[AUDIO included] Junior Malcolm Taylor became the first Uni male track athlete in 67 years to win a runner-up medal at the IHSA state track meet as he ran the 400-meter dash in 49.74 seconds to finish behind only Ben Asmus of Heyworth. Taylor and Asmus are now 1-1-1 in competitions and look to continue their rivalry next year.

No, Deborah Ladd doesn't like to run all that much, so why is she writing a column in praise of running, and sports in general? "Sometimes I wonder why I do three sports a year," she writes, "but every time I improve myself or see a look of pride on my coach's face, I remember."

Track and girls soccer athletes were honored at Tuesday's sports awards ceremony at Uni Gym along with senior athletes, scholar athletes, and athletes of the year Michelle Mehnert, Ruth Welch, and Austin Rundus. Check inside for more of the honors that Uni athletes received.

Senior Ruthie Welch set a personal record in the 800-meter today to finish ninth at the IHSA Class A state finals and bring home a medal. The Dartmouth-bound senior became the first Uni girl to win a state track medal in any event since 1995.

Frankie McFarland won the discus and shot put at the Monticello sectional Friday night while Malcolm Taylor ran the fastest Class A 400-meter time in the state. The 4x800 relay time placed second but ran the third-fastest time in the state. In all, Uni qualified for next week's IHSA state meet in four events. Read on for the details.

With a full year left in his high school career, junior Malcolm Taylor already holds the school records in the 400 and 800, and he anchored the relay teams that hold the school-best times in the 4x800 and 4x400. Now he's looking to win medals at next week's state meet, where he can firmly establish himself as one of the state's elite runners. Jack Snyder spoke with Taylor earlier this week and came back with this interview.

Throughout the boys track season, senior Frankie McFarland has been throwing impressive distances in both the shot put and the discus. McFarland joined the team last season after the baseball program was canceled, and he quickly made an impact in field events. He now holds the school records in both throwing events. Jack Snyder talked with McFarland earlier this week as he prepared for sectionals. Learn more about the king of Uni field events.

Senior Ruthie Welch ran the 11th-fastest time this morning in the 800-meter state prelims, qualifying her for Saturday's Class A championship race. Welch ran the two laps at O'Brien Stadium in 2 minutes, 21.81 seconds — faster than her winning time at last week's sectional meet but slower than her personal best, set at Monday's News-Gazette honor Roll Meet. The top 12 runners out of a field of 31 this morning advanced to the finals.

[UPDATED with tennis sectional results] This afternoon, senior Ammar Rizwan and junior Richard Wang will represent Uni in the IHSA Urbana tennis sectional. Their appearance in the IHSA postseason culminates the first year of Uni's tennis club, sponsored by chemistry teacher David Bergandine. Sophomore Chris Yoder has been a club member from the start, and he offers a first-person look at this group of dedicated athletes.

[UPDATED with photos] Playing through a constant downpour, No. 1 seed Williamsville shut out Uni 3-0 in a sectional semifinal game this afternoon. The No. 4 seed Illineks ended their season 11-6-2, a major improvement over last season's 7-8-2 mark, which in turn was dramatically better than their 2006 record of 4-15.

This afternoon the Illineks will travel to Williamsville, a few miles northeast of Springfield, to take on the host Bullets, the No. 1 seed in Uni's playoff bracket and the defending sectional champs. To get to this position, Uni first had to knock off Monticello on Tuesday. Check out this audio slideshow for a look back at the Illineks' memorable and satisfying win. Woo hoo!

[AUDIO included] Senior Shara Esbenshade scored a pair of goals in the first half to lead Uni to a Class A sectional quarterfinal victory Tuesday over visiting Monticello. Junior Joy Shapley assisted on both goals. The Illineks will play No. 1 seed Williamsville (a 9-0 victor over No. 8 Athens) in a 4:30 p.m. road game Thursday.

[UPDATED with more photos] What a week it's going to be in Uni track! Ruthie Welch will compete in the Class A state meet this weekend, the boys will compete in sectionals on Friday, and everything got off to a great start Monday night with three victories and two personal records in the annual News-Gazette Honor Roll Meet at the U of I.

Senior Ruthie Welch might have been the only Uni athlete to qualify for state at Friday night's Class A sectional meet at PBL, but several other Illineks came close. Check inside for photos of the action. Welch will compete in the state finals Friday in Charleston. If she makes the first-day cut in the 800, she will advance to the championship race on Saturday.

[AUDIO included] Senior Ruthie Welch won the 800-meter run Friday night in the Class A sectional meet at Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School. She ran the event in a meet-record time of 2 minutes, 22.37 seconds, almost 4 seconds faster than runner-up Erika Ramos of Hoopeston Area, a state finalist last year. Welch was the only Uni athlete to qualify for next weekend's Class A state finals at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.