By Steve Groth
Jim Ammenhauser and I have been photographing the State track and field meet at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston for The Voice the past six years. Jimbo’s three children, Riley, James, and Lauren, have been State qualifiers in the triple jump in that time. We have photographed their journeys and I have enjoyed capturing so many great memories.
His daughter, Riley, won her first State championship in 2018. She was three-time State champion in Illinois. She is a junior this year at the University of Michigan and just qualified for the National meet in the triple jump with a jump of 42’7.5″. The top 24 girls are invited to NCAA National meet at the University of Oregon.
James was a freshman at Purdue University this year and is transferring to compete track and field’s triple jump at North Central College in Naperville. James qualified for the State meet last year in the triple jump and placed fifth in State with a jump of 45′ 6.5″.
The younger daughter, Lauren, is a sophomore at Neuqua Valley High School and competed in her first State meet, May 18-19 .
Special thanks to Neuqua Valley coaches, Wyane Hartmann, girls, and Kendris Cornelius, boys, for their commitments to excellence. They were pivotal in the success of the Ammenhausers.