TRACK & FIELD: #204 boys claim State title, girls finish 2nd
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Pinckneyville District #204 brought home plenty of hardware from Saturday's Class S State Track Meet, with their boys team claiming first place overall and the girls bringing home second.
The Tiger boys competed in nine of the fourteen events on Saturday at Salem Community High School and placed for points in every single one of them, racking up 64 total points to distance themselves from second place Jonesboro (47). South Central (43) was third, followed by Woodlawn (36).
The Lady Tigers finished with 39 points, earning points in five events. Selmaville (60.5 points) took home the championship, St. Peter/Paul (35) was third, Aviston (34) fourth.
In addition to the team title, Brian Taylor and Chris Mitchell won events on Saturday, with Taylor claiming the hurdles and Mitchell the long jump. Taylor was also second in the high jump, Mitchell was runner-up in the 400m.
Mitchell and Taylor earned more honors in the 800m and 1600m relays, as along with teammates Justin Hoch and Caleb Logan, the Tigers placed second in both events.
Other boys earning points for their finishes Saturday included Caleb Dahn (3rd, shotput), Layton McNew (4th, 800m) and Ian Henne (8th, 1600m/mile).
On the girls' side, Sophie Keith brought home two individual state championships for #204, winning both the 7th Grade 100m dash and the 1600m/mile.
Two Lady Tiger relay teams also received points, with the 1600m/mile team brining home first and the 800m group finishing seventh. Relay runners for #204's girls were Keith, Payton Bathon, Ashley Wild, Savannah Cheek, Lindsey Taylor, Emily Kuberski and Taylor Smith. Cheek was also seventh in the 1600m/mile.
Other #204 team members competing were Megan Bagley and Shania Opp.
The Pinckneyville Dist. #204 Tiger track teams are coached by Josh Plumlee and his assistants Barb Taylor and Heather Opp.