Darren Kinnard
Section618.com

CHARLESTON — The Nashville Hornettes and Du Quoin Lady Indians each won event state championships at the Girls 1A State Track and Field meet Thursday in Charleston.

In fact, Nashville won two.

The Hornettes relay team of Shelby Thorson, Karmen Reynolds, Talanie Kozuszek, and Halle Rueter won both the 4×100 (49.87) and 4×200 (1:45.42) and did so in school record times. Due to a variety of injuries, this group didn’t have the opportunity to run together much during the season, but they put it all together at the perfect time. Nashville wound up 10th in the team standings.

With the pandemic wiping out the entire season last year, the Du Quoin Lady Indians came to Charleston as the defending champs after winning the 2019 title. Du Quoin finished tied for sixth this time around, but finished on quite a high note. The relay team of Lauren Heape, Jacqueline Crain, Grace Alongi, and Olivia Phillips won the day’s final event, the 4×400, in a time a 4:05.07, more than three and a half seconds faster than second place Winnebago.

Phillips had the day’s top individual performance with a second place finish in the 800. Alongi finished fifth in the triple jump. Sparta’s Kayla Braun was sixth in the shot put, and Goreville’s Maci Tosh finished seventh in the 300 hurdles.

For full meet results, click here.

While the state final was back, it was different. It is still a three-day event, but this year, each class gets its own day, starting with 1A. As far as the competition, it was no longer a prelims and finals set up. This year everything is done by heats with the times and marks compiled into standings.

The girls 2A meet is Friday with the 3A on Saturday. The boys will use the say Thursday-Saturday schedule next week.