“Runners, take your mark” was a phrase repeated through the P.A. at O’Brien Stadium Friday and Saturday afternoon. The 2007 Illinois High School Association Girl’s State Track Championship was held on Eastern’s campus May 18 and 19. Over 590 high schools from all over the state of Illinois flocked to Charleston to participate in the track championship.

Sherrard High School took the Class A championship while the Lady Broncos from Barrington High School in Barrington won the AA championship.

Junior sprinter Toni Graham from Conant High School in Hoffman Estates participated in four events this past weekend and earned medals in three of those four events. She missed first place in the 100-m dash by a hundredth of a second.

When asked what she needs to do in the off-season to take the title next year she responded, “It’s just going to take hard work.” Even though Graham did not win the 100-m dash final she was full of smiles after the race and was not unhappy about her performance.

Throughout the competition emotions were high among all competitors. Over 3,000 girls competed in the track events this weekend with each one of them wanting to perform the best they could.

Senior high jumper Caitlin Roberts of York High School came to the state competition not knowing how she would finish but was hoping improve on last year. The biggest thing she had to deal with right before state was her approach. According to her and her coach, John Debowiecki, she changed her approach to a 5-step approach a week before state finals.

“High jump is definitely a form sport and with her full approach she wasn’t controlling her body,” Debowiecki said. “Using the 5-step approach allows [Roberts] having more control of her body.”

Unfortunately, all those drills and plyometric training that Roberts had gone through to improve her jump was not enough for her to win state at high jump. The striking thing about Roberts was her attitude during the whole event. She constantly had a smile on her face and just appeared to be happy to be there.

Roberts looked as if she enjoyed every moment of her competition even after missing her final attempt at 5’5.”

The spirit and enthusiasm that Roberts had is something every athlete can look up too.

Roberts will be attending Illinois State University next fall and pursuing a career in education but she is unsure if she will continue her track career into college.