Steeleville High School Girls Track and Field team
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Natalie Ruebke, Jill Winkelman, and Rachel Duensing are the members of the Steeleville High School Girls Track and Field team. While the numbers may be small, never count these girls out for one moment. Natalie Ruebke, a sophomore with a lot of potential, runs the 800 meter, 1600 meter, and long jump. Jill Winkelman, a junior, throws shot put and discus. Rachel Duensing, the team's only Senior, runs 100 meter and 300 meter hurdles, and the 200 meter dash.
At the 2010 Cahokia Girls Conference Meet in Red Bud, IL, the Steeleville Lady Warriors took fourth place behind Champions Freeburg, Second Place Breese Central, and Third Place Trenton-Wesclin.
At the State Qualifying Sectional meet, Jill threw a personal best to win the discus and advance to the State Track Meet at Eastern Illinois University. Rachel also advanced to the State Meet by winning the 100 meter hurdles and taking second in the 300 meter hurdles, while setting a personal best. The two girls competed in the preliminary day of State, but unfortunately, due to inadequate weather conditions, were unable to perform to their best abilities, but still had a wonderful time competing against other girls from all over the state.
Jill and Rachel also competed in the Meet of Champions held at SIU Carbondale, where both girls medaled in the events they qualified for: Jill took second in the discus with an overall personal best throw; Rachel took second in the 100 meter hurdles, and third in the 300 meter hurdles.
However, all three girls hold school records for certain events. Natalie holds the long jump record at 15 feet, breaking the old record by two feet; Jill Winkelman holds the discus record at 117 feet, shattering the former record by almost 19 feet; and Rachel Duensing hold the 100 meter hurdle record at 16.2 seconds, the 300 meter hurdle record at 49.6 seconds, and the 200 meter dash record at 27.7 seconds.
These girls have many accomplishments under their belts, whether it be Conference and Sectional Champions, personal best times, or school records, everyone is completely and utterly proud of them. Coach Joel Heidemann could not have asked for a better group of individuals. Remember the names; you will see them in the future.