Byers, Butcher named Athlete, Coach of Year in track and field

Amy Byers ended her high a school career with eight state track and field medals and 12 school records.

Illini West coach Jerry Butcher and senior athlete Amy Byers swept the coach and athlete of the year honors this season for Illini West.

Byers leaves high school with eight state medals earned in three years of track and field for Carthage High School and one year for Illini West High School. She owns outright or in part seven school records for Carthage High School and five school records for Illini West High School.

Byers is part of a strong group of classes that have won the West Central Conference title the past four years, won a sectional title three out of the last four years, and placed in the top 10 at the Class A state meet four times. The teams have placed sixth, third, second and fourth in those four years.

This year, Byers won the conference and the Macomb Sectional in the triple jump, was second in state in the 300 hurdles after winning the sectional and conference, and helped the 4 x 400 and 4 x 200 relay teams to second and third place finishes, respectively, at the Class A State Meet.

She committed to Western Illinois University earlier this year.

Six other athletes received consideration. All of them were state qualifiers this year in at least one event: Katelyn Moore, Kendra Jennings and Kelsey Taylor, Central/ Southeastern; Danielle Gronewold and Jaclyn Duffy, Illini West; and Alyssa Duffy, Unity.

Butcher wins his fourth straight Coach of the Year award after leading teams to the Class A State Meet the past four years. Each year featured a top 10 team finish. His teams have won the West Central Conference title four straight years and have won three out of the last four sectional titles.

Two of his athletes, Katelyn Bastert and Byers, signed to Division I schools in the past two years.