CHARLESTON — Triad relied on strong sprint and hurdle performances Saturday, May 24, 2026, to win the IHSA Class 2A Girls State Track and Field Championship, scoring 43 points to finish ahead of Danville’s 36 at the state meet.
Chicago South Shore scored 34 points, Eureka had 33, and North Chicago finished with 32. Cahokia scored 6 points for 46th place. East St. Louis had 14 points for 21st place. Jersey scored 3 points, and Mascoutah had 2 points.
Triad’s title effort was led by Sophia Schardan and Addie Field in the sprints, along with a first-place finish in the 4×100-meter relay.
Schardan won the 100 meters in 12.05 seconds, while Field placed seventh in 12.49. Field also took fourth in the 200 in 24.86 and second in the 400 in 57.01. Ava Gallia finished fourth in the 300 hurdles in 45.65, and Emberlie Goins was 23rd in the 3,200 in 11:58.30.
Triad won the 4×100 relay with Gallia, Field, Stein, and Schardan in 46.87.
Also in Class 2A, Gianna Stassi placed second in 12:05.19. East St. Louis finished fifth in the 4×400 relay in 4:00.50. Dariyah Ford of East St. Louis was sixth in the shot put at 11.69 meters, and Pea’Town’s N. Walker was fifth in the triple jump at 11.40 meters.
Triad’s head girls coach, Adam Nelson, praised the team’s effort after the meet.
“I can’t say enough about the girls and how willing to work they deserve it,” the coach said. “It is amazing how many hours they were willing to train, and it is great when it pays off.”
The coach said the championship carried special meaning for the girls’ program.
“It means the world to me, and I told them all year long this was possible,” the coach said. “Repeating as state champs for sure is in our mind a little bit now. At least we can talk about it now after winning the state championship.”
1A
Carrollton’s McAdams and Gillespie’s Brawner Earn High State Places In 1A
Gillespie’s Ellie Brawner placed in a tie for fifth with a best pole vault of 3.20 meters. She is only a freshman.
Carrollton sophomore Chloe McAdams was seventh in the discus with a toss of 38.71 meters.
