Elgin Academy's Pearson headed to state again

Elgin Academy senior Kaitlyn Pearson will make a return trip to the state girls track and field meet next weekend at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

Pearson won the 100-meter dash in a time of 12.59 Friday night at the Class 1A Oregon sectional as well as the 200 in a time of 26.03.

She will be joined at state by athletes from St. Edward and Harvest Christian, which won four individual events.

Lions' senior Valerie Richter was a double winner, taking the 800 in 2:21.62 and the 1,600 in a time of 5:32.86. Senior Kylee Knox won the 100 high hurdles in 16.59 and freshman Nygia Pollard took the 3,200 in 12:02.54.

Harvest Christian also qualified its 1,600 relay team with a second-place finish and Pollard was second in the 1,600.

St. Edward sophomore Megan Kremer was second in the 3,200 to make state, and Green Wave freshman Bella Uscilla took second in the 100. The Wave also qualified their 400 relay team with a second-place finish.

Class 2A at Vernon Hills: Hampshire junior Jacqueline Pytel won the high jump (5-3) and the Whip-Purs' 3,200 relay team took first in a time of 9:41.96 to advance to state next weekend. Senior Dallas Krueger advanced with a second-place finish in the high jump, senior Rebecca Freund was second in the pole vault and sophomore Morgan Richert was third in the 3,200 to move on. The Whips also qualified in the 1,600 relay by finishing third and in the 800 relay with a fourth-place finish. Hampshire scored 68 points to finish second to Vernon Hills (101) in the team standings.

Class 2A at Galena: Burlington Central qualified two individuals for next weekend's state meet from the Galena sectional. Rockets' senior Jasmine Castillo finished third in the 100 high hurdles, while freshman Chloe Bilyk was fourth in the 800.

John Radtke contributed to this report