Knight’s Distance Crew Shine at EIU
ALAH senior distance runner leads the way at the beginning of the 3200 meter run at the E.I.U. Indoor Invitational on Saturday, March 4. Logan ran an awesome race finishing first in a time of 9:49.52 which was a huge PR for him from his best indoor time last year of 10:07.49. His best outdoor 3200m last year was 9:53.56 at Sectionals. Logan also finished third in the 1600 meters at the meet with a PR of 4:32.46. He capped off his day anchoring the Knights’ 4 X 4 relay which was the very next race after the 1600!
The ALAH boys track team sent a select group of competitors to the EIU Indoor Invitational on Saturday, March 4.
This large event featured entrants from 56 schools, 20 of which were 2A and 3A teams. The local thinclads finished in a tie for 9th place with Tolono Unity and Effingham St. Anthony. Only 8 points separated places 4th thru 9th. Mt.Zion’s powerhouse squad wins by 30 points over defending state 1A Champs Salt Fork.
The fireworks started early for the Knight’s with the first running event of the day, the 3200 meter run. Senior leader Logan Beckmier went to the lead at the gun and lapped all but 5 runners while extending his lead to win by 18 seconds in an absolute in/out PR of 9:49.52. This stands as the state’s #2 1A time for the 2023 Indoor campaign.
Lyle Adcock continues his marked improvement as he sprinted to a PR in the 800 scoring 7th place in 2:09.12. Brother Jacob Adcock hits the finish in 2:20.44 also a personal best finishing 31st of 78 runners.
The 4×800 Relay team of Cruz Hale, Caden Binder, and the Adcocks finished 12th in 9:33.63 with Cruz leading off with a personal best of 2:18.
The 1600 meter run was a feature event with Mt. Zion’s Julian Baker, Decatur Eisenhower Senior Cale Smith and Taylorvilles’s Owen Morgan having run top 2A times already this season. ALAH’s Beckmier entered his first mile of the young season and didn’t back down from the large school runners. Off at a quick pace, Logan set the pace for the first half mile. Baker eventually prevails in 4:26 with Smith in second at 4:27 and Beckmier in 3rd with another all time PR performance of 4:32.46, also a State 1A #2 time. Lyle Adcock drops another tremendous effort scoring 5th place with a near personal best of 4:45.13. Adcock and Beckmier account for all the Knight’s team scoring.
Adcock and Beckmier jumped in and ran the 3rd and 4th legs of the 4×400 Relay immediately upon conclusion of their 1600 race. Joining them were the Hale Brothers, Cruz and Cash. Their efforts combined to complete the day in 21st position with both Hale’s running 400 PR’s.
The Knight’s team scoring most certainly would have been better if not for an injury to Landon Waldrop during Long Jump competion. He leapt 17’11.5” to finish 16th. If healthy he quite probably scores in the Long and Triple Jumps as well as the 60M Hurdles. Hopefully rest and rehab will get him back to the start line for the outdoor season.
Other non-scoring participants included Jacob Tighe/Shot Put @38’4”/21st. Justin Schrock/200 @ 27.37/40th . 4×200 Relay of Justin Schrock, Payton Warrior, Brayden Leach, Skyler Gingerich/1:45.54/27th.
The boys tracksters go back to Mt. Zion’s Invitational event on Wednesday, March 8. Field events roll at 4pm and running events at 4:45.
