2025 Panther track season is underway

The girls’ track team graduated several key runners from last season, but also returned with members with state meet experience. Key returners for Coach Davis Eidahl’s team include Anna Hadley, last year’s state shot put champion; Chloe Glosser, who finished fifth in last year’s state 1500m race; and Kayse Miller, who placed sixth in the high jump in 2023.

Also returning after competing in the state meet last year are senior Renae Eubanks, junior Abby Guise, and sophomores Reece Brisby and Paislee Coleman. Freshman Carlie Gambell will also be counted on to run in several events.

Pekin’s boys’ track team should be strong this season. Highlights for the team should come from seniors Will Adam, who ran on two medal-winning teats at state; Kasey Davis, one of the state’s top hurdlers; Caden Bender, strong in both the shot put and discus; and Robert Brown and Alijah Brock who each ran on state medal-playing relay teams. Top relay runners for the team this season will also include juniors Riley Smith and Landon Crow, and sophomores Mason Dahlstrom and Lane Fariss.

“Give us time,” says Coach Eidahl. “With more experience and time, we will develop into good track teams.

Pekin Ruritan Relays, 3/31/25

The Pekin boys’ track team hosted the Ruritan Relays on March 31. The Panthers varsity team won with 143 points. English Valleys finished second with 134 with Van Buren County a close third with 130. Fourth place went to Sigourney, Cardinal was fifth, and Moravia finished sixth.

In the field events, Pekin had wins in three events with Alijah Brock jumping 20-09.50 in the long jump, Caden Bender won both the shot put with a throw of 43-08.00 and the discus with a throw of 127-04. Brody Sobaski placed second in the high jump with a jump of 5-06.00. Will Adam took second in the long jump with a jump of 20-03.50, and Alton Williams finished fifth in the shot with a throw of 37-10.00 and sixth in discus with a throw of 107-08.

In the relay events, Pekin’s shuttle hurdle team of Alijah Brock, Will Adam, Robert Brown, and Kasey Davis won in 1:05.47. The 4x8 relay team of Mason Dahlstrom, Lane Fariss, Landon Crow, and Cole Millikin won with a time of 8:58.75. The Panthers also had a win in the 4x2, with Alijah Brock, Nolan Glick, Riley Smith, and Will Adam finishing in 1:34.61. Kasey Davis, Nolan Glick, Robert Brown, and Will Adam won the 4x1 relay with a time of 45.50.

Pekin placed second in the sprint medley relay, with Henry Adam, Kasey Davis, Riley Smith, and Nolan Glick finishing in 1:39.21. The 4x4 relay team of Riley Smith, Mason Dahlstrom, Landon Crow, and Nolan Glick finished second in 3:47.76.

The distance medley team of Henry Adam, Landon Crow, Mason Dahlstrom, and Cole Millikin finished fourth in 4:08.96.

Pekin had two wins in individual events, with Riley Smith winning the 400m hurdles in 59.65 and Lane Fariss winning the 800m run in 2:15.31. Cole Millikin placed second in the 1600m run in 4:31.73. In the 400m dash Brody Sobaski finished fifth in 56.70 and Lane Fariss came in sixth in 58.13. Dylan Sobaski finished fifth in the 3200m run in 11:50.31 and William Daniels finished sixth in 12:43.16.

In the JV events, Sigourney won with 130, while Pekin was second with 92. Van Buren County finished third with 66, English Valleys was fourth with 61, Cardinal finished fifth with 31, and Moravia was sixth with 1.

Cael Silvers won the 400m dash in 59.94, while Conor Cloyd won the 800m run in 2:36.57 and placed second in the 1600m run in 6:16.47. Aiden Porter finished second in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:10.31.

The 4x2 relay team of Hayden Miller, Henry Eubanks, Aiden Porter, and Jaxon Mefford won with a time of 1:46.17. The 4x4 relay team of Brody Sobaski, Johnathan Jacobs, Cael Silvers, and Aiden Porter won in 4:12.70.

Hayden Miller, Ryann Hammes, Henry Eubanks, and Cael Silvers finished third in the sprint medley with a time of 1:50.26.

Jaxon Mefford won the high jump with a jump of 4-10.00 and placed fourth in the long jump with a jump of 15-04.00. Jonah Breon finished third in the shot put with a throw of 32-06.50.