The Lincoln-Way West girls track and field team concluded a remarkable season with notable performances at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Finals in Charleston.
According to the team’s records, the Warriors initiated their postseason with a sixth-place finish at the Southwest Suburban Conference Championships. This achievement was driven by All-Conference performances from Alanah Smith in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes, and Emily Hendrick in the shot put. The 4×100- and 4×200-meter relay teams, comprising Bliss Ward, Emma Novotny, Addison Goodwin, and Smith, also received All-Conference honors.
Carrying this momentum into the IHSA Class 3A sectional meet at Rock Island High School, the Warriors again secured sixth place. Their success was marked by several state-qualifying performances.
Senior Reese Geiger earned her spot in Charleston by finishing second in the pole vault. Smith continued her impressive form in sprints, winning both the 100 and 200 meters to claim sectional titles. The 4×100-meter relay team advanced to state for a second consecutive year, while the 4×200 relay made school history by qualifying for the first time.
Senior Chloe Miller concluded her career with a personal best in the 1,600 meters, while sophomore Ally Dean recorded the fourth-fastest 800 meters in school history.
The Warriors ended their historic season at Eastern Illinois University. Seniors Smith, Ward, and Geiger finished their high school careers with strong performances at the state finals. Sophomores Novotny and Goodwin gained valuable experience on this significant stage and are anticipated to lead next year’s team.
“It was a special season,” head coach Dominic De Luca said. “This group set a new standard for what’s possible at Lincoln-Way West.”