Athlete of the Year: LaJarvia Brown, senior, Alton
LaJarvia Brown, Alton track and field
Set the Illinois state record with a triple jump of 42 feet, 1.75 inches, to extend her streak to three consecutive Class 3A state titles. Also won the 100-meter hurdles state title in 13.89 seconds. Finished second in the long jump (19-2.5) and third in the 300 hurdles (43.47). Won the heptathlon at the Great Southwest Classic. Signed with Texas A&M.
Sprints: Madison Fuller, freshman, John Burroughs
Madison Fuller, John Burroughs track
Won state championships in the Class 3 100 meters (11.88 seconds) and 200 (24.42). Ran the anchor leg on the Bombers’ runner-up 400-meter relay (49.43) and its fifth-place 1,600 relay (4:06).
Middle: Mariya Hudson, junior, Cahokia
Mariya Hudson, Cahokia track and field
Defended her Class 2A 200 title in 24.7 seconds. Finished third in the 100 (12.19) and fourth in the 400 (56.83). Ran on Cahokia’s 400 relay, which finished third (48.41). Had the state’s top times in the 100 (11.77) and the 200 (24.01).
Distance: Anna West, senior, Lafayette
Anna West, Lafayette
Earned gold in the Class 5 1,600-meter in 4 minutes and 45 seconds, the best time in the state. Anchored Lafayette’s 3,200-meter relay to a first-place finish (9:19). Finished third in the 800 (2:12). Ran the state’s second-fastest 3,200 (10:26) at Eureka’s Kimball/Wintermeyer Invitational. Signed with Baylor.
Hurdles: Raynesha Lewis, senior, Cahokia
Raynesha Lewis, Cahokia track
Took third place in the Class 2A 100 hurdles in 14.41 seconds. Finished fifth in the triple jump (37 feet, 6.5 inches) and qualified for state in the long jump and high jump. Signed with Nebraska.
Horizontal jumps: Kara Steele, junior, Kirkwood
Kara Steele, Kirkwood track and field
Finished second in Class 5 with a triple jump of 37 feet, 9.75 inches. Took sixth in the 400 meters in 57.37 seconds. Anchored Kirkwood’s 1,600-meter relay to a runner-up finish in 3:52.14. Won the triple jump at Great Southwest Classic with a personal best 39-6.
In her first season of varsity track, Wilson impressed. She qualified for the state meet in the high jump (5 feet, 4 inches), long jump (17-7) and triple jump (36-10). Wilson won the Public High League titles in all three events and the shot put (34-6).
Throws: Sophia Rivera, senior, Brentwood
Qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials when she threw the javelin 180 feet, 4 inches. She is the fourth female high school athlete to break 180 in the javelin in American history. Won fourth consecutive Class 2 discus championship (138-1). Had state’s top shot put toss of 51-5 but passed on state competition to focus on javelin. Signed to Wisconsin.
Anchored McCluer South-Berkeley’s 1,600-meter relay to Class 3 title-clinching victory in 4 minutes, 3 seconds. Finished second in the 200 (24.84) and third in the 100 (12.09) and 400 (58.26).