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

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker reacts to HHS funding freeze; Chicago crime dashboard released

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker reacts to HHS funding freeze; Chicago crime dashboard released

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker reacts to HHS funding freeze The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has frozen access to about $10 billion...
Convicted murderer can’t use IL juvy reform law to win chance at parole

Convicted murderer can’t use IL juvy reform law to win chance at parole

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A Chicago gang member in the midst of a 40-year sentence for shooting and killing an innocent man while the other man...
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis pushes back on federal oil drilling

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis pushes back on federal oil drilling

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, along with other state officials and environmental advocates, announced her opposition Tuesday afternoon to President Donald Trump’s efforts to expand...
Flags flown at half-staff in Sacramento in LaMalfa's honor

Flags flown at half-staff in Sacramento in LaMalfa’s honor

By Dave MasonThe Center Square California Gov. Gavin Newsom Tuesday ordered flags in Sacramento flown at half-staff at the Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space in honor of U.S. Rep....

WATCH: IL Democrats take part in Jan. 6 hearing as Trump pushes voter ID

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – On the anniversary of the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. capitol, leading Democrats and the president...
House Dems, Trump offer competing visions of Jan. 6

House Dems, Trump offer competing visions of Jan. 6

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Democrat lawmakers and the Trump administration have offered competing visions on the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. The lawmakers...
Illinois quick hits: Criminal justice grants announced; unemployment rate unchanged

Illinois quick hits: Criminal justice grants announced; unemployment rate unchanged

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Criminal justice grants announced The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority has announced $50 million in taxpayer-funded grants for historically underserved communities....
State Rep: Illegal immigrants cost IL taxpayers more than enforcement

State Rep: Illegal immigrants cost IL taxpayers more than enforcement

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois Statehouse Republican says the cost of illegal immigration in Illinois is much more than a...
House committee to hold hearing Wednesday on Minnesota fraud

House committee to hold hearing Wednesday on Minnesota fraud

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is set to hold its first of two scheduled hearings Wednesday on the “fraud and misuse...
Court blocks Trump admin’s medical research funding cuts

Court blocks Trump admin’s medical research funding cuts

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit has affirmed a lower court’s decision barring the Trump administration from cutting funding for medical and...
Trump takes aim at defense contractors as he looks to speed arms production

Trump takes aim at defense contractors as he looks to speed arms production

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump criticized U.S. defense contractors on Tuesday, saying that he wants to produce the advanced weapons that the U.S. relies on for military...

WATCH: Candidate Dabrowski wants audit as IL Child Care Services funding skyrockets

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski is calling for a forensic audit of state spending on human...
Hegseth seeks to reduce Sen. Kelly's Navy retirement pay

Hegseth seeks to reduce Sen. Kelly’s Navy retirement pay

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Editor's note: This story has been updated since its initial publication to include a comment from the White House. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth plans...
Special election for Greene's seat set for March 10

Special election for Greene’s seat set for March 10

By Kim JarrettThe Center Square Former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's congressional seat will be empty at least two months, likely three, as a special election already drawing 24 candidates...
Trump lays out 'roadmap for victory' during GOP House retreat

Trump lays out ‘roadmap for victory’ during GOP House retreat

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square As the country is about to embark on a pivotal election year, President Donald Trump addressed the GOP U.S. House of Representatives retreat. During a...