After competing at the Class 3A state track and field meet in each of her first three seasons, Highland Park senior Kiera Thorpe admitted she put a lot of pressure on herself to return to Eastern Illinois one final time.
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“I know the team depends on me, and I like going down there just for them,” she said.
Thorpe made the Giants proud at the Loyola Sectional on May 14 by winning the 100-meter dash (12.51 seconds) and placing second in the 400-meter dash (59.04). She also ran the anchor leg on the state-qualifying 4×400 relay team, which crossed in 4:03.60 to better the state standard of 4:04.24.
“I would say I had a good day,” said Thorpe, who also qualified for state in the triple jump (35-04.25). “My goal is to peak and hit some personal bests. It will be my last time running in high school.”
Highland Park finished third at the sectional with 81.33 points. New Trier won with 116 points.
Senior Madison Knobloch won the high jump with a mark of 5-01, qualifying her for the state meet. Junior Kenzie Horberg qualified with a 16-09 mark in the long jump, and senior Savannah Sledd made it with a 38-4.25 in the shot put. Junior Charlotte Nawor had the fifth-best qualifying time in Class 3A in the 1,600-meter run, finishing in 5:02.58.
Twitter: @harnesspreps