STERLING — Senior track and field standout Teagan Meyers could hear the slow clap of the spectators behind the landing mat begin to build as she readied her approach during the final moments of the high jump competition at the Sterling Warrior Invitational on Saturday.

Having already clinched the event victory, Meyers went through her usual pre-jump routine as she sought not only to set a new personal record, but to enter her name into the record books at Rochelle Township High School. With her family, teammates and coaches watching from the background, Meyers began her approach toward the bar, gathering speed as she rounded the curve before launching herself over the bar for a new personal-record clearance of 1.60 meters.

“I was a little nervous before the jump because I felt like everyone was watching,” Meyers said. “I heard the slow clap during my run-up and it was nerve-racking, but it felt really good to clear that height and it was really satisfying because I struggled so much to clear the 5-foot mark last season. I’ve already surpassed that mark twice this season and it’s a really great feeling.”

1.60 meters converts to 5 feet 3 inches, which ties the RTHS indoor school record that Amy VanVickle set during the 1995 season. The record-tying leap also helped Meyers seal a berth in the 2022 Illinois Top Times State Championship meet, which begins Friday, March 25 at Illinois Wesleyan University. Meyers, who hasn’t had a full indoor track and field season since her freshman year due to COVID-19, said she feels far stronger than she was as a freshman.

“I feel like my legs have gotten a lot stronger and I’ve been able to make a lot of powerful jumps,” Meyers said. “I think I’ve done a really good job in all of my events so far and I feel like I’ve grown a lot as an athlete since I was a freshman. It’s been really nice going to meets where I struggled as a freshman and making new memories. I’m excited for the indoor state meet and I’m looking forward to learning from other athletes. It’s going to be a great competition.”

Meyers competed in four events at the Warrior Invitational on Saturday, finishing second in the triple jump with a distance of 9.71 meters and placing fourth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 29.01 seconds. Meyers ran the opening leg of the 800-meter relay, teaming up with juniors Rylee Jackson, Baylie Sutton and sophomore Kylie Smith to take fourth with a time of 2:03.35.

“I wanted to set a new personal record in the high jump this season and I’ve done that,” Meyers said. “I want to make it back to the outdoor state meet as well. I wasn’t sure what to expect this season, but I’ve been having a lot of fun and I’m leaving everything I have on the track for my senior season. I’m pushing myself harder than I did last season and I absolutely love my teammates. We all have great sportsmanship and we have a lot of potential in all areas.”

The Lady Hubs scored 36 points to finish fourth out of five schools at the Warrior Invitational. Junior Yuelma Ortiz won the 3200-meter run with a time of 13:41.12 before taking second in the 1600-meter run with a time of 6:16.40. Senior Sara Johnson finished sixth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 12.45 before placing third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:50.08. Jackson and Smith placed eighth and ninth in the 60-meter dash with times of 9.13 and 9.14.

Hubs

The Hubs scored 17.5 points to finish fifth out of five schools at the Warrior Invitational on Saturday. Senior Ryan Simmons took second in the high jump with a personal-record clearance of 1.80 meters and junior Hayden Inman placed fourth in the pole vault with a clearance of 2.90 meters. Junior Trey Taft finished fifth in the triple jump with a distance of 10.74 meters and sophomore Carlos Tomas took seventh in the shot put with a distance of 11.49 meters.

Hub runners Hayden Smith, Wade Smith, Alexavier Villatoro and Chris Hickey teamed up for third in the 3200-meter relay with a time of 11:06.64. Rochelle’s Irving Escalante, Taft, Simmons and Griffin Ohlinger finished fourth in the 800-meter relay with a time of 1:41.65. Escalante, Meyers, Eli Luxton and Alex Burke placed fifth in the 1600-meter relay with a time of 4:16.65.

Ohlinger finished fifth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.62 seconds and junior Landon DeLille took sixth with a time of 7.65 seconds. Sophomore Luis Hernandez placed fourth in the 3200-meter run with a time of 13:39.51 and Hickey finished eighth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:46.91. Burke placed seventh in the 1600-meter run with a personal-best time of 5:34.40 and junior Thomas Koziol took eighth with a personal-best time of 5:34.82.