Story by Parker Cassidy
The United Girls’ Track and Field team continues its dominant run this year, breaking school records and making waves across the state. Competing at the Mercer County Sectional meet a week ago, the Red Storm qualified six athletes for the upcoming state meet in Charleston. United will be well represented on the famous blue track at Eastern Illinois University, sending three relay teams to state, including the 4×100, 4×200, and 4×400. All three relay teams feature runners Rosie Flynn, Katie Flynn, Callie Hall, and Emrick Houston. The squad will look to defend its 4×200 state title from last season while avenging its second-place finish in the 4×100. In addition to the relays, Rosie Flynn also qualified individually in the 400-meter dash, Sophia Mendoza earned her spot in the discus, and Ava Anderson punched her ticket in the high jump. Out of those six athletes, four are seniors. A class that made it to the volleyball regional championship game in the fall and also won 28 games in basketball in the winter. Red Storm track coach, and former United varsity volleyball coach, Carrie Clayton says this senior group’s success is a testament to the hard work they put in during the summer.
The IHSA Class 1A State Track and Field Meet will start tomorrow with the preliminaries and run through Saturday’s finals in Charleston.
