READY FOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Several area girls track and field athletes advanced to Saturday's finals at the IHSA Class 1A and 2A girls track and field state finals

CHARLESTON, Ill. — Freshmen stole the show for local schools at O’Brien Field in Charleston for the Class 1A and 2A girls’ state final meet Thursday and Friday.

St. Anthony freshmen Isabella Keller and Aubrey Denning, along with sophomore Liv Hoene, all advanced to today’s final day. Keller finished her preliminary run in the 1,600 meters in 5:00.16. She is ranked first in Class 1A in the event, third statewide and 85th nationally. Keller will also compete in the 3200, which takes place today.

“I didn’t want to use too much energy,” Keller said. “Just come at a convenient time.”

Denning will also represent the Bulldogs in the 1600m. She finished her preliminary race in 5:11.07. Denning’s main race is the 800. She qualified for the final day with a time of 2:16.33 and is seeded third in Class 1A behind Golconda (Pope County) senior Ahry Comer and Elena Rybak, junior of Glen Carbon (Father McGivney).

“I felt good today,” Denning said. “One more day of rest and I will be ready for the final.”

As for Hoene, she advanced to the 300 meter hurdles after a qualifying time of 48.40 seconds. She is ranked 12th in Class 1A in the event.

Effingham’s 4×800-meter relay team qualified with a time of 9:40.27. The Flaming Hearts quartet of freshmen Baylee Summers (sophomore) and Drew Weis (freshman) and juniors Morgan Springer and Jessica Larsen set a personal best.

“I’m very happy,” Summers said. “I wish my time was a little faster, but I think it was a really good 4×8.”

Summers started the race by taking the lead as she entered the final stretch. She finished her 800m in 2:23.23.

“I really wanted it,” Summers said. “Our team wanted it. I knew they wanted it, so I wanted it.”

Springer was in the second leg and finished in 2:34.46. Weis was third and finished in 2:24.09.

“I liked that we really stuck together and supported each other the whole time,” Weis said. “We were giving each other positive (feedback) every time someone said something negative. We went in there and handled it with heart.”

Other local qualifiers included the Newton 4×200 team of Alaina Kuhl, Elley Bennett, Sydney Kinder and Makayla McVicar, who advanced with a time of 1:49.57. This period was also good for a personal best.

In the pole vault, St. Anthony senior Allison Geen advanced, as did Newton juniors Camryn and Karasyn Martin.

Teutopolis junior Ella Neihls sits in fourth place in the triple jump after setting her third personal best this season with a jump of 36 feet, 2.75 inches. It was the third time this season she broke the school record.

Finally, North Clay sophomore Rayna Persinger takes sixth place with a jump of 17 feet, 2.75 inches in the long jump.

The long jump and triple jump were deemed unofficial, according to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) website. The first 12 advance to the final.

Missing the final was Teutopolis senior Kaitlyn Vahling, who was injured during the team’s 4×100-meter relay. This injury allowed him to finish last in the 100m in 14.85 seconds. She did not compete in either the 200 or the 400.

McVicar finished 26th in the 200m in 27.35 seconds.

Events continue today at 10 a.m. for the athletics events.