June 1, 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

Bigger, Burnett play crucial roles as SJO volleyball pushes win streak to five

September 10, 2019

September 10, 2019

Balanced offense and strong serving. Both are critical aspects for successful volleyball teams. The St. Joseph-Ogden High School team followed...

SJO football back in the playoffs, meets Williamsville in first round

October 26, 2019

October 26, 2019

The last time St. Joseph-Ogden High School football met Williamsville in a playoff game, the Spartans ended up playing for...

Immke, host of others help SJO softball pile up the wins in May

May 26, 2021

May 26, 2021

The last three weeks have seen the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team play a whole bunch of games — 15 to...

Franzen, Knap pace SJO girls’ cross-country at Spartan Classic

October 1, 2021

October 1, 2021

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ cross-country team had a strong showing at the Spartan Classic this past Saturday. SJO...

5 Question friday

August 26, 2022

August 26, 2022

Each Friday we will ask some SJO athletes five questions. Up first, junior football player Ethan McElroy. What made you...

Get to know… SJO Tennis Player Lily Rice

October 14, 2022

October 14, 2022

We asked SJO Tennis Player Lily Rice three questions. Here are her answers. Who is your favorite tennis player of...

Get to know SJO volleyball player Grace Goldenstein

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

What do you think makes the team so successful? our communication What is your favorite thing about volleyball and the...

Jacob, Cramer and Barnes help SJO girls’ basketball top Prairie Central

January 20, 2020

January 20, 2020

Needing a big win, the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team delivered last Thursday night. The Spartans stopped a...

10 things you don’t know about me… SJO Quarterback Logan Smith

September 2, 2022

September 2, 2022

We asked St. Joseph-Ogden quarterback Logan Smith to tell us 10 interesting things about himself. Here are his answers. My...

Spartans win Toyota of Danville Classic as Jacobs earns MVP honors

December 5, 2023

December 5, 2023

How well the St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ basketball team would fare this season without current Illinois State guard Ty Pence in...

Opportunity for growth is outlook SJO boys’ track and field is taking amid pandemic

April 17, 2020

April 17, 2020

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ track and field team had competed in a few indoor meets in February and...

Commitment pays off for Mattsey

December 10, 2019

December 10, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden Junior Brandon Mattsey is a leader. That is why his cross country coach Jason Retz, nominated him for...

SJO Spring track letter and award winners

June 7, 2022

June 7, 2022

Boys TrackBraden Clampitt, Sr.Charlie Mabry, Sr.Elijah Mock, Sr.Jett Morris, Sr.Jonny Poulter, Sr.Luke Stegall, Sr.Owen Birt, Jr.Tyler Burch, Jr.Aidan McCorkle, Jr.Aidan...

Hamilton, relay team win state titles as Spartans place third

May 21, 2019

May 21, 2019

Bringing state trophies home isn’t an easy task. But the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ track and field team sure...

Smith, Wertz shine as SJO football wins homecoming game

September 26, 2022

September 26, 2022

It was a happy homecoming for the St. Joseph-Ogden football team.And with the Spartans defeating Nokomis 42-12 this past Friday...

Comments
Leave a Reply