The 2017 IHSA Girls Track & Field State Finals will unfold this weekend at O’Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. The Spring Spectacular, one of the largest high school state final meets in the country, will welcome 2,570 individual qualifiers representing 409 high schools throughout Illinois.

The qualifiers breakdown by class is as follows:

Class 1A: 852 qualifiers from 150 schools

Class 2A: 715 qualifiers from 122 schools

Class 3A: 970 qualifiers from 137 schools

The NFHS Network will broadcast all the action live from the track at O’Brien Field, however field events will not be able to be covered, with the exception of awards. To subscribe and watch, visit www.IHSA.tv

History was made a year ago when the IHSA crowned its first ever Combined State Champion in Glenbard West. Combined winners are determined by using traditional meet scoring and combining those results with the scores of each teams' wheelchair athletes. Three wheelchair athletes will compete in 2017, as Niles West sophomore Danielle DiMaria, Glenbard West sophomore Ahalya Lettenberger, and Metamora junior Savanna Klobnak represent their schools.

In addition, the IHSA will continue its tradition of recognizing Honorary Officials, as Glenn Cothern, Bill Derks, Bob James, and Clarence Nolden will be honored for their contributions to high school track & field in Illinois.

The IHSA will continue to conduct its traditional awards ceremony in Class 1A, Class 2A and Class 3A on Saturday, May 20, by presenting the top three scoring teams (first, second, third) in each class with trophies.


CLASS 1A
Salt Fork High School claimed its first IHSA Girls Track & Field State Championship a year ago in commanding fashion, but a repeat isn’t in the cards with just two athletes qualifying in 2017. That opens the door for last year’s runner-up and 2000 state champ, St. Joseph-Ogden, who has 18 qualifiers entering the weekend. Pleasant Plains and Seneca tied with SJO for the most qualifiers at 18, although neither finished in the Top 10 a year ago. Clifton Central is another school to watch on the team leaderboard, as the Lady Comets had their best finish in school history a year ago when they place fourth and enter the weekend with 17 qualifiers. Warrensburg-Latham (3rd in 2017), St. Teresa (5th) and St. Anthony (6th) are a trio of Top 10 teams from a year ago who qualified 10 athletes this weekend. Meanwhile, Chicago Christian (15 qualifiers), Winnebago (15), Timothy Christian (14) and Teutopolis (13) all had strong Sectional performances and will have chances to accumulate points.


CLASS 2A
Class 2A Girls Track & Field has been about streaks of late, as Cahokia has run off three straight state titles after ending Springfield Southeast’s run of four straight state championships from 2010-2013. Last year’s title was different for the Lady Comanches, however, as Kaneland emerged to tie Cahokia for a share of first-place. Kaneland returns with 18 qualifiers this weekend, while Cahokia will have 12 and Southeast, third in 2016, has 11. Dunlap tied for fourth a year ago, the school’s best finish since 1986, and could challenge for the program’s first trophy behind a class-best 23 qualifiers. Brooks (9 qualifiers) and Rich South (11) shared fourth with Dunlap a year ago and have a combined 10 competitors at state. Evergreen Park’s lone Top 10 finish came back in 1982, but the Mustangs and their 19 qualifiers are worth watching, as our Vernon Hills (7th in 2016), Rosary and Sterling, who each bring 16 athletes from Sectionals.


CLASS 3A
Lincoln-Way East has owned Class 3A of late, as the Griffins have won the past four state titles, and had their largest margin of victory last year when they won with a 46-point cushion over runner-up Alton (10 qualifiers in 2017). The Griffins will have 12 competitors at state this weekend, while 2010 state champ Hinsdale Central, who tied for third last year, has 16. Four schools reached the 20-qualifier mark, led by Lyons class-best of 23, while Harlem, Oak Park-River Forest and Rock Island all boast 20 apiece. Although none were Top 10 teams a year ago, New Trier (18 qualifiers), Crete-Monee (17), Glenbard West (17) Prospect (17) and Palatine (17) all had strong Sectional showings and will have the chance to accumulate team points this weekend. Oswego East and its nine qualifiers hope for quality over quantity, as the Wolves vie for their second straight trophy after tying for third a year ago. East St. Louis (13 qualifiers), Downers Grove South (12) and Downers Grove North (11) will all have double-digit athletes in action after placing in the Top 10 a year ago.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY
45th year of State Series


SITE
O'Brien Field
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston
Directions


WEATHER
Updates/delays posted on Twitter at @IHSAWeather


SCHEDULE
Detailed event schedule

Thursday, May 18
Class 1A Prelims
10:00 AM - Jumps
11:00 AM - All running events, Pole Vault, Shot Put
1:10 PM - Discus

Friday, May 19
Class 2A Prelims
8:00 AM - Jumps
9:00 AM - All running events, Pole Vault, Shot Put
10:55 AM - Discus

Class 3A Prelims
Noon - Jumps
12:30 PM - Pole Vault
12:55 PM - All running events
1:05 PM - Shot Put
2:45 PM - Discus

Saturday, May 20
1A/2A/3A Finals
10:00 AM - All running events & jumps
12:30 PM - Discus


TICKETS
$10 per session


BROADCAST
All running events broadcast live on NFHS Network at  www.IHSA.tv


QUALIFIERS & RESULTS
By class & event


OFFICIAL STATE FINAL
Gear from Minerva

Photos from VIP

Souvenir Program


SOCIAL MEDIA   #IHSA
Twitter - @IHSAstate

Instagram - @IHSA_IL

Facebook.com/IHSA.IL

Classic IHSA YouTube Video


STATE SUPPORTERS
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MaxPreps


STUDENT SAFETY
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HISTORY & RECORDS
2017 State Series

Record Book & Past Champions