ALTON - Incoming sophomore Eliza Boatman created quite an awakening this past spring in outdoor track and field for Marquette Catholic High School.
Boatman recorded a personal best in the 100-meter hurdles, taking the Gateway Metro Track and Field Championships title with a time of 17.16 in the spring. She also won the Gateway Metro title in the 300 hurdles (50.05).
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She was a member of Marquette's 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 relays at times during the season. Her other specialty was the long jump, where she won the Gateway title with a leap of 15-4 on May 6, 2026. She was 15th at the sectional in the long jump in Springfield - 14-5.75.
At Evangelical School in Godfrey, Boatman was very competitive in eighth grade, posting a time of 13.98 in the 100 meters and 30.05 in the 200 meters at the Carrollton sectional, finishing fourth in both races. She recorded a personal best of 29.62 in the 200 meters in eighth grade.
"Eliza Boatman is a true competitor," her coach this past season, Billy Sprague, said. "She was a freshman by age, but she trained and competed like a seasoned veteran. She did a lot for the girls' team this season.
"She ran on sprint relays, was our No. 1 long jumper, our No. 1 hurdler, and brought home three conference championships in individual events. She has a bright future ahead of her and I know she will work harder and harder each day. She doesn't accept mediocrity. She holds herself to a high standard, and the performance shows."
