Published on April 28, 2026 12:52 pm
Last Updated on April 28, 2026 12:53 pm
TUSCOLA — Area junior high track teams competed at the Tuscola East Prairie Invitational Saturday.
Neoga was the team champion in the girls seventh-grade meet with 94 points followed by Effingham 81, Teutopolis 63, Danville North Ridge 62, St. Joseph 58, Paris Mayo 49, Tuscola East Prairie 27, Clinton 21 and Westville 6.
Teutopolis won the boys seventh-grade meet with 104 points followed by Tuscola East Prairie 86, Danville North Ridge 72, Effingham 54, Paris Mayo 49, Clinton 28, St. Joseph 25, Neoga 23 and Westville 19.
In girls eighth-grade play, St. Joseph won with 101 points followed by Effingham 89, Teutopolis 58, Neoga 53, Tuscola East Prairie 35, Clinton 34, Westville 32, Danville North Ridge 31, Champaign Franklin 21, Paris Mayo 2 and Philo St. Thomas 2
In the boys eighth-grade meet, Paris Mayo won with 86 points followed by Danville North Ridge 83, Teutopolis 63, Clinton 61, Effingham 44, Neoga 42, St. Joseph 33, Westville 26 and Tuscola East Prairie 20.
“Saturday’s meet was everything we hoped for and more,” said EJHS Coach Nancy Ervin. “No wind, fast times, huge personal records and our athletes showed up. So many PRs and outstanding performances all day long. As coaches, we couldn’t be prouder. They cheered for teammates, laughed together, hung out all day and did it with no phones.”
Coach Nancy Ervin talked about standout moments for Effingham Junior High track competitors:
“Caydon Jolly and A. Smith both dropped nearly 20 seconds in the mile! Jared Klingler smashed a huge milestone, breaking five minutes in the mile with a 4:56.86.
“Kynlie Rohr jumped over a foot past her PR in long jump, took the win, and crushed the state qualifying mark! Miley Pontious PR’d in the long jump, then beat it again in her thirrd jump!
“Sixth-grader Alexandria Fouts placed seventh out of 21 in the eighth grade long jump, as a sixth-grader!
“The eighth-grade girls 4×200 (Cloie Bailey, Anna Gouchenouer, Rhylee Holland and Khloe Kelly pr’d again and hit the state qualifying mark for the second straight meet!
“The eighth-grade girls 4×100 of Miley Pontious, Maci Hoopingarner, Devynn Lake and Emma Hood) ran a PR and brought home first place medals
“Eighth-grader Devynn Lake cleared her way to a first place medal in the high jump.
“Seventh-grader Anna Gouchenouer was a double winner, taking first and medals in both the 100 and 200.
“Seventh-grade boys 4×200 team of Tristan Reed, Ethan Yeager, Levi Eckert and Jayden Zellers ran a PR and earned a first place medal.
“Jayden Zellers broke the 1:00 barrier again in the 400 with 59.99.Rhylee Holland grabbed a season best in the 400 with 1:04.92.”
JUNIOR HIGH TRACK
Tuscola East Prairie Invitational
Girls Seventh-Grade Meet
Team Scores — Neoga (NE) 94, Effingham (E) 81, Teutopolis (TT) 63, Danville North Ridge 62, St. Joseph 58, Paris Mayo 49, Tuscola East Prairie 27, Clinton 21, Westville 6
100 — 1. Anna Gouchenouer (E), 13.93 sec.; 3. McNeal (NE), 14.45; 5. Tegeler (TT), 14.96; 8. Frankie (NE), 15.18; 10. Young (E), 15.30; 12. Bushue (TT), 15.47
200 — 1. Anna Gouchenouer (E), 30.02 sec.; 3. Frankie (NE), 30.67; 9. Weishaar (E), 31.82; 16. Snidle (NE), 34.09
400 — 1. Isabella McNeal (NE), 1:03.54 min.; 3. Rohr (E), 1:07.91; 4. Wiedman (E), 1:09.38; 6. Pals (TT), 1:11.74; 11. Koester (TT), 1:14.69
800 — 1. Nora Hartke (NE), 2:32.85 min.; 5. Tegeler (TT), 2:46.53; 7. Hemmen (TT), 2:48.43; 9. Smith (E), 2:56.91; 10. Hoelscher (E), 2:57.19
1600 — 1. Nora Hartke (NE), 5:42.27 min.; 4. Hemmen (TT), 6:01.46; 6. Smith (E), 6:24.71; 9. Hoelscher (E), 6:44.86
100 Hurdles — 1. Quincy Taylor (NE), 19.33 sec.; 3. Schwerman (E), 19.86; 5. Rohr (E), 20.79
4×100 Relay — 1. Neoga (Lydia Frankie, Nora Hartke, Isabella McNeal, Aubrey Whitaker), 57.43 sec.; 3. Teutopolis (Tegeler, Koester, Runde, Probst), 1:01.46; 9. Effingham (Kirgan, Lefever, Florida, Adams), 1:07.94
4×200 Relay — 1. Danville North Ridge, 1:59.33 min.; 3. Teutopolis (Bushue, Westendorf, Bloemer, Schmidt), 2:05.01; 4. Effingham (Alexandria Fouts, Joslayn (Josie) Young, Isabel Schwerman, Kennedi Mulheron), 2:07.29
4×400 Relay — 1. Paris Mayo , 4:47.27 min.; 2. Teutopolis (Mette, Pals, Bloemer, Schmidt), 4:49.33; 4. Neoga (Eubanks, Finney, Whitaker, Dilley), 5:14.01; 6. Effingham (Mulheron, Jones, Hoelscher, Smith), 5:18.31
1600 (200-200-400-800) Relay — 1. St. Joseph, 4:51.43 min.; 3. Teutopolis (Bushue, Westendorf, Weber, Tegeler), 5:01.57; 4. Effingham (Young, Fouts, Wiedman, Hoelscher), 5:20.11; 6. Neoga (Eubanks, Whitaker, Dilley, Finney), 5:59.76
Shot — 1. Avery Cleland (Tuscola), 7.37 meters; 2. Bone (E), 7.10; 3. Will (NE), 6.96; 4. Finney (NE), 6.90; 12. Garcia (TT) 5.90; 13. Sharp (E), 5.69; 17. Holkenbrink (TT), 4.92
Discus — 1. Avery Cleland (Tuscola East Prairie), 21.02 meters; 3. Weishaar (E), 20.01; 4. Will (NE), 19.18; 7. Probst (TT), 18.55; 10. Bone (E), 17.46; 11. Garcia (TT), 17.36; 16. Varner (NE), 13.95
High Jump — 1. Stella Weber (Teutopolis), 1.42 meters; 2. Mulheron (E), 1.32; 4. Taylor (NE), 1.27
Pole Vault — 1. Nora Hartke (Neoga), 7 ft. 6 in.; 4. Weber (TT), 7-0; 6. Mette (TT), 6-6; 7. Ring (E), 6-0; 10. Snidle (NE), 5-0
Long Jump — 1. Kynlie Rohr (E), 4.96 meters; 3. Westendorf (TT), 4.35; 5. Weishaar (E), 4.12; 6. Bushue (TT), 4.11; 9. Eubanks (NE), 3.72; 14. Snidle (NE), 3.49
Girls Eighth-Grade Meet
Team Scores — St. Joseph (SJ) 101, Effingham (E) 89, Teutopolis (TT) 58, Neoga (NE) 53, Tuscola East Prairie (T) 35, Clinton (C) 34, Westville (W) 32, Danville North Ridge (DNR) 31, Champaign Franklin (CF) 21, Paris Mayo (PM) 2, Philo St. Thomas (PST) 2
100 — 1. Emily Murray (TT), 13.85 sec.; 2. Bear (NE), 13.90; 3. Bailey (E), 14.15; 4. Kelly (E), 14.30; 7. Tebbe (TT), 15.04; 13. Mast (NE), 15.98
200 — 1. Bliss Bear (Neoga), 28.11 sec.; 2. Bailey (E), 28.66; 4. Kelly (E), 29.73; 7. Tebbe (TT), 30.55; 14. Probst (TT), 32.45; 19. Kingery (NE), 36.68
400 — 1. Jocelyn Daniel (SJ), 1:01.22 min.; 2. Murray (TT), 1:01.70; 3. Holland (E), 1:04.92; 9. Schwerman (E), 1:14.63; 10. Dust (TT), 1:15.97
800 — 1. Penelope Dennis (TT), 2:33.20 min.; 7. Haarman (NE), 3:03.52; 8. Jones (E), 3:03.80; 9. Hess (E), 3:04.87; 10. Holkenbrink (TT), 3:05.73
1600 — 1. McKenna Beck (Clinton), 5:27.88 min.; 7. Hess (E), 6:57.87; 8. Percival (E), 6:58.82
100 Hurdles — 1. Penelope Dennis (Teutopolis), 18.08 sec.; 2. Pontious (E), 18.42; 3. Hood (E), 18.51
4×100 Relay — 1. Effingham (Miley Pontious, Maci Hoopingarner, Devynn Lake, Emma Hood), 57.06 sec.
4X200 Relay — 1. St. Joseph, 1:52.80 min.; 2. Effingham (Bailey, Gouchenouer, Holland, Kelly), 1:53.04; 5. Neoga (Eubanks Taylor, Snidle, Dilley), 2:18.69
4×400 Relay — 1. St. Joseph, 4:29.30 min.; 2. Teutopolis (Murray, Tebbe, Probst, Dennis), 4:33.87; 4. Effingham (Rohr, Wiedman, Schwerman, Holland), 4:44.51; 5. Neoga (Bell, Mast, Frankie, McNeal), 4:56.83
1600 (200-200-400-800) Relay — 1. St. Joseph, 4:37.97 min.; 3. Neoga (Bell, Finney, Mast, Haarman), 5:28.31; 4. Effingham (Hartman, Hoopingarner, Jones, Hess), 5:33.36; 5. Teutopolis (Runde, Probst, Dust, Holkenbrink), 5:35.99
Shot — 1. Avery Carter (St. Joseph), 8.93 meters; 4. Bear (NE), 8.11; 5. Bell (NE), 7.07; 6. Bloemker (E), 6.86; 7. Murray (TT), 6.72; 14. Moore (E), 5.31
Discus — 1. Kinley Barney (Westville), 27.50 meters; 3. Bloemker (E), 23.99; 7. Bell (NE), 18.92; 9. Tebbe (TT), 18.46; 13. Moore (E), 15.62; 14. Probst (TT), 15.23
High Jump — 1. Devynn Lake (E) 1.30 meters; 2. Haarman (NE), 1.25
Pole Vault — 1. Thea Hinkel (St. Joseph), 8 ft.; 3. Dennis (TT), 6-6; 4. Hemmen (TT), 6-6; 6. Haarman (NE), 5-6; 7. Dilley (NE), 5-0
Long Jump — 1. Bliss Bear (Neoga), 4.94 meters; 4. Pontious (E), 4.21; 7. Fouts (E), 4.11; 8. Dust (TT), 4.09; 9. Schmidt (TT), 4.00
Boys Seventh-Grade Meet
Team Scores — Teutopolis (TT) 104, Tuscola East Prairie 86, Danville North Ridge 72, Effingham (E) 54, Paris Mayo 49, Clinton 28, St. Joseph 25, Neoga (NE) 23, Westville 19
100 — 1. Anthony Daniels (Danville North Ridge), 13.25 sec.; 3. Meyer (TT), 13.68; 5. Mette (TT), 14.54; 6. Reed (E), 14.71; 9. Ault (E), 14.89; 15. Gage (NE), 16.37
200 — 1. Anthony Daniels (Danville North Ridge), 25.63 sec.; 2. Meyer (TT), 27.16; 4. Hamilton (E), 27.93; 5. Eckert (E), 28.41; 9. Mette (TT), 29.36; 19. Shuemaker (NE), 38.81
400 — 1. Jayden Zellers (Effingham), 59.99 sec.; 3. Deters (TT), 1:03.14; 6. Pummill (TT), 1:05.87; 9. Yeager (E), 1:06.96; 15. Baker (NE), 1:24.50
800 — 1. Jack Koehne (Tuscola East Prairie), 2:27.96 min.; 3. Mette (TT), 2:30.34; 5. Gordon (E), 2:33.81; 8. Cunningham (TT), 2:35.88; 9. Jolly (E), 2:37.39; 12. Coy (NE), 2:44.80; 17. Strohl (NE), 3:03.12
1600 — 1. Ben Underwood (Danville North Ridge), 5:18.90 min.; 3. Mette (TT), 5:34.65; 4. Jolly (E), 5:35.35; 6. Cunningham (TT), 5:40.66; 12. Glover (E), 6:30.19; 14. C.Strohl (NE), 6:35.29; 15. N. Strobl (NE), 6:59.11
110 Hurdles — 1. Robert Niemerg (TT), 18.87 sec.; 5. Devall (E), 22.53; 6. Chapman (E), 22.57; 7. HIlle (NE), 28.85
4×100 Relay — 1. Teutopolis (Charles Koester, Camden Mette, Weidner, Meyer), 53.35 sec.; 3. Effingham (Ault, Chapman, Haarman, Zumbahlen), 58.02; 4. Neoga (Brandenburg, Fitzpatrick, Meiksans, Gabe), 59.53
4×200 Relay — 1. Effingham (Reed, Yeager, Eckert, Zellers), 1:51.96 min.; 3. Teutopolis (Kocher, Deters, Niemerg, Pummill), 1:58.54
4×400 Relay — 1. Danville North Ridge, 4:16.69 min.; 2. Teutopolis (Meyer, Pummill, Deters, Koester), 4:17.46; 4. Effingham (Yeager, Reed, Gordon, Hamilton), 4:25.45; 6. Neoga (Brandenburg, Fitzpatrick, Gage, Meiksans), 5:08.88
SMR 1600 (200-200-400-800) Relay — 1. Tuscola East Prairie, 4:30.04 min.; 2. Effingham (Reed, Eckert, Yeager, Gordon), 4:40.28; 5. Teutopolis (Koester, Kocher, Pummill, Wernsing), 4:46.35; 6. Neoga (Brandenburg, Meiksans, Fitzpatrick, Coy), 5:03.91
Shot — 1. Bryar Allen (Clinton), 10.94 meters; 7. Kocher (TT), 8.47; 8. Coy (NE), 8.42; 9. Pierce (NE), 8.34; 15. Bradford (E) 7.42; 17. Buscher (E), 6.51; 18. Bierman (TT), 6.32
Discus — 1. Griffey Coy (Neoga), 34.41 meters; 2. Fitzpatrick (NE), 32.28; 7. Kocher (TT), 26.96; 13. Bradford (E), 21.76; 14. Bierman (TT), 19.13; 16. Buscher (E), 17.75
High Jump — 1. Jack Koehne (Tuscola East Prairie), 1.50 meters; 3. Deters (TT), 1.40; 6. Meiksans (NE), 1.40; 7. Brandenburg (NE), 1.30
Pole Vault — 1. Evan Weidner (Teutopolis), 9 ft. 6 in.; 3. Koester (TT), 7-0
Long Jump — 1. Camden Mette (Teutopolis), 5.40 meters; 7. Eckert (E), 4.79; 10. Zellers (E), 4.47; 11. Peterson (TT), 4.31; 16. Gage (NE), 3.99
Boys Eighth-Grade Meet
Team Scores — Paris Mayo 86, Danville North Ridge 83, Teutopolis (TT) 63, Clinton 61, Effingham (E) 44, Neoga (NE) 42, St. Joseph 33, Westville 26, Tuscola East Prairie 20
100 — 1. Owen Miller (Clinton), 13.04 sec.; 3. Orndorff (TT), 13.45; 7. Henkelman (E), 13.76; 8. Hartman (TT), 13.78; 12. Allen (E), 14.39; 13. McNeal (NE), 14.60; 19. Fort (NE), 16.31
200 — 1. Owen Anderson (Danville North Ridge), 25.41 sec.; 2. Hawker (E), 26.21; 7. Runde (TT), 27.49; 8. Haarman (E), 27.61; 9. Hartman (TT), 27.97; 16. Fort (NE), 33.25
200 — 1. Owen Anderson (Danville North Ridge), 25.41 sec.; 2. Hawker (E), 26.21; 7. Runde (TT), 27.49; 8. Haarman (E), 27.61; 9. Hartman (TT), 27.97; 16. Fort (NE), 33.25
400 — 1. Owen Miller (Clinton), 56.74 sec.; 4. Hemmen (TT), 1:00.16; 5. Belford (TT), 1:01.51; 11. Mihlbahler (E), 1:06.20; 12. Wyckoff (E), 1:06.89
800 — 1. Camden Fisher (St. Joseph), 2:11.91 min.; 5. Klingler (E), 2:19.62; 6. Pruemer (TT), 2:21.58; 7. Partlow (E), 2:26.87; 8. Helm (NE), 2:31.40; 13.Bierman (TT), 2:44.22; 15. Christner (NE), 3:19.94
1600 — 1. Camden Fisher (St. Joseph), 4:47.92 min.; 3. Klingler (E), 4:56.86; 5. Partlow (E), 5:14.16; 7. Pruemer (TT), 5:26.15; 9. Helm (NE), 5:43.43; 11. Habing (TT), 6:02.60; 15. Christner (NE), 7:01.21
110 Hurdles — 1. Jaylin Jackson (Danville North Ridge), 16.60 sec.; 2. Hemmen (TT), 17.12; 3. Nohren (NE), 17.39; 6. Hood (E), 18.93; 9. Kline (E), 21.76
4×100 Relay — 1. Paris Mayo, 49.70 sec.; 2. Teutopolis (Hartman, Wermert, Runde, Hemmen), 52.23; 5. Neoga (Hakman, Matusas, Nohren, McNeal), 53.77; 7. Effingham (Mihlbachler, Hood, Wendling, Allen), 55.05
4×200 Relay — 1. Danville North Ridge, 1:45.80 min.; 3. Effingham (Henkelman, Haarman, Hamilton, Hawker), 1:49.07; 5. Teutopolis (Dust, Willenborg, Habing, Orndorff), 1:57.73
4×400 Relay — 1. Paris Mayo, 3:59.48 min.; 2.Effingham (Zellers, Partlow, Klingler, Hawker), 4:07.60; 3. Teutopolis (Belford, Burke, Hemmen, Pruemer), 4:09.38; 6. Neoga (Matusas, Hakman, McNeal, Nohren), 4:25.44
SMR 1600 (200-200-400-800) Relay — 1. Paris Mayo, 4:16.76 min.; 3. Effingham (Henkelman, Hood, Mihlbachler, Partlow), 4:24.80; 6. Neoga (Hakman, Matusas, McNeal, Helm), 4:39.57
Shot — 1. Hudson Hildebrand (Neoga), 12.10 meters; 2. Willenborg (TT), 11.88; 3. Kenworthy (NE), 11.80; 5. Haarman (E), 11.14; 12. Mette (TT), 9.17; 19.McGee (E), 5.44
Discus — 1. Jaxson Creech (Paris Mayo), 33.98; 7. Ghast (TT), 31.98; 8. Mette (TT), 29.30; 10. Jenner (NE), 27.71; 19. Woolbright (E), 17.18
High Jump — 1. Amare Thomas (Danville North Ridge), 1.58 meters; 6. Hawker (E), 1.48; 7. Matusas (NE), 1.43; 9. Wermert (TT), 1.43
Pole Vault — 1. Gage Nohren (Neoga), 9 ft.; 2. Hartman (TT), 8-0; 3. Dust (TT), 7-0
Long Jump — 1. Owen Anderson (Danville North Ridge), 5.90 meters; 8. Wendling (E), 4.65; 9. Runde (TT), 4.60; 11. Dust (TT), 4.17; 13. Arnold (E), 3.99