IHSA Class 1A State Track&field Preliminaries: Hoffman is double-finalist
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[It's certainly no surprise to find Karson Hoffman's name among the short list of double-final event qualifiers at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 1A State Track and Field champions.
The Du Quoin High School junior has ranked among Southern Illinois'-and the state's small school best-all season.
What did turn more than a few heads, however, was Hoffman's effort in what most consider to be Hoffman's "second" event.
Thursday afternoon in the state prelims at Charleston's O'Brien Stadium, Hoffman grabbed the first day lead in the triple jump with a career-best 45'1 effort. He's less than two inches ahead of two other local standouts-Brian Pankey from Sesser-Valier/Waltonville-Woodlawn-and used just one jump in the humid Coles County air to make the finals. He was seeded ninth after going 43'0 in last week's sectional.
Best field event distances and heights carryover into Saturday.
The 12 triple jump qualfiers are:
1, Karson Hoffman, Du Quoin, 45-1. 2, Myles Tinsley, Sesser-Valier, 44-10 1/4. 2, Brian Pankey, Herrin, 44-10 1/4. 4, Dan Frey, Carterville, 44-1 1/4. 5, Dylan DeJonge, Erie, 43-9 3/4. 6, Michel Massamba, Peru St. Bede, 43-7 3/4. 7, Tyshawn Burch, Peoria Manual, 43-2 3/4. 8, Steve Bryan, Atwood-Hammond, 42-6 1/4. 9 Marcel Maiden, Watseka, 42-5 3/4. 10, Malcolm McFarland, Chicago Leo, 42-5 1/2. 11, Heath Byom, Knoxville, 42-5.10, and 12. Brandon Ringler, Manteno, 42-4 3/4.
In the 400, Hoffman (50.06) was the second seed overall following sectionals, but finished runner-up to Steven Davis of Braidwood-Custer (49.74) in the third of five heats. The time ended up seventh overall, securing the next-to-last position in the finals.
Ben Asmus of Heyworth (48.90) had the best time, followed by Shelbyville's Cody Boarman (49.34), Kevin Glasstetter of Milledgeville (49.42), Brett Eandi of Rochester (49.49), Shelbyville's Brandon Skowronski (49.69), Steven Davis (Sr.), Braidwood (Reed-Custer) (49.71), Hoffman, Josh Rives (Carlinville, 50.19) and Jake Lytle (Amboy) (50.27).
Du Quoin second state qualifier, junior Brock Morgenstern, was 6th in flight three and 23rd overall among the shot put entries. Only the top 12 advanced. Morgenstern's best effort Thursday was 48'0.
The finals are Saturday at 11 a.m.