The Republic-Times newspaper coverage area will be well-represented at the IHSA girls track state meets this weekend at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

Two girls each from Waterloo, Columbia, Gibault and Dupo qualified for state by virtue of strong performances in their respective sectionals.

At the Class 2A Triad Sectional on Friday, Waterloo senior Jenna Schwartz was the sectional champion in the 3,200 meter run with a time of 11:23.37. She will attempt to defend her state title in the event. Schwartz, a Mizzou commit, ran a time of 11:01.86 at last year’s state meet.

Also at the Triad Sectional, Waterloo’s Elise Dodel qualified for state with a third place showing in the discus with a throw of 114 feet. She holds the school record in the event.

For Columbia, Jade Bivins and Maddie VonDerHaar both qualified for state. 

Bivins placed second in the long jump at Triad with a jump of 17 feet, eight inches, which was just a half inch short of first place. She holds the school record in the event.

VonDerHaar placed fifth in the shot put with a throw of 37 feet, 3.5 inches. She holds the school record in the event.

At the Class 1A Sparta Sectional last Wednesday, Gibault’s Brooke Biffar and Nicole Lindsey qualified for state.

Biffar, a two-time state qualifier in cross country, won both the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs at the sectional with times of 6:09.02 and 13:10.97, respectively.

Lindsay placed second in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 16.96 seconds. She is a previous state qualifier in the event.

Also advancing out of the Sparta Sectional were Dupo’s Sarah Vanover and Annalese Gill.

Vanover placed second in the 3,200 meter run behind Biffar. 

Gill won the sectional championship in the shot put with a throw of 36 feet, six inches.

The boys track sectionals take place this week.