Schutt gains All-State indoor honors, Benton track competes at ISU

The Benton girl’s track team traveled to the Illinois State University Cogdal Relays with 24 teams participating.

Benton coach Andy Sloan was pleased with a day that saw standout Kaitlyn Schutt participate in two separate meets in the same day.

“We had a really good day and finished off the indoor season on a bright note,” said Sloan.  “We took 10 kids to the meet and had a ton of personal records and season best performances.  We are continuing to see improvements and the kids are continuing to get better as the season progresses.  Our good isn’t great but if we keep doing what we have been, by the end of the year we hope our good is really good.  Individually, Kaitlyn Schutt had a great day.  She started off at Illinois Wesleyan by finishing 5th at the Indoor State Meet in the 800 and then came over to ISU and ran a season best in the 4×2 and 4×4, leading off both relays.”

Sloan said Schutt became the first Rangerette to medal in the Class AA state meet by finishing fifth in the 800 finishing in 2:22.29, breaking her old indoor school record by five seconds.  The performance also makes her part of the Class AA Indoor All-State Team.

Sloan said several other Benton athletes are rounding into form heading into the outdoor season – with the cooperation of Mother Nature.

“Kryslyn Fowler is getting stronger and understanding what her strengths are.  She had two good races and jumped well.  Kaitlyn Biddle had a good day in the field and ran a strong 200 leg for us.  She is a kid that does what we ask and never asks questions; the ultimate team player.  Bayley Eubanks ran a really strong leg on the 4×8 and had a personal record in the 55 high hurdles.  She too was asked to do something she is not accustomed to and ran real well. Jenna Johnston ran her best 800 of the year and got some good sprint work in today.  We loaded her up some last week so we backed off a little with her distances this week.

Benton girls’ track was bumped from Class 1A to Class 2A last year where enrollments range from 546 to 1,464 making Benton one of the smallest schools in the field.  Despite that, Sloan was happy with the way his team competed against the much larger schools.

“When you are up against the likes of Peoria Richwoods, Decatur MacArthur, Normal U High, Normal Community and Pontiac you better bring your best effort or you will be embarrassed,” said Sloan. “I’m proud of our kids and the way they have approached practices and competitions.  We have had a very successful indoor season and although the weather is not cooperating, it’s time to get outdoors.”

Benton girl’s track is at Murphysboro Open Wednesday March 27 (weather permitting) and host the annual home opener, the Benton Spring Fling Saturday, March 30.

Saturday’s results from ISU

_______________________
ILLINOIS TOP TIMES INDOOR STATE MEET 2 ILLINOIS WESLEYAN:
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY-COGDAL RELAYS 24 PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
HIGH JUMP
OLIVIA HAGERMAN        NH        NP
4X800 RELAY               11:12.09    4TH     *SB, #6 INDOOR BCHS
JOHNSTON 2:33.4 *SB    TABOR 2:49.2 *SB    MILLER 2:59.8 *SB    EUBANKS 2:48.7 *SB
55 DASH
VALARIE REPP            8.18        17TH
OLIVIA HAGERMAN        8.20        19TH     *PR
1600 RUN
CHELSEA TABOR        6:33.54        24TH     *SB
TAYLORAN MILLER        6:50.07        27TH     *PR
55 HH
BAYLEY EUBANKS        10.07P/9.75F    5TH     *PR, #4 INDOOR BCHS
4X200                 1:56.11        5TH     *SB, #8INDOOR BCHS
SCHUTT 27.6 *SB, NEAL 29.9 *SB,  FOWLER 27.8 *SB     HAGERMAN 29.9
4X400                4:25.32        5TH     *SB, #3 INDOOR BCHS
SCHUTT 62.5 *SB    NEAL 68.4    FOWLER 66.1 *SB    JOHNSTON 68.1 *SB
POLE VAULT
CASSIDY NEAL            7’6”        6TH
LONG JUMP
KRYSLYN FOWLER        14’ ¾”        9TH     *PR, #8 INDOOR BCHS
KAITLYN BIDDLE        13’ 9 ½”    14TH     *PR, #10 BCHS INDOOR
TRIPLE JUMP
CASSIDY NEAL            27’7 ½”        16TH     *PR
SHOT PUT
KAITLYN BIDDLE        27’ ½”        15TH     *PR