ALAH Men Go Back 2 Back at IHSA Sectional

Knights Earn Back to Back Sectional Track & Field Championships!! The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond Knights track and field team won the team title at the IHSA Class 1A Sectional at Tuscola for the second year in a row! Their 99 points topped runner-up Decatur St. Teresa’s 72 and 14 other teams in the meet. Pictured here with the plaque are from left to right: Keaton Korando, Ryan Appleby, Jacob Adcock, Austin Abercrombie, Logan Beckmier, Tanner Beckmier, Jace Green, Austin Stutzman, Max Allen, Jacob Tighe (behind Max), Jacob Duzan, Trey Waldrip, Kaden Feagin, Carter Pratt, Lyle Adcock, Landon Waldrop, Caden Binder, Gavin Mechling. Garrett Casteel, Alex Rexroad, Coach Matt Thomas, Jesus Corona, and Coach Lyle Dorjahn.

The ALAH Knights Men’s track and field squad traveled to Tuscola High School’s fast, newly resurfaced track to run the IHSA Sectional state qualifier meet on May 18. A day long rain event cleared by mid afternoon to provide the absolute best weather conditions seen all spring for competition. Those finishing 1st or 2nd or meeting pre-determined qualifying times or distances advanced to state meet.

Once again, the Knights would face outstanding teams from Decatur St Teresa, Pana, Tuscola, Shelbyville as well as 12 other schools for the right to run the IHSA Championships at Eastern Illinois University. Also at play was defense of the team championship won by our locals in 2021.

The Knight’ efforts began well enough with multiple scoring efforts in the field events. Sophomore Landon Waldrop hits the beach twice to score 3rd place points in both horizontal jumps landing at 20’6.5” and 40’11.75” to set PR’s in Long and Triple Jumps respectively. Senior weightman Austin Abercrombie scores in both throws hitting dirt with the Shot at 42’10.25”(4th) and the Discus at 134’6”(5th) to finish his career. Of note, freshman Jacob Tighe sat in the final scoring position (6th) with a PR of 38’8.75” until a thrower from St. T moved ahead on the final throw of competition. Look for good things in 2023 from the rookie Tighe.

The Knights began to assert themselves on the track.

Senior sprint standout, Max Allen piled up points in his specialties. Facing stiff competition from two excellent flyers from Pana, Max finishes 3rd (11.27) in the 100 in a blanket finish of the top three. He then again dominates an excellent field of quarter milers hitting the line in a personal best of 50.35 to win with the state 1A #3 time. Max finished his individual accomplishments with a victory in the 200 covering the furlong in 22.42. Max also has the state’s 3rd fastest 200 time.

The 4×800 team of Lyle Adcock, Jesus Corona, Caden Binder, and Keaton Korando scored 5th place points running 9:14.95.

The 3200 meter event was excellent as 4 runners qualified for state. Leading the group were Logan Beckmier of ALAH and his buddy Henry Laughenburg of Urbana Uni High. These two traded the lead for 8 laps with the Uni High standout out sprinting Beckmier at the finish 9:52.87/PR to 9:53.56/PR. These times rank 6 and 7th state wide from sectional results. Jacob Adcock concluded his excellent season placing 5th in 10:24.85 not quite hitting qualifying time.

Per pre meet seedings, the 800 looked to be exciting and the 2 lappers did not disappoint with the top pair from St. T and Arcola going in the state’s #2/#3 sectional bests of 1:57. Jace Green and Jacob Duzan score 3rd and 4th with Green’s PR of 2:01.72 meeting the qualifying standard and Duzan’s PR of 2:03.58 missing the qualifier by less than a half second.

The 1600 race was the state’s deepest qualifying sectional event! Green, Beckmier, and Laughenberg battled for 4 laps with a pack of hopefuls in hot pursuit. In another exciting photo finish, Green (4:33.35) out rushes Beckmier (4:33.82/PR)who out leans Laughenburg (4:33.86)to go 1, 2, 3 respectively while leading 4 more state qualifiers across the line. The top 10 go under 4:50 with 7 personal bests among them.

In the hurdle events Waldrop scores more valuable points going 3rd in the 110H @ 16.34PR and 4th in the 300s @ 43.14. The mile relay quartet of Lyle Adcock, Mason Allen, Trey Wardrip and Max Allen finish the scoring with a 4th place time of 3:43.36.

The men total 99 points as a group to repeat as Sectional Champs. They outpaced Decatur St. Teresa’s 72 points followed by Pana, Tuscola, and Shelbyville.
eby/110H/20:69&300H/58:85, Tanner Beckmier /Discus/100’, Alex Rexroad /LJ/16’9.75”/TJ/31’7 25”. 4×100/4×200 Relay (49.27/1:41.65) /Wardrip, Casteel, Pratt, Mechling.

IHSA State Championship qualifiers include Max Allen (100, 200, 400), Jace Green (800, 1600), and Logan Beckmier (1600, 3200). They will run Thursday afternoon May 26 in prelims except the 3200 where no prelims are ran. Beckmier’s time places him in the fast heat of participants on Finals Saturday. Finals for Classes 1A, 2A, and 3A run Saturday May 28. All events are held at the Big Blue Oval at O’Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Appleby/110H/20:69&300H/58:85, Tanner Beckmier/Discus/100’, Alex Rexroad/LJ/16’9.75”/TJ/31’7 25”. 4×100/4×200 Relay (49.27/1:41.65) /Wardrip,Casteel,Pratt, Mechling.

IHSA State Championship qualifiers include Max Allen (100,200,400), Jace Green (800,1600), and Logan Beckmier (1600,3200). They will run Thursday afternoon May 26th in prelims except the 3200 where no prelims are ran. Beckmier’s time places him in the fast heat of participants on Finals Saturday. Finals for Classes 1A, 2A, and 3A run Saturday May 28th. All events are held at the Big Blue Oval at O’Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

Other non-scoring ALAH results were: Austin Stutzman /100/ 12:53, Garrett Casteel 200/27:25, Caden Binder /400/65:02, Ryan Appleby /110H/ 20:69 & 300H/ 58:85, Tanner Beckmier /Discus/100’, Alex Rexroad /LJ/16’9.75”/TJ/31’7 25”. 4×100/4×200 Relay (49.27/1:41.65) /Wardrip, Casteel, Pratt, Mechling.

IHSA State Championship qualifiers include Max Allen (100, 200, 400), Jace Green (800, 1600), and Logan Beckmier (1600, 3200). They will run Thursday afternoon May 26 in prelims except the 3200 where no prelims are ran. Beckmier’s time places him in the fast heat of participants on Finals Saturday. Finals for Classes 1A, 2A, and 3A run Saturday May 28. All events are held at the Big Blue Oval at O’Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.