Kalyn Miller Shines as Lone State Qualifier for Heritage with Record Shot Put at IESA Sectional
By Fred Kroner
Heritage eighth-grader Kalyn Miller won the shot put on Saturday (May 4) in the IESA Rantoul Class 1A girls’ sectional track and field meet.
She qualified for state with a personal-best toss of 28 feet, 4 inches.
She is the lone Heritage state-qualifier.
Miller was sixth in the discus, but did not advance. Her top toss was 72 feet, 7 inches.
Other Heritage eighth-graders who finished among the top six at the sectional were Reaghan Stierwalt (third in the 1,600 meters in a personal-best 6:35.29), Willa Tatman (fourth in the long jump at 12 feet, 9 inches), Leah DelRossi (fourth in the 800 meters in a personal-best 2:52.81) and Peyton Curry-Varner (sixth in the shot put with a personal-best 21 feet, 10 inches).
Additionally, the team’s 1,600-meter placed third in 5:03.77. The runners were Kimber Sands, Rylen Stierwalt, Del Rossi and Reaghan Stierwalt.
Prairieview Ogden captured the team crown with 115 points. Heritage was fourth in the 12-school event with 32 points.
The state meet will be held on Friday (May 10) and Saturday (May 11) at the Eastside Centre, in East Peoria.
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The top seventh-grade placer for Heritage in the Rantoul IESA Class 1A girls’ track and field sectional was 800-meter runner Gwen Keely.
She was the runner-up in the race with a personal-best 2:53.83.
Team honors were won by Schlarman Academy with 105 points. Heritage was 11th with eight points.
Heritage Junior High Boys’ Track and Field
Eighth-grader Christian Paul was a two-event state qualifier for the Heritage Junior High boys’ track and field team.
In the Rantoul IESA Sectional on Saturday (May 4), Paul finished second in both the 800 meters (personal-best 2:18.93) and the 1,600 meters (5:14.43).
Teammate Colby Schrock was a top finisher in both races, but did not qualify for state.
Schrock ran third in the 1,600 meters (personal-best 5:56.80) and fourth in the 800 meters (personal-best 2:52.67).
The other Heritage state-qualifier was Landin McComas in the shot put (personal-best 36 feet, 1 inch).
The team championship was captured by Tri-Point with 97 ½ points. Heritage was sixth in the 16-school meet with 30 points.
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The top placer for the Heritage seventh-grade boys track and field team in the Rantoul IESA Class 1A sectional was Michael George in the shot put.
His top toss was 29 feet, 5 inches and he took second.
The meet titlist was Schlarman Academy with 81 points. Heritage was 11th with eight points.
