Hamilton to continue track and field career at Illinois State University
By FRED KRONER
ST. JOSEPH – When Atleigh Hamilton gets an opportunity, she jumps.
The recent St. Joseph-Ogden High School graduate had ample opportunities throughout her prep career.
And, she made quantum jumps – leaps, actually – into the school record book for girls’ track and field.
She holds the school record in the long jump (18 feet, 7 ¾ inches), two state championships in the event and a Class 1A state runner-up placement as well.
Hamilton’s opportunities won’t stop now that she has graduated from SJ-O. She will continue her track and field career – emphasizing the long jump – at Illinois State University.
For Hamilton, her involvement in the sport started in the spring of 2014. At the time, fifth-graders in the SJ-O district were allowed to participate in track and field.
“I was told I was pretty quick, and I had a desire to be involved in a sport,” Hamilton said.
She took advantage of the chance to compete on a school team. Grant Risley was the junior high track and field coach.
“He was a big part of my track career,” Hamilton said. “He sent me to places I never thought I would be.”
Remember the two IHSA state championships Hamilton captured while in high school as a freshman and sophomore? They actually marked the third and fourth consecutive years that she was the state’s best.
She was the IESA long jump titlist in junior high as both a seventh- and eighth-grader.
Not surprisingly, Hamilton became a recruiting target for an assortment of collegiate coaches.
She got her first letter (from the University of Michigan) in the summer after her sophomore season.
More schools showed interest, despite a COVID-canceled junior year.
Among the colleges besides ISU that made contact were Ball State University (in Muncie, Ind.), Murray State University (in Murray, Ky.), New Mexico (in Albuquerque, N.M.) and Lipscomb University (in Nashville, Tenn.).
“I had options,” Hamilton said, “and they were all unique in their own way.”
Four of the schools were also appealing for one reason.
“Originally, I didn’t want to stay in Illinois,” Hamilton said. “I was looking at schools out of state.”
As she tracked the process, she began to have reservations.
“I wasn’t connecting up with the coaches, and how far away they were wasn’t ideal,” Hamilton said.
Because several former SJ-O athletes in recent years – including Taylor Francisco in track – had gone on to successful careers at ISU, Hamilton had filled out a recruiting form for the school.
“It was (filled out) before COVID, but the summer before my senior year Coach (Mary) Wood (associate head coach) contacted me,” Hamilton said.
When Hamilton visited, she was impressed with more than the fact that the Redbirds have won four consecutive conference championships in women’s track and field.
Wood – an Eastern Illinois University graduate – sold the program. Her knowledge tutoring jumpers was a bonus.
Francisco offered input as well.
“From what they (Francisco and Wood) said, it helped sway my decision,” Hamilton said.
And then, there was the distance.
“It’s not too far away, but far enough that I can be independent,” Hamilton said.
Independence was something she found during her senior year in track. As an underclassman, the long jump was her primary individual event.
She was a catalyst on six state-placing SJ-O relays, three as a freshman and three more as a sophomore.
“I’m a big fan of relays,” Hamilton said. “They are so much fun.”
This year, the Spartans’ relays weren’t at an elite level. Hamilton focused on individual running events and qualified individually for the Class 1A state finals in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter races.
She became the second SJ-O female (along with Rachel Ballard in 2012) to earn state medals in four individual events at the same state meet. Besides her second-place finish in the long jump, Hamilton was the 400-meter runner-up (with a personal-best 58.00-second time), the third-place finisher in the 200 meters and the sixth-place runner in the 100 meters with a personal-best 12.56 seconds.
“I actually placed as well as I could have,” Hamilton said. “I ended up enjoying it more and more.”
While Risley was the coach who helped Hamilton get comfortable with the sport eight year ago, high school track and field coach Kelly Steffen helped her achieve greater heights (and distances).
“Steffen helped so much,” Hamilton said. “Without her, there’s no way I’d be where I’m at now.”
Among the other role models for Hamilton were SJ-O runners who were upperclassmen as she entered high school.
“Zea Maroon (2018 graduate) and Maclayne Taylor (2019 graduate) were good runners and good people,” Hamilton said, “and I wanted to be like them.”
Her COVID-destroyed junior year was a frustrating time for Hamilton.
When sports were shut down in March of 2020, she acknowledged, “I was pretty disappointed because junior year is crucial for college prospects.”
She continued to work out for the next two months, but needed help and encouragement to do so.
“The motivation was really hard to find,” Hamilton said. “It helped that Brady Buss (another 2021 SJ-O graduate) and a few other friends were working out.
“With them pushing me, it really helped. If not for them, I probably would not have been able to do a workout.”
Once her senior year arrived, Hamilton had no difficulty in preparing herself mentally and physically.
“I wanted to do something big one more time,” she said. “I put everything into the workouts.”
Whether Hamilton participates in running events at ISU is still to be determined. One aspect of her future is clearer.
Hamilton plans to major in biology with the eventual goal of becoming a physician’s assistant and dermatologist.
The interests are ones she has held for years. She also sees a practical application.
“I loved the pimple-popping shows (on TV),” she said, “and in dermatology, there aren’t that many emergencies, so I could have a job and time for family.”
While she will remain in the state for college, Hamilton doesn’t see herself as a long-time Illinois resident.
“I don’t want to end up living in Illinois,” she said. “For grad school, I’ll probably head south.”
At SJ-O, Hamilton participated in three sports, but gave up cross-country after her freshman year. She lettered in basketball and, as a senior, had a high game of seven points against Pontiac.
When Hamilton reports to ISU in August, she will have a familiar person as her roommate, Gracie Jessup, from Salt Fork.
Jessup will be a hurdler for the Redbirds. In last month’s sectional track meet at SJ-O, Hamilton and Jessup went 1-2 in the 200-meter dash.
Besides athletics, Hamilton was inducted into the SJ-O National Honor Society as a junior, was a member of the Maroon Platoon, the Spanish Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
She took a break from running after the state meet ended last month, but has resumed training and lifts weights three day a week.
Hamilton hopes to be ready for the challenges that will await at ISU.
“Freshman year, there will be a lot of changes that happen,” she said. “Different coach. Different techniques being taught.
“I hope to be in position to go in and compete right away.”
And, as is her custom, when she gets the opportunity, Hamilton will jump right in.
