The East St. Louis Flyerettes took off early and never looked back Friday as they breezed to the title at the Class AA Marion Girls Track and Field Sectional.
Flyerettes senior Ronecia Nash, the defending state champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, won those events over rival Yolanda Suggs, of Belleville West, as East St. Louis put itself into position for a run at the state title next week in Charleston.
Nash also won the 100 high hurdles for her third win of the night.
East St. Louis, which finished with 144 points to 78 for runner-up Cahokia, will have athletes in 13 events at the Class AA state meet, which will be held at O'Brien Stadium.
In addition to the titles won by Nash, the Flyerettes also got an individual win from Ashley Gaston in the shot put.
East St. Louis also won the 400, 800 and 1,600 relays. Brittany Brimmage also qualifed in two events (long jump and triple jump).
Second-place Cahokia got victories from Laquitsha Bejoile in the 300 low hurdles, Shandria Marshall in the pole vault and Nadia Moore in the triple jump.
Suggs also had a good night to she lead West. The Maroons junior won the 400, in addition to placing second to Nash in the 100 and 200.
Other Maroons earning state bids were Kaitlyn Hill (shot put) and Sammie Grove (800). The Maroons also qualified in the 400, 800 and 1,600 relays.
Belleville East was led by Mackenzie Otten, who won the 800. Other Lancers to advance included Maria Effinger (1,600), Latia Jefferson (triple jump) and Roneshia Frye (100 hurdles).
O'Fallon's Elaine Patten won the high jump with Mascoutah's Kristen Willeford in second.
Alton Sectional
The Edwardsville Tigers remained on the right path at the Class AA Alton Track and Field Sectional, and so did Triad senior Erin Wykoff.
The defending state champion in the discus, Wykoff was in top form as she won her specialty and added a win in the shot put to lead the way for local athletes.
Wykoff threw the discus more than 137 feet as she tuned up for state.
The Knights senior also won the shot put with an effort of nearly 41 feet.
Edwardsville, led by 800-meter champion Lia Saunders, won the team championship, posting a win over Triad.
The Tigers, coming off a second-place finish at the Southwestern Conference Meet, also won the 1,600 and 3,200 relays. The Tigers also qualified in the 800 relay.
Chelsea Coley was the other Edwardsville athlete to win, clearing 9-9 to win the pole vault.
The Tigers finished with 105 points, compared with 67 for Triad
In addition to the wins by Wykoff, Triad also got a win from Ashley Roche in the 100.
Kristin Wykoff will join her sister at state by advancing in both the shot put and discus.
Granite City will be represented at state by Stephanie McClure (long jump), Domaneisha Harden (triple jump) and junior Brandi Jones (discus).
Morissa Marshall, of Collinsville, advanced in the 300 hurdles.
