Track is certainly alive and well at DePue Grade School.

The DePue seventh-grade boys were crowned sectional champions at Spring Valley Saturday May 9th, with the seventh-grade girls taking second. The Spartans qualified 18 athletes overall for the IESA 1A state track and field finals in East Peoria this weekend May 15 and 16.

DePue tripled its state qualifiers numbers from last year with 18.

DePue had 51 athletes come out for track this spring. There are just 129 students in grades 5-8 at DePue.

Thirty-two of DePue athletes competed at sectional with 18 qualifiers tripling last year’s mark.

“Things are looking up for junior high track in DePue. It’s been a banner year,” coach Erin Duffy said. “Our students have worked very hard and are now receiving the rewards of that dedication. We couldn’t be happier for them. They earned it. We are proud of the entire team.”

Duffy said she also received numerous compliments on her team’s show of sportsmanship at sectional, which “is so good to hear.”

Here’s a rundown of 1A sectionals:

At Spring Valley: DePue’s Grant Bosnich (123-5) and Ivan Mendez (122-8) placed 1-2 in the eighth-grade discus with classmate Alecia Marquez earning a return trip with first in the girls’ discus (79-3) and second in shot (28-8). Velinda Lopez won the eighth-grade 1600 (6:27) and took second in the 800 (2:50.1).

DePue’s seventh-grade champs were led by first-place finishes by Hector Villagomez (1600, 5:53.2), Alex Acosta (hurdles, 18.0), Eric Cortes (100, 12.8; 200, 27.1), the 4×100 (54.0) of Isaac Reyes, Alex Acosta Villagomez and Cortes and the 4×400 relay of Mendez, Lopez, Villagomez and Jose Raya. The Spartans’ 4×200 relay of Jesse Lopez, Austin Zimmer, Jesus Garcia and Jose Raya was second in 2:09.9.

For the DePue seventh-grade girls, Morgan Bosnich was first in the shot (26-0 1/2) and second in the discus (69-5) and 200 (30.1); Lexie Miranda was second in the long jump (13-11 1/2) and qualified on time in the 100 (14.2) and sixth-grader Angelica Moreno was first in the 1600 (6:18.5) and second in the 800 (2:58.7). Assistant Track Coach is Amy Fischer.

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