Litchfield Shines in Heavy Competition at Rochester Rocket Invitational

The Litchfield boys’ and girls’ track and field programs faced off against a deep and highly competitive 18-team field on Friday, April 24, at the Rochester Rocket Invitational. The boys secured a fourth-place overall finish with 58 points, while the girls also landed in the top tier, placing fourth with 63 points.

The host Rochester squad protected their home turf, claiming both the boys’ (142.5 points) and girls’ (104.5 points) team championships.

Litchfield’s Alec Roach continued his spectacular senior campaign by sweeping the short sprints against some of the region’s top competition. Roach set a personal best to win the 100-meter dash in 10.85 and returned to dominate the 200-meter dash with another personal-best time of 21.98. Teammate Jaxon Ray also found success in the sprints, placing seventh in the 200 meters (23.41) and sixth in the 100 meters (11.42).

Senior hurdler Johnathon Bowles was a standout in the technical events, grabbing a pair of top-three finishes. Bowles claimed silver in the 110-meter high hurdles (16.52) and took bronze in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles (41.84). He also secured a third-place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 12.58 meters. Freshman Brylan Marten contributed solid field points as well, finishing fifth in the long jump (5.92m).

The Litchfield boys’ 4×200 relay team of Marten, Ray, Andrew Boston, and Roach delivered a strong runner-up finish, crossing the line in 1:31.26.

On the girls’ side, distance runner Maggie Schwab led the charge for Litchfield. The freshman phenom ran a personal-best 12:05.53 to secure gold in the 3200 meters. Schwab also secured a fourth-place finish in a very fast 1600-meter race, crossing the finish line in a personal-best 5:35.45.

Freshman sprinter Lana Cress once again showed her immense potential, placing second in the 100-meter dash with a personal-best 12.93 and fourth in the 200-meter dash (27.13). Ava White added a runner-up finish in the 300-meter hurdles (50.42) and finished sixth in the 100-meter hurdles (18.32).

In the field events, sophomore Kilee Hoover cleared 1.57 meters to claim silver in the high jump, while sophomore Jennah Longwell continued her consistent throwing season with a ninth-place finish in the shot put (9.61m).

The Litchfield girls’ 4×100 relay team (Cress, Brooke Braasch, Jada Carroll, Hoover) placed third overall with a time of 51.88, and the 4×200 relay team finished fourth in 1:51.17.

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

(Note: Track and Field total team points reflect final standings)
| Team | Boys Points | Girls Points |
|—|—|—|
| Rochester | 142.5 | 104.5 |
| Williamsville | 77 | 60.5 |
| Pleasant Plains | 68 | 81 |
| Litchfield | 58 | 63 |
| Auburn | 52 | 14 |
| Clinton | 52 | 66 |
| Mason City (Illini Central) | 51 | 37 |
| Jerseyville (Jersey) | 46 | N/A |
| Carlinville | 28.5 | 28 |
| Riverton | 26 | 32 |
| Gillespie | 22 | 50 |
| Bethalto (Civic Memorial) | 20.5 | N/A |
| Springfield (Lutheran) | 19 | 28 |
| Stanford (Olympia) | 16 | 31 |
| Virden (North Mac) | 12 | 20 |
| New Berlin | 11.5 | 40 |
| Taylorville | N/A | 34 |
| Pawnee | N/A | 6 |

Scoring Drives

(First-Place Event Finishes – Boys)

• 100 Meters: Alec Roach, Litchfield (10.85)

• 200 Meters: Alec Roach, Litchfield (21.98)

• 400 Meters: Jacob Barth, Auburn (49.41)

• 800 Meters: Ryan Patrick, Williamsville (1:57.42)

• 1600 Meters: Coriell Green, Mason City Illini Central (4:25.65)

• 3200 Meters: Lucas Hollinshead, Williamsville (9:40.81)

• 110m Hurdles: Gradyn Hartlaub, Riverton (16.32)

• 300m Hurdles: Gradyn Hartlaub, Riverton (40.33)

• Relays: Rochester (4×100), Pleasant Plains (4×200), Auburn (4×400, 4×800)

• Shot Put: Dylan Durocher, Rochester (15.86m)

• Discus: Macklin Nelson, Rochester (46.46m)

• High Jump: Nick Glisson, Mason City Illini Central (1.95m)

• Pole Vault: Jack Stanton, Rochester (4.35m)

• Long Jump: Tristan Stanton, Rochester (6.83m)

• Triple Jump: Tristan Stanton, Rochester (13.89m)

(First-Place Event Finishes – Girls)

• 100 Meters: Reagan Campbell, Riverton (12.50)

• 200 Meters: Reagan Campbell, Riverton (25.95)

• 400 Meters: Taylor Bressan, Williamsville (58.79)

• 800 Meters: Carrie Ann Miller, Springfield Lutheran (2:22.69)

• 1600 Meters: Lydia Woody, Springfield Lutheran (5:17.21)

• 3200 Meters: Maggie Schwab, Litchfield (12:05.53)

• 100m Hurdles: Peyton Zeidler, Rochester (16.77)

• 300m Hurdles: Laney Anderson, Mason City Illini Central (48.27)

• Relays: Williamsville (4×100), New Berlin (4×200), Rochester (4×400, 4×800)

• Shot Put: Abi Moser, Clinton (11.79m)

• Discus: Elsie Williamson, Taylorville (39.39m)

• High Jump: Emily Wisniewski, Auburn (1.65m)

• Pole Vault: Ella Brawner, Gillespie (3.34m)

• Long Jump: Peyton Zeidler, Rochester (5.51m)

• Triple Jump: Peyton Zeidler, Rochester (11.65m)

Individual Statistics

• LITCHFIELD MULTI-EVENT MEDALISTS: Alec Roach (1st in 100m, 1st in 200m); Maggie Schwab (1st in 3200m).

• LITCHFIELD BOYS TOP FIELD FINISHES: Johnathon Bowles (3rd in Triple Jump, 12.58m); Brylan Marten (5th in Long Jump, 5.92m).

• LITCHFIELD GIRLS TOP FIELD FINISHES: Kilee Hoover (2nd in High Jump, 1.57m); Harley Foulk (8th in Long Jump, 4.41m).

• LITCHFIELD RELAYS: The Litchfield boys placed 2nd in the 4×200 relay (1:31.26). The Litchfield girls placed 3rd in the 4×100 relay (51.88) and 4th in the 4×200 relay (1:51.17).