Dusti Smith chased down a state championship.
The Stark County junior’s anchor leg helped lift the Rebels to the Class 1A 4×800-meter relay state championship on Saturday, May 23 at the 2026 IHSA girls track and field state finals. This marks the first state title by a relay in the Stark County program history.
“We thought we could win a state title since (the Lincoln Trail Conference meet),” Smith said. “… We knew we got it. We were really looking forward to today. We were pretty nervous because we knew we had a chance.
“I think we all didn’t want to let each other down.”
SC, which saw its 4×8 take fourth place at last season’s state finals, clocked in at a season-best 9 minutes, 24.77 seconds on the O’Brien Field blue track at Eastern Illinois University.
Smith took the baton in third place and proceeded to run a half-mile time of 2:10.44. Her final kick was able to overtake runner-up Winnebago (9:27.26) on the home stretch for the win.
“By the last turn, I saw that I was getting closer,” she said, “and I was like, ‘This is my chance’, so I just gave everything I had to pass them and give as far ahead as I could — just make it to that finish line.”
Cheyenh Smith (2:18.62) started off the race, handing the baton off to Norah Rorem (2:26.58), who gave away to third leg Paytin Terwilliger (2:29.13). Dusti Smith then turned a personal-best split by over 15 seconds.
Smith’s final run produced just the seventh state champion in Stark County girls track and field history.
“I could not believe it was happening,” she said of approaching the finish line with the lead. “This is really it. We’re in first right now. I was like, ‘No one’s getting me at this point.’ … It was so exciting.”
Dunlap high jumper takes sixth in 3A
Sammie Yeh finished her prep career by taking sixth-place in the Class 3A high jump. The reigning state champion leapt 5 feet, 5 inches, but scratched three times on 5-6.
A sprained ankle along with pulled muscles in Yeh’s back and calf slowed her throughout the season.
“I didn’t really do how I was hoping,” the University of Notre Dame commit said. “… I just did what I could. Hopefully, I’ll be ready for next year.”
She had won last year by clearing 5-8.75 — a height that would have beaten 2026 winner and Rockford Auburn junior Jaeda Benford (5-8).
“It’s been hard … today, especially, just jumping through the pain,” Yeh said of the adversity she faced this season. “I skipped a lot of meets this year, so I could rest up.”
Mid-Illini boasts three all-staters
The Mid-Illini Conference added a strong showing from Metamora, East Peoria and Pekin.
Metamora sophomore Baylie Nena was a top-six finisher in two Class 2A events — the 300 hurdles (46.41 seconds, sixth place) and the 100 hurdles (15.37 seconds, fifth). East Peoria senior Ava Alt was fifth in the 2A 100-meter dash (12.34 seconds) and took seventh at the 2A 200-meter dash (24.92 seconds).
Pekin senior Zoe Liedtke was fourth in the Class 3A long jump at 18-6.5.
Henry/Midland’s Bumber ends career with 11 state medals
Henry/Midland senior Daniella Bumber ended her decorated high school career with three more medals for 11 over her four years. She finished second in the Class 1A 400-meter dash (56.63 seconds) for a third time, while taking eighth in the 200-meter dash (25.74 seconds). Her anchor leg in the 4×100-meter relay (49.86 seconds) gave H/M seventh place.
St. Bede, Illini Bluffs runners take runner-up finishes in Class 1A
Lily Bosnich of St. Bede collected state medals eight and nine to wrap up her senior year. She was second in the Class 1A 100-meter hurdles (15.00) and placed third in the 300-meter hurdles (43.86, season best).
Illini Bluffs freshman Audrey Dickinson started a medal collection of her own. Dickinson was second in the Class 1A 800-meter run, crossing the line in a personal-best 2:14.30 — just 0.44 seconds behind Jacksonville Routt sophomore Millie Schumacher (2:13.86). Dickinson then took fifth in the 1600-meter run (5:03.78).
Eureka takes fourth in 2A behind six individuals and two relays
Eureka (33 points) finished fourth as a team in Class 2A, missing out on a state trophy by just one point to Chicago South Shore (34 points). The Hornets boasted six individuals competing on the final day as well as two relays – the 4×400-meter (4:01.75, sixth place) and the 4×8 (9:34.03, second).
Reagan Bishop (pole vault, 12-3.5, second), Bre Lehman (PV, 11-3.75, fourth), Brenna Metzger (300 hurdles, 46.43 seconds, seventh), Sophia Watson (800, 2:16.49, seventh), Ava Otto (1600, 5:09.37, ninth) and Sierra Herrmann (3200, 11:19.70, 11th) all found the podium.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall. Bill Welt contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Stark County wins title with a dramatic final kick at IHSA state track meet
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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