'I want to be the fastest girl.' Auburn's Essence Horton-Graves sprints to IHSA state meet

Auburn senior Essence Horton-Graves is one of several Rockford-area girls who have a realistic shot at a state championship at this weekend's IHSA girls state track and field meet in Charleston.

But if she's successful, she could be crowned the fastest girl in Illinois.

Who all qualified: Hononegah's Jordan Dimke leads a strong local charge to girls state track and field meet

"My goal this year is to actually win state, instead of just placing," Horton-Graves said. "I want to win. I want to be the fastest girl in the state, for sure."

Confidence comes from...

She took seventh in the Class 3A 100-meter dash two years ago at state with a 12.66, and placed 20th in the 200 dash in 27.05. Then last year she took 10th in the 100, missing out on a finals' berth by two spots, but that was with a time of 12.14. She also placed 25th at state in the 200 dash last year, but that was also with another fast time, coming in at 25.83.

This year, she's even faster, and is expecting even more. She has the 12th fastest time in 3A in the 100, but that's with a blazing fast 12.10, from April 13. She also has the 22nd fastest time in the 200 with a 25.23

"It just feels good," Horton-Graves said after winning her third 100-meter dash title in a row in the NIC-10. "It felt good to defend that NIC-10 championship, again, and stuff, but I knew that was just the start."

Last week at sectionals she qualified for state in three events after she won the 100 dash in 12.21, and then placed second in the 200 dash at 25.23. She also teamed up with Narya Benford, Carrington Weatherly and Jaeda Benford for a 1:45.89, and a second place and a spot at state, in the 4x200 relay.

A mishandled handoff was the only thing keeping Horton-Graves from four slots at state as they took 10th in the 4x100. That may have left the door open for some other locals, however.

But after running with a target on her back all season long, she's fine with three events at state. And she's ready.

"I definitely had a big target on my back, and I could feel it," Horton-Graves said. "I could feel everybody chasing me, but that's cool. I never mind that.

"Now, let's see how I can finish."

She's seeded 13th in the 100 dash and 15th in the 200 dash. Auburn's 4x200 relay squad, that includes Horton-Graves, is seeded 37th headed into state.

When and where is state?

The IHSA girls state meet is held in and around the blue track of O'Brien Stadium, on campus at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

It all kicks off on Thursday with the Class 1A preliminaries all afternoon. On Friday, the 2A prelims are held throughout the morning, while the 3A prelims take place in the afternoon.

Then, for those that advance to the finals, it all comes down to Saturday. The girls state track and field finals kick off with the field events at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by the running events which start at 11 a.m.

Other area contenders

One of the girls that Horton-Graves held off in the 100 and 200 dashes at the NIC-10 and sectional meets, Guilford sophomore Zariah Burnett, will be a force in another 3A event. She is seeded No. 1 in the state at the 3A level headed into state with her sectional make at 5-feet-7 3/4 in the high jump.

And like Horton-Graves, she doesn't want to stop winning now.

"I want to go all the way," Burnett said. "I don't care, I just want that state title."

Hononegah sophomore Jordan Dimke, who qualified for state in all four of her events, and Auburn freshman Jaeda Benford are both in the hunt for a high jump title as well, headed to state seeded tied for fourth with makes at 5-5 3/4 at sectionals.

At the 2A level, Freeport's Ta'Leiah McElroy is a contender in four events. She heads in with the No. 13 seed in the 100 dash at 12.57, and her twin sister Taniah is 18th at 12.63. Ta'Leiah is also seeded 16th in the 200, and their 4x200 relay team is seeded fourth and their 4x100 relay crew is seeded 11th.

And in 1A, watch out for West Carroll's Emma Randecker, who is seeded No. 1 in the 200 dash with her time of 25.04, and seventh in the 100 at 12.43. She is definitely one to keep an eye on, along with several throwers from the area, and a handful of relay teams that will be in the gold-medal hunt.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: 'I want to be the fastest girl.' Auburn's Essence Horton-Graves sprints to IHSA state meet