ATHLETICS
The Illiopolis kids were a very competetive bunch. Several titles were won and several state medals were earned.
Included was a State Championship!!! The boys competed in basketball, track, and football. The girls competed
in track, basketball, and volleyball. School team nickname, colors, fight song, team records, and coach's names are
all being sought.
GIRLS TRACK& FIELD
Move over Hebron, Illiopolis High School has a "David vs. Goliath" story of its own!! How about a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
in girls track! How about that this championship was won in a one class system! The girls went on to add
three more top-five finishes, ALL in the original one-class format.
An incredible group of athletes, led by Debi Kilhoffer, and the team, led by Coach Shirley Alford,
brought home a slew of medals which led to this incredible run by the Lady thinclads of IHS.
From a good fan of the site, "Kaylorjd", regarding the Illiopolis lady trackster success of the 1970s:
"Yes our lady tracksters were awesome - worthy almost of a movie. Among them, I believe Debi Kilhoffer
went on to Illinois State University and, rumor had it, ended up holding a national record in the hurdles for one day. Rita
Lamb went on to run the 800 at ISU - by the way, she is Rick Lamb's sister"
1972-73 Jani Blakeman High Jump State
Champion!!
1973-74 STATE CHAMPIONS!! Coach
Shirley Alford
District Champions
Individual Medalists
Debi Kilhoffer 110 Yard Hurdles
State Champion!!
Relay Team 400 Yard Relay
State Champions!!
Relay Team 880 Yard Relay
State Champions!!
Jani
Blakeman 80 Yard Hurdles
4TH Place
Connie Huyear 880 Yard Run
8TH Place
Final Team Standings
1) ILLIOPOLIS HIGH SCHOOL
17
2) Park Ridge (Maine South)
13
2) Springfield (Southeast)
13
4) New Lenox (Lincoln-Way)
10
4) Chicago (Harrison)
10
4) Mt. Prospect (Prospect) 10
7) Chicago (Parker)
9
7) Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest)
9
7) Park Ridge (Maine East)
9
10) Cahokia (H.S.)
8
10) Mendon (Unity)
8
10) Chicago (Hirsch)
8
10)
Sycamore
8
1974-75 Finished FOURTH in State Meet Competition!! Coach
Shirley Alford
District Champions
Individual Medalists
Debi Kilhoffer 110 Yard Hurdles 2ND
Place
Debi Kilhoffer 80 Yard Hurdles
4TH Place
Jeanne Kilhoffer Long jump
2ND Place
Relay Team 1 Mile Run
3RD Place
Relay Team 400 Yard Relay 5TH
Place
Final Team Standings
1)
Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest)
24
2) Springfield (Southeast)
18
2) Chicago (Calumet)
18
4) ILLIOPOLIS HIGH SCHOOL
14
5) Lansing (Thornton Fractional)
12
6) Chicago (Dunbar)
10
6) Park Ridge (Maine East)
10
6) New Lenox (Lincoln-Way)
10
9) Cahokia (H.S.)
9
10) Mt. Prospect (Prospect)
7
10) Carthage (Hancock Central)
7
1975-76 Finished SECOND in State Meet Competition!! Coach
Shirley Alford
Individual Medalists
Debi
Kilhoffer 110 Yard Hurdles STATE
CHAMPION!!
Debi Kilhoffer 80 Yard Hurdles 2ND
Place
Debi Kilhoffer Long Jump 2ND
Place
Rita Lamb
880 Yard Run 3RD Place
Relay Team
1 Mile Relay 3RD Place
Relay
Team
400 Yard Relay 5TH Place
Relay Team
880 Yard Medly 5TH Place
Final Team Standings
1)
Chicago (Calumet)
21
2) ILLIOPOLIS HIGH SCHOOL 18
3) Carthage (Hancock Central) 14½
4) Evanston (Twp.) 12
4) East Moline (United)
12
6) Lansing (Thornton Fractional) 10
6) LaGrange (Lyons)
10
8) New Lenox (Lincoln-Way)
9
9) Moline (H.S.) 8
10) Belleville (West) 7
10) Park Ridge (Maine East)
7
1976-77 Finished FIFTH in State Meet Competition!!
Coach Shirley Alford
Individual Medalists
Debi Kilhoffer 110
Yard Hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!
Debi Kilhoffer
80 Yard Hurdles STATE CHAMPION!!
Rita Lamb
880 Yard Run 8TH Place
Final Team Standings
1) East Moline (United)
16
2) Evanston (Twp.)
15
3) Cahokia (H.S.)
14
4) Hillside (Proviso West)
13
5) ILLIOPOLIS HIGH SCHOOL 12
5) Watseka 12
7) Galesburg (H.S.)
10
7) Piper City (Ford Central)
10
9)
Bartonville (Limestone)
9
10) Chicago (University)
8
10) Chicago (Lindblom)
8
1977-78 Rita Lamb 880
Yard Run 7TH Place
1987-88 Kathy Whitehead 400 Meter Dash
6TH Place
INCREDIBLE RUN by the Lady Illiopolis HS Tracksters!!