Litchfield Panthers Track Graphic

Litchfield Track & Field Programs Finish Strong at Comet Open

The Litchfield boys’ and girls’ track and field teams delivered another series of impressive performances on Tuesday, April 21, at the Comet Open hosted by Greenville High School. The boys’ squad secured a runner-up finish with 122 points, while the girls placed third overall with 92 points in a highly competitive field.

The Litchfield boys were once again propelled by the electrifying speed of senior Alec Roach and the technical prowess of senior hurdler Johnathon Bowles. Roach continued his dominance in the short sprints, claiming gold in both the 100-meter dash (10.9) and the 200-meter dash (21.9). He also ran the second leg of Litchfield’s victorious 4×100 relay team, which broke the tape in 43.8 seconds alongside Brylan Marten, Lukas Paine, and Jaxon Ray.

Bowles executed a flawless sweep of the hurdles, winning the 110-meter highs in 16.0 and setting a personal record of 41.4 to win the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. He capped off his day by taking bronze in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 5.91 meters.

The boys’ team found success across the board. Lukas Paine finished second in the 400 meters with a personal-best time of 53.2, and Dean Gibbs grabbed silver in the 800 meters (2:12.2). The middle-distance relay team of Bowles, Gibbs, Camron Zumwalt, and Paine also delivered a first-place finish in the 4×400 relay, crossing the line in 3:42.8. In the field, Braedyn Knapp continued to throw well, placing seventh in the discus (34.86m) and eighth in the shot put (11.25m). John Scurlock added a victory in the high jump, clearing 1.63 meters.

Williamsville ultimately won the boys’ team title with 189 points, leaning heavily on field event sweeps and distance dominance. Trenton Wesclin finished third with 107 points.

On the girls’ side, freshman phenom Lana Cress continued to be a revelation for Litchfield. Cress leaped to a personal-best 4.83 meters to win the long jump and sprinted to a second-place finish in the 100 meters with a time of 12.8. Teammate Harley Foulk made it a 1-2 Litchfield finish in the long jump, taking silver with a personal-best 4.65-meter mark.

Distance specialist Leighton Warchol also picked up a gold medal for Litchfield, winning the 3200 meters in a personal-best 12:45.2. She also contributed to Litchfield’s second-place finish in the 4×400 relay (4:27.0).

Ava White added to Litchfield’s point total with a pair of strong hurdle performances. The freshman set personal records in both events, placing second in the 300-meter hurdles (49.6) and third in the 100-meter hurdles (17.7). In the throwing rings, Jennah Longwell secured fifth place in the shot put (8.48m) and eighth in the discus (23.50m).

Williamsville won the girls’ team championship with 106 points, followed by Trenton Wesclin in second place with 96 points.

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

(Note: Track and Field total team points reflect final standings)
| Team | Boys Points | Girls Points |
|—|—|—|
| Williamsville | 189 | 106 |
| Litchfield | 122 | 92 |
| Trenton (Wesclin) | 107 | 96 |
| Greenville | 61 | 29 |
| Carlyle | 47 | 60 |
| Altamont | N/A | 46 |
| Patoka | 6 | 11 |
| Bluford (Webber) | N/A | 8 |

Scoring Drives

(First-Place Event Finishes – Boys)

  • 100 Meters: Alec Roach, Litchfield (10.9)

  • 200 Meters: Alec Roach, Litchfield (21.9)

  • 400 Meters: Thomas Evans, Williamsville (53.1)

  • 800 Meters: Adam Prior, Williamsville (2:10.9)

  • 1600 Meters: Jack Oglesby, Williamsville (5:00.8)

  • 3200 Meters: Griffin Gwaltney, Williamsville (11:15.1)

  • 110m Hurdles: Johnathon Bowles, Litchfield (16.0)

  • 300m Hurdles: Johnathon Bowles, Litchfield (41.4)

  • Relays: Litchfield (4×100, 4×400), Trenton Wesclin (4×200), Williamsville (4×800)

  • Shot Put: Anthony Beckman, Williamsville (14.36m)

  • Discus: Anthony Beckman, Williamsville (45.50m)

  • High Jump: John Scurlock, Litchfield (1.63m)

  • Pole Vault: Ethan Smith-Dubois, Williamsville (3.35m)

  • Long Jump: Aryan Reitz, Trenton Wesclin (6.49m)

  • Triple Jump: Eli Neely, Greenville (11.91m)

(First-Place Event Finishes – Girls)

  • 100 Meters: Taylor Bressan, Williamsville (12.7)

  • 200 Meters: Taylor Bressan, Williamsville (26.0)

  • 400 Meters: Taylor Bressan, Williamsville (58.7)

  • 800 Meters: Joelle Wilson, Williamsville (2:36.7)

  • 1600 Meters: Joelle Wilson, Williamsville (5:38.0)

  • 3200 Meters: Leighton Warchol, Litchfield (12:45.2)

  • 100m Hurdles: Miley Beckett, Williamsville (16.4)

  • 300m Hurdles: Gwen Murphy, Trenton Wesclin (48.8)

  • Relays: Trenton Wesclin (4×100, 4×200, 4×400)

  • Shot Put: Alivia Allison, Carlyle (10.58m)

  • Discus: Alivia Allison, Carlyle (31.72m)

  • High Jump: Brylee Goff, Carlyle (1.42m)

  • Pole Vault: Amilli Dugans, Trenton Wesclin (2.13m)

  • Long Jump: Lana Cress, Litchfield (4.83m)

  • Triple Jump: Katelyn Wiblemo, Trenton Wesclin (8.73m)

Individual Statistics

  • LITCHFIELD MULTI-EVENT MEDALISTS: Alec Roach (1st in 100m, 1st in 200m); Johnathon Bowles (1st in 110m Hurdles, 1st in 300m Hurdles, 3rd in Long Jump).

  • LITCHFIELD BOYS TOP FIELD FINISHES: John Scurlock (1st in High Jump, 1.63m); Jaylen Komor (2nd in Pole Vault, 3.13m); Johnathon Bowles (3rd in Long Jump, 5.91m).

  • LITCHFIELD GIRLS TOP FIELD FINISHES: Lana Cress (1st in Long Jump, 4.83m); Harley Foulk (2nd in Long Jump, 4.65m); Gracie Boden (2nd in Triple Jump, 8.50m).

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

TVA to keep two coal-fired power plants operating indefinitely

TVA to keep two coal-fired power plants operating indefinitely

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square Two coal-fired power plants in Tennessee that had been scheduled for closure in 2026 and 2028 will be kept open for the “foreseeable future” after...
Lawmakers probe nationwide child care fraud

Lawmakers probe nationwide child care fraud

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A bipartisan group of senators probed allegations of fraud in the child care industry on Thursday. The lawmakers called for greater transparency and more rigorous...
Cornyn files Defeat Sharia Law in America Act, another Texas-led effort

Cornyn files Defeat Sharia Law in America Act, another Texas-led effort

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has filed a bill to ban Sharia law in the U.S., another act in a Texas-led effort addressing Islamic ideology....
WATCH: Attorney cites positive impact of corruption trials 1 year after Madigan conviction

WATCH: Attorney cites positive impact of corruption trials 1 year after Madigan conviction

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – One year after a federal jury convicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan of bribery, conspiracy, wire...
Illinois Quick Hits: $10M scheme alleged in heath care fraud case

Illinois Quick Hits: $10M scheme alleged in heath care fraud case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Two Pakistani nationals have been charged in Chicago with participating in a $10-million scheme to fraudulently bill...

WATCH: Trump terminates Obama-era climate change policy

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump administration on Thursday terminated the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Endangerment Finding,” a landmark policy that led to sweeping climate change regulations and higher costs...
Democrats tank DHS bill again, likely triggering partial govt shutdown

Democrats tank DHS bill again, likely triggering partial govt shutdown

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Democrats in the U.S. Senate tanked the Homeland Security full-year funding bill in a last-ditch vote Thursday, all but guaranteeing a partial government shutdown starting...
GOP governor candidate Heidner wants Illinois to ‘make,’ not ‘take’

GOP governor candidate Heidner wants Illinois to ‘make,’ not ‘take’

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – One of the four Republicans vying for the party’s nomination to take on Gov. J.B. Pritzker says...

WATCH: WA to distribute its store of abortion pills to clinics, possibly nationwide

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Washington Senators have passed a bill that would allow the state to distribute millions of abortion pills, it purchased after the U.S. Supreme Court decision...
Texas now leading in border security in the Arctic

Texas now leading in border security in the Arctic

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas is again leading on border security, this time in the Arctic. New icebreakers are being built for the U.S. Coast Guard in Galveston and...
Federal debt expected to climb, but how much debt can U.S. carry?

Federal debt expected to climb, but how much debt can U.S. carry?

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The latest projections show U.S. debt will continue to grow over the next decade, hitting 120% of gross domestic product by 2036, raising questions about...
Op-Ed: If Illinois wants clean energy, it needs data centers

Op-Ed: If Illinois wants clean energy, it needs data centers

By LyLena Estabine | Illinois Policy InstituteThe Center Square If Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to reach his environmental and economic goals, data centers will need to be central to...
Bill lets Arizonans vote on right to refuse medical mandates

Bill lets Arizonans vote on right to refuse medical mandates

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square A new bill proposes giving Arizonans the chance to vote on whether the right of refusal in medical situations should be guaranteed in the state...
Illinois senator’s bill on transgender ‘mental illness’ sparks debate

Illinois senator’s bill on transgender ‘mental illness’ sparks debate

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State Sen. Andrew Chesney, R–Freeport, is pushing legislation that would classify transgenderism as a mental illness...
Dems cheer end to Minnesota immigration operation; GOP calls it success

Dems cheer end to Minnesota immigration operation; GOP calls it success

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Democrats are applauding White House border czar Tom Homan’s Thursday announcement that immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota will end next week. The announcement comes more...