The LaSalle-Peru Cavs have been ahead of the track pack all season, and a dominant performance at the sectionals assured their spot atop the division recently.
The Cavs finished with a burst of 153 points in their final meet before the championship, besting second-place Ottawa Township High School by 50 points. They followed that with a first-place, 103-point finish in the championship, placing in the top two in nearly every race. Their 25-point victory over Sandwich was their first-ever sectional title victory.
"Our team is made up of a very nice group of girls that support each other," head coach John Beatty told the Illinois Valley Times. "This season is really a result of the whole team, not just one or two individuals."
The team is hitting its peak right now, with a record number of girls qualifying for the state tournament. Beatty said Shay Scheri, Skyler Weiden and Rachel Hickey have stood out as leaders.
"They are not the only ones for sure, but they helped motivate their teammates, and are good team players themselves," Beatty said.
Scheri advanced to the state tournament in all four of her events. She tied a school record in the long jump and helped her team set a school record in the 800-meter relay.
The finish is even more impressive considering some of the obstacles that LaSalle-Peru had to endure this season.
"We do not have an indoor workout facility, so the coaches got creative with using the space we have, like halls and stairs," Beatty said. "Some went out in below-freezing temperatures. So we did the best with the resources we had."
But the team isn't resting on its laurels, already looking to build for the future.
"We would like to see this kind of season more often at LP," Beatty said. "I would encourage all to do their best with their God-given ability. Sometimes that’s a first-place finish and others it is a PR (personal record), but both are a success."
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