletes that could carry the Warriors to a team title.

Here is a look at some of the teams that will challenge the Class 1A title this weekend.

Teams to Watch

Seneca – 15 Total, 11 Individuals, 4 Relays

Outlook – The Irish have the numbers and could have the quality points to get them to the top of the podium. Seneca qualified in 13 and could score in 10 of them. Evelyn O’Connor will be one of the runners to watch in the 800 Meter Run. O’Connor will be part of the top seeded 4x400m Relay that should have Anna Bruno as their anchor. O’Connor is the anchor for Seneca’s team in the 4x800m Relay that could finish in the top five. Bruno has the top mark in Class 1A this season. She will be busy in all three of the sprint relays. Their 4x2 and 4x4 relays have the top time in the state heading into this meet. Caitlyn O’Boyle should be among the top five in the 100 Meter Hurdles and should make the finals in the 300 Meter Hurdles. O’Boyle is ranked third this year in the Triple Jump. She could give her team some big points in that event.  Teagan Johnson has cleared 3.65m in the Pole Vault this season. She could be among the top five finishers in that event.

Winnebago – 12 Total, 9 Individuals, 3 Relays

Outlook – Winnebago finished second in 2021 and third in 2022. They would like to finish the trophy collection with a win this weekend. The Indians qualified in nine events for the state meet. They could score points in seven of those events. Their strength and points once again will come from distance events. Their quartet in the 4x800m Relay will look for their third straight title in the event. Big points are expected from that event. Their 4x400m Relay is one of the best in Class 1A. Bago should be among the top three in the event. Grace Erb, who will be a part of both relays could be among the top three runners in the 800 Meter Run. Morgan Capriola has improved from indoors to outdoors and will give the 4x8 a boost. She also qualified in the 800 Meter Run. Kaylee Woolery and Marissa Roggensack should score big points in the 1600 Meter Run. Woolery enters with the fastest seed time in the 1600 Meter Run. Campbell Schrank could score points in both the 100 Meter Hurdles and the 300 Meter Hurdles. Schrank is among the top five in the shorter of the hurdle races and could possibly get big points. Schrank will be a part of the team’s 4x4. Amanda Gustafson is ranked third this season in the Shot Put. She could end up with big points in that event.

Tuscola – 9 Total, 8 Individuals, 1 Relay

Outlook – Tuscola is the defending Class 1A champion and could repeat this weekend as champions. The Warriors qualified in nine events. They could score in eight of those events. Lia Patterson will score the bulk of the points. The sophomore has the top yearly time in the 100 Meter Hurdles and 300 Meter Hurdles. She will be the favorite in both of those events. Patterson will doubling right back in the 100m Dash where she has the fifth fastest time in Class 1A. She is in the 200 Meter Dash where she is seeded second and considered one of the favorites. Kate Foltz should score points in the two long distance events. Foltz has the second fastest 1A times and will challenge for a top finish. Foltz should also score points in the 1600 Meter Run where she can get her team some points in that event. Natalie Hasting should score points in both throwing events. She is seeded fifth heading into state in the Shot Put. Hasting is among the top nine seeded athletes in the Discus where she could also score some points.

Glen Carbon (Father McGivney) – 8 Total, 6 Individuals, 2 Relays

Outlook – Getting into the top three will be a goal for the Griffins in this meet. Father McGivney finished fourth in last year’s finals. This team has the quality points to have them leave Charleston with a trophy. This team could score in all seven events that they qualified for from their sectional meet. Elena Rybak is the defending champion in the 1600 Meter Run and again will be one of the favorites in the finals. Kaitlyn Hatley has the third fastest time outdoors in the 800 Meter Run and will get some big points for her team. Lilly Gilbertson has the seventh fastest time in Class 1A in the 400 Meter Dash. She is seeded sixth from the sectionals and could end up finishing in the top five. Gilbertson also qualified in the 200 Meter Dash and could come out of that event with some points. Rybak, Hatley, Gilbertson, and Jane Cummins are among the Father McGivney that has the top time heading into the state meet in the 4x800m Relay. The w will challenge Winnebago for the state title in that event. Father Mac is ranked sixth in time in the 4x400m Relay and could also score points in that race. Mia Range is among the top 10 athletes in the High Jump. She finished fifth last year in the event. She could improve on that place on Championship Saturday.

Eureka – 13 Total, 9 Individuals, 4 Relays

Outlook – The Hornets won the Farmington Sectional convincingly able to score in 13 out of the 18 scored events. Eureka will need a big preliminary day on Thursday. They are projected to score in seven events from sectionals. Laurel Munson will be a big part of the team’s success in this meet. The senior is one of the top five seeds in the 400 Meter Dash and could pick up some big points, Munson is among the top 10 athletes this year in the 200 Meter Dash. She will also pick points in that event. The same will hold true for her in the Long Jump. Eureka should score in all four relay events. They have the #3 time in the 4x800m Relay. The Hornets are #4 in Class 1A in the 4x100m Relay, #5 time in the 4x200m Relay, and #4 in the 4x400m Relay. There is a high potential they could get major points in all four relays.

Henry-Senachwine – 7 Total, 6 Individuals, 1 Relay

Outlook – The Timberducks have developed into one of the surprise teams in this year’s state meet. Henry-Senachwine qualified in seven events for this state meet. The Timberducks could score in six events. One of the reasons why this team will contend for a state trophy is the emergence of Daniela Bumber. The freshman’s stock grew after placing in three events at Illinois Top Times in March. Bumber’s stock continued to grow outdoors. She ran the fastest time last week at Farmington in the 400 Meter Dash. She will be one of the favorites in that event. The freshman will be one of the top five seeds in the 200 Meter Dash. She also has a good chance to score in the 100 Meter Dash. She will anchor the team’s 4x100m Relay that could pick up points in the event. The big points should come from Laney Lester in the wight events. The senior had the longest mark in Class 1A last week with a 12.33m effort. She will be the favorite in that event. Lester has the best mark also in the Discus with a best throw of 42.43m. She last week had a sectional leading throw of 40.47m.

Toulon (Stark County) – 6 Total, 5 Individuals, 1 Relay

Outlook – A team that I would not count out this weekend. The Rebels qualified in six events and could pick up some big points in five of them. The bulk of the points could come from Lindley Johnston that could score of them. The senior has gone undefeated this year in the High Jump with a 1.65m best. She will be one of the favorites. Johnston advanced to state in all three sprint events winning the 100 Meter Dash and the 200 Meter Dash and placing second in the 400 Meter Dash. She has among the top five ranked times in all three events and will be the top seed in the 200 Meter Dash. She has the potential to pick up some huge points. Stark County has a #10 time this year in the 4x800m Relay. They could score in that event.