February 11, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Meyer, Knott shine in Rantoul for Spartans

Two trips to Rantoul in a three-day span produced some quality performances from the St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ track and field team.


On Tuesday, the Spartans placed third in a four-team meet that Rantoul hosted, with SJO compiling 64 points to finish behind Champaign Central (84.5) and Rantoul (75) and ahead of Clinton (39.5).


Three days earlier, SJO competed in the 15-team Rantoul Invitational, finishing seventh with 55 points. Bloom Twp. won the meet with 11 points, followed by the host Eagles (98), Monticello (97), Pleasant Plains (95), Urbana (58), Mahomet-Seymour (57) and SJO in the top seven schools.


Hayden Knott won two events on Tuesday, while Aiden Meyer won an individual event and ran the opening leg on two first-place relay teams to pace the Spartans.


Knott came through with wins in the shot put with a toss of 42 feet, 1.25 inches and in the discus with a throw of 143-9. Meyer was the fastest competitor in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.49 seconds and he was part of the 800 relay (1:34.42) and the 1,600 relay (3:40.51 that also placed first. Brayden Grimsey, Aaron Wagner-Dillman and Lane Gaskin joined him on the 800 relay, while Gaskin, Keanen Swanson and Ethan Vanilew were on the 1,600 relay with Meyer.


Vanilew also contributed with a first-place showing in the high jump by clearing 5-8 and Nolan Peacock won the pole vault for SJO by clearing 11-6.
Isiah McCune in the 1,600 (4:47.68) and Swanson in the triple jump (36-8.5) both placed second in their respective events, while the 400 relay of Wagner-Dillman, Jonathan Poulter, Swanson and Grimsey (46.44) and the 800 relay of Eric Poe, Brandon Matsey, Luke Stegall and Elijah Mock (1:53.35) finished third on Tuesday.


McCune had the best finish for SJO during the Rantoul Invitational this past Saturday, finishing second in the 3,200 in 10:09.96.


Gaskin added a third-place finish in the 200 (22.87) and Peacock placed fourth in the pole vault (12-6).


SJO is slated to get back in action for another big outdoor meet this Friday at the Monticello Invitational, with events starting at 4:30 p.m.

Banner
Related Posts

Hug, Martinie help SJO girls’ basketball win regional title

February 21, 2023

February 21, 2023

Winning regional championships is nothing new for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’basketball program. But earning one during the 2022-23...

GCMS awaits as SJO girls’ basketball continues postseason run

February 11, 2019

February 11, 2019

Four high school girls’ basketball teams, including St. Joseph-Ogden, will descend upon the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley gymnasium on Monday night. By...

Student-Athlete of the Month Rylee Sjuts

September 3, 2019

September 3, 2019

Every month in season coaches at St. Joseph-Ogden High School nominate athletes to be the student-athlete of the month. A...

5 question Friday with SJO Tennis Coach Kevin Martlage

October 14, 2022

October 14, 2022

We asked SJO Tennis Coach Kevin Martlage five questions. Here are his answers. What does it mean to you to...

SJO girls’ basketball to host inaugural Country Financial Shootout on Saturday

December 14, 2023

December 14, 2023

The Christie Clinic Shootout has become an annual staple on the high school basketball calendar in St. Joseph. Same for...

SJO soccer to have new home in 2023, while issues arise about current field maintenance

July 14, 2022

July 14, 2022

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School soccer team is set to have a new home field for the 2023 season. SJO...

Donation could change the face of sports and activities at SJO

February 16, 2021

February 16, 2021

An anonymous donor has made St. Joseph-Ogden High School an offer they couldn’t refuse. And because of it, SJO athletic...

SJO volleyball cruises to three straight road wins

September 3, 2019

September 3, 2019

So far, the road has not produced any bad results for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School volleyball team. The Spartans...

Dowling, Dukeman power SJO softball to home win

April 10, 2019

April 10, 2019

So far, so good this season for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team. The Spartans (10-0) kept their undefeated...

SJO boys’ basketball can clinch Illini Prairie title tonight

February 13, 2024

February 13, 2024

Talk to enough coaches and players in the area and across the state and one common sentiment seems to pop...

Plotner’s dedication to cross country pays off

October 4, 2019

October 4, 2019

Jillian Plotner works hard every day to be the best she possibly can be. St. Joseph-Ogden Cross Country Head coach...

Cook surpasses 1,000 career points

February 18, 2019

February 18, 2019

Before the St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball teams plays Monday night for a shot to reach the state tournament, facing Chicago...

Cain, Pence help SJO boys’ basketball post two wins

January 27, 2020

January 27, 2020

Playing a competitive nonconference schedule is nothing new for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ basketball team. The Spartans face...

Five SJO softball games to watch for in 2019

March 11, 2019

March 11, 2019

This Team Time Out is sponsored by Kelso Heating and Cooling. The season opener is less than a week away...

Thanks for the memories

November 9, 2019

November 9, 2019

We asked the St. Joseph-Ogden Cross Country team to share their favorite memories from the 2019 season. Here are their...

Comments
Leave a Reply