Fast Cats, Fast Times: Central girls prepare for state meet

Published 4:29 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2026

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Central Lady Panthers’ track and field team had a great day last Thursday at the Pleasant Plains Sectional.

Central advanced to the IHSA Track and Field State Championships in seven events. The Panthers will run at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston this weekend.

Adi Foss led the way for the Panthers as she has all season long qualifying in both the 100 and 200-meter dash, as well as anchoring the 4×1 and 4×2 teams.

Foss ran personal bests in her individual events as she posted times of 12.1 in the 100 and 26.16 in the 200. The 100 result ended up being a new school record as well. The junior is a three-time All-Stater already in her career, but the one thing that eludes her still is an individual All-State honor.

If she runs like she did at Sectionals, that honor should come. Foss ran the second fastest Sectional time and the fourth fastest Class 1A time of year last week.

Foss won’t be alone as she will be well accompanied by teammates in Charleston. Agnes Genenbacher will compete in both the 100 and 300-meter hurdles on Eastern’s blue track. Genenbacher is making her fourth straight trip to state as she has run the Hurdles and been a part of relays the previous three years.

Anika Riperda will run in the 3,200 at the state meet. The Central senior got a taste of state last year as a member of the 4×800 relay team, but will run as an individual for the first time this season.

Peyton Ehrhardt advanced to state in the shot put with a throw of 10.02 meters and a second place finish. This will be the senior’s second trip to state throwing shot and will hope to improve on last year’s 36th place finish.

Central head coach Brad Dixon feels good with the fact that so many of the girls have been at state before.

“We’ve got some girls with a lot of experience on the Blue Oval, so I know the moment won’t be too big for them,” said Dixon. “They are focused and excited for a chance to compete against the best girls in Illinois.”