Track and Field Hall of Fame

Front Row: (from left) Elise Haycock, Lisa Maloof, Karen Coughlon, Gigi Gloria, Amy Wombacher, Susan Boland, Laurie Dempster, Chris McCarthy, Megan McCauley and Margie Rollyson.

Second Row: (from left) Chaille Torrey, Melanie Pasquel, Cathy Schendi, Karol Held, Maria Pasquel, Annette Pisano, Mary Saathoff, Julie Szidon, Suzie Tuffey and Helene Volkert.

Third Row: (from left) Tim Dougherty, Heidi Mueller, Carrie Eggerichs, Jill Mattern, Kelly McCabe, Kelly Geier, Kim Garwacki, Cathy Koos, Mary Hlavach and Kathy Matheny.

Fourth Row: (from left) Lori Hooks, Sarah Nath, Danette Lenkaitis, Cheryl Geler, Laura McFarland and Claudia McGrath.

Bergan High School, which began a state meet Class A dynasty by bagging the state championship in 1981 and 1982, continued its amazing string in 1983.

Coached by Tim Dougherty, the team's third coach in three years, Bergan, after winning the 1982 title without winning an event, won four first place medals in this one.

At the end, Bergan had 51 points, its most in its three-year championship run. Chicago Luther South was second with 46.

Sophomore Suzie Tuffey, who would become one of the top distance runners in Peoria girls' running history, won both the 800 and 1600, taking the 800 in 2:14.6, at that time her best ever and only .04 seconds off the state record. She then won the 1600 in 5:06.

The 800 medley relay team of Julie Szidon, Cheryl Geier, Jill Mattern and Carrie Eggerichs set a state record of 1:48.9 in winning a third gold medal for the Trojans.

And Eggerichs, who began her prep career in Connecticut and ran in the state meet there, also won the 400 in 57.7 seconds.

Bergan's 400 relay team of Szidon, Geier, Annette Pisano and Mattern finished second in 50.4 seconds and the Trojans' 1600 relay team of Mary Hlavach, Tuffey, Maria Pasquel and Eggerichs was sixth in 4:07.3.

There was confusion at the end of the meet when it was announced that Bergan first had just 31 points, and then, in another announcement, only 41.

Eventually state officials straightened out the point total and Bergan was declared state champion for the third consecutive year.