On The Run

Sophomore Tuli Bera begins the second leg of the 4x200-meter relay after a handoff from junior Rachel Skoza in the Class A sectional meet Friday, May 9, at Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School. In one of several close finishes for the Illineks, Uni placed fourth in the relay, just 1.5 seconds behind first-place Clinton. The 4x200 squad consisted of Skoza, Bera, freshman Ashley Huddson, and sophomore Rachel Harmon. Bera was involved in an even closer finish in the 100 dash. She ran the final heat in 13.085 seconds, but Alyssa Burgard of Monticello ran it in 13.084, good enough for second place and a trip to the state finals next weekend in Charleston. The lone Illinek to advance to state was senior Ruthie Welch, who set a meet record in the 800 with a time of 2:22.37, almost 4 seconds faster than rival Erika Ramos of Hoopeston Area. Ramos was a state finalist in the 800 last year, and Welch had never defeated her — until sectionals. In all, Uni scored 30 points to place ninth at the 17-team meet, just one point behind both Fisher and host PBL. St. Joseph-Ogden, with 87 points, won the sectional championship. Other Uni athletes who earned points for the team were junior Lizzy Warner in the 400 dash, third place (1:03.00), and the 4x400 team, fourth place (4:20.26). The 4x400 squad featured Welch, Skoza, Huddson, and Warner.