Thrice As Nice

For the third straight season, Bryleigh Buchanan took home top honors in the high jump in the IHSA Class 2A Girls Track & Field Sectionals.

Buchanan edged out Marion's Marissa Holmes as the Harrisburg senior cleared 5-feet-4 and will advanced to the State Tournament for the third straight year.

Last season, Buchanan was third at the state tournament, held in Charleston on the campus of Eastern Illinois University as she cleared 5-foot-3. Urbana High School freshman Diamonasia Taylor won the 2A state meet last year, clearing 5-8, while Charleston sophomore Sarah Flight was second at 5-5.

Harrisburg, as a team, placed 10th in the 15-team Sectional, coming away with 19 points.

East St. Louis ran away with the title with 147 points. Carbondale was a distant second at 55 points. Mt. Vernon was third, followed by Cahokia and Waterloo in the Top-5.

Freeburg, Centralia, Benton, Marion and Harrisburg rounded out the Top-10, followed by Anna-Jonesboro, Herrin, Massac County, Mascoutah and Carterville.

Buchanan also placed third in the long jump, going 16-feet-2 3/4. Buchanan earned the fourth place medal as there was a tie for second place.

Makayla McBrian got a sixth place medal in the shot put for the Bulldogs.

The State Finals will be held next Thursday through Saturday at O'Brein Field.