Manteno’s Klarke Goranson is only a freshman, but she’s no stranger to running in high school state finals.
Goranson finished sixth in the IHSA Class 2A cross country meet last fall and swept the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the Illinois Top Times indoor championships in March.
Now she’s heading to Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Field in Charleston for the IHSA track and field finals on May 23-24.
Goranson is seeded No. 1 in the 800 and 1,600, based on her times of 2:12.43 and 5:03.82 at the Pontiac Sectional on May 14.
She’s embracing the challenge and expectations inherent in being the frontrunner.
“I really like leading races,” Goranson said at the Illinois Central Eight Meet on May 8. “And winning (at the indoor finals) just gives me the confidence and drive to push myself even harder in the bigger races.”
Though she’s run everywhere from 400 to 3,200 meters this spring, the 1,600 is probably her favorite. And assuming the weather cooperates, Goranson is looking to keep dropping her times in Charleston.
“In the 1,600, I really want to run under 4:50 and get closer to 2:10 (in the 800),” she said.
Another Manteno freshman is heading to state as well. Sophia Most is seeded fifth in the 2A discus after throwing 123-11 at the sectional.
Peotone senior Terrynn Clott qualified for state in both throwing events out of the Pontiac Sectional. She is seeded seventh in 2A discus with a personal-best throw of 120-5 and 16th in the shot put at 35-6.5.
In Class 1A, Beecher’s Brooklyn Burdick advanced to state out of the Seneca Sectional in both distance events. She’s seeded eighth in the 3,200 at 11:56.64 and 20th in the 1,600 with a PR of 5:30.07.
In Class 3A, Crete-Monee’s Tamryn Farmer qualified for state in three events. She is seeded third in the long jump with a PR of 19-0.7, 27th in the 100 (12.29) and 42nd in the 200 (25.56).
Boys
Crete-Monee edged Bloom 112-107 to win the Southland Athletic Conference title at Kankakee on May 13.
Joshua Hill won the long jump at 22-2.5 and joined Jayden Marshall, Uriel Chapman and Kaliq Wood on the winning 4×100 relay team that ran 42.77, while Derrin Couch swept the 110 and 300 hurdles in 15.58 and 40.88 respectively. Wood won the 100 (11.07) and Brian Miller took first in the triple jump with a PR of 46-2.75.