Jackson Ennis Clinches First State Medal at IHSA Track Finals, Leading St. Joseph-Ogden
By FRED KRONER
Both of St. Joseph-Ogden’s athletes in the IHSA Class 2A boys’ track and field state meet who reached the finals participated in the same event.
Junior Jackson Ennis earned his first state medal, capturing eighth with a career-best toss of 154 feet, 9 inches on Saturday (May 25) at Eastern Illinois University, in Charleston.
Ennis’ mark carried over from the Friday (May 24) preliminary round. He was sixth after the prelims.
Senior Brandon Trimble was just behind his teammate, finishing 10th with a top mark of 154 feet, 5 inches, also achieved on Friday. He was five inches shy of earning one of the nine state medals issued in the event.
They were the only Spartans competing in the finals on Saturday.
SJ-O pole vaulters Charlie Schmitz and Jack Wear placed in a tie for 23rd after both cleared 12 feet, 5 inches.
In the 1,600 meters, Lance Retz ran 5:05.69 and ended in 47th place,
The Spartans’ best relay was the 3,200-meter squad, which took 14th place.
Sharing the baton were Colin Wayland, Aden Armstrong, Spencer Wilson and Carson Maroon. Their combined time was 8:11.00.
The other two SJ-O state relays ended in 22nd place.
The 800-meter relay featured Tim Blackburn-Kelly, Wayland, Logan Smith and Wilson. Their cumulative time was 1:30.82.
Also coming in 22nd was the Spartans’ 1,600-meter grouping of Wayland, Blackburn-Kelly, Logan Smith and Wilson They posted a 3:30.34 clocking.
SJ-O totaled one point at state and ended in a tie for 72nd place. A total of 76 schools scored points in the Class 2A division.
Team champion East St. Louis ended with 50 points.
