Knight’s Men’s Track Excel At State Meet
ALAH senior standout distance runner Logan Beckmier capped off his 2023 indoor season by taking second in the 3200 meter run at the Illinois Top Times Indoor State Championships held at the Shirk Center on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University on March 24. Logan is shown her with the two medals he earned at the meet, the 3200 meter second place medal for his PR of 9:34.27 in that race and his sixth place medal for the 1600 meter run in which he also ran a PR of 4:31.9. Photo courtesy of Megan Beckmier.
The ALAH boys track team sent their elite qualifiers to the Top Times Indoor State Championships Friday March 24th. This outstanding event has long been termed the “Unofficial State Indoor Meet” since the IHSA does not sponsor an indoor championship. Athletes are extended invitations to compete by having performances that are among the elite in their respective events. The Knights sent 5 members of their distance group who qualified in 3 events.
In the meets opening event, the 3200 meter run, Logan Beckmier of ALAH toed the line along side multi time all staters Tommy Murray of Port Byron Riverdale and Weston Forward of perineal power Rockford Christian. Beckmier forged the pace at the fore part of the race until the Creighton signee Murray charged to the front with Forward in tow. These three proceeded to stay connected while pulling away from the chase pack. As they began to lap the field, Forward started to slow and Beckmier took up the chase of Murray. This pair pulled away from the Rockford standout to both finish with personal bests. The Knight’s Senior standout hits the line in 9:34.26 to finish 13 seconds ahead of Forward and 6 seconds behind the winner.
The ALAH 3200 meter relay team came to the start line for the very next event. Senior Lyle Adcock led off and placed the Knights in a competitive position. Brother Jacob Adcock rolled next with a PR 800 leg. Freshman Cash Hale took the baton next and, running his first career 800 ran competitively. His twin brother Cruz Hale anchored the all twins relay team witb another PR as they finished 12th in 9:11.60.
When the gun went up for the 1600 meter championship, Hall of Fame announcer, Matt Piescinski again called Beckmier to the start line. This may have been the feature event of the program as not only did the top three 3200 finishers answer the call but also state 1600 leader and 1A cross country runnerup, Isaac Teal of Pickneyville lined up next to Beckmier. This race went fast as well with Teal covering the metric mile in an outstanding 4:22. Logan runs tough to secure the 6th place medal in another personal best of 4:31.90.
With the conclusion of the Indoor season, the Knights full squad will travel to Arcola Tuesday March 28th to run an event postponed from last week and then go to the Warrensburg-Lathom Invite on Saturday April 1.
