JUNIOR HIGH TRACK: Elverado Wins First Ever Class S Title
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Led by Jake Lipe's three individual gold medals-and a second place finish-Elverado Junior High School's Boys Track and Field team claimed its first-ever state championship Saturday.
The Junior Falcons scored 48 points, edging second place Selmaville (42.5) to secure the Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association (SIJHSAA) team title in Class S.
Summersville (39), Jonesboro (34) and Meridian (30.5). Pinckneyville (#204) scored 18 points to place 11th.
A total of 83 schools qualified individuals for state.
"Our kids were just determined to win the championship," Elverado coach Garrett Janello said. "After seeing what Jake was doing individually, the other kids really stepped up. And after that, there was just no stopping us. We are just very excited."
Lipe-a talented eighth grader-streaked home first in the 100 Meter Hurdles (14.31), varsity 100 Meters (12.2) and 200 Meters (25.47).His fourth state medal was for third place (17'4) in the Long Jump.
The Junior Falcons also had season-best efforts from their 4x200 Varsity Relay (Brian McClanahan, Kyle Whittington, Marshall Bell and Nathan Epperheimer)-which placed fifth in 1:57.
The 4x400 groups (Austin Mapps, Whittington, Bell and Epperheimer) shaved nearly 13 seconds off its regional time and was second in 4:07.93.
"It really came down to the final event for us to win," Janello said. "We needed at least six or seven points and the kids came through. I am really proud of that group. We scratched Kyle Whittington out of the 1600 Meters to keep him fresh for the relays and that really helped. In some of the events, our regional times weren't all that high. But the kids stepped up and had a great, great day."
#204 was led by the second place showing of Quinten Shopinski (131'3.5) in the Discus. The Tigers also had a third place medal in the 4x200 Relay (Shopinski, Tyler Blankenship, Tyler Harmon and Tyler Hirsch; 1:48.34).
Shopinski was sixth in the 200 (27.12) and Blankenship (13.89) ran eighth in the 7th Grade 100 Meters.
"We had a great day to run," said Renee' Dorsey, who coaches #204 along with Dennis Kania.
The Lady Tigers of #204 also placed 11th Saturday, returning home with 14 points.
Alyssa Hirsch was state runner-up in the 400 (66.87) while Elverado's Jenny Sarensen (67.58) was seventh.
Hirsch, Katlyn Johnson, Kristen Ginn and Deanna Brand teamed up to finish sixth in the 4x200 Varsity Relay (2:02.13) with Heather McDaniel, Ginn, Sophie Keith and Hirsch also sixth in the 4x400 Relay (4:49.32).