Knight’s Tracksters At U of I Armory to compete in annual Gene Armer Invitational

Knights’ senior Jace Green leads the pack on the first lap of the 1600 meters at the meet on Saturday, March 19. Jace would finish in seventh place in a time of 4:41.35, a personal record for him indoors this season. Jace is another example of the diversity of the athletes on the ALAH track team as on the following day he would have a Boy Scout Court of Honor Ceremony where he would receive his Eagle Scout rank, which is the highest rank you can earn in Scouting.

Saturday, March 19 the ALAH Men’s track team traveled to the historic U of I Armory to compete in the annual Gene Armer Invitational.

This event held on campus for over 60 years included nearly 60 schools of all classes from Chicago to Marian.

Of the 36 scoring teams the Knights tied for 16th with Champaign Centennial totaling 13 points.

Only 3 other 1A schools out scored ALAH including CHBC and Salt Fork, both state contenders for team trophies come May.

Max Allen continues his hot seasonal start placing 3rd in the 200 with an indoor PR of 23.29, his rush to the finish nipping an Urbana runner by .01 second. Max also sprints to a PR in the 60 placing 8th in 7.34. He is the only class 1A runner in each sprint final!

The distance crew contributed points from Jace Green in a very competitive 1600 with an indoor PR of 4:41.35 going 7th. He was the only 1A Placer in the top 8. Logan Beckmier places 6th in the 3200 in 10:19.38, again the only 1A runner in the top 8. Jacob Duzan is just off the point chart going 10th in the 800 with an indoor PR of 2:12.66, again the only 1A half miler in the top 10.

The Knight’s final point came from their do it all athlete Landon Waldrop. Landon scores an 8th in the Long Jump going 19’ 3 ½”PR. He also marks 12th in the Triple Jump at 37’7 ¼” and 11th in the High Jump @ 5’9 ¾ (PR).

Austin Abercrombie is just off the list with an excellent early season PR in the shot put of 43’ 4 ¼”. This event saw an outstanding 60 foot throw from an athlete from Normal Community HS.

Alex Rexroad trots to a 1:04.41/400 PR and Ryan Appleby hurdles 60 meters to a time of 11.92.

In the relay events, the 4 x 200 quartet of Mason Allen, Keaton Korando, Landon Waldrop, and Max Allen hit 1:39.44. The 4×400 group of the Allen Boys, Korando, and Gavin Mechling go a season best of 3:54.14. The 4×800 team of Jake Adcock, Lyle Adcock, Jake Duzan, and Jace Green run 9:12.35.

The men go for their outdoor opener at a quad event hosted by Sullivan at 4pm on Tuesday 3/22. Several athletes are in position to receive qualifying invitations to the Illinois Top Times unofficial state Championships at Illinois Wesleyan on March 25th. Those qualifiers will be announced Tuesday, March 22.