07/14/2026
Elam, Francis Sisters Show What They Can Do At State Track
– Rest in Peace Jeniah Francis
(Editor's Note: I waited on the state track story for a few different reasons, but mainly to let some of the
Facebook buzz die down to revamp it a little later and to make sure it was a perfect story with a few different dynamics. I saw Jeniah and Ariana Francis, as well as their mother, during Mendota's fireworks
on June 27 and said it'd be out soon. On Friday, July 3, Jeniah's life was taken and Ariana and their cousin
Aubri Gonzalez were badly injured in a car accident.
There were thoughts to not put this out at all and simply send the photos to family (which is happening
along with this story), but then I decided it doesn't do Jeniah's awesomeness any justice if I don't produce the story. Jeniah, thank you for always being cool and saying hello whenever you saw me. My heart goes out to all involved in the car accident, their families, friends, the Mendota schools and all classmates, teachers and coaches, and to everyone in the Mendota community who is grieving. -
Brandon LaChance)
Every spring there are many headlines derived from track and field in Mendota.
However, stories in 2026 continuously featured two teams, Mendota High School and Northbrook School,
and two family names, Elam and Francis...with just cause.
Mariyah Elam, as a junior, won her second high jump IHSA Class 2A State Championship while finishing
second in triple jump. Elam, a 2027 graduate, was the best high jumper in the state as a freshman and
finished second as a sophomore.
“I sprained my ankle real bad during the last week of basketball season and I was down coming into
track,” Mariyah said. “I was praying during each meet that I could do my best. I think this season got me
closer to God. My ankle still hurts, but I was able to do what I needed to do to win another state
championship.
“This year at state, I had a lot of anxiety. I kept telling myself, 'I have to get first place.' I didn't want
people to think I was a lucky duck who got first place freshman year because everyone else had a bad day
or something. I wanted to prove I could do it again.”
Elam, who didn't participate in track until her eighth grade year at Northbrook, said her best moments in
the 2026 season were the 800-meter relay team of Aby Buettner, Raegan Atherton, herself and Jeniah
Francis setting the MHS record and setting her own personal best in triple jump at state.
“I like the people who are involved in Mendota High School track and I've met friends from other
schools,” Elam said. “I like that it's a sport that I can continuously work on and I don't have to go home. Our coaches are friendly and I know they want us to do our best.
“I love the high jump. When you make it over the bar, it's like, 'Oh my God, I believe I can fly.'”
As a MHS freshman, Jeniah etched her place on the relay team in stone and cemented herself as a state
qualifier in the 100-meter dash.
Before events, she made sure to listen to some music and eat something healthy, small, to not hurt her
stomach or make her feel heavy. It helped as Francis won 18 medals throughout her freshman season.
“It feels pretty good to say I won these medals. I didn't really notice a difference between junior high and high school state meets because I'm kind of used to it all,” Francis said. “I didn't really have any nerves. It was pretty exciting to have everyone there supporting the team and me. It's pretty cool some of my friends and other teammates all got to go to state. We all support each other."
The Elam and Francis combo was seen in black and red Nortbrook jerseys during the track season as well.
Finishing off their eighth-grade track campaign, Seriyah Elam took second in discus at the IESA Class 3A State Track Meet, while finishing 12th in shot. Ariana Francis took second in the high jump and was
seventh in the 100.
“Seeing what Jeniah has done in track pushed me harder,” Ariana said. “She has been motivation for me
to do better. Coach J (Dalton Jilderda) helped my in high jump. When I first jumped 5-foot-2, I was really
excited. Also, I don't think we would have done so well without Mrs. Friedlein (Heahter Friedlein,
Northbrook Athletic Director).”
Northbrook had an amazing season as athletes set 358 personal bests, won 171 ribbons, 10 school records were set and 14 boys and girls track stars qualified for eighth state events. The girls 1600-medley relay finished 13th at state with the team of Ariana Francis, Katurah Brown, Aubri Gonzalez, Graci Bloomfield, Seriyah Elam and Ava Schnaiter, while the 400-meter relay team of Gonzalez, Elam, Brown, Francis, Kamilah Raya and Kate Klckner were 21st.
Elam was happy with all the Spartan performances at state, individually and as a team.
“It felt pretty good to medal because the first day of state I didn't think I was going to do good,” said
Seriyah Elam. “I kept scratching all of my throws. I finally got a good mark and it was the only mark I
had. When they told me I got second place, I was really happy.
“I like running and throwing, and meeting new people. I'm excited to be on the Mendota High School team next year. I feel like I have to show because of who my sister is. I want to prove we both can do a lot in track and field. We're all athletic, we know what we're doing and we have a lot of fun.”
As playful banter took over the day after state track, Mariyah, Jeniah, Ariana and Seriyah all agreed,
they're sisters.
“We're all like sisters. We know what the Elam and the Francis sisters can do in track and field. We push
each other and try to break the other one's records,” said Mariyah Elam. “I'm trying to set the bar higher
and higher, no pun intended. I think we're the reason Mendota girls track is being recognized. We're trying
to put Mendota on the map, even if people don't think we can or we are. It makes us want to go even
harder.”
Visitation for Jeniah Francis is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, July 16 at Horner-Merritt Funeral
Home, located at 800 Monroe St., Mendota. The mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 17 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, located at 1010 Jefferson St., Mendota.
Most Mendota businesses have started fundraisers for the Francis family, a Go Fund Me Page titled “In
Loving Memory of Jeniah Francis” is available for contributions, T-shirts have been made by Evermarked, MHS held crisis counseling and are still willing to help grieving, a pizza event to bring
classmates together was held at Lake Mendota, and many other thoughtful gestures by the Mendota
community are taking place.
