Let’s delve into the world of sports, particularly the thrilling realm of track and field. Pecatonica’s athletic history has traditionally leaned towards the unconventional, but the tides may be turning. While Pecatonica has seen some standout performances in boys’ and girls’ basketball, the spotlight may soon shift to the girls’ track team.
Maddy Cross, Cameron Osterholz, Mary Frank, and Ashley Wanke are the quartet laying the groundwork for future triumphs. This fearsome foursome recently clinched two relay titles at the Illinois Elementary School Association state track meet in the Class 3A eighth-grade division.
Not only did they dominate the 4×100-meter relay in a blistering time of :52.06, but they also shattered the state record in the 4×400 relay. It’s clear that these girls are not to be trifled with. Osterholz remarked, “We just pushed ourselves. When we do that, we shave off time. We can always shave off more time. We just have to push for it.”
Pecatonica has long thirsted for a track triumph, and this group of girls is rewriting that narrative. Rager shared, “It was exciting to see how many people came to support us. I was really confused at first, until I realized it was for us. I was really excited when I actually figured out what was going on.”
But this incredible achievement didn’t materialize out of thin air. The seeds were sown last year when the team joined the IESA under the guidance of Stephanie Wise, and their hard work has paid dividends. Now, 21 boys and girls have joined the team, with eight making it to the state level.
Not surprisingly, the success of Cross, Osterholz, Frank, and Wanke has piqued immense interest, leading to the team swelling to 46 athletes this year, with 15 reaching the state meet. Wise added, “The other sports have a lot of recognition. The town follows strong behind them. We would love to see track be the next up-and-coming sport where we become a powerhouse. We’re hoping this group of kids coming up in middle school will come out again in high school and put Pecatonica on the map in track as well.”
The future looks promising for Pecatonica, and if this streak continues, they could become a formidable force in the realm of girls’ track. Every success story has an origin, and it seems like this might just be the dawn of track in Pecatonica. Look out – before we know it, Pecatonica might be known for something other than bass fishing!
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