After plenty of solid sports performers over the last week, here are the Journal Star high school girls athlete of the week nominees for May 18-23, presented by CEFCU.
Head to www.pjstar.com/sports to vote. The poll closes at noon Friday. Information about the nominees is below.
If you have a nominee for the honor, email us at sports@pjstar.com or tag us on X @pjstarsports. Last week, Kate Fitzjarrald of the Peoria Notre Dame girls track and field team was named JS girls athlete of the week.
Lexie Dallinger-Eaker, Peoria Notre Dame softball
The sophomore did a bit everything to win a regional title last week. Dallinger-Eaker hit a pair of home runs to beat Olympia 6-3 in the Class 2A Farmington Regional on Friday, May 22. She smacked a sixth inning, two-run blast, then added a three-run shot in the seventh. Dallinger-Eaker also earned the pitching victory with nine strikeouts. The Irish won their first regional since 2013. She went 2-for-4 in a 10-7 semifinal win May 20 against Canton. Dallinger-Eaker hit a three-run homer to center as part of a five-run second inning.
Bryanna Anderson, Henry softball
The junior helped Henry make school history last week. Anderson hit a home run for host Henry in a 3-1 win over Midland in a Class 1A regional title game on Friday, May 22. She finished 2-for-2, adding a double. That offense helped Henry win a regional title for a program-record third successive season. Her week began with a 2-for-3 day as part of beating Putnam County, 4-1, in the regional semifinals on Wednesday, May 20. She also hit a home run in that game for the Mallards (15-10), who now play in the Class 1A Williamsfield Sectional semifinal.
Audrey Dickinson, Illini Bluffs track & field
The freshman collected two state medals last week. Dickinson was second in the Class 1A 800-meter run on Saturday, May 23, finishing in a personal-best 2:14.30 — only 0.44 seconds behind Jacksonville Routt sophomore Millie Schumacher (2:13.86). Dickinson was also the fifth-place finisher in the 1600-meter run (5:03.78).
Dusti Smith, Stark County track & field
The junior helped make program history last week. Smith ran the anchor leg to lift Stark County to the Class 1A 4×800-meter relay state title on Saturday, May 23. She took the baton in third place and proceeded to run a personal-best 2 minute, 10.50 second split for a season-best time of 9:24.77. Smith teamed with Cheyenh Smith, Norah Rorem and Paytin Terwilliger for the victory. Dusti Smith also took seventh in the 1600-meter run (5:04.70).
Claire Ceresa, Morton soccer
The junior helped the Potters win a regional title last week. Ceresa scored four goals to beat host Richwoods, 4-0, at the Richwoods Regional on May 22. She began her scoring with a penalty kick goal with nine minutes left in the opening half. The forward then scored a second-half hat trick thanks to goals in the 43rd minute, then two more in the 70th and 73rd minutes. The Potters (22-1-1) posted their new all-time state record 17th consecutive shutout.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Vote for Journal Star girls athlete of the week for May 18-23, presented by CEFCU
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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