ALAH Knights Boys Track Finish in 7th at I.H.S.A. State Meet; Set 2 School Records

The Knights Layton Hall crosses the finish line in the 3200 meter run at the State High School Track Championships. He finished in 3rd place with a time of 9:28.10 which was a PR for him. He will be going to Indiana State University where he will continue his education and also his running career. This foursome, from left to right, Brady Borntreger, Aaron Likens, Finn Davison and Max Allen earned 5th place medals in the 4 X 200 meter relay at the State meet. Not only did they medal in the event but they also set a new school record with their time of 1:31.83. The previous record had just been established six days before at the boys Sectional meet. That mark was 1:32.9. ALAH Sophomore Kaden Feagin took second place in the long jump at the Class 1A Illinois High School Association State Track and Field Championships held at Eastern Illinois University on June 17. Kaden is pictured here taking his first attempt which was his best on the day at 6.62 meters or about 21’ 8.5”. The jump was a personal best for Kaden in his high school career. This foursome ran in the 4 X 100 meter relay at the State meet in Charleston last Thursday, June 17. Their time of 44.51 put them in thirteenth in a field of twenty-eight. From left to right: Finn Davison, Max Allen, Mason Allen, Brady Borntreger.

By SALLY McCARTHY
Sports Writer

The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond boys’ track and field team competed at the Class 1A I.H.S.A. State Track and Field Championships on Thursday, June 17. The team scored in five events to garner 29 points to finish in 7th place. Teams finishing ahead of the Knights were Elgin Harvest Christian Academy 51 points; Catlin Salt Fork 38; Cowden Herrick and Niles Northridge 37; St. Joseph Ogden 35; and Maroa Forsyth 32. Seventy-five teams scored in the meet.

The highest finish by a Knight came in the first event of the day, the long jump. Sophomore Kaden Feagin jumped 6.62 meters or about 21’ 8.5” to capture 2nd place. Kaden’s track season has been hampered by an ankle injury so this is a great accomplishment to finish his first high school track season as his freshman season was cancelled.

Senior distance runner Layton Hall capped off his stellar high school career earning two state medals taking 3rd in the 3200 meters in a time of 9:28.10, a PR, and 7th in the 1600m with a time of 4:28.97. This was not Layton’s first time at State as in 2018, his freshman year he competed in the 3200, then in 2019 he ran in both the 1600 and 3200, and placed 7th in the latter. He would surely have been running on the blue oval in 2020 had the meet not been cancelled. Layton will continue his running career next year at Indiana State University.

Max Allen, a junior on the team, set a new school record in the 200 meters with a time of 22.73 which earned him a 4th place in that event. The old record, 22.8, was set in 2005 by Chase Coleman.

The final points were earned with a 5th place finish by the 4 X 200 meter relay team of Brady Borntreger, Aaron Likens, Max Allen and Finn Davison. This group broke a school record in their event that wasn’t even a week old. The old mark of 1:32.90 was set in last week’s Sectional meet. The new record is now 1:31.83.

Other competitors at State were Finn Davison who ran 11.41 in the 100 meters and the 4 X 100 meter relay of Brady Borntreger, Mason Allen, Max Allen and Finn Davison who had a time of 44.51.

The Knights topped off a great season which included winning the first Lincoln Prairie Conference meet and setting six individual and all four relay records in that meet and the first ever I.H.S.A. Sectional title in school history.

The communities were invited to a Community Reception at the Arthur Fire House on Tuesday, June 22 to Celebrate the phenomenal achievements of our Softball and Boys Track and Field programs.