Giving back to community major focus of Illinois/Missouri Senior All-Star Track Meet

Liberty's Keegan Sunde, left, and Illini West's Ian Bentzinger are expected to compete in the sprints during the Illinois/Missouri All-Star Track Meet being held Friday at Palmyra High School. | Shane Hulsey photo

PALMYRA, Mo. — The Illinois/Missouri Senior All-Star Track Meet serves a two-fold purpose. “We want to give local kids one last chance to compete,” organizer Nick Koetters said. “We also do it as a way to raise money for Special Olympics.” The meet, which annually includes some of the top track and field talent from…

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Jumpin’ Jack Flash: Central’s Thompson makes history by winning three state track medals

Camp Point Central's Jack Thompson takes off in the triple jump during Saturday's finals at the Class 1A boys state track and field championships in Charleston, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — The schedule for Saturday’s finals of the Class 1A boys state track and field championships didn’t afford Jack Thompson the time to take stock in all he was accomplishing. It wasn’t until hours after he and the rest of the Camp Point Central athletes racked up a handful of medals that he…

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

Illini West senior Ian Bentzinger runs in the 100-meter dash finals at the Class 1A boys state track and field championships Saturday at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

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…

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Hannibal’s Crane takes fourth in javelin at state track and field meet, Morrison medals in discus

Hannibal senior Kameil Crane finished fourth at the Class 4 state track and field championships in the javelin on Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. | Muddy River Sports file photo

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Hannibal senior Kameil Crane capped her high school track career with a state medal. Crane finished fourth in the javelin at the Class 4 state track and field championships Saturday at Adkins Stadium with a throw of 40.85 meters (134 feet). Her best attempt came on her second-to-last throw. Carl Junction’s…

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Area track standouts qualify for finals, position themselves to chase state championships

Liberty's Tanner Gimm competes in the shot put preliminaries Thursday at the Class 1A boys state track and field championships at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — The title pursuits are in full chase. Three area athletes — Illini West’s Ian Bentzinger, Camp Point Central’s Jack Thompson and Liberty’s Tanner Gimm — positioned themselves to be in the mix for Class 1A state track and field championships when Saturday’s finals roll around at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium. Bentzinger…

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Pirates sending nine athletes to Class 4 state track and field championships

Hannibal's Kameil Crane won the Class 4 sectional championship in the javelin and will compete at the state track and field championships this weekend at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal track and field team will be well represented at the Class 4 state track and field championships this weekend at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City. Nine Pirates qualified for state by finishing fourth or better in their respective events at last Saturday’s Class 4 sectional at Mexico High School. On…

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Leap into history: Barry’s state title in long jump is Unity’s first track champion in more than 40 years

Mendon Unity sophomore Saylor Barry flies through the air on one of her three attempts in the long jump Saturday at the Class 1A state track and field championships in Charleston, Ill. Barry won the state title with a leap of 17 feet, 11 inches. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — The carryover from the preliminary round of the Class 1A long jump put Mendon Unity sophomore Saylor Barry at the top of the leaderboard with three jumps to be made in Saturday’s finals. She didn’t jump any farther, but no one else did either. In fact, she outjumped the field Saturday at…

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Medal haul: Cougars win 4×200 relay state title, finish on podium in five other events

Highland's Chevie Sharpe takes the handoff from teammate Addy Abell during the 4x400 relay at the Class 2 state championships at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. | Photo courtesy Will Johnson

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A four-medal day at the state track and field championships is a harbinger of great things to come. Chevie Sharpe knows it. “Harder than ever,” the Highland sophomore runner said of the motivation to work hard after Saturday’s showing at Adkins Stadium. “I’d love to get up there (at the top…

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South Shelby’s Bowen saves best for last in winning Class 2 javelin state championship

South Shelby junior Gabe Bowen won the Class 2 state championship in the javelin with a throw of 52.84 meters (173 feet, 4 inches) Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. | Submitted photo

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Twice, Gabe Bowen found himself in an all-or-nothing situation. Twice, his all carried him to the top. The South Shelby junior scratched on his first two attempts in the javelin at Saturday’s Class 2 state track and field championships, but he landed a quality throw on this third attempt to advance…

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Lady Birds’ McWilliams ‘kind of in disbelief’ after winning Class 2 state title in triple jump

South Shelby junior Callie McWilliams won the Class 2 state championship in the triple jump Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. | Submitted photo

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The reality of what Callie McWilliams accomplished Saturday hadn’t taken hold by the time she and her family returned to Shelbina. “I don’t think it’s kicked in yet,” McWilliams said. “I’m kind of in disbelief.” McWilliams became the first South Shelby girls track and field athlete to win a state championship…

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School record, state medals highlight final day of Illinois girls track and field championships

Quincy High School's Sasha Betz competes in the 100-meter dash in the wheelchair division of the Illinois girls state track and field championships Saturday at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — A school record to go along with a state medal isn’t too shabby of a way to end the season. The Camp Point Central girls 4×100-meter relay team accomplished that feat Saturday at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium, finishing in fifth place at the Class 1A state track and field championships.  The…

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Panthers’ King, Loman finish as state runners-up on second day of track and field championships

Palmyra's Alaina Loman finished the Class 3 state runner-up in the pole vault, clearing 10 feet, 11.5 inches Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. | Muddy River Sports file photo

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Candra King couldn’t quite make it back-to-back sweeps. The Palmyra track and field standout, who successfully defended her Class 3 state championship in the shot put Friday, went into Saturday’s competition looking to repeat as the discus state champion. King took the top spot on her third attempt with a toss…

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Maintaining her throne: Palmyra’s King repeats as state champ in shot put, looks to defend discus title

Palmyra senior Candra King throws the shot during Friday's Class 3 finals at the Missouri state track and field championships at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. | Photo courtesy Will Johnson

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Candra King is looking forward to a good night’s sleep. “I think I’m definitely just going to crash,” the Palmyra track and field standout said after getting back to the hotel following a late team dinner Friday night. The rest isn’t only necessary. It’s well-earned, too.  King successfully defended her Class…

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Sharpe, Cougars chase top podium finishes after qualifying for state track and field finals

Highland's Chevie Sharpe, left, takes the handoff from Addy Abell during a relay race Friday at the Class 2 state track and field championships at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. | Photo courtesy Will Johnson

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A bevy of area athletes will take their shot at finishing as high on the podium as possible Saturday during the Missouri state track and field championships. Highland sophomore Chevie Sharpe will have three cracks at that. Sharpe qualified third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.59 seconds. She…

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Mustangs’ Barry qualifies for finals in three events at Class 1A state track championships

Mendon Unity sophomore Saylor Barry lands in the sandpit on one of her attempts in the long jump during Thursday's preliminaries in the Class 1A girls state track and field championships at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — The Mendon Unity girls track and field program hasn’t had an individual or relay state champion in more than 40 years. Saylor Barry has given herself three chances to make history. The Unity sophomore qualified for the finals in three individual events during Thursday’s preliminaries in the Class 1A state championships at…

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Central’s Thompson, Liberty’s Gimm, Sunde leading charge to state track championships

Camp Point Central senior Jack Thompson is headed to the Class 1A state track and field championships in the long jump and triple jump and as part of the 4x100 relay team. | Photo courtesy CSE Track and Field

RUSHVILLE, Ill. — Jack Thompson shared the results of the events he participated in Wednesday during the Class 1A Rushville-Industry Sectional and the closing line summed it up his effort quite nicely. “Huge Day!!!” he wrote. The Camp Point Central senior jumper and sprinter set a personal record in one event, helped the Panthers break…

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Chargers’ Bentzinger qualifies for state track meet in four events, Titans’ Gooding breaks triple jump record

Illini West senior sprinter Ian Bentzinger qualified for the Class 1A state track and field championships in four events during Wednesday's Rushville-Industry Sectional. | Photo courtesy Illini West track and field

FARMINGTON, Ill. — Ian Bentzinger is sprinting his way toward a shot at a state championship, and the Illini West senior will have four chances at that. Bentzinger qualified for the Class 1A state track and field championships in four events during Wednesday’s Farmington Sectional, winning both the 100- and 200-meter dashes and running a…

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Photo gallery: Area athletes excel in Missouri track and field sectionals at Paris

Palmyra's Laurin Sheputis, left, and Sydney Compton stretch out before warming up for Saturday's Class 3 sectional track and field meet in Paris, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

PARIS, Mo. — The Palmyra boys and girls track and field teams made their presence felt Saturday at the Class 3 sectional at Paris High School with dominant performances in the field events and the relays. It means a strong contingent of Panthers will be heading to Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City for the state…

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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.…

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‘You have to stay technical’: QHS throwers learning to compete in javelin

Quincy High School's Xander Colombo threw the javelin for the first time in competition during last week's Mark Twain/Becky Thatcher Relays in Hannibal, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Prior to last Tuesday’s Mark Twain/Becky Thatcher Relays at Hannibal’s Porter Stadium, Quincy High School junior Xander Colombo could count on one hand the amount of times he had thrown a javelin. “That was only my third or fourth time throwing this thing,” said Colombo, holding the javelin in his left hand. Still,…

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Runnin’ down a dream: Chargers’ Bentzinger puts focus on winning state track title in 100 dash

Illini West senior Ian Bentzinger, center, is one of the top Class 1A sprinters in the state and is undefeated this season in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes. | Shane Hulsey photo

CARTHAGE, Ill. — Ian Bentzinger sees his motivation staring back at him every day. The Illini West senior sprinter currently holds the fifth fastest time in the 100-meter dash in Class 1A across the state with his school-record 10.82 seconds, which he ran at the Lee Calhoun Invitational on April 5 in Macomb. At the…

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Photo gallery: Area’s top tracksters compete in Mark Twain/Becky Thatcher Relays

Illini West's Ian Bentzinger, right, and Liberty's Keegan Sunde head to the finish line in the 100-meter dash during Tuesday's Mark Twain/Becky Thatcher Relays at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Waiting a couple of extra days to be able to run, jump and throw under sunny skies brought out the best in many of the area’s top track and field athletes. The Mark Twain/Becky Thatcher Relays were moved to Tuesday at Porter Stadium after last Friday’s deluge made it impossible to compete.…

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