By Fred Kroner
Senior Madison Burwell won a sectional championship in the discus on Friday (June 4) at the Tuscola Class 1A sectional. Her event was one of two where the Villa Grove/Heritage girls’ track and field program produced state qualifiers.
Burwell’s winning toss was 113 feet, 8 inches.
The Blue Devils’ 3,200-meter relay advanced to state after finishing second.
The foursome featured Emma Buesing, Kyleigh Price, Madison Logan and Hailey Stutz. Their combined time was 11 minutes, 45.01 seconds.
In the team chase, Shelbyville scored 83 points and beat runner-up Tuscola (63) for supremacy. Villa Grove/Heritage placed 11th in the 15-school event with 19 points.
Besides the two events where VG/H athletes secured state berths, the program had top-10 placers in three other events.
Ava Vollmer was sixth in the shot put (31 feet, 3 inches), Price was seventh in the 3,200 meters (16:51.80) and Stutz ended eighth in the 400 meters (1:11.22).
The Class 1A state meet will be held in its entirety (semifinals and finals) on Thursday (June 10) at Eastern Illinois University, in Charleston.
