Illini West’s Bentzinger, Liberty’s Gimm, West Hancock’s Gooding finish with state track medals

CHARLESTON, Ill. — Ian Bentzinger’s legacy will be a spot among the top sprinters in Illini West history.

That’s a storied list.

The senior captured two state medals Saturday at the Class 1A boys state track and field championships at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium, finishing fourth in the 100-meter dash and fifth in the 200 dash.

Bentzinger is the first Chargers athlete to medal in both sprint events at the same state meet since Jacob Sholl did it twice, winning the 200 and finishing fourth in the 100 in 2014 and then taking second in the 200 and seventh in the 400 in 2015. Sholl also won the 400 dash in 2015.

Richard Boyer medaled in both the 100- and 220-yard dashes in 1979, while Ben Jefferson place in the top eight in the 100 dash in 1995, ’96 and ’97. Ser Whitaker and Connor Artman, who medaled in the hurdle events and were part of medal-winning relay teams, are a significant part of the Illini West sprinters legacy as well.

Bentzinger finished fourth in the 100 in 10.79 seconds with a photo finish needed to determine the final placing. Winnebago’s Supreme Muhammad won the title in 10.72, followed by Chicago Holy Trinity’s Joshua Boahene in 10.77 and Chicago Hope’s Ryan Williams in 10.78.

In the 200, Bentzinger finished fifth in 22.34. Muhammad won the title in 21.51.

Liberty senior Tanner Gimm, who has signed with SIU-Edwardsville, finished fourth in the shot put with a toss of 15.91 meters (52 feet, 2.5 inches). Gimm fouled on his first attempt and then hit his top mark on the second of three throws in the finals.

He is the first Liberty athlete to ever medal at state in the shot put.

West Hancock’s Nolan Gooding took eighth in the triple jump with a leap of 12.96 meters (42 feet, 6.25 inches). He is the first athlete from either Hamilton or Warsaw to ever medal at the state meet in the triple jump.