Mustangs’ Barry qualifies for state track meet in three events, Panthers take second at sectional

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — Saylor Barry is sprinting toward a shot at state-level success.

The Mendon Unity sophomore track and field athlete qualified for the Class 1A state championships in three events during Thursday’s Pleasant Plains Sectional. The state meet takes place May 16-18 at O’Brien Stadium on the Eastern Illinois University campus in Charleston.

Barry won the 100-meter dash in 12.40 seconds and the 200 dash in 25.51 seconds. She also finished second in the long jump with a leap of 5.29 meters.

Camp Point Central freshman Adi Foss finished second to Barry in both the 100 (12.93 seconds) and the 200 (26.70 seconds). Foss also was a part of two sectional championship relay teams as the Panthers won the 4×100 and the 4×200.

The 4×100 team of Macie Lierly, Faith Alford, Ellie Foote and Foss won in 51.23, while the 4×200 team of Emily Baker, Foss, Alford and Foote won in 1:50.43.

The Panthers finished second in the team standings with 96 points. Pleasant Plains won the sectional title with 133 points.

Liberty senior Arriana Neisen also will run in two events, having won the 3,200 run in 13:16.16 and taking second in the 1,600 in 5:38.46. Her younger sister, freshman Briella Neisen, was second in the 3,200 in 13:17.16.

Pleasant Hill’s Kaitlyn Borrowman won the 100 hurdles in 17.15, while Pittsfield’s London Thometz was second in 17.16. Central’s Agnes Genenbacher won the 300 hurdles in 50.16. Alford was second in the triple jump with a leap of 9.75 meters.

Pittsfield’s 4×800 relay team of Michelle Dejaynes, Avery Wyatt, Shelby Patterson and Hannah Williams finished second in 10:38.98.

At the Class 1A Tremont Sectional, Illini West qualified athletes for the state meet in two events.

Sophomore Grace Goettsche finished second in the high jump, clearing 1.47 meters. The 4×100 relay team of Kennedy Artman, Rachel James, Taylor Brown and Anna Jacobs finished second in 53.14 seconds.

At the Class 2A Metamora Sectional, Macomb’s Aubrey Holthaus qualified for state in two individual events and as part of a relay team.

Holthaus won the high jump by clearing 1.64 meters, while she hit a qualifying mark in the 300 hurdles in 47.88. She will run with Hailey Emerick, Mirabel Quinn Necak and Jordan Hines in the 4×100 relay after taking second in 49.63.

Dakota Thorman hit the qualifying mark in the discus at 33.55 meters, while Mikaela Mwangong was second in the triple jump with a leap of 10.47 meters.

At the Class 3A O’Fallon Sectional, Quincy High School’s Anna Venvertloh finished third in the 400-meter dash in 59.39 seconds and met the qualifying time to advance to the state championships. However, the Blue Devils’ 4×800 relay team of Keeauna Scheufele, Amick McClelland, Olivia Schuering and Venvertloh finished third in 9:54.94 and did not qualify.