ERIE – For the third straight year, Elly Jones will be making the trip to Charleston for the IHSA State Track & Field Meet after she participated in the Erie Class 1A Sectional on May 10.

The Amboy-LaMoille team member qualified for state in two events – the 100-meter hurdles and the triple jump. Jones, a junior, raced to a first-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 16.47. While she placed fourth in the triple jump with a distance of 10.21 meters (33-5.5), the measurement was under the state qualifying mark of 10.18 meters (33-5).

Jones returned to action after being sidelined with an ankle injury incurred during the Pecatonica Invitational on April 27.

“I’m proud of myself for qualifying for the third straight year; it’s crazy.,” said Jones. “I was so scared when I got hurt. Honestly, I’m just really happy I was able to compete at the sectional. My coach, Michael Robinson, and I talked, and we were both nervous, but taping my ankle definitely saved my life. We taped my ankle really tight so I couldn’t feel it. 

“I started track in fifth grade and I never thought this would happen, especially being a junior and I still have another year to compete. Little fifth grade me didn’t expect qualifying for my ninth and tenth state events by my junior year.”

Jones has won five medals during her first two years of state competition.

“We’re always hoping for more and I know she wasn’t happy that she didn’t qualify in all four of her events like she has in the past,” said Coach Robinson. “With the conditions that we were dealing with – two weeks before she gets hurt at a meet, she’s in a boot for the week leading up to sectional, and then she was able to run – it was quite a miracle. 

“The fact that she was able to compete at the level that she did was even better. We were happy with what she was able to do. She was disappointed, but two is better than nothing.”  

The IHSA State Track & Field Meet will take place Thursday, May 18 through Saturday, May 20 at O’Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

The Lady Clippers finished with 24.5 points in the sectional meet. Sherrard was crowned the team champion with 113 points.

May 10 – Erie Sectional

Sherrard 113, St. Bede 62, Erie 58.5, Fulton 55, Indian Creek 52, Milledgeville 44, Rockridge 28, Amboy-LaMoille 24.5, West Carroll 24, Riverdale 23, Bureau Valley 21, Rock Island Alleman 14, Hall 11, Morrison 10, Newman 8, Marquette 8

A-L 1st place: *Elly Jones, 100m hurdles, 16.47

A-L 4th place: Jones, 300m hurdles, 53.27; *Jones, triple jump, 33-5.5

A-L 5th place: Bella Yanos, 200m dash, 27.68; Jones, long jump, 15-8.5

A-L 6th place: 4x200m relay (Jillian Anderson, Stephanie Nave, Lexi Ketchum, Yanos), 1:54.08; Anderson, high jump, 4-4; Yanos, long jump, 15-8

A-L 8th place: Yanos, 100m dash, 13.61; Samantha Nauman, 300m hurdles, 54.4

(* indicates state qualifier)