Roach, Schwab, and White Capture Gold as Litchfield Boys Take Second at Riverton

The Litchfield track and field program delivered a stellar all-around performance on Friday, April 17, at the Don Hartlaub Memorial Invitational in Riverton. Led by a sprint sweep from Alec Roach and individual distance and hurdle titles from the girls’ squad, the Litchfield boys secured a runner-up team finish, while the girls claimed fifth overall.

The boys’ competition saw Litchfield amass 96 team points, finishing second only to a deep Clinton squad (173). Roach was the undisputed star of the short sprints, bringing home a pair of gold medals. The senior sprinter broke the tape in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.12 and followed it up with a commanding victory in the 200-meter dash, clocking in at 22.20. Teammate Jaxon Ray also made his mark in the sprints, placing third in the 200 meters (23.35) and fifth in the 100 meters (11.78).

Litchfield also racked up crucial points in the hurdles and field events. Senior Johnathon Bowles was brilliant over the barriers, earning double silver with second-place finishes in both the 110-meter high hurdles (16.71) and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles (43.58). In the jumps, freshman Brylan Marten leaped to a second-place finish in the triple jump (12.66m) and took bronze in the long jump (6.16m). Freshman Jaylen Komor added to the medal haul by clearing 3.13 meters to secure silver in the pole vault.

On the girls’ side, Litchfield compiled 69 points to finish fifth in a highly competitive field won by Pleasant Plains (129). The squad was powered by distance runner Maggie Schwab and hurdler Ava White, who both secured first-place finishes.

Schwab dominated the longest race of the afternoon, winning the 3200 meters with a time of 12:31.18. She also earned a bronze medal in the 1600 meters, crossing the finish line in 5:45.43. Meanwhile, White showcased her speed and technique by winning the 300-meter hurdles in 52.76 and taking third in the 100-meter hurdles (18.67).

Freshman sprinter Lana Cress provided a massive boost for Litchfield in the short sprints, claiming a pair of bronze medals with third-place finishes in the 100 meters (13.48) and 200 meters (27.61). Distance specialist Leighton Warchol also contributed solid points, finishing fourth in the 1600 meters (6:00.72) and fifth in the 800 meters (2:40.74).

The Litchfield girls also performed consistently in the relays, placing fourth in both the 4×200 (1:52.94) and 4×400 (4:27.52), while adding a fifth-place finish in the 4×100 (53.75).

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

(Note: Track and Field total team points reflect final standings)
| Team | Boys Points | Girls Points |
|—|—|—|
| Clinton | 173 | 94 |
| Pleasant Plains | N/A | 129 |
| Rochester | N/A | 117 |
| Litchfield | 96 | 69 |
| Heyworth | 92 | 23 |
| New Berlin | 59.5 | 82 |
| Auburn | 81 | 52 |
| Virden (North Mac) | 36 | 41 |
| Athens | 60 | 35 |
| Riverton | 51 | 24 |
| Virginia | 30.5 | 17 |
| Jacksonville (Illinois School for the Deaf) | 12 | 0 |

Scoring Drives

(First-Place Event Finishes – Boys)

• 100 Meters: Alec Roach, Litchfield (11.12)

• 200 Meters: Alec Roach, Litchfield (22.20)

• 400 Meters: Jacob Barth, Auburn (50.18)

• 800 Meters: James Baisden, Auburn (2:05.14)

• 1600 Meters: Michael Mitchell, Athens (4:42.18)

• 3200 Meters: Cayden Bostic, Clinton (9:44.28)

• 110m Hurdles: Gradyn Hartlaub, Riverton (16.70)

• 300m Hurdles: Gradyn Hartlaub, Riverton (41.54)

• Relays: Athens (4×100), New Berlin (4×200), Auburn (4×400), Clinton (4×800)

• Shot Put: Cash Tanner, Clinton (14.57m)

• Discus: Westin Mayfield, Heyworth (47.87m)

• High Jump: Luther Fitch, Clinton (1.90m)

• Pole Vault: Peyton Stinson, New Berlin (3.43m)

• Long Jump: Luther Fitch, Clinton (6.62m)

• Triple Jump: Jeffrey Klawitter, Heyworth (12.76m)

(First-Place Event Finishes – Girls)

• 100 Meters: Reagan Campbell, Riverton (12.88)

• 200 Meters: Reagan Campbell, Riverton (25.65)

• 400 Meters: Aubrey Peterson, Clinton (1:02.38)

• 800 Meters: Natalie Nichols, Rochester (2:24.02)

• 1600 Meters: Ashley Zeibert, Rochester (5:28.59)

• 3200 Meters: Maggie Schwab, Litchfield (12:31.18)

• 100m Hurdles: Sloan Noble, Pleasant Plains (17.39)

• 300m Hurdles: Ava White, Litchfield (52.76)

• Relays: New Berlin (4×100, 4×200), Pleasant Plains (4×400, 4×800)

• Shot Put: Abi Moser, Clinton (11.99m)

• Discus: Abi Moser, Clinton (37.13m)

• High Jump: Emily Wisniewski, Auburn (1.57m)

• Pole Vault: Asher Ronan, Virden North Mac (2.67m)

• Long Jump: Peyton Zeidler, Rochester (5.41m)

• Triple Jump: Peyton Zeidler, Rochester (11.11m)

Individual Statistics

• LITCHFIELD MULTI-EVENT MEDALISTS: Alec Roach (1st in 100m, 1st in 200m); Maggie Schwab (1st in 3200m, 3rd in 1600m); Ava White (1st in 300m Hurdles, 3rd in 100m Hurdles); Johnathon Bowles (2nd in 110m Hurdles, 2nd in 300m Hurdles); Brylan Marten (2nd in Triple Jump, 3rd in Long Jump); Lana Cress (3rd in 100m, 3rd in 200m).

• LITCHFIELD BOYS TOP FIELD FINISHES: Brylan Marten (12.66m TJ, 6.16m LJ); Jaylen Komor (3.13m Pole Vault); John Scurlock (1.75m High Jump).

• LITCHFIELD GIRLS RELAYS: The Litchfield girls placed 4th in the 4×200 (1:52.94), 4th in the 4×400 (4:27.52), and 5th in the 4×100 (53.75).