ESPNHS Track & XC: Must See
Illinois: What happened in boys track last week
February, 29, 2012
Feb 29
9:10
AM ET
By Mike Newman | ESPN.com
For the week ending February 25, 2012
The first major invitational competition happened last weekend throughout Illinois. Even though it is the indoor season and the state meet is 3 months away, there were some great performances at some of the venues.
Leading up to the state meet, I will highlight some of the action on the boys side. The action will start to pick up heading towards Bloomington for the IPTT Classic on the weekend of March 23.
So here is what I saw this past weekend of note:
~~ Have the defending state champions lost their touch? ~~
2A champion Cahokia and 3A Lake Park saw their first major invitational action this past weekend with Illinois only competition.
Cahokia has competed in some major invitationals in Arkansas & Missouri throughout January. They competed at the Normal West Invitational last Friday and actually look like the team to beat in 2A. I know it is only the end of February, but this team has the depth and quality to capture a team championship.
For example, in the Frosh/ Soph 4 x 400 Meter Relay, their first two runners split 51.9 & 52.5. Coach Leroy Milsap does have the athletes to spread around to get the points at state meet time. Trey Story placed 3rd in the 55 and won the 200. Marlin Bradywon the 400 by 3 ten thousandths of a second. The Comanches showed their strength in the field events with Antonio Pierce won the High Jump and Chris Moore in the Long Jump. Moore would have been in contention for the Triple Jump, but he tweaked his foot on his first jump and did not compete.
We talked about Lake Park in the recap of the Proviso West Invitational. Time will tell if this team will get their third in a row, but the prospects looked good after last week's meet. Even with super soph jumper Marcus Jegedle on the lower level in this meet, the Lancers still fell 1 point short to Neuqua Valley for the team championship at Proviso.
Kevin Spejcher won the High Jump with a clearance of 6' 8" with 3 good attempts at 7'
There is depth in the Pole Vault where Tim Ehrhardt placed 2nd and Sean Lang placed 7th. Junior Derek Smith did not compete. He cleared 13' 9" in a dual meet earlier in the week at Oak Park.
Lake Park has more depth in the jumps they've had the last two years. The thing is that they are all underclassmen! Junior Shawn Koch had a breakthrough in winning the Triple by improving his PR by 2 feet. Scott Filip won the Long Jump with a state best 23' 4". Then you have to think about Jegedle, who jumped 22' 4" in the Long and 45' 6" in the Triple.
"With the depth in those events, that gives us better options to spread guys around in other events," Lake Park Jay Ivory said during the meet.
~~ The Jump that did not count ~~
How would you like to jump 6' 4" in the High Jump and place third in a dual meet? That is what happened to Lake Park's Scott Filipand Oak Park's Harrison Gay last Thursday at a dual meet in Oak Park's Fieldhouse. It was a crazy High Jump competition where at least 6 jumpers went 6' 0" or higher.
But the story of the night was about the jump that did not count.
Kevin Spejcher of Lake Park and Carl Heinz of Oak Park-River Forest had a great competition in this event with Heinz winning at 6' 10" and Spejcher right behind at 6' 8".
Heinz asked the bar to be raised to 7' 0". He missed on her first two attempts. On the second attempt, he looked into the stands and said, "Sorry mom!" Carl had cleared 7' last April at a meet in Hinsdale, but his parents were not there.
On his third attempt, Heniz messed up his steps and tried to stop before the bar. Unfortunately, his momentum took him under the bar. That was his 3rd attemt. The competition was over...or was it?
Heinz looked over to his coach Danielle Dobias-Wagner and asked if he could try one more time. She nodded in approval.
Good approach. Good plant. Good clearance of the bar. 7' 0" was his. It would have to be a confidence thing because it was his 4th jump and you only get 3 to clear a height.
What was amazing is that he had not had a good practice in the last 2 weeks. At his first meet of the year on February 3, he hurt his foot and was out. With little work coming into this meet, it will be fun to see what he will do in the upcoming weeks.
~~ For you stat geeks...like me ~~
Here are the 200m splits for Garrett Sweatt of Edwardsville in the 3200 Meter Run at the Normal West Invitational last Friday. Sweatt's 9:07.25 is currently ranked #3 in the United States.
33.7, 67.9, 1:42.4, 2:16.3
2:51.4, 3:25.9, 4:01.7, 4:35.6
5:10.3, 5:44.6, 6:19.5, 6:53.6
7:28.5, 8:03.0, 8:37.2, 9:07.2
~~ This weekend ~~
Most of the action this weekend will be at some of the universities throughout the state and away from the Chicago area.
The boys edition of the SIU Invitational will be held on Saturday in Carbondale. The Illinois State Invitational at Normal is also being contested on Saturday.
A new meet, the Centennial Invitational at the University of Illinois, should be highly contested with Garrett Sweatt and Cameron James of Edwardsville scheduled to compete.
If you are in the Chicago area, there are a couple of meets that could check out. On Friday, the York Invitational will include the season debut of Palatine in the distance events on this spacious 200 Meter Track in Elmhurst.
On Saturday, the Joe Scarpino Invitational will be held in Buffalo Grove.
On Sunday, the ICOPS Invitational featuring some of the top Catholic Chicago area schools in the area will be held on the campus of Lewis University in Romeoville.
If you are in the Naperville area on Monday night, stop by the Al B. Carius Track on the campus of North Central College. The Mustang Relays will be held starting at 6 PM. If you like relay action, that is the place to be!
~~ And Finally... ~~
I think as someone who covers track & field, you kind of wonder what the big thing will be at that meet. You come to the meet looking for spirited competition and great performances. You like to see young athletes see what they can do.
I did see that on Saturday at the Proviso West Invitational.
Right before the start of the first heat of the Varsity 1 mile run, I looked down the starting line. There was an athlete there that I thought did not belong. Before the start of the mile, you expect to see athletes with the distance runner body...some short, some tall and gangly.
There was an athlete there that towered over the rest. Calvin King of Proviso West was about 6 ' 3" and close to 280 pounds. (That is just an estimate). I looked at the meet program and he had a seed time of 14:00. I made a remark to a coach near by that we might be here for a little.
The gun went off. In my mind, I was thinking that I hoped that this young man would make it through 400 meters.
Boy was I wrong!
The lead runners crossed the finish line and King still had 4 more laps to run. But he kept going. Just each step he was taking was closer to finishing.
He was not alone. The entire attention of the Proviso West Fieldhouse was on this young man. All the athletes and coaches were standing around the track cheering King on.
In my mind I was thinking, "Come on---you can finish. You can do it."
When on my drive home, I was getting phone calls from people asking if I had seen what was said about this race online. I had not.
There were comments of why was this athlete allowed to compete in a major invitational and more that I prefer not to talk about.
Sometimes we want to see the spectacular at a track meet. We want to see the meet record broken or something note worthy.
For those of you who did not think it was right of this young man to run, well I hope seeing this young man's effort towards the finish line changed your thinking about that.
We did see something spectacular happen and this athlete provided it. King finished nearly 3 minutes ahead of his seed time running 11:11. He competed and achieved. That is what I look for at a track meet.
He may not have the body of a distance runner, but does have the heart of one.
King received the loudest ovation of the day. He deserved it.
The first major invitational competition happened last weekend throughout Illinois. Even though it is the indoor season and the state meet is 3 months away, there were some great performances at some of the venues.
Leading up to the state meet, I will highlight some of the action on the boys side. The action will start to pick up heading towards Bloomington for the IPTT Classic on the weekend of March 23.
So here is what I saw this past weekend of note:
~~ Have the defending state champions lost their touch? ~~
2A champion Cahokia and 3A Lake Park saw their first major invitational action this past weekend with Illinois only competition.
Cahokia has competed in some major invitationals in Arkansas & Missouri throughout January. They competed at the Normal West Invitational last Friday and actually look like the team to beat in 2A. I know it is only the end of February, but this team has the depth and quality to capture a team championship.
For example, in the Frosh/ Soph 4 x 400 Meter Relay, their first two runners split 51.9 & 52.5. Coach Leroy Milsap does have the athletes to spread around to get the points at state meet time. Trey Story placed 3rd in the 55 and won the 200. Marlin Bradywon the 400 by 3 ten thousandths of a second. The Comanches showed their strength in the field events with Antonio Pierce won the High Jump and Chris Moore in the Long Jump. Moore would have been in contention for the Triple Jump, but he tweaked his foot on his first jump and did not compete.
We talked about Lake Park in the recap of the Proviso West Invitational. Time will tell if this team will get their third in a row, but the prospects looked good after last week's meet. Even with super soph jumper Marcus Jegedle on the lower level in this meet, the Lancers still fell 1 point short to Neuqua Valley for the team championship at Proviso.
Kevin Spejcher won the High Jump with a clearance of 6' 8" with 3 good attempts at 7'
There is depth in the Pole Vault where Tim Ehrhardt placed 2nd and Sean Lang placed 7th. Junior Derek Smith did not compete. He cleared 13' 9" in a dual meet earlier in the week at Oak Park.
Lake Park has more depth in the jumps they've had the last two years. The thing is that they are all underclassmen! Junior Shawn Koch had a breakthrough in winning the Triple by improving his PR by 2 feet. Scott Filip won the Long Jump with a state best 23' 4". Then you have to think about Jegedle, who jumped 22' 4" in the Long and 45' 6" in the Triple.
"With the depth in those events, that gives us better options to spread guys around in other events," Lake Park Jay Ivory said during the meet.
~~ The Jump that did not count ~~
How would you like to jump 6' 4" in the High Jump and place third in a dual meet? That is what happened to Lake Park's Scott Filipand Oak Park's Harrison Gay last Thursday at a dual meet in Oak Park's Fieldhouse. It was a crazy High Jump competition where at least 6 jumpers went 6' 0" or higher.
But the story of the night was about the jump that did not count.
Kevin Spejcher of Lake Park and Carl Heinz of Oak Park-River Forest had a great competition in this event with Heinz winning at 6' 10" and Spejcher right behind at 6' 8".
Heinz asked the bar to be raised to 7' 0". He missed on her first two attempts. On the second attempt, he looked into the stands and said, "Sorry mom!" Carl had cleared 7' last April at a meet in Hinsdale, but his parents were not there.
On his third attempt, Heniz messed up his steps and tried to stop before the bar. Unfortunately, his momentum took him under the bar. That was his 3rd attemt. The competition was over...or was it?
Heinz looked over to his coach Danielle Dobias-Wagner and asked if he could try one more time. She nodded in approval.
Good approach. Good plant. Good clearance of the bar. 7' 0" was his. It would have to be a confidence thing because it was his 4th jump and you only get 3 to clear a height.
What was amazing is that he had not had a good practice in the last 2 weeks. At his first meet of the year on February 3, he hurt his foot and was out. With little work coming into this meet, it will be fun to see what he will do in the upcoming weeks.
~~ For you stat geeks...like me ~~
Here are the 200m splits for Garrett Sweatt of Edwardsville in the 3200 Meter Run at the Normal West Invitational last Friday. Sweatt's 9:07.25 is currently ranked #3 in the United States.
33.7, 67.9, 1:42.4, 2:16.3
2:51.4, 3:25.9, 4:01.7, 4:35.6
5:10.3, 5:44.6, 6:19.5, 6:53.6
7:28.5, 8:03.0, 8:37.2, 9:07.2
~~ This weekend ~~
Most of the action this weekend will be at some of the universities throughout the state and away from the Chicago area.
The boys edition of the SIU Invitational will be held on Saturday in Carbondale. The Illinois State Invitational at Normal is also being contested on Saturday.
A new meet, the Centennial Invitational at the University of Illinois, should be highly contested with Garrett Sweatt and Cameron James of Edwardsville scheduled to compete.
If you are in the Chicago area, there are a couple of meets that could check out. On Friday, the York Invitational will include the season debut of Palatine in the distance events on this spacious 200 Meter Track in Elmhurst.
On Saturday, the Joe Scarpino Invitational will be held in Buffalo Grove.
On Sunday, the ICOPS Invitational featuring some of the top Catholic Chicago area schools in the area will be held on the campus of Lewis University in Romeoville.
If you are in the Naperville area on Monday night, stop by the Al B. Carius Track on the campus of North Central College. The Mustang Relays will be held starting at 6 PM. If you like relay action, that is the place to be!
~~ And Finally... ~~
I think as someone who covers track & field, you kind of wonder what the big thing will be at that meet. You come to the meet looking for spirited competition and great performances. You like to see young athletes see what they can do.
I did see that on Saturday at the Proviso West Invitational.
Right before the start of the first heat of the Varsity 1 mile run, I looked down the starting line. There was an athlete there that I thought did not belong. Before the start of the mile, you expect to see athletes with the distance runner body...some short, some tall and gangly.
There was an athlete there that towered over the rest. Calvin King of Proviso West was about 6 ' 3" and close to 280 pounds. (That is just an estimate). I looked at the meet program and he had a seed time of 14:00. I made a remark to a coach near by that we might be here for a little.
The gun went off. In my mind, I was thinking that I hoped that this young man would make it through 400 meters.
Boy was I wrong!
The lead runners crossed the finish line and King still had 4 more laps to run. But he kept going. Just each step he was taking was closer to finishing.
He was not alone. The entire attention of the Proviso West Fieldhouse was on this young man. All the athletes and coaches were standing around the track cheering King on.
In my mind I was thinking, "Come on---you can finish. You can do it."
When on my drive home, I was getting phone calls from people asking if I had seen what was said about this race online. I had not.
There were comments of why was this athlete allowed to compete in a major invitational and more that I prefer not to talk about.
Sometimes we want to see the spectacular at a track meet. We want to see the meet record broken or something note worthy.
For those of you who did not think it was right of this young man to run, well I hope seeing this young man's effort towards the finish line changed your thinking about that.
We did see something spectacular happen and this athlete provided it. King finished nearly 3 minutes ahead of his seed time running 11:11. He competed and achieved. That is what I look for at a track meet.
He may not have the body of a distance runner, but does have the heart of one.
King received the loudest ovation of the day. He deserved it.
Bender's comeback in 4x4 seals win for Neuqua Valley at Proviso West
February, 26, 2012
Feb 26
1:30
AM ET
By Mike Newman | ESPN.com
It is great when the team championship of a track meet comes down to the final event on the program, the 4 x 400 Meter Relay. Such was the instance Saturday at the Proviso West Invitational when 5 schools all had the shot to win the team championship.
No announcements were made on who was leading going into the final events, but it was believed that York had a slight lead going into the relay.
West Suburban Silver rivals Lyons Township and Downers Grove North were battling for the lead going into the final exchange with Neuqua Valley leading the chase pack. The gap at the final exchange between the two schools and Neuqua was about 30 meters.
That is not big enough of a gap for Neuqua's Jacob Bender, who had earlier won the 400 Meter Dash. Bender made up the gap within the first 200 meters and passed Downers Grove North's Jordan Munar on the last backstretch when Munar unexpectingly moved out to lane 2. Bender took advantage and moved right by and cruised to a relay win. His final split was 49.3. Watch his final leg here.
The Neuqua Valley coaching staff led by Head Coach Mike Kennedy approached the scorer’s table just to find out the final score. When told by officials that they had one by 1 point over defending state champion Lake Park, Kennedy's mouth basically dropped to the floor of the Proviso West fieldhouse in a happy shock.
According to a recap of their performance on their website, Neuqua did not run at full strength. They put different athletes in different events. Good idea to see how they would perform in an early season meet. You can see when the Wildcats are at full strength in May; this team will be reckoned with come state meet time.
"The top prize for me this year would be winning the 400 Meters," said Bender after his 400 Meter win running 50.29. "But my main goal is to win a team championship. That is what I am all about. I'll run whatever events I need to for the team."
This invitational was the first big meet for Lake Park without it's big three: Jeremy & Jermaine Kline, and Zach Ziemek. From the performances put out by the Lake Park athletes, it looks like the Lancers will again be in contention for a team championship in May.
Scott Fillip led the charge by winning the 55 Meter High Hurdles in 7.92. He then returned to the Long Jump pit and popped a personal best 23' 4" to win the event over previous Illinois leader Matt Harris of Lyons Township. He had to make some adjustments after his first few jumps. "I did not stick around after my last jump before Harris made his last jump. I did not want to see what was going to happen."
Coach Jay Ivory will have more choices with who he puts where after great performances by Marcus Jegelde and Shawn Koch. Jegelde looked extremely strong winning the Sophomore Long and Triple Jumps. Both efforts are ranked top 5 state wide.
Koch is the one that was the big surprise in this meet for Ivory. A former baseball player who is out for track for his first full season, the junior popped a 46' 1" jump, a personal best by almost 2 feet. "I really don't have any distance goals. All I want to do is get better in each meet and help the team," Koch said afterwards.
Kevin Spejcher cruised to an easy win in the High Jump with a 6' 8" effort.
York finished 3rd, 3 points behind Neuqua Valley. The Dukes had two track winners with a winning effort in the 4 x 800 Meter Relay when Junior Chris May broke the race open during the third leg. Sophomore Nathan Mroz withstood a middle race surge by Wheaton North's Paul Steeno and moved the last 200 meters to a 1 second win in the 1 Mile Run.
"My coach wanted me to run an even split, but we kind of went out slow (2:17 at the half)," Mroz said afterwards. "When Steeno went, I just wanted to stay with him and try to outkick him in the last 200."
York did get a field event win with Nick Sgarbossa's win in the Pole Vault. 5 other competitors missed on their attempts at 14' 3". On Sgarbossa's 3rd attempt at the height, he cleared to win. He went on to tie a personal record when he cleared 14' 9". "Every third attempt is nerve racking but you just have to get down to it," he said afterwards.
This meet usually has good distance performances. The same could be said on Saturday. in the 3200 Meter Run, Nick Kirk of Downers Grove South and Kevin Proffitt of crosstown Downers Grove North exchanged the lead over the last 3 laps. Kirk found another gear in the last 200 and moved away with a 2 second win. His time of 9:29.69 is a 17 second improvement on his previous personal best. "I was kind of worried in the last 400," Kirk said about Proffitt's kick. "I was kind of feeling weird because my throat was dry but I just decided to stay with him."
Junior Alex Ryan of Wheaton North broke away from the pack at the 400 and won the 800 by 3 seconds. "The plan was to make a move during the third lap," Ryan said afterwards. "My time was a PR. I am happy about that."
No announcements were made on who was leading going into the final events, but it was believed that York had a slight lead going into the relay.
West Suburban Silver rivals Lyons Township and Downers Grove North were battling for the lead going into the final exchange with Neuqua Valley leading the chase pack. The gap at the final exchange between the two schools and Neuqua was about 30 meters.
That is not big enough of a gap for Neuqua's Jacob Bender, who had earlier won the 400 Meter Dash. Bender made up the gap within the first 200 meters and passed Downers Grove North's Jordan Munar on the last backstretch when Munar unexpectingly moved out to lane 2. Bender took advantage and moved right by and cruised to a relay win. His final split was 49.3. Watch his final leg here.
The Neuqua Valley coaching staff led by Head Coach Mike Kennedy approached the scorer’s table just to find out the final score. When told by officials that they had one by 1 point over defending state champion Lake Park, Kennedy's mouth basically dropped to the floor of the Proviso West fieldhouse in a happy shock.
According to a recap of their performance on their website, Neuqua did not run at full strength. They put different athletes in different events. Good idea to see how they would perform in an early season meet. You can see when the Wildcats are at full strength in May; this team will be reckoned with come state meet time.
"The top prize for me this year would be winning the 400 Meters," said Bender after his 400 Meter win running 50.29. "But my main goal is to win a team championship. That is what I am all about. I'll run whatever events I need to for the team."
This invitational was the first big meet for Lake Park without it's big three: Jeremy & Jermaine Kline, and Zach Ziemek. From the performances put out by the Lake Park athletes, it looks like the Lancers will again be in contention for a team championship in May.
Scott Fillip led the charge by winning the 55 Meter High Hurdles in 7.92. He then returned to the Long Jump pit and popped a personal best 23' 4" to win the event over previous Illinois leader Matt Harris of Lyons Township. He had to make some adjustments after his first few jumps. "I did not stick around after my last jump before Harris made his last jump. I did not want to see what was going to happen."
Coach Jay Ivory will have more choices with who he puts where after great performances by Marcus Jegelde and Shawn Koch. Jegelde looked extremely strong winning the Sophomore Long and Triple Jumps. Both efforts are ranked top 5 state wide.
Koch is the one that was the big surprise in this meet for Ivory. A former baseball player who is out for track for his first full season, the junior popped a 46' 1" jump, a personal best by almost 2 feet. "I really don't have any distance goals. All I want to do is get better in each meet and help the team," Koch said afterwards.
Kevin Spejcher cruised to an easy win in the High Jump with a 6' 8" effort.
York finished 3rd, 3 points behind Neuqua Valley. The Dukes had two track winners with a winning effort in the 4 x 800 Meter Relay when Junior Chris May broke the race open during the third leg. Sophomore Nathan Mroz withstood a middle race surge by Wheaton North's Paul Steeno and moved the last 200 meters to a 1 second win in the 1 Mile Run.
"My coach wanted me to run an even split, but we kind of went out slow (2:17 at the half)," Mroz said afterwards. "When Steeno went, I just wanted to stay with him and try to outkick him in the last 200."
York did get a field event win with Nick Sgarbossa's win in the Pole Vault. 5 other competitors missed on their attempts at 14' 3". On Sgarbossa's 3rd attempt at the height, he cleared to win. He went on to tie a personal record when he cleared 14' 9". "Every third attempt is nerve racking but you just have to get down to it," he said afterwards.
This meet usually has good distance performances. The same could be said on Saturday. in the 3200 Meter Run, Nick Kirk of Downers Grove South and Kevin Proffitt of crosstown Downers Grove North exchanged the lead over the last 3 laps. Kirk found another gear in the last 200 and moved away with a 2 second win. His time of 9:29.69 is a 17 second improvement on his previous personal best. "I was kind of worried in the last 400," Kirk said about Proffitt's kick. "I was kind of feeling weird because my throat was dry but I just decided to stay with him."
Junior Alex Ryan of Wheaton North broke away from the pack at the 400 and won the 800 by 3 seconds. "The plan was to make a move during the third lap," Ryan said afterwards. "My time was a PR. I am happy about that."
Normal West Invite: Edwardsville stars Sweatt, James produce top marks
February, 23, 2012
Feb 23
1:01
PM ET
By Mike Newman | ESPN.com
Coverage of the Normal West Wildcat Invite
Fri., Feb. 24, 2012 -- Normal, IL
LINKS: Full Results | DyeStat Elites
WEBCAST
HIGHLIGHTS
==============================
Normal West Invitational Recap
The feel on the inside of the Shirk Center for the Normal West Wildcat Invitational was that of an early season meet. But the first final of the evening, the 3200 Meter Run, felt more like the state final.
Garrett Sweatt and Michael Clevenger made sure of that.
Both runners went by the 1600 in a quick 4:35, but it was Sweatt, the Edwardsville senior, that pulled away in the last 1200 meters to win in a then US#2 time of 9:07.25.
It is a great time, a great performance. But considering that this is Sweatt's first indoor race of the season, the race was even more impressive. The future looks bright for the runner that has a state championship in his sight.
"We have been doing a lot of long strength work so far this year," said Sweatt after his race. "I responded well to that in cross and I ran my PR off of just strength and I did today as well. Training has just gone well. I've felt relaxed."
"I remembered that Clevenger had a great kick," he continued. "So my coach and I decided to make a move with 7 to 8 laps to go. I wish I was a little faster in the middle, but I have 3 months to work on that."
For Clevenger, this was a race that he left happy with. "Me and my coach thought that my race would be around 9:20. I am happy with my performance. I did not think we were going to run that past. When we went by the mile in 4:35, I thought whew, it was faster than I expected."
Sweatt's goal at the beginning of the cross country season was a state championship. He finished 4th last fall at the state meet. His goals remain resolute: a state championship. At the same time, he would also like to get one for his team.
"I'm definitely going to run both races (1600 & 3200) unless something happens. I definitely want to help my team and bring home a trophy."
Part of Edwardsville success will come from the swift feet of sprinter Cameron James. He showed on Friday that he could be the sprinter to beat this May. In the prelims, Johnathan Boey of Decatur MacArthur zipped to a state leading 6.44 55 meter dash while James ran 6.58. There was a determined look in James' eyes as he left the blocks wanting to make sure it was not a repeat performance of the prelims. He surged at about 25 meters and won with a convincing 6.40, #12 US so far this year.
That was not all for the Edwardsville senior. He led off for the Tigers in 4 x 200 Meter Relay. He gave his squad a commanding lead with a 22.5 lead off split. It put Edwardsville in command early in the race and gave them a lead that they did not give up. The time of 1:31.46 is a best time in Illinois so far this year.
Host Normal West had a pair of winners, both in the field events. Senior Eric Gordon cleared 15' 0" on his second attempt to win the Pole Vault and set a new meet record. He made good 3 attempts at 15' 6". A look of things ahead for this Wildcat.
The other winner for the host school was in the Shot Put. Sophomore Kyrin Tucker just started participating this year in track after spending the winter in wrestling where he qualified for the state meet. The 6' 7", 280 lb athletic found himself behind Peoria Richwoods' Tyler Brown going into his final put. Tucker responded with a 52' 7" winning put.
Cahokia athletes had a successful meet. Trey Story won in the 200 Meter Dash, Marlin Brady won in a photo finish over Homewood-Flossmoor's Josh Nance in the 400 Meter Dash, Chris Moore won the Long Jump, and Antonio Pierce was victorious in the High Jump. Along with the individual accolades, the Comanches picked up a pair of victories in the 4 x 400 Meter Relay and the 4 x 800 Meter Relay.
==============================
Fri., Feb. 24, 2012 -- Normal, IL
LINKS: Full Results | DyeStat Elites
WEBCAST
HIGHLIGHTS
- B-3200: Edwardsville sr Garrett Sweatt rolled a IL#1 / US#2 9:07.25, topping MacArthur sr Michael Clevenger 9:19.75.
- B-55/4X200: Edwardsville sr Cameron James blasted a IL#1 / US#12 6.40, then had a 22.5 leg on his team's winning IL#1 1:31.46.
- B-PV: Eric Gordon of Community West (Normal, Ill) sets a meet record of 15' 0".
==============================
Normal West Invitational Recap
The feel on the inside of the Shirk Center for the Normal West Wildcat Invitational was that of an early season meet. But the first final of the evening, the 3200 Meter Run, felt more like the state final.
Garrett Sweatt and Michael Clevenger made sure of that.
Both runners went by the 1600 in a quick 4:35, but it was Sweatt, the Edwardsville senior, that pulled away in the last 1200 meters to win in a then US#2 time of 9:07.25.
It is a great time, a great performance. But considering that this is Sweatt's first indoor race of the season, the race was even more impressive. The future looks bright for the runner that has a state championship in his sight.
"We have been doing a lot of long strength work so far this year," said Sweatt after his race. "I responded well to that in cross and I ran my PR off of just strength and I did today as well. Training has just gone well. I've felt relaxed."
"I remembered that Clevenger had a great kick," he continued. "So my coach and I decided to make a move with 7 to 8 laps to go. I wish I was a little faster in the middle, but I have 3 months to work on that."
For Clevenger, this was a race that he left happy with. "Me and my coach thought that my race would be around 9:20. I am happy with my performance. I did not think we were going to run that past. When we went by the mile in 4:35, I thought whew, it was faster than I expected."
Sweatt's goal at the beginning of the cross country season was a state championship. He finished 4th last fall at the state meet. His goals remain resolute: a state championship. At the same time, he would also like to get one for his team.
"I'm definitely going to run both races (1600 & 3200) unless something happens. I definitely want to help my team and bring home a trophy."
Part of Edwardsville success will come from the swift feet of sprinter Cameron James. He showed on Friday that he could be the sprinter to beat this May. In the prelims, Johnathan Boey of Decatur MacArthur zipped to a state leading 6.44 55 meter dash while James ran 6.58. There was a determined look in James' eyes as he left the blocks wanting to make sure it was not a repeat performance of the prelims. He surged at about 25 meters and won with a convincing 6.40, #12 US so far this year.
That was not all for the Edwardsville senior. He led off for the Tigers in 4 x 200 Meter Relay. He gave his squad a commanding lead with a 22.5 lead off split. It put Edwardsville in command early in the race and gave them a lead that they did not give up. The time of 1:31.46 is a best time in Illinois so far this year.
Host Normal West had a pair of winners, both in the field events. Senior Eric Gordon cleared 15' 0" on his second attempt to win the Pole Vault and set a new meet record. He made good 3 attempts at 15' 6". A look of things ahead for this Wildcat.
The other winner for the host school was in the Shot Put. Sophomore Kyrin Tucker just started participating this year in track after spending the winter in wrestling where he qualified for the state meet. The 6' 7", 280 lb athletic found himself behind Peoria Richwoods' Tyler Brown going into his final put. Tucker responded with a 52' 7" winning put.
Cahokia athletes had a successful meet. Trey Story won in the 200 Meter Dash, Marlin Brady won in a photo finish over Homewood-Flossmoor's Josh Nance in the 400 Meter Dash, Chris Moore won the Long Jump, and Antonio Pierce was victorious in the High Jump. Along with the individual accolades, the Comanches picked up a pair of victories in the 4 x 400 Meter Relay and the 4 x 800 Meter Relay.
==============================
6th Annual Normal West Wildcat Invitational Preview
It may be the end of February. But on Friday on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington IL, the track at the Shirk Center will have the intensity of the state meet at the end of May.
Some of the top individual athletes will be in attendance for the Wildcat Invitational. There is no team scores kept at this meet. This is more however an opportunity for coaches to access how their teams are developing for the 2012 season. It is also a time for the athletes to see what work they still need to do.
Here is a look at some of the events to watch for this meet. The first race starts at 3:45PM Friday afternoon.
~~ Dynamite 3200 Meter Run ~~
It may be the first race of the day, but it could be the most anticipated race possibly in the indoor season. The 3200 Meter Run has the starpower with two of the top elite distance runners in the state.
Michael Clevengerof MacArthur HS (Decatur, Ill) is the 2 time 2A Cross Country champion and the defending state champion in the 2A 3200 Meter Run. Garrett Sweatt of Edwardsville HS placed 4th last fall in the 3A state meet. Both runners have PR's of 9:09 in this event.
The two raced at the Peoria Invitational last October. In that race, Clevenger moved away in the last 600 meters to win by 4 seconds. Being that this is the first race for both runners this track season, it will be interesting to see what both runners bring to the table.
Meet manager Steve Destri of Normal West HS orginally had one section of this race with 18 runners in it. It has since been changed from one to two sections. With less runners in section 2, it will mean less lapped runners. Even though this race is early in the season, we could see some fast times.
~~ The Relays ~~
As the spotlight will be on the first race of the day, it will still be shining bright as the last event goes off: the 4x400m Relay. There is quality in the last section of this race with defending 2A state champion Cahokia and perennial event power Belleviille West leading the way.
Cahokia ran 3:26 at the University of Arkansas Invitational in January and come into this event with the fastest seed time. With Marlin Brady and Darren Payton leading the way for the Comanches, this team could be flirting with a sub 3:25 time.
Plainfield North will be up to the task of challenging Cahokia with Quest Youngleading the way for North. Belleville Wet, led by Jeremy Randolph will be up to the challenge for contending for the win in this race.
Minooka, Edwardsville, and Springfield fill out the final section and will be in contention with the 3 above mentioned squads.
~~ The Field ~~
There is good quality in all 5 of the field events. We will see some good performances in this meet.
Keep an eye on the Pole Vault. Hometown vaulter Eric Gordon of Normal Community West HS has already cleared 15-4 this winter and is itching to go higher in this meet. He will have some good vaulters pushing him higher led by Tom Schuette of Edwardsville and Cirron Clarkof Danville.
In the Triple Jump, watch for Aaron Perry of Richwoods (Peoria, Ill). He placed last year at the state meet while competing for Mt. Zion HS. His family moved during the summer. He will be a force this year in 3A for this Peoria school.
Chris Moore of Cahokia has stunned many in this event this winter by jumping 45'5 3/4" at a meet in Missouri at the end of January. His previous best was around 41' ! Should be a good competition.
~~ The Sprints ~~
The 55 Meter Dash should be sizzling. Cameron James of Edwardsville has ran 6.96 for 60 Meters in January. That time is equivelent to 6.38 for this event. The all state performer in the 100 meters last spring will be the focus in this event.
However, he will have company. Keep a close eye on the Richwoods (Peoria, Ill) duo of Mikail Davisand Kendrick Foster, Joey Giovannelli of Glenwood (Chatham, Ill), Johnathan Boey of MacArthur (Decatur, Ill), Marquis Flowers of North (Plainfield, Ill), and Trey Story of Cahokia. This field is loaded. We could see someone popping up that was not mentioned here that could surprise.
The 400 Meter Dash should be tight with Quest Youngof North (Plainfield, Ill) and Marlin Brady of Cahokia as the favorites.
Watch for Clayton Glasperof Richwoods (Peoria, Ill) in this event. He ran 14.1 in the 110 HH last spring finishing 2nd in the 2A state meet and should be the favorite in this event.
To preview the Normal West Wildcat Invitational heat sheets, click here.
The Secret of Their Success at Lake Park
February, 16, 2012
Feb 16
7:54
AM ET
By Mike Newman | ESPN.com
The Lake Park High School boy’s track & field team has dominated the track scene in the state of Illinois winning the 3A team title the last two years. Head Coach Jay Ivory has built a squad that is dominated by field events. In the history of the track and field on the high school level in Illinois, no school has won the state title the way that school west of Chicago has. All the points scored by the Lancers were done through 6 field events. It must be something with the facilities that they have. It must be the water that is in Roselle that they are drinking. But it is something way more than that.
There is nothing that special about the indoor facilities that the Lake Park track teams use. There is no flash or sizzle about the area. It is not a 200 meter track temple that some of the schools have within the state. It is small and compact. The boys and girls teams have trouble using this small area at the same time. The actual running area is not a full circuit. But still, Ivory and his team find I way to make it work out. Thank goodness for a warm winter.
There is an aura of success when you enter that small area adjacent to the main gym. It comes from the two state championships that this team has earned. The success starts from the coaching staff that is passionate in what they do.
Jay Ivory is the head coach. “I feel like I am just the manager,” he said. “I am just trying to get the team from meet to meet and make sure they are entered in each meet.” Ivory is the pulse of this team. But when you ask him about that, he defers all the success to the staff.
“You can see how passionate they are to the cause of track & field,” Ivory says of his assistants. “It is absolutely infectious. No surprises with them. We would not be successful without these guys.”
Tom Kaberna coaches the horizontal jumpers. Bob Nihells coaches the weight events. Lance Murphy is in charge of the distance runners. Doug Juraska works with the High Jump and the Pole Vault. Ivory handles the sprints. “I believe we have the best group of coaches in the state, perhaps the country,” Ivory stated.
It is the field events where state meet success has occurred in recent state meets. You can look at past state meets and see that all 6 events have been successful which is a credit to the 3 coaches that coach the athletes.
This year will be a year of test for the Lancers. They have lost 65 out of the 74 points that were scored in the state meet with the graduation of Jeremy and Jermaine Kline in the weight events along with Zach Ziemek, the state champ in the Pole Vault, Long and Triple Jumps.
For the first time in 3 years, Lake Park enters the season not as the favorite in the team competition. It is a position that suits Ivory just fine.
“I am fine with the fact that people think that we have lost so much and they we will not be towards the top,” Ivory sheepishly says. “I think we have some quality guys coming back that could put up points. We also have some young kids that are also stepping into the mix. We may be a more rounded team than we have been the last couple of years.”
No offense to Ivory’s sprint crew or the distance men of Lance Murphy. Both men have a young group of athletes that could surprise on the state level this season. The spotlight the last few years has been in the field. So what is the secret of their success?
“Success breeds success,” Ivory simply states. “It is just like York and their distance runners. Kids see the success that comes from the events and they just want to be a part of it.”
~ Breaking down the jump ~
Kaberna’s jumpers have achieved the most equally along with Nihells' throwers in the Lake Park program. It comes down to the coach and his passion towards the two events.
“I have gone to so many clinics searching for ideas to make my guys better,” Kaberna said while I was visiting. “Any idea, if it is good I will use it. For example, I TIVO the guys when they are taking jumps. We go back and watch each of the jumps slowing it down. I can point out what the guys are doing wrong. I got that idea from a diving coach and how he used it with his divers. It is easy to say you are doing something wrong and the guys will doubt what you are saying. If you show them the video of a jump, they become believers of what I am teaching. The proof is in the pudding.”
“I had problems with certain aspects of my Long Jump during last year,” said Junior Scott Filip, who earned all-state last year in that event. “Coach showed me what I was doing wrong on the video. We fixed it and then there was no more problem.”
So much of Kaberna’s practices are concentrate on technique. Not one part of the jumping phase is ignored. Kaberna picks it apart piece by piece for his athletes. The one thing that his guys do not practice is the landing. “If we do everything else right, the landing takes care of itself,” Kaberna states.
Kaberna is also responsible for the DuPage Track Club, where the Lancers compete on during the early summer. It is also a chance for younger athletes in the community to feel what it is like and what it will be like to be a Lancer. “We are just trying the younger kids excited about track and field,” Ivory added. “No doubt the track club helps us.”
~ The little corner of success ~
There is a small room nestled in the corner between the track area and the main gym. That is where the weight athletes of Bob Nihells congregate every day to work on the technique necessary in the Shot Put and the Discus. The small area was where State Champions Dan Block & Jermaine Kline learned their craft. Just like with Kaberna and the rest of the Lake Park staff, Nihells is creative with the training techniques. There is video equipment in the room to look at each athlete.
“Good athletes make better throwers,” Nihells said as he was describing the Kline brothers. “They were extremely gifted.” This year will be a bit of a challenge where he will be going through a rebuilding process with his group. Will the success of the Klines’ trickle down to this year? “It is really hard to say if any of the kids learned from them or their success scared some kids away. Some kids back away from that success. So it is a double edged sword when you get kids like that. Some kids, if they are like a year away, they have a tendency that I am not going to get a chance to throw so why should I. Then you have some freshman that look up to them so that is really the key if you have freshman that are really talented and they saw what it took to get good. Then as a coach you move in and you are ready to go again.”
“The group I have this year is very coachable. When you have kids that work hard and that you can teach, they will be successful,” Nihells concluded.
~ Legacy ~
Cassandra Geiger/ESPNHSKevin Spejcher of Lake Park is a treat to score in multiple jumpsKevin Spejcher is looked at as the key leader on this squad. He has competed in the state meet the last few years placing 6th last year in the state finals in the High Jump. His goals are high this year that he made a choice to skip basketball for the first time in his high school career. “I just knew I was not going to get a scholarship in basketball. I wanted to concentrate all my efforts in the High Jump,” the senior said. “Individually, I just want to stay healthy and try to go over 7’ by the end of the indoor season. Top 3 is definitely the goal. I have been part of the state team the last two years. I want to bring one more back before I leave.”
The success that this team had was through the efforts of Zach Ziemek who is now attending the University of Wisconsin. It was not what he did in the stadium the day of the meet, but the impact that he had during practice and away from the team.
“What I learned from Zach is that you have to put 100% effort during the off season,” said Filip. “I learned what you put into the event is what you get out of it. He always stayed positive. He always was on time for practice. He would do everything that was asked of him. I looked up to him because he taught me everything.”
What Ziemek passed down to Filip will be eventually passed down to the next group of jumpers. “I am trying to teach the younger kids the same things. I just want to be the athlete, the person that he was while he was here. I just want to continue the Lake Park tradition.”
When it comes down to it, it is what the coaches bring to the table for their kids every day. The coaches look to get knowledge and pass it on to the athletes on this team. It brings the team to practice every day hungry to learn and hungry to do their best.
Kevin Spejcher summed it up best when it comes down to his coaches and what the secret is in this west suburban school. “I have never been inspired so much by these coaches. They love what they do and they know it. It is the coaches. That is why it is so special here.”
There is nothing that special about the indoor facilities that the Lake Park track teams use. There is no flash or sizzle about the area. It is not a 200 meter track temple that some of the schools have within the state. It is small and compact. The boys and girls teams have trouble using this small area at the same time. The actual running area is not a full circuit. But still, Ivory and his team find I way to make it work out. Thank goodness for a warm winter.
There is an aura of success when you enter that small area adjacent to the main gym. It comes from the two state championships that this team has earned. The success starts from the coaching staff that is passionate in what they do.
Jay Ivory is the head coach. “I feel like I am just the manager,” he said. “I am just trying to get the team from meet to meet and make sure they are entered in each meet.” Ivory is the pulse of this team. But when you ask him about that, he defers all the success to the staff.
“You can see how passionate they are to the cause of track & field,” Ivory says of his assistants. “It is absolutely infectious. No surprises with them. We would not be successful without these guys.”
Tom Kaberna coaches the horizontal jumpers. Bob Nihells coaches the weight events. Lance Murphy is in charge of the distance runners. Doug Juraska works with the High Jump and the Pole Vault. Ivory handles the sprints. “I believe we have the best group of coaches in the state, perhaps the country,” Ivory stated.
It is the field events where state meet success has occurred in recent state meets. You can look at past state meets and see that all 6 events have been successful which is a credit to the 3 coaches that coach the athletes.
This year will be a year of test for the Lancers. They have lost 65 out of the 74 points that were scored in the state meet with the graduation of Jeremy and Jermaine Kline in the weight events along with Zach Ziemek, the state champ in the Pole Vault, Long and Triple Jumps.
For the first time in 3 years, Lake Park enters the season not as the favorite in the team competition. It is a position that suits Ivory just fine.
“I am fine with the fact that people think that we have lost so much and they we will not be towards the top,” Ivory sheepishly says. “I think we have some quality guys coming back that could put up points. We also have some young kids that are also stepping into the mix. We may be a more rounded team than we have been the last couple of years.”
No offense to Ivory’s sprint crew or the distance men of Lance Murphy. Both men have a young group of athletes that could surprise on the state level this season. The spotlight the last few years has been in the field. So what is the secret of their success?
“Success breeds success,” Ivory simply states. “It is just like York and their distance runners. Kids see the success that comes from the events and they just want to be a part of it.”
~ Breaking down the jump ~
Kaberna’s jumpers have achieved the most equally along with Nihells' throwers in the Lake Park program. It comes down to the coach and his passion towards the two events.
“I have gone to so many clinics searching for ideas to make my guys better,” Kaberna said while I was visiting. “Any idea, if it is good I will use it. For example, I TIVO the guys when they are taking jumps. We go back and watch each of the jumps slowing it down. I can point out what the guys are doing wrong. I got that idea from a diving coach and how he used it with his divers. It is easy to say you are doing something wrong and the guys will doubt what you are saying. If you show them the video of a jump, they become believers of what I am teaching. The proof is in the pudding.”
“I had problems with certain aspects of my Long Jump during last year,” said Junior Scott Filip, who earned all-state last year in that event. “Coach showed me what I was doing wrong on the video. We fixed it and then there was no more problem.”
So much of Kaberna’s practices are concentrate on technique. Not one part of the jumping phase is ignored. Kaberna picks it apart piece by piece for his athletes. The one thing that his guys do not practice is the landing. “If we do everything else right, the landing takes care of itself,” Kaberna states.
Kaberna is also responsible for the DuPage Track Club, where the Lancers compete on during the early summer. It is also a chance for younger athletes in the community to feel what it is like and what it will be like to be a Lancer. “We are just trying the younger kids excited about track and field,” Ivory added. “No doubt the track club helps us.”
~ The little corner of success ~
There is a small room nestled in the corner between the track area and the main gym. That is where the weight athletes of Bob Nihells congregate every day to work on the technique necessary in the Shot Put and the Discus. The small area was where State Champions Dan Block & Jermaine Kline learned their craft. Just like with Kaberna and the rest of the Lake Park staff, Nihells is creative with the training techniques. There is video equipment in the room to look at each athlete.
“Good athletes make better throwers,” Nihells said as he was describing the Kline brothers. “They were extremely gifted.” This year will be a bit of a challenge where he will be going through a rebuilding process with his group. Will the success of the Klines’ trickle down to this year? “It is really hard to say if any of the kids learned from them or their success scared some kids away. Some kids back away from that success. So it is a double edged sword when you get kids like that. Some kids, if they are like a year away, they have a tendency that I am not going to get a chance to throw so why should I. Then you have some freshman that look up to them so that is really the key if you have freshman that are really talented and they saw what it took to get good. Then as a coach you move in and you are ready to go again.”
“The group I have this year is very coachable. When you have kids that work hard and that you can teach, they will be successful,” Nihells concluded.
~ Legacy ~
Cassandra Geiger/ESPNHSKevin Spejcher of Lake Park is a treat to score in multiple jumpsThe success that this team had was through the efforts of Zach Ziemek who is now attending the University of Wisconsin. It was not what he did in the stadium the day of the meet, but the impact that he had during practice and away from the team.
“What I learned from Zach is that you have to put 100% effort during the off season,” said Filip. “I learned what you put into the event is what you get out of it. He always stayed positive. He always was on time for practice. He would do everything that was asked of him. I looked up to him because he taught me everything.”
What Ziemek passed down to Filip will be eventually passed down to the next group of jumpers. “I am trying to teach the younger kids the same things. I just want to be the athlete, the person that he was while he was here. I just want to continue the Lake Park tradition.”
When it comes down to it, it is what the coaches bring to the table for their kids every day. The coaches look to get knowledge and pass it on to the athletes on this team. It brings the team to practice every day hungry to learn and hungry to do their best.
Kevin Spejcher summed it up best when it comes down to his coaches and what the secret is in this west suburban school. “I have never been inspired so much by these coaches. They love what they do and they know it. It is the coaches. That is why it is so special here.”
This past week, the Illinois High School Board of Directors voted to unanimously change the wording regarding the participation of athletes in meets sanctioned by the National Governing body. In the case of Track & Field and Cross Country, that meets that are sanctioned by USATF are now fair game for IHSA athletes to participate in, starting in the 2012-13 school year. Prior to this, the ruling was worded so that meets that were only sanctioned and conducted by USATF are allowed with a waiver. Currently in Illinois only two meets are both sanctioned and conducted by USATF, the Dorothy Dawson Zone Invitational at Proviso West High School on February 19th, and the USATF National Indoor Championships on March 10th & 11th in Bloomington. Several High School athletes in Illinois will be heading to those meets in order to receive FAT times and a chance to run on a 200 meter track.
Meets in the 2012-13 school year that are USATF Sanctioned will still require a waiver signed by the principal and submitted to the IHSA with time for them to review and approve the waiver. For Illinois athletes this means that they will be allowed to compete at some of the indoor National Championships like the New Balance (formerly Nike) Indoor Nationals, the many meets held at the SPIRE Track in Geneva Ohio, the University of Kentucky Club meet and several others throughout the Midwest. Both the Indiana and Michigan High School Associations do not recognize indoor track as a season, and as a result there are several indoor meets that are USATF sanctioned and many high school athletes from those states compete in those meets. In the past, athletes and teams from Illinois had participated in those meets inadvertently due to the confusion surrounding the previous by-law.
When asked about the change, IHSA Track & Field Chair Ron McGraw stated, “I am supportive of this change and very happy the membership felt it was an appropriate time to provide more flexibility in this area. It is exciting for our athletes and good for Illinois High School Track and Field for Illinois athletes to be allowed to represent Illinois in some of the premier national events (starting in 2012-13). I anticipate that the IHSA Board of Directors will review IHSA Policy 16 at some time prior to the start of next school year to establish a maximum number of non-interscholastic competitions that would be allowed by an athlete during any single school year or season.”
Some of the top USATF Sanctioned High School Meets
New Balance Indoor Nationals
The SPIRE Indoor Scholastic Meets
Trine, Indiana High School Invitational
Indiana Track Club High School Open in Bloomington, IN
Mideast Indoor Classic at Wabash College
University of Kentucky High School Open
Many others listed here
Indiana Open Meets
2A Sprint/Hurdles | 2A Distance | 2A Field Events | 2A Relays
After all was said and done, perhaps Class 2A was the one out of all of the 3 boys classes that may have been affected the most. There were some schools that were moved up to 3A. Some schools that moved up to 2A. The dynamics have changed dramatically the most in this class.
But saying all of that, one thing remains constant: Cahokia remains the favorite for the team title going into the 2012 season. There are some schools that will challenge the Commaches, but do they have the depth that this Southern Illinois school has?
Here is a look at the top teams in Class 2A heading into this season:
Cahokia
2011 Finish: 1st
Top Returnees: Trey Story SR (Sprints), Marlin Brady SO (Sprints), Darren Payton JR (400-800), Antonio Pierce JR (HJ, Sprints),
Gary Hickman SO (Hurdles), Chriss Moore JR (Hurdles, Jumps), Daniel McCall SO (Jumps), Kenny Ball SR (400-800),
Jalon Monigan SO (Mid Distances), Michael Monigan SO (Mid Distances).
Outlook: Vernon Carter and Laderrick Ward were the two leaders of last year’s squad that dominated the Class 2A state meet. They accounted individually for 42 out of the Comanches 62 points with Ward a member of their winning 4 x 400 meter relay. Still, this school will not spend a year rebuilding. They will be reloading.
Coach Leroy Millsap has a squad that is young and talented. He is also deep which will free him up to do different things with athletes this season. Last year, Cahokia did not get to the finals in the 4x1 and the 4x2. With the depth he has this year, count on them being in the mix. They return the core of their winning 4x4 relay and could possibly go for a time in the low 3:16’s. Chris Moore has been jumping well so far this winter in both the Long and Triple Jumps. He could be in the mix in both of those events in May. Trey Story could score points in either of the dashes. Look for big things from either Marlon Brady or Darren Payton also in the 400.
Glen Ellyn Glenbard South
2011 Finish: 3rd
Top Returnees: Wesley Sanders SR (Sprints), John Wold SO (Distances), Joe Singleton SO (Distances), Elven Walker SR (Sprints/Hurdles), Nick Boesso SR (Weights), Tim Maggit SO (Sprints).
Outlook: In Andy Preuss’ last campaign as the Raiders head coach, this team will look to improve on last year’s 3rd place finish. John Wold has emerged as one of the elite runners in Class 2A and could score points in either the 800 or 1600 or perhaps both. Fellow distance runner Joe Singleton had a good fall campaign in cross country and will look to build off of that this spring. Nick Boesso will among the top athletes in both the Shot Put and the Discus.
Sprinter Wesley Sanders has been sprinting in the shadows of graduated Garrett Payne. Watch for him in both the 100 and 200. Sanders will also be a plus in both of South's sprint relays.
Decatur MacArthur
2011 Finish: 19th
Top Returnees: Michael Clevenger SR (Distances), Jonathan Boey JR (Sprints), Nathan Allyn JR (Distances), Carlos Harris SR (Jumps), Aquintis Williams JR (Sprints), Jeff Auton SR (Weights), Tony Harris SR (Distances).
Outlook: This school could surprise in 2A in Charleston. Michael Clevenger is the defending champion in the 3200 and will look to defend that this year. He will also be one of the favorites in the 1600. Coach Micah Sheppard has a good sprint squad led by Juniors Jonathan Boey and Aquintis Williams. Both of these sprinters could score in either of the short races as well as the 4x1 and 4x2 relays. Nathan Allyn made the 800 finals last year as a sophomore. Look for him to challenge for the top spot this season. Carlos Harris returns as one of the top Triple Jumpers in 2A and could score in both or the horizontal jumps
Mt. Vernon
2011 Finish: 10th
Top Returnees: Anthony Moore SR (Sprints), Spencer Allen SR (Hurdles), Karson Hahn JR (Distances), David Modert SO (Distances), Trace Turner SR (Pole Vault), Diamond Hodge JR (Triple Jump).
Outlook: Another school that could be in the top 5 in Charleston. Anthony Moore leads the way as being one of the top runners in the 400. Look for Spencer Allen to score points for the Rams in both hurdle races. Trace Turner will also provide points in the Pole Vault along with David Modert in the 1600.
Chatham-Glenwood
2011 Finish: 2nd
Top Returnees: Joey Giovanelli SR (Sprints), Marc Maton JR (Distances), Luke Perko JR (Hurdles), Whitt Kinley SR (Distances), Tyler Brinkman JR (Sprints), Michael Giovanelli SO (Sprints).
Outlook: Can the Titans repeat their second place finish of last season? Coach Len Onken did lose some runners to graduation in the sprints. Joey Giovanelli however returns. The senior is forecasted to be one of the top sprinters in the state and could score points in the sprint races along with helping out in the relays. Marc Maton did not have a great state meet in Cross Country. Look for him to rebound this spring in both the 1600 and the 3200.
Midlothian Bremen
2011 Finish: 14th
Top Returnees: Dion Starnes SR (Sprints, Hurdles), Torian Parks JR (Sprints, Hurdles, Long Jump), Charles Jideonwo SR (Sprints), Demetrius Shelton JR (Sprints), Robert Fielding SR (Sprints).
Outlook: There are teams that revolve around one superior athlete. This is the case with the Braves. Senior Dion Starnes will be one of the favorites in the High Hurdles and the 200 along with being a force on a good 4x2 relay. So goes Starnes, so goes this team. They do have good speed with Torian Parks in the sprints and hurdles. Also watch for points from Charles Jideonwo in the 400 Meter Dash.
Mahomet-Seymour
2011 Finish: 16th
Top Returnees: Marshall Graham SR (Sprints), Eli Johnson SR (Distances), Lucas Prather SR (Distances), Jonathan Schaap JR (Distances), Matthew Schaap SR (Hurdles), Austin Armetta SR (Pole Vault), Garrett Risley SR (Pole Vault), Derek Bunch SR (Weights), Luke Roush SR (Weights).
Outlook: Coach Keith Pogue continues to build a great tradition at this school. This is another team that could surprise and be in the top 5 in Charleston. You can expect big points from Derek Bunch and Luke Roush in the weight events. Bunch will be among the elite as will Roush in the Discus.The distance squad had a great fall in Cross Country and will look to build off of that in 2012. They will have a good 4x8 led by Eli Johnson and Lucas Prather and Jonathan Schaap could score points in the distance races. The Bulldogs will have a good sprint squad led by Marshall Graham. Watch also for points in the Pole Vault from either Austin Armetta or Garrett Risley.
Normal University
2011 Finish: 14th
Top Returnees: Brent Emmerson SR (Sprints), Wesley Ward JR (Distances), Brendan Hoskins JR (Distances), Ivan Sykes SR (Jumps), Kyle Morris SR (Jumps), Chiko Zimtambila SR (Jumps), Carson Schumacher JR (Weights).
Outlook: This school could be in the hunt for a top 5 finish this spring. Coach Lester Hampton traditionally has a strong distance squad and 2012 will be no exception. Juniors Wesley Ward and Brendan Hoskins lead a group that could score points here and in the 4 x 8 relay. The horizontal jumps could be strong with Kyle Morris, Ivan Sykes, and Chiko Zimtambila all with the capability of scoring points at the state level.
After all was said and done, perhaps Class 2A was the one out of all of the 3 boys classes that may have been affected the most. There were some schools that were moved up to 3A. Some schools that moved up to 2A. The dynamics have changed dramatically the most in this class.
But saying all of that, one thing remains constant: Cahokia remains the favorite for the team title going into the 2012 season. There are some schools that will challenge the Commaches, but do they have the depth that this Southern Illinois school has?
Here is a look at the top teams in Class 2A heading into this season:
Cahokia
2011 Finish: 1st
Top Returnees: Trey Story SR (Sprints), Marlin Brady SO (Sprints), Darren Payton JR (400-800), Antonio Pierce JR (HJ, Sprints),
Gary Hickman SO (Hurdles), Chriss Moore JR (Hurdles, Jumps), Daniel McCall SO (Jumps), Kenny Ball SR (400-800),
Jalon Monigan SO (Mid Distances), Michael Monigan SO (Mid Distances).
Outlook: Vernon Carter and Laderrick Ward were the two leaders of last year’s squad that dominated the Class 2A state meet. They accounted individually for 42 out of the Comanches 62 points with Ward a member of their winning 4 x 400 meter relay. Still, this school will not spend a year rebuilding. They will be reloading.
Coach Leroy Millsap has a squad that is young and talented. He is also deep which will free him up to do different things with athletes this season. Last year, Cahokia did not get to the finals in the 4x1 and the 4x2. With the depth he has this year, count on them being in the mix. They return the core of their winning 4x4 relay and could possibly go for a time in the low 3:16’s. Chris Moore has been jumping well so far this winter in both the Long and Triple Jumps. He could be in the mix in both of those events in May. Trey Story could score points in either of the dashes. Look for big things from either Marlon Brady or Darren Payton also in the 400.
Glen Ellyn Glenbard South
2011 Finish: 3rd
Top Returnees: Wesley Sanders SR (Sprints), John Wold SO (Distances), Joe Singleton SO (Distances), Elven Walker SR (Sprints/Hurdles), Nick Boesso SR (Weights), Tim Maggit SO (Sprints).
Outlook: In Andy Preuss’ last campaign as the Raiders head coach, this team will look to improve on last year’s 3rd place finish. John Wold has emerged as one of the elite runners in Class 2A and could score points in either the 800 or 1600 or perhaps both. Fellow distance runner Joe Singleton had a good fall campaign in cross country and will look to build off of that this spring. Nick Boesso will among the top athletes in both the Shot Put and the Discus.
Sprinter Wesley Sanders has been sprinting in the shadows of graduated Garrett Payne. Watch for him in both the 100 and 200. Sanders will also be a plus in both of South's sprint relays.
Decatur MacArthur
2011 Finish: 19th
Top Returnees: Michael Clevenger SR (Distances), Jonathan Boey JR (Sprints), Nathan Allyn JR (Distances), Carlos Harris SR (Jumps), Aquintis Williams JR (Sprints), Jeff Auton SR (Weights), Tony Harris SR (Distances).
Outlook: This school could surprise in 2A in Charleston. Michael Clevenger is the defending champion in the 3200 and will look to defend that this year. He will also be one of the favorites in the 1600. Coach Micah Sheppard has a good sprint squad led by Juniors Jonathan Boey and Aquintis Williams. Both of these sprinters could score in either of the short races as well as the 4x1 and 4x2 relays. Nathan Allyn made the 800 finals last year as a sophomore. Look for him to challenge for the top spot this season. Carlos Harris returns as one of the top Triple Jumpers in 2A and could score in both or the horizontal jumps
Mt. Vernon
2011 Finish: 10th
Top Returnees: Anthony Moore SR (Sprints), Spencer Allen SR (Hurdles), Karson Hahn JR (Distances), David Modert SO (Distances), Trace Turner SR (Pole Vault), Diamond Hodge JR (Triple Jump).
Outlook: Another school that could be in the top 5 in Charleston. Anthony Moore leads the way as being one of the top runners in the 400. Look for Spencer Allen to score points for the Rams in both hurdle races. Trace Turner will also provide points in the Pole Vault along with David Modert in the 1600.
Chatham-Glenwood
2011 Finish: 2nd
Top Returnees: Joey Giovanelli SR (Sprints), Marc Maton JR (Distances), Luke Perko JR (Hurdles), Whitt Kinley SR (Distances), Tyler Brinkman JR (Sprints), Michael Giovanelli SO (Sprints).
Outlook: Can the Titans repeat their second place finish of last season? Coach Len Onken did lose some runners to graduation in the sprints. Joey Giovanelli however returns. The senior is forecasted to be one of the top sprinters in the state and could score points in the sprint races along with helping out in the relays. Marc Maton did not have a great state meet in Cross Country. Look for him to rebound this spring in both the 1600 and the 3200.
Midlothian Bremen
2011 Finish: 14th
Top Returnees: Dion Starnes SR (Sprints, Hurdles), Torian Parks JR (Sprints, Hurdles, Long Jump), Charles Jideonwo SR (Sprints), Demetrius Shelton JR (Sprints), Robert Fielding SR (Sprints).
Outlook: There are teams that revolve around one superior athlete. This is the case with the Braves. Senior Dion Starnes will be one of the favorites in the High Hurdles and the 200 along with being a force on a good 4x2 relay. So goes Starnes, so goes this team. They do have good speed with Torian Parks in the sprints and hurdles. Also watch for points from Charles Jideonwo in the 400 Meter Dash.
Mahomet-Seymour
2011 Finish: 16th
Top Returnees: Marshall Graham SR (Sprints), Eli Johnson SR (Distances), Lucas Prather SR (Distances), Jonathan Schaap JR (Distances), Matthew Schaap SR (Hurdles), Austin Armetta SR (Pole Vault), Garrett Risley SR (Pole Vault), Derek Bunch SR (Weights), Luke Roush SR (Weights).
Outlook: Coach Keith Pogue continues to build a great tradition at this school. This is another team that could surprise and be in the top 5 in Charleston. You can expect big points from Derek Bunch and Luke Roush in the weight events. Bunch will be among the elite as will Roush in the Discus.The distance squad had a great fall in Cross Country and will look to build off of that in 2012. They will have a good 4x8 led by Eli Johnson and Lucas Prather and Jonathan Schaap could score points in the distance races. The Bulldogs will have a good sprint squad led by Marshall Graham. Watch also for points in the Pole Vault from either Austin Armetta or Garrett Risley.
Normal University
2011 Finish: 14th
Top Returnees: Brent Emmerson SR (Sprints), Wesley Ward JR (Distances), Brendan Hoskins JR (Distances), Ivan Sykes SR (Jumps), Kyle Morris SR (Jumps), Chiko Zimtambila SR (Jumps), Carson Schumacher JR (Weights).
Outlook: This school could be in the hunt for a top 5 finish this spring. Coach Lester Hampton traditionally has a strong distance squad and 2012 will be no exception. Juniors Wesley Ward and Brendan Hoskins lead a group that could score points here and in the 4 x 8 relay. The horizontal jumps could be strong with Kyle Morris, Ivan Sykes, and Chiko Zimtambila all with the capability of scoring points at the state level.
1A Sprint-Hurdles | 1A Distances | 1A Field Events | 1A Relays
With the changes that the IHSA implemented last summer, Class 1A has changed dramatically. Gone are the old powers such as Herrin, Harrisburg, Walther Lutheran, and Rockford Christian to name a few. It will be a time where some schools will step up to the big stage in contending for the state championship in this class.
3 out of the top 5 schools in last year’s state meet have moved up a class. However, defending state champion Chicago Leo remains in 1A and will look to defend its crown.
Here is a look of some of the top schools in 1A that will contend for the state championship this May in Charleston:
Chicago Leo
2011 Finish : 1st
Top Returnees: Theodore Hopkins SO (Sprints), Marlon Britton JR (Sprints/Hurdles), Keith Harris SR (Sprints), Joshua Wright JR (Hurdles), James Davis SO (Sprints).
Outlook: This will be a very young team for veteran coach Ed Adams, but this could be in contention for a trophy in May. Theodore Hopkins ran in the shadows of graduated all-state sprinter Bruce Gray.He should be in position to place high in both the 100 and 200. Juniors Joshua Wright and Marlon Britten are 2 hurdlers that could make it down state in both of the hurdle races. The Lions have always had good sprint relay quartets. Expect more of the same in 2012. This will be a young squad. But with a year of racing, this team may be primed to go after a top finish in May.
Winnebago
2011 Finish: 6th
Top Returnees: Neal Leonard SR (Sprints), Jaylin Neal SR (Sprints, HJ), Zach Kleindl SR (Hurdles), Tay Shanklin JR (Jumps), Max Bradfield SR (Pole Vault), Michael Jack SR (Weights).
Outlook: At the conclusion of last year’s state meet, it looked like the Indians would be the big favorite in 2012. In September, Marcus Posely decided to transfer to Rockford Auburn. He will not compete in any sports this school year as he was declared ineligible by the IHSA. Without Posely, who would have scored in the sprints and helped in the relays, Winnebago still has the parts to be in the hunt for a state championship. Neal Leonard will score big points in both the sprints, Tay Shanklin will be towards the top in the Triple Jump and possibly in the Long Jump, and Michael Jack could score points in both of the weight events. Both sprint relays will be in hunt for a top finish as well. This team could score more points over more events than most of the schools this year in 1A..which places them in good shape come May.
St. Joseph-Ogden
2011 Finish: 8th
Top Returnees: Austin Allen SR (Sprints), Zeke Elkins SR (Distances), Landon Vowels SR (Distances), Alex Arteaga SR (Hurdles, Pole Vault), Kyle Dyke SR (High Jump), Chas Cox SR (Relays), Cole Johnson JR (Distances), Cameron Ackerson SR (Sprints).
Outlook: Another team that could walk away with a trophy. This east-central Illinois squad has the pieces to do it. Zeke Elkins will be one of the top runners in the 800 along with being a key part in both the 4x4 and 4x8 relays. Alex Arteaga should score big points in both the Pole Vault and the Hurdles. Their quartets in the 4x4 and the 4x8 could be favorites in the events. Also look for points from their 2 sprint relays. Along with Winnebago, a team that could be in contention for the state team championship.
Newton
2011 Finish: 13th
Top Returnees: Ridge Finn SR (Sprints), Jake Stone SR (Sprints ), Blake Ebeling JR (High Jump), Mitch Mammoser SR (Pole Vault), Brandon Tolliver-Goode SO (Pole Vault).
Outlook: Mitch Mammoser should be the big favorite in the Pole Vault along with Sophomore Brandon Tolliver-Goode. Sprinters Ridge Finn and Jake Stone will be the cornerstones in both sprint relays. Could place in the top 5 in May.
Peoria Christian
2011 Finish: 11th
Top Returnees: Jonathan Hutchison SR (Sprints), Tavis Johnson SR (Sprints), Corey Allen JR (Sprints), Josh Doolin SO (Sprints), Josh Henry SO (Sprints), Cedric Riley SO (Sprints).
Outlook: Jonathan Hutchison will return to Charleston as a favorite in both short sprint races. Coach Lisa Fox also has a pretty good core of young sprinters that could compliment Hutchison in the 4 x 1 and 4 x 2 relays. If Hutchison is part of these quartets, this school could return to Peoria with the school’s first team trophy.
Monticello
2011 Finish: 36th
Top Returnees: Steve Schroeder SR (Distances), Luke Zocher SR (Distances), D.J. Gordon SR (Sprints, Long Jump), Drew Benson SR (Discus).
Outlook: Steve Schroeder placed 2nd last year in the 3200. He is out to finish what he started in the fall when he won the 1A Cross Country Individual Championship. He could score big points in both the 1600 & the 3200. Along with Luke Zocher, the Sages have a strong distance squad that could score points in all 4 distance events. D.J. Gordon could place as well in either the 100 or the Long Jump. With the 1A class depleted with some of the teams moving to 2A, Monticello could place in the top 5 in May in Charleston.
Questions / Comments: please e-mail Michael Newman : newman.dyestatIL@gmail.com
With the changes that the IHSA implemented last summer, Class 1A has changed dramatically. Gone are the old powers such as Herrin, Harrisburg, Walther Lutheran, and Rockford Christian to name a few. It will be a time where some schools will step up to the big stage in contending for the state championship in this class.
3 out of the top 5 schools in last year’s state meet have moved up a class. However, defending state champion Chicago Leo remains in 1A and will look to defend its crown.
Here is a look of some of the top schools in 1A that will contend for the state championship this May in Charleston:
Chicago Leo
2011 Finish : 1st
Top Returnees: Theodore Hopkins SO (Sprints), Marlon Britton JR (Sprints/Hurdles), Keith Harris SR (Sprints), Joshua Wright JR (Hurdles), James Davis SO (Sprints).
Outlook: This will be a very young team for veteran coach Ed Adams, but this could be in contention for a trophy in May. Theodore Hopkins ran in the shadows of graduated all-state sprinter Bruce Gray.He should be in position to place high in both the 100 and 200. Juniors Joshua Wright and Marlon Britten are 2 hurdlers that could make it down state in both of the hurdle races. The Lions have always had good sprint relay quartets. Expect more of the same in 2012. This will be a young squad. But with a year of racing, this team may be primed to go after a top finish in May.
Winnebago
2011 Finish: 6th
Top Returnees: Neal Leonard SR (Sprints), Jaylin Neal SR (Sprints, HJ), Zach Kleindl SR (Hurdles), Tay Shanklin JR (Jumps), Max Bradfield SR (Pole Vault), Michael Jack SR (Weights).
Outlook: At the conclusion of last year’s state meet, it looked like the Indians would be the big favorite in 2012. In September, Marcus Posely decided to transfer to Rockford Auburn. He will not compete in any sports this school year as he was declared ineligible by the IHSA. Without Posely, who would have scored in the sprints and helped in the relays, Winnebago still has the parts to be in the hunt for a state championship. Neal Leonard will score big points in both the sprints, Tay Shanklin will be towards the top in the Triple Jump and possibly in the Long Jump, and Michael Jack could score points in both of the weight events. Both sprint relays will be in hunt for a top finish as well. This team could score more points over more events than most of the schools this year in 1A..which places them in good shape come May.
St. Joseph-Ogden
2011 Finish: 8th
Top Returnees: Austin Allen SR (Sprints), Zeke Elkins SR (Distances), Landon Vowels SR (Distances), Alex Arteaga SR (Hurdles, Pole Vault), Kyle Dyke SR (High Jump), Chas Cox SR (Relays), Cole Johnson JR (Distances), Cameron Ackerson SR (Sprints).
Outlook: Another team that could walk away with a trophy. This east-central Illinois squad has the pieces to do it. Zeke Elkins will be one of the top runners in the 800 along with being a key part in both the 4x4 and 4x8 relays. Alex Arteaga should score big points in both the Pole Vault and the Hurdles. Their quartets in the 4x4 and the 4x8 could be favorites in the events. Also look for points from their 2 sprint relays. Along with Winnebago, a team that could be in contention for the state team championship.
Newton
2011 Finish: 13th
Top Returnees: Ridge Finn SR (Sprints), Jake Stone SR (Sprints ), Blake Ebeling JR (High Jump), Mitch Mammoser SR (Pole Vault), Brandon Tolliver-Goode SO (Pole Vault).
Outlook: Mitch Mammoser should be the big favorite in the Pole Vault along with Sophomore Brandon Tolliver-Goode. Sprinters Ridge Finn and Jake Stone will be the cornerstones in both sprint relays. Could place in the top 5 in May.
Peoria Christian
2011 Finish: 11th
Top Returnees: Jonathan Hutchison SR (Sprints), Tavis Johnson SR (Sprints), Corey Allen JR (Sprints), Josh Doolin SO (Sprints), Josh Henry SO (Sprints), Cedric Riley SO (Sprints).
Outlook: Jonathan Hutchison will return to Charleston as a favorite in both short sprint races. Coach Lisa Fox also has a pretty good core of young sprinters that could compliment Hutchison in the 4 x 1 and 4 x 2 relays. If Hutchison is part of these quartets, this school could return to Peoria with the school’s first team trophy.
Monticello
2011 Finish: 36th
Top Returnees: Steve Schroeder SR (Distances), Luke Zocher SR (Distances), D.J. Gordon SR (Sprints, Long Jump), Drew Benson SR (Discus).
Outlook: Steve Schroeder placed 2nd last year in the 3200. He is out to finish what he started in the fall when he won the 1A Cross Country Individual Championship. He could score big points in both the 1600 & the 3200. Along with Luke Zocher, the Sages have a strong distance squad that could score points in all 4 distance events. D.J. Gordon could place as well in either the 100 or the Long Jump. With the 1A class depleted with some of the teams moving to 2A, Monticello could place in the top 5 in May in Charleston.
Questions / Comments: please e-mail Michael Newman : newman.dyestatIL@gmail.com
While most track and field athletes are beginning their competitive seasons this weekend, the runners at Highland Park High School in Illinois will be devoting their time to raising money for a charitable cause. Annually since 2005, the track and field teams have participated in a 24-hour relay as a fund raiser. Last year, the event raised $19,400 for the Saving Tiny Hearts Society. Overall, the school raised nearly $140,000 last year.
“Most of the school groups do bake sales, silent auctions, or raffles,” junior organizer Lucas Nudelman said.
The relay was created in 2005 by Zack Weinberg, a Highland Park track athlete. The annual charity donation drive began as a school-wide project in 1994. This year’s charity is the Leukemia Research Foundation.
The boys and girls teams will participate in the relay, with distance runners taking up most of the mileage. Everyone on the team will run at least one mile. According to Nudelman, the team expects to run more than 200 miles during the 24 hours.
Donors can make a flat contribution or pledge a specific amount per mile. The run will kick off Friday at 10:30 a.m. and go for 24 hours.
For more information, or to make a donation, go to http://24hour-run.com
“Most of the school groups do bake sales, silent auctions, or raffles,” junior organizer Lucas Nudelman said.
The relay was created in 2005 by Zack Weinberg, a Highland Park track athlete. The annual charity donation drive began as a school-wide project in 1994. This year’s charity is the Leukemia Research Foundation.
The boys and girls teams will participate in the relay, with distance runners taking up most of the mileage. Everyone on the team will run at least one mile. According to Nudelman, the team expects to run more than 200 miles during the 24 hours.
Donors can make a flat contribution or pledge a specific amount per mile. The run will kick off Friday at 10:30 a.m. and go for 24 hours.
For more information, or to make a donation, go to http://24hour-run.com
KTC Indoor Classic: US#1 in 200 for Martin; Owers gets another 50-footer in shot
January, 29, 2012
Jan 29
4:51
PM ET
John Nepolitan/ESPNHSTori Owers (photo from 2011 World Youth Champs) nailed her 2nd 50-footer of the year.Fri.-Sat., Jan. 27-28, 2012 - E. Tenn. St., Johnson City TN
LINKS: Meet Home Page | Live Results Page
DyeStat Elites | Complete Results
HIGHLIGHTS
- G-200: Two US#1s for Martin Luther King GA jr Jada Martin (Sprint Athletics): 24.20 in the prelims, then 24.15 in the final, with Union Grove GA sr Brianna Vaughn (Sprint Athletics) 2nd in 24.91 (24.72 prelim).
- G-60: The aforementioned Vaughn got the best of Georgia rival Martin here, US#5 7.54 to #7 7.57
- G-SP: Athens Academy GA sr Tori Owers (Throw1Deep), already US#1 at 50-6, gets another 50-footer with 50-2.5.
- B-WT: Another big throw (69-2.75) for Ravenwood TN sr Cameron Brown, who is already US#3 at 70-6.25.
- G-WT: Throw1Deep swept the first 8 places, with its US#1-2-3 throwers battling and while none of them hit their PRs, it was #2 Pope GA sr Monica Phillips winning with 55-1.
- G-LJ/55H: Kell (Marietta, Ga.) jr Kendell Williams (The Heat TC) had another impressive double, a US#4 19-6 and #4 8.56 prelim (8.57 in final).
- B-60H/LJ: Kendell Williams’ senior brother Devon continued working his way into the elite with an US#14 8.14 in the prelim, though he lost to Union Grove’s Byron Burney in the final, 8.20-8.22. Williams also won the LJ in 21-7.5.
- G-800: US#6 2:13.79 800 for Ridgeway TN sr Rhavean King.
- G-400: US#11 56.18 for Chamblee GA jr Chelsea Caldwell.
- B-PV: US#15 15-5 for Flowery Branch GA sr Austin Eckenroth.
6.08! Bracy crushes 55 USR at J. Carnes; Sanders rips 2 girls US#1s
January, 29, 2012
Jan 29
1:41
PM ET
By Steve Underwood | ESPN.com
John Nepolitan/ESPNHSMarvin Bracy (shown here at last summer's USATF Jrs) is the headliner in the boys field of the 100 meters at the Texas Relays.Sun., Jan. 29 - Gainesville FL
LINKS: Full HS Results | DyeStat Elites
Meet Site | Timing Site (includes youth results)
HIGHLIGHTS
- B-55: Boone FL sr Marvin Bracy crushed the USR with a 6.08. The old mark was 6.14, set by D'Angelo Cherry GA at NSIC in 2008. Strong soph mark of 6.48 for Stanton College Prep FL's Kendal Williams.
- G-55/200: Boyd Anderson FL sr Shayla Sanders rocketed to US#1s of 6.85 and 23.89. Teammate Kali Davis-White had great times in 2nd in each race of US#3 6.96 and #9 24.67.
- B-200/400: World Youth 400 champ and St. Thomas Aquinas FL sr Arman Hall rolled to US#4 21.62 and #11 48.81. Both are the best this year on a flat, regulation track. Again, a great mark by Kendal Williams in 2nd at 21.87.
- B-55H: Boyd Anderson FL sr Bruce Barclay ran US#9 7.45.
- G-3000: 3-time Foot Locker finalist and Presbyterian Day GA jr Grace Tinkey won with US#10 10:04.19.
- G-LJ: Top outdoor returnee and West Orange FL sr DerRenae Freeman started her season with a US#15 18-10.25
Va. Tech Invite: Wakefield's speedsters notch 2 of 4 US#1s; fast 1ks for Bile, Moye
January, 29, 2012
Jan 29
12:03
AM ET
By Steve Underwood | ESPN.com
Matt SaundersBringing back almost everyone from their outstanding 2011 sprint crew (2011 VT Invite 4x2 winners shown), Wakefield's girls defending their relay titles with US#1s in the 4x2 and 4x4.Fri.-Sat., Jan. 27-28 - Rector Field House, Blacksburg VA
LINKS: Full Results | DyeStat Elites
HIGHLIGHTS
- G-4x200/4x200: A pair of US#1s for Wakefield NC with blistering 1:38.35 (#19 all-time) and 3:46.58. Six teams were under 4:00 in the 4x4, with McDonough MD 2nd in US#4 3:54.71.
- B-1000: US#1 2:26.36 (#15 all-time) for Annandale VA sr Ahmed Bile.
- B-4x200: US#1 1:28.23 for Suitland MD, improving on their own US leader, with Western Branch VA also under 1:30 with US#5 1:29.97.
- B-300/500: Blistering double for Wise MD sr Champ Page with US#2 33.93 and US#3 1:03.71 (#19 all-time). Page nipped Suitland MD jr Teyvon Jacobs’ US#3 33.94 in the 300, with 3 more under 35, while his improvement on his 500 mark from the NB Games turned back Laurel MD sr Christian White’s US#5 1:04.59.
- G-500: US#2 1:14.01 for Wakefield NC jr Tiana Patillo.
- G-300: US#2 38.83 for Wakefield NC sr Ariah Graham to win a great battle over Archbishop Carroll DC sr Kiah Seymour 38.95.
- G-1000: US#3 2:49.76 (#15 all-time) for Cosby VA jr Megan Moye, with Hidden Valley jr Carolyn Bethel 2nd in #5 2:55.36. Moye also anchored her team’s winning 4x800 the night before in US#4 9:19.10.
- B-4x400: Laurel MD runs US#3 3:21.30.
- B-55 dash/55H: Swift double for Potomac MD with US#5 6.42 in the dash and 7.34 (already US#2 with 7.30) over the barriers.
- B-LJ: US#6 23-3.5 for Western Branch VA sr Chris Crawford.
- G-Mile: US#7 4:55.68 for Mtn. View VA sr Kimberly Fincenec.
- B-4x800: US#8 8:01.00 for Colonial Forge VA.
U.S. Open: Samantha Nadel rips fastest girls mile ever at the Garden: 4:47.66
January, 27, 2012
Jan 27
11:23
PM ET
By John Nepolitan and Steve Underwood | ESPN.com
John Nepolitan/ESPNHSZavon Watkins took a tight boys high school mile and Samantha Nadel rolled to a Garden record in the girls race.Sat., Jan. 28, 2012 - Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.
Broadcast: Sun., Jan. 29, 7pm-9pm ET, ESPN2
LINKS: Boys Mile Video
John Nepolitan Photos: Girls Mile | Boys Mile | Women's 800 & Relays |
Full Results | DyeStat Elite
Meet's Own Site | LIVE RESULTS
HIGHLIGHTS
- G-Mile: North Shore NY sr Samantha Nadel dominated in 4:47.66, beating teammate Brianna Nerud (4:54.65) by seven seconds. Nadel's time is the fastest ever for a high school girl on the MSG track. She went out in 71-2:25.9 for the first two quarters, building a 5-second lead, then closed in 68 to get the record.
- B-Mile: Liverpool NY sr Zavon Watkins kept his hot streak going, following up a big NB Games win last week with a 4:19.86 triumph here, edging the Massachusetts duo of Pembroke sr Wesley Gallagher (4:20.01) and Peabody sr Nick Christensen (4:20.23). The race had a painfully slow start, going out in 69 before picking up to 2:13.9 at halfway. Watkins took the lead with 2 laps to go and held off his challengers. Last quarter was 61+.
- Elite 800: Neptune NJ sr Ajee Wilson took 2nd in 2:09.09, beating 2 of 3 elite/open competitors and losing only to 1:59-runner Fantu Magiso of Ethiopia (2:07.54). Wilson sat in last place (through 400 in 63) until the final lap, when she kicked to 2nd.
- G-4x400: St. John Villa NY took the CHSAA event in 4:02.08, leading wire-to-wire and fending off a late run by St. Anthony's NY (4:03.05).
- B-4x800: Kellenberg NY topped their CHSAA rivals in 8:07.40, taking the lead on the final lap to win a see-saw race.
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PREVIEW
This USATF professional and Olympic-level meet, now THE meet at the venerated Madison Square Garden, has four high-school events – plus Neptune (Neptune, N.J.) senior megastar Ajee Wilson racing the pros in the elite 800.
ELITE 800: Wilson has not raced a hard 800 (or mile) this winter, but does have US#1 marks in the 600 (1:30.36) and 1k (2:48.31) to her credit. Of course, last summer she was the World Youth champ outdoors at 800 in a US#2 2:02.64, #6 all-time, and was also US#1 at 800 last winter with her winning 2:06.17 at New Balance Indoor Nationals. She has run on this 160-yard track more than once, including a 3rd in the Millrose HS Girls mile last year. Just two other runners are listed in the race, but they’ll be tough: Canadian Jessica Smith (2:01.54 best) and Ethiopian Fantu Magiso (1:59.17 best).
GIRLS MILE: The big favorite will be North Shore (Glen Head, N.Y.) senior Samantha Nadel, who is not only US#1 in the mile this winter with her 4:46.11 PR (#13 all-time), but is familiar with the Madison Square Garden track, thanks to her Millrose Games victory here last winter. Nadel’s North Shore teammate Brianna Nerud also returns to the Garden after taking 7th at Millrose in 2011. She has run a 4:58.45 this season, but also clocked 4:53.25 last winter and 4:28.50 in the 1500 last spring, in addition to being the #2 all-time 2k steeplechaser.
Based on this winter’s times, Nadel would seem to have a sizable edge on the rest of the field, with only Pennsbury (Fairless Hills, Pa.) junior Sara Sargent and Bernards (Bernardsville, NJ) senior Dana Giordano having broken 5:00 this winter – and barely at that. But things look potentially a lot tighter when you look at career bests – like 4:51.64 1600 for Sargent – or bests at other distances. A 2:12 800 by Classical (Providence, R.I.) soph Madeleine Berkson shows she’s a good candidate for well under 5:00; so does a 9:52.25 3k by Saratoga Springs (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) junior Keelin Hollowood – who broke 5:00 earlier in her career.
Girls Entries (with most relevant PRs)
Emily Waligurski (Onteora HS/Onteora, NY) – 4:57.52 1M, 4:33.51 1500
Brianna Nerud (North Shore HS/Glen Head, NY) – 4:58.45 1M, 4:28.50 1500
Samantha Nadel (North Shore HS/Glen Head, NY) – 4:46.11 1M, 4:25.59 1500
Sarah Jane Underwood (West Potomac HS/Alexandria, VA) - 2:55.97 1k, 5:04.87 1600
Dana Giordano (Bernards HS/Bernardsville, NJ) – 4:57.25 1600, 10:28.23 2M
Sara Sargent (Pennsbury HS/Fairless Hills, PA) – 4:51.64 1600, 9:39.26 3k
Taylor Driscoll (Saratoga Springs HS/Saratoga Springs, NY) – 5:03.76 1M, 2:59.00 1k
Keelin Hollowood (Saratoga Spr. HS/Saratoga Spr., NY) – 4:56.27 1M, 4:33.02 1500, 9:52.25 3k
Marissa Ruskan (Bridgewater-Raritan HS/Bridgewater, NJ) – 4:57.41 1600,
Madeleine Berkson (Classical HS/Providence, RI) – 5:04.74 1M, 4:43.62 1500
BOYS MILE: When you’ve got someone running like Edward Cheserek has been this winter, any national-class distance race without him seems somewhat lacking. But the US Open field has the next two fastest milers of 2012 and 5 of the top 10 overall – pretty darn good. One of this winter’s biggest surprises is Peabody (Peabody, Mass.) senior Nick Christensen, whose US#2 4:12.56 PR came against open runners in the Boston U. Mini-Meet #3 on Dec. 31 and that makes him the top seed.
The biggest and arguably the most talented name in the field, though, is Liverpool (Liverpool, N.Y.) senior Zavon Watkins – who won the New Balance Games mile last weekend in 4:14.52. Watkins is best known at 800, where he’s the 2011 NB Indoor Nationals champ and a 1:49.70 performer outdoors. Also, only Watkins has raced the mile on this track before (7th, 2011 Millrose).
Six others in the field have broken 4:20. Chaminade (Mineola, N.Y.) senior Thomas Awad has run 4:15.67 this winter, 4:12.86 1600 last spring, and 9:10.97 for 2M. He and Chesnut Hill Acad. (Philadelphia, Pa.) senior Dustin Wilson (9:02 3200 PR from 2010) have the best long-distance chops in the field. On the other end, Shaker (Latham, N.Y.) senior Christian Delago – whose teammate Mike Libruk is also in the race – has hit 4:16.00 in 2012 and sped 2:28.86 for 1k last winter.
Boys Entries (with most relevant PRs)
Nick Christensen (Peabody HS/Peabody, MA) – 4:12.56 1M
Wesley Gallagher (Pembroke HS/Pembroke, MA) – 4:18.28i 1M
Tom Awad (Chaminade HS/Mineola, NY) – 4:15.67i 1M, 4:12.86 1600, 9:10.97 2M
Zavon Watkins (Liverpool HS/Liverpool, NY) – 4:14.52i 1M, 4:11.13 1600, 1:49.70 800
Christian Delago (Shaker HS/Latham, NY) – 4:16.00i 1M, 2:28.86 1k
Mike Libruk (Shaker HS/Latham, NY) – 4:19.63 1600
Dustin Wilson (Chestnut Hill HS/Philadelphia, PA) – 4:17.79i 1M, 9:02.85 3200
Konrad Surkont (Stuyvesant HS/New York, NY) – 4:16.31i 1M
Zach Cammer (Walt Whitman HS/Huntington Station, NY) – 4:21.40i 1M
Chris Cogliano (Bishop Guertin HS/Nashua, NH) – 4:25.40i 1M
CHSAA Girls 4x400m Relay - The strong favorite should be St. John Villa off their US#4 3:55.81 2012 best. No other school in the field has broken 4:00 this winter.
Archbishop Molloy (Briarwood, NY)
The Mary Louis Academy (Jamaica Estates, NY)
Notre Dame (Staten Island, NY)
St. Anthony's (South Huntington, NY)
St. John the Baptist (West Islip, NY)
St. John Villa (Staten Island, NY)
CHSAA Boys’ 4x800m Relay – The best mark coming in is from Kellenberg at US#7 7:59.10. They were 4th in the 4x8 on this track last winter. The 1-2 schools from that race – St. John The Baptist and St. Anthony’s – are also entered.
Fordham Prep (Bronx, NY)
Kellenberg (Uniondale, NY)
Monsignor Farrell (Staten Island, NY)
St. Anthony's (South Huntington, NY)
St. John the Baptist (West Islip, NY)
Xavier (New York, NY)
=========================
Schedule
The list of events below is subject to change.
TIME
6:58 USATF Club Sprint Medley 1
7:06 USATF Club Sprint Medley 2
7:15 CHSAA HS Girls' 4 X 400m
7:20 Men's High Jump
7:25 Girls' Invitational High School Mile
7:35 Boys' Invitational High School Mile
7:45 Harris Women's 800m
7:52 CHSAA HS Boys' 4 x800m
8:05 Women's 500y
8:15 Chase Women's Mile
8:20 Women's Pole Vault
8:25 Men's 600y
8:35 Visa Men's Mile
8:45 Visa Men's Shot Put
9:25 Visa Women's 50m hurdles
9:35 Harris Men's 50m hurdles
9:45 Harris Women's 50m dash
9:55 Chase Men's 50m dash
2012 Preview - Girls Jumps: Versatility a virtue for Forbes and other top leapers
January, 27, 2012
Jan 27
1:34
AM ET
By Doug Binder and Steve U | ESPN.com
Doug Austin/ESPNHSCarla Forbes, holder of New Balance titles in both the LJ and TJ and the nation's #1 outdoor returnee in the latter, has started fast with a US#1 40-10 TJ.Previous Previews: Boys Jumps | Next: Boys Sprints
After competing for the U.S. in France last summer and attending an elite triple jumping clinic in the Bahamas, Carla Forbes is bringing a new perspective to her budding track and field career.
The Newton North (Newtonville, Mass.) junior is already one of the top high school jumpers in the nation, based on a sophomore season in which she went 42-1.50 in the triple jump (at the World Youth Trials). Forbes has also gone 19-5.5 in the long jump and demonstrated versatility in sprint events as well. She made a big impact from the start at Newton North, winning the triple jump at Nike Indoor Nationals as a freshman in 2010, the long jump at New Balance Indoor Nationals in 2011, and several state titles indoors and out.
“Her work ethic is second to none,” Newton North coach Joe Tranchita said. “Sometimes you have to chase her out of practice. She’s a coach’s dream.”
The above-mentioned versatility of Forbes is a common theme among 2012’s top returning girls jumpers. You can’t be much more versatile than Kell (Marietta, Ga.) junior Kendell Williams, who is probably best known as a heptathlete, but has 6-0 high jump hops and has long-jumped 19-8.75. When it comes to combining both horizontal jumps and the high jump, Monroe (Albany, Ga.) senior Mimieux Land may be the country’s best. And, like Forbes, Plano East (Plano, Texas) senior Jennifer Madu and Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.) senior Jasmine Todd are devastating in combining sprints and both horizontal jumps.
Project Triple Jump a boon to Forbes
With all of the competition this year will bring, getting off to a great start doesn’t hurt and that’s what Forbes has done. A little more than a week after taking part in the Project Triple Jump clinic, sponsored by NSSF, she broke her indoor PR in the triple jump, going a US#1 40-10.
“I like the challenge of the triple jump,” she said. “It’s a challenging event (to master) and it’s a lot of work. The reward when you get there is definitely great.”
Forbes pours herself into her work. She not only accepted the invitation to be part of Project Triple Jump, she also wrote blog posts to give the outside world a sense for what was going on.
In the Bahamas, she had the opportunity to see new training techniques and listen to renowned Bahamian coach Peter Pratt.
“It’s definitely raising expectations, just to be able to say you’ve worked with (Coach Pratt),” Forbes said. “I definitely think there’s a higher expectation because you’ve put yourself on the radar. It’s an extra thing to push you.”
She added that her trip to the Bahamas served to reinforce that she was doing many of the right things in training. “Some of what they taught was an emphasis on things I was already doing.”
But Forbes also came back home with a clearer idea about how to approach competition. “The big thing that helped me down there were lessons on centering and taking control of each jump,” she said. “I’m definitely learning that, how to focus on myself and not to have a cloudy mind.”
And she also has a better understanding of where she is in relation to the top athletes in the country, if not the world.
“Being stuck up north sometimes you get a one-dimensional view,” Forbes said. “When you go to something like (World Youth Games or Project Triple Jump) you get the overall view of what people can really do. It definitely broadens my view of track.”
MORE TO WATCH
KENDELL WILLIAMS, Kell (Marietta, Ga.), 2013
Even if she wasn’t a top national-class hurdler and heptathlete, Williams deserves mention here just for her jumping … with her current US#1 5-10.75 HJ, she has already exceeded her 2011 indoor best of 5-9.25 from the NBIN pentathlon … was extremely consistent in HJ outdoors last year, with 6-0 best that makes her top US returnee … her overall LJ PR came indoors last winter at Kentucky Invite; her 19-8.75 there makes her top indoor returnee (went 19-7.5 outdoors) … often gets her best LJ and HJ marks in multis.
MADDIE MORROW, Hoover (North Canton, Ohio), 2012
Last year, Morrow divided New Balance nationals HJ titles with now-graduated Ohio rival Taylor Burke, taking 2nd at NBIN and 1st at NBON … her current US#2 of 5-10 gives her more than a dozen clearances over that mark in her career … was knocking at door of 6 feet last year both indoors and outdoors as she hit 5-11 marks to win indoor state and in taking 2nd at outdoor state (behind Burke’s US#1) … has committed to Duke.
RACHAL PROTEAU, West Albany (Albany, Ore.), 2013
Proteau had a stunning late-season surge last spring as a sophomore to move into the national HJ elite … by late May her PR was just 5-7, which she leapt to win 5A state … went up to 5-9 in taking BorderDuel, but it was her unlooked-for US#5 5-10.75 for 2nd at USATF Juniors that really opened eyes … she earned Pan-Am Junior ticket, where she was 5th … came back at end of July for USATF JOs Intermediate Girls title … is #3 returnee outdoors.
DerRENAE FREEMAN, West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.), 2012
Freeman made her mark at end of Fla. outdoor season as she went 19-10. 5 (nwi) in LJ at region meet, then a legal then-US#1 20-0.75 to win 4A state … wound up the season US#3 and is top returnee … later won Golden South (19-4, nwi), but had disappointing World Youth Trials (6th) … came back in the summer for AAU Club Nats title … improved almost a foot during junior season from 19-1 PR as soph … also a 12.08/24.60 sprinter (both nwi).
JASMINE TODD, Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.), 2012
Has been a major jumping/sprinting force for national powerhouse Chandler her entire career … #2 returnee in TJ outdoors with her 41-5 (+1.3w) from Chandler Rotary last spring and #5 LJ returnee with 19-8.75 best … won both at D1 state, AZ Meet of Champs and LJ at Nike Track Nationals … tripled the 60, LJ and TJ at Great Southwest Indoor last year … LJ PR came in 2010 state meet with 19-11; she also won GSW outdoor LJ that year (19-9w).
JENNIFER MADU, Plano East (Plano, Texas), 2012
Like Kendell Williams, Madu will get extensive mention in sprints/hurdles, as well as here … in TJ, she was 2nd at World Youth Trials with US#6 41-3 (#3 returnee) to make Team USA in 2 events (also 100, where she’d win gold) … was US#1 in TJ in 2010 with 42-0.75 to win Great Southwest … LJ PRs are 19-4nwi and 19-2 legal … TJ win and LJ 2nd were part of quadruple attempt at 5A state last year … strong start to indoor already, including US#5 39-6.75 at Arkansas.
MIMIEUX LAND, Monroe (Albany, Ga.), 2012
Land is an impressive do-it-all jumper with (legal) PRs of 5-8.75 HJ, 19-6.25 LJ (#8 returnee) and 40-4 TJ (#7 returnee); no one else combines the three quite so well … won Golden West with TJ PR last spring … has won all 3 events at 3A state two years running … at World Youth Trials, she was 2nd in HJ and LJ, but not named to Team USA … won Golden South HJ and TJ, and 3rd in LJ … also took USATF JOs (YW) in HJ … has committed to Florida.
JESSIE JOHNSON, Argyle (Argyle, Texas), 2012
Johnson had her best jump early last spring, a 13-3 in March that would stand up for US#6 for the year and makes her the top returnee for 2012 … in early January this year, she matched her 2nd best meet ever at 13-0 to own the current US#1 … won her second straight 3A state title last spring with 12-9 … she has committed to Auburn.
SYDNEY WHITE, East Forsyth (Kernersville, N.C.), 2012
With her US#7 13-1.25 PR, White placed 8th at the World Youth Championships last summer and is the #2 US returnee … has gotten off strong in 2012 already with 12-8 victory at the Reno PV Summit … great consistency in big meets last year, including runner-up finishes behind Morgan LeLeux at both NBIN and NBON … her 12-10.25 indoor PR at NBIN made her US#6 and she is #2 returnee there, as well, this time behind Megan Clark … her 12-3.5 soph best in 2010 earned her USATF JOs title in Intermediate Girls.
DANIELLE WILLIAMS, Eaglecrest (Centennial, Colo.), 2012
Not too many athletes become TJ specialists in HS, but Williams is about as close to that as you can get … does some sprinting and long jumping, but TJ by far her best event … very fast start to 2012 with 40-10 PR at Colo. School of Mines Open to tie US#1, one of 3 meets over 40 already for her … 40-4.25 outdoor PR at 5A state last year, but lost by an inch … won Great Southwest with 39-10 leap … 2nd at USATF JOs (Young Women) with 39-8.5 … 2nd at Simplot last winter at 38-8.5.
MEGAN CLARK, Columbus (Columbus, Ga.), 2012
After an outstanding 2011 at James O’Neill HS in NY, Clark is now in Georgia after a move dictated by family military obligations … her US#4 13-0 PR indoors at Eastern States in 2011 makes her #1 returnee and she has a 12-4 best (7th PV Summit) so far this winter … her best outdoors last spring was 12-8 at the Ahern Classic and she’s #7 returnee there … she was also 3rd at WY Trials and 7th at NBON in spring, after a 4th at NBIN … took state titles both indoors and out in 2011.
NATION'S TOP RETURNEES
OUTDOOR EVENTS - Scroll down for indoor lists
High Jump
National Record: 6-4, Amy Acuff, Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas), 1993, and Toni
Young, Del City (Del City, Okla.), 2009
2011 Best: 6-1.25, Taylor Burke, Medina (Medina, Ohio), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 6-0, Kendell Williams, Kell (Marietta, Ga.), 2013
2. 5-11, Maddie Morrow, Hoover (North Canton, Ohio), 2012
3. 5-10.75, Rachel Proteau, West Albany (Albany, Ore.), 2013
4. 5-10, Taylor Twedt, Westfork (Sheffield, Iowa), 2012
4. 5-10, Kiara Wright, Clear Lake (Houston, Texas), 2012
4. 5-10, Emily Godwin, Buckhann Upshur (Buckhannon, W.Va.), 2013
4. 5-10, Sara Henry, Somerset (Somerset, Wis.), 2012
4. 5-10, Audrey Ketcham, Wenatchee (Wenatchee, Wash.), 2012
4. 5-10, Ashlee Moore, Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 2014
4. 5-10, Julisa Tindall, Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.), 2013
Long Jump
National Record: 22-3, Kathy McMillan, Hoke County (Raeford, N.C.), 1976
2011 Best: 20-4.25, Jenna Prandini, Clovis (Clovis, Calif.), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 20-0.75, DerRenae Freeman, West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.), 2012
2. 19-11, Robin Reynolds, Jackson (Miami, Fla.), 2012
3. 19-10.75, Ashlie Curenton, Silverado (Mission Viejo, Calif.), 2012
4. 19-10.25, Kyla Walker, White Station (Memphis, Tenn.), 2012
5. 19-8.75, Jasmine Todd, Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.), 2012
6. 19-7.5, Kendell Williams, Kell (Marietta, Ga.), 2013
7. 19-6.5, Clariwin Dameus, Santaluces (Lantana, Fla.), 2012
8. 19-6.25, Aliyah Harmon, Rich Central (Olympia Fields, Ill.), 2013
8. 19-6.25, Mimieux Land, Monroe (Albany, Ga.), 2012
10. 19-6, Alexis Faulknor, Junipero Serra (Gardena, Calif.), 2012
Wind-aided/NWI additions
1. 20-0.5, Kira Moreland, Los Osos (Ontario, Calif.), 2012
2. 19-10.75, Anna Robinson, DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas), 2013
3. 19-9.5, Chyna Ries, Washington (Denver, Colo.), 2014
4. 19-9, Chantavia Johnson, Molina (Dallas, Texas), 2012
5. 19-6.25, Sidney Conley, Fayetteville (Fayetteville, Ark.), 2012
Triple Jump
National Record: 44-11.75, Brittany Daniels, West (Tracy, Calif.), 2004
2011 Best: 43-2.5, Ciarra Brewer, James Logan (Union City, Calif.), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 42-1.5, Carla Forbes, Newton North (Newtonville, Ma.), 2013
2. 41-5, Jasmine Todd, Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.), 2012
3. 41-3, Jennifer Madu, Plano East (Plano, Texas), 2012
4. 40-6, Cydney Leath, Mt. Pleasant (San Jose, Calif.), 2012
5. 40-4.25, Danielle Williams, Eaglecrest (Centennial, Colo.), 2012
5. 40-4.25, Rachel Toliver, St. Mary’s Acad. (Berkeley, Calif.), 2013
7. 40-4, Mimieux Land, Monroe (Albany, Ga.), 2012
8. 40-3.5, Brianna Richardson, Rockwell-Heath (Heath, Texas), 2012
9. 40-3.25, Jessica Caldwell, McDonogh (Owings Mill, Md.), 2012
10. 39-11.5, Molly Gribbin, South Burlington (S. Burlington, Vt.), 2012
Wind-aided/NWI additions
1. 41-3.5, Melodee Riley, Riverhead (Riverhead, N.Y.), 2012
2. 41-2.75, Richardson
3. 40-9.5, Gribbin
4. 40-8.75, Sasha Wallace, Holy Names (Oakland, Calif.), 2013
5. 40-5, Imani Wright, Liberty-Eylau (Texarkana, Texas), 2013
6. 40-4.5, Adefunke Sonaike, Montgomery (Skillman, N.J.), 2012
7. 40-3.25, Simone Charley, Spain Park (Hoover, Ala.), 2013
8. 40-2.25, Nataliyah Friar, E.E. Holt (Wentzville, Mo.), 2013
9. 40-0.75, Alyssa Kelly, Blue Valley West (Overland Park, Kan.), 2012
10. 40-0.5, Ashley Ivey, Washington County (Sandersville, Ga.), 2012
Pole Vault
National Record: 14-2.75, Morgann Leleux, Catholic (New Iberia, La.), 2011
2011 Best: 14-2.75, Morgann Leleux, Catholic (New Iberia, La.), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 13-3, Jessie Johnson, Argyle (Argyle, Texas), 2012
2. 13-1.25, Sydney White, East Forsyth (Kernersville, N.C.), 2012
3. 13-0, McKenzie Johnson, Clairemont (San Diego, Calif.), 2012
4. 12-9.75, Victoria Rische, Foothill (Santa Ana, Calif.), 2012
5. 12-9, Alyssa Applebee, Seneca (Seneca, Ill.), 2012
5. 12-9, Cimran Virdi, Las Lomas (Walnut Creek, Calif.), 2012
7. 12-8, Megan Clark, Columbus (Columbus, Ga.), 2012
8. 12-7.5, Hannah Acton, Bloomington South (Bloomington, Ind.), 2012
9. 12-7.25, Katie Rancourt, East Kentwood (Kentwood, Mich.), 2012
10. 12-7, Alex Flucke, Ashwaubenon (Green Bay, Wis.), 2013
10. 12-7, Chanel Krause, St. Paul Episcopal (Mobile, Ala.), 2013
NATION'S TOP RETURNEES (and current leaders)
INDOOR EVENTS
High Jump
National Record: 6-3, Lisa Berhagen, Wood River (Hailey, Id.), 1984
2011 Best: 5-11, Maddie Morrow, Hoover (North Canton, Ohio), 2012
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 5-11, Maddie Morrow, Hoover (North Canton, Ohio), 2012
2. 5-9.25, Kendell Williams, Kell (Marietta, Ga.), 2013
3. 5-8, Taylor Morgan, Upper Dublin (Ft. Washington, Pa.), 2012
3. 5-8, Lexy Boschee, Glacier (Glacier, Mont.), 2012
7 tied at 5-7
**Current 2012 Leaders
1. 5-10.75, Williams
2. 5-10, Morrow
Long Jump
National Record: 21-7.5, Carol Lewis, Willingboro (Willingboro, N.J.), 1981
2011 Best: 20-1, Keilah Tyson, Western Branch (Chesapeake, Va.), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 19-8.75, Kendell Williams, Kell (Marietta, Ga.), 2013
2. 19-5.5, Carla Forbes, Newton North (Newtonville, Ma.), 2013
3. 19-2.5, Jordan Matthews, Abington (Abington, Pa.), 2012
3. 19-2.5, Sarah Bowens, Suffern (Suffern, N.Y.), 2012
5. 19-2, Shannen Rose-Forde, Dominion Christian (Marietta, Ga.), 2012
**Current 2012 Leader
1. 20-0.25, Shakeela Saunders, Nansemond River (Suffolk, Va.), 2012
Triple Jump
National Record: 44-6.75, Ke'Nyia Richardson, Holy Names (Oakland, Calif.), 2007
2011 Best: 42-3.5, Ciarra Brewer, James Logan (Union City, Calif.), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 40-8, Jessica Caldwell, McDonogh (Owings Mill, Md.), 2012
2. 40-5.25, Sasha Wallace, Holy Names (Oakland, Calif.), 2013
3. 39-10.5, Jennifer Madu, Plano East (Plano, Texas), 2012
4. 39-8.5, Jasmine Todd, Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.), 2012
5. 39-7.25, Brianna Richardson, Rockwell-Heath (Heath, Texas), 2012
5. 39-7.25, Iana Amsterdam, Newark Tech (Newark, N.J.), 2013
**Current 2012 Leaders
1. 40-10, Carla Forbes, Newton North (Newtonville, Ma.), 2013
1. 40-10, Danielle Williams, Eaglecrest (Centennial, Colo.), 2012
Pole Vault
National Record: 14-2.5, Tori Anthony, Castilleja (Palo Alto, Calif.), 2007
2011 Best: 13-8.25, Morgann Leleux, Catholic (New Iberia, La.), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 13-0, Megan Clark, Columbus (Columbus, Ga.), 2012
2. 12-10.25, Sydney White, East Forsyth (Kernersville, N.C.), 2012
3. 12-7, Jessie Johnson, Argyle (Argyle, Texas), 2012
3. 12-7, Larisa Debich, Hempfield (Landisville, Pa.), 2012
4. 12-6, Sydney Clute, Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.), 2012
**Current 2012 Leaders
1. 13-0, Johnson
Millrose early preview: Ches to chase 5k mark, HS miles set, 4x8s sought
January, 24, 2012
Jan 24
4:21
PM ET
By Steve Underwood | ESPN.com
Coverage of the Millrose Games
Sat., Feb. 11, 2012 - The Armory, New York, NY
LINKS: Meet's Own Site
Now at the Feb. 11 Millrose Games, Cheserek will move up and chase a perhaps more-attainable standard: the 14:06.78 5000 achieved by Lukas Verzbicas just last March. As he did last weekend, Cheserek professionals for company in the Millrose 5k. The field announced by Millrose officials includes Bernard Lagat, trying to regain the record he once held but lost to Galen Rupp. Lagat has previously won the Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile 8 times and also set the 2M USR last winter at The Armory while Verzbicas chased the prep mark behind him. Cheserek has run 14:02 for the distance outdoors.
More from ArmoryTrack.com on Cheserek’s attempt and Lagat’s attempt.
HS mile fields set: Led by defending girls champ and North Shore (Glen Head, N.Y.) senior Samantha Nadel and Liverpool (Liverpool, N.Y.) senior Zavon Watkins, last week’s New Balance Games winner, there will be 24 preps toeing the line in the Girls and Boys High School Miles at Millrose. Nadel won last year’s girls race in 4:50.58 and is currently US#1 in the mile (4:46.11) and 3k (9:31.65). Four others in the field have broken 4:50 this winter, as the field has the top 7 ranked girls in the country.
Besides US#3 Watkins, who ran 4:14.52 last weekend, the boys field also features NB Games runner-up Chariho (Wood River Junction, R.I.) senior Mike Marsella, who ran 4:15.27 last weekend and hit 4:09.09 last spring, and Millrose Trials winner and Great Valley (Malvern, Pa.) senior Ned Willig, who also clocked an eye-popping 1:51.25 for 800 last weekend.
Full fields:
4x800 Invitees:
Sat., Feb. 11, 2012 - The Armory, New York, NY
LINKS: Meet's Own Site
EARLY PREVIEW NOTES
The next record Cheserek will chase: Verzbicas’ 5k – St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.) junior Edward Cheserek already has made strong bids for the 2M and 1M prep USRs – following an 8:43.16 deuce at the Molloy Stanner Games Jan. 14 with a 4:02.21 last weekend during the Elite Mile at the New Balance Games. But the 3:59.86 by Alan Webb from 2001 and the 8:40.0 by Gerry Lindgren from 1964 remain the best ever.Now at the Feb. 11 Millrose Games, Cheserek will move up and chase a perhaps more-attainable standard: the 14:06.78 5000 achieved by Lukas Verzbicas just last March. As he did last weekend, Cheserek professionals for company in the Millrose 5k. The field announced by Millrose officials includes Bernard Lagat, trying to regain the record he once held but lost to Galen Rupp. Lagat has previously won the Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile 8 times and also set the 2M USR last winter at The Armory while Verzbicas chased the prep mark behind him. Cheserek has run 14:02 for the distance outdoors.
More from ArmoryTrack.com on Cheserek’s attempt and Lagat’s attempt.
HS mile fields set: Led by defending girls champ and North Shore (Glen Head, N.Y.) senior Samantha Nadel and Liverpool (Liverpool, N.Y.) senior Zavon Watkins, last week’s New Balance Games winner, there will be 24 preps toeing the line in the Girls and Boys High School Miles at Millrose. Nadel won last year’s girls race in 4:50.58 and is currently US#1 in the mile (4:46.11) and 3k (9:31.65). Four others in the field have broken 4:50 this winter, as the field has the top 7 ranked girls in the country.
Besides US#3 Watkins, who ran 4:14.52 last weekend, the boys field also features NB Games runner-up Chariho (Wood River Junction, R.I.) senior Mike Marsella, who ran 4:15.27 last weekend and hit 4:09.09 last spring, and Millrose Trials winner and Great Valley (Malvern, Pa.) senior Ned Willig, who also clocked an eye-popping 1:51.25 for 800 last weekend.
Full fields:
New Balance High School Girls' MileLooking for 4x800 Invitees: The 4x800 is another Millrose Games event for preps and one for which there was no particular qualifying event(s). Twenty-four schools have been extended invitations for these boys and girls races. If your school is on these lists and has not responded to the invitation yet, please contact Tim Fulton at tim@armorytrack.com.
1 Nadel, Samantha North Shore, NY 4:46.11
2 Leff, Laura West Genesee, NY 4:48.96
3 Cain, Mary Bronxville, NY 4:48.98
4 Moye, Megan Cosby, VA 4:49.36
5 Margey, Kelsey Friends Academy, NY 4:49.03
6 Paul, Rachel Sachem East, NY 4:52.95
7 Chase, Sophie Lake Braddock, VA 4:55.79
8 Batzel, Audrey Ocean Lakes, VA 4:58.06
9 Nerud, Brianna North Shore, NY 4:58.45
10 Gerlach, Tori Pennridge, PA 4:58.67
11 Panisse, Alexis Benjamin Cardozo, NY 5:00.87
12 Seykora, Maria Notre Dame, PA 5:01.09Larry Byrne New Balance Boys' High School Mile
1 Watkins, Zavon Liverpool 4:14.52
2 Marsella, Mike Chariho, RI 4:15.27
3 Willig, Ned Great Valley, PA 4:15.61
4 Delago, Christian Shaker, NY 4:16.00
5 Price, Everett New Providence, NJ 4:16.22
6 Surkont, Konrad Stuyvessant, NY 4:16.31
7 Lewandowski, Stephen Mountan Lakes, NJ 4:16.66
8 McIe, Adam Brewster, NY 4:17.10
9 Holt, Eric Carmel, NY 4:17.42
10 Gorman, Tim CBA, NJ 4:17.67
11 Napolitano, Rob Red Bank Catholic, NJ 4:19.67
12 Rog, Connor Fairfield Prep, CT 4:20.08
4x800 Invitees:
Event 9 Girls 4x800 Meter Relay High School
===============================================================================
School Seed Finals
===============================================================================
Section 1 Timed Finals
1 Mt. St. Dominic, NJ 'A' 9:09.69 Invited
2 North Shore, NY 'A' 9:19.52 Invited
3 Garden City, NY 'A' 9:21.62 Accepted
4 Strath Haven, PA 'A' 9:21.84 Invited
5 Holy Names, NY 'A' 9:22.31 Invited
6 Lenape, NJ 'A' 9:23.71 Invited
7 Columbia, NJ 'A' 9:24.96 Invited
8 West Potomac, NJ 'A' 9:26.50 Invited
9 St. Anthony's, NY 'A' 9:27.55 Invited
10 Notre Dame, PA 'A' 9:28.10 Invited
11 Colonie, NY 'A' 9:30.20 Invited
12 Bronxville, NY 'A' 9:30.26 Invited
Alternates
Morris Hills, NJ 9:38.09
Pope John XXIII, NJ 9:38.69
Event 12 Boys 4x800 Meter Relay High School
===============================================================================
School Seed Finals
===============================================================================
Section 1 Timed Finals
1 Boys and Girls, NY 'A' 7:52.45 Invited
2 Christian Brothers, NJ 'A' 7:56.53 Accepted
3 Arlington, NY 'A' 7:57.44 Accepted
4 Collegiate, NY 'A' 7:58.42 Invited
5 Penncrest, PA 'A' 8:02.43 Invited
6 Pope John Xxiii, NJ 'A' 8:02.58 Invited
7 Strath Haven, PA 'A' 8:02.96 Invited
8 Bronxville, NY 'A' 8:03.71 Accepted
9 Pleasantville, NJ 'A' 8:03.77 Invited
10 Monsignor Farrell, NY 'A' 8:04.04 Invited
11 Shaker, NY 'A' 8:04.60 Accepted
12 Bellport, NY 'A' 8:07.60 Accepted
Alternates
Bronx Science, NY 8:07.28
Centreville, PA 8:07.30
Pawling, NY 8:08.70
CA State Indoor: Dash and hurdle performances take the spotlight
January, 22, 2012
Jan 22
4:19
PM ET
By Mike Kennedy | ESPN.com
State Meet Index
(FRESNO, Calif.) -- When it came to come-through performances, close finishes and upsets, the sprints and hurdles at the Fifth Annual Run for the Dream indoor high school invitational Saturday – also now known as the California Indoor State Meet – at the Save Mart Center in Fresno really produced.
First up were the girls’ 55-hurdles. After the prelims, freshman Jasmyne Graham of Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) had the fastest qualifying time at 8.09. Last summer, she was the USATF National Youth (age 13-14) champion in the 100-meter low hurdles at 14.04. Also qualifying for the A-heat (fast heat) final were veterans Sasha Wallace of Holy Names (Oakland) at 8.16 and Jordie Munford of Rancho Cucamonga at 8.29. Last spring, Munford placed fifth and Wallace sixth, respectively, in the state meet 100 hurdles. The real surprise was Micha Auzenne of St. Francis (Mountain View), who qualified at 8.21. Last year as a sophomore, she had a best of just 15.10 over 100H.
In the final, Wallace was out with the leaders and pulled away for a convincing win over Graham, 7.94 to 8.01—good for the #2 and #4 fastest times in the nation after the smoke cleared Saturday. Akayla Anderson of Benjamin Cardozo (Oakland Gardens, N.Y.) was the previous leader at 8.02. Munford was third in the race at 8.10 and Auzenne was fourth at 8.28.
The boys’ 55-meter high hurdles featured the 4-5-6 finishers from the s 2011 state 110-meter high hurdles—Devin Hickey of Vista, Julian Todd-Borden of La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) and Kenneth Walker of Kennedy (Richmond). Walker had the fastest qualifying time with a very smooth 7.50. Todd-Borden also qualified for the A final with a 7.69. James Knowles of St. Francis (La Canada Flintridge) and Duane Solomon of Great Oak (Temecula) had the next fastest times at 7.64 and 7.68.
Walker dominated the final while defeating Knowles, 7.37 to 7.50. Walker’s time is the fourth-fastest in the nation. Todd-Borden was fourth at 7.69. Hickey had the sixth-fastest time, running 7.72 in winning the B heat final. (Editors note—The A final is made up of the top six qualifying times and the B final is made up of the seventh- through 12th-fastest qualifying times. Final standings are based on combined results from the two races).
If Auzenne’s performance in 55-meter high hurdles was not enough of a surprise, she made a strong bid to be considered the “find of the meet” when she clocked the fastest preliminary time in the 55-meter dash at 7.14 and then came back to win the A final in 7.16, defeating Jasmine Gibbs of El Camino (Oceanside) by .01. Gibbs was fifth in last year’s state meet 100 and had a best of 11.85. Auzenne’s best in 2011 was 12.50. The fastest time in the event actually came out of the B heat final when Traci Hicks of Long Beach Poly ran 7.12.
The unexpected continued in the boys’ 55-meter dash when senior Kryee King of Colony (Ontario) had the top qualifying time at 6.50. Last spring, his best 100 meters was 10.80 in winning the Mt. Baldy League title before being eliminated in the Southern Section Division II prelims. He confirmed his prelim time with a 6.47 win in the A final for the tenth-fastest time in the nation behind a nation-leading 6.35 by Tevin Hester (Granville Central, Stern, N.C.). But look who King beat in the final: Khalfani Muhammad (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks), who was second at 6.47 and last year was second at state and had a best of 10.55; Jordan Riggins (Fairfield), who was third at 6.52; and Blake Selig (Rio Mesa, Oxnard), who was fourth at 6.52 and ran 10.73 last year before injury ended his season.
In the girls distance races, Savannah Camacho of Templeton, the state runner-up in the 800 and ranked fifth in the nation in 2011 with her 2:07.71, ran virtually alone in passing 400 in 65.0 and pushing forward to US#3 2:12.30. Sophomore Janice Lane of Poly (Long Beach) was second at 2:22.78. In the 600-yard run, freshman Mikaela Smith of Clovis North overtook junior Nijae Jones of San Leandro for the win, 1:27.80 to 1:28.59. Nicole Lane of El Molino (Forestville) won the 2-mile at 11:18.98.
Sergio Gonzalez of Arcadia, who ran 4:18.57 for the full mile last spring, had the early lead in the event while passing 800 in 2:14, but was overtaken in the last 600 by Brandon Messerly of Great Oak (Temecula), who went on to win in a personal best of 4:24.20. Gonzalez was second at 4:26.64, then came back to win the two-mile at 9:28.47. Sophomore Miguel Bautista of Long Beach Poly was second there at 9:29.06.
Nick Ratto of St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) held off Conner Vigil of Redlands East Valley in the 800, 1:59.32 to 2:00.79. The finish was even closer in the 600-yard run as Alex Rohani of Beverly Hills just edged a fast-closing Isaiah Cantu of Hanford, 1:14.75 to 1:14.76. Rohani just missed the meet record of 1:14.72, set by Trabuco Hills’ Chad Rozean in 2010.
In the boys’ field events, state outdoor champion Cody Crampton of Canyon (Anaheim) defended his indoor title with a 6-8 clearance. He had two good and one great attempt at 6-10¼. Gyle Becker of Bullard (Fresno) was second at 6-6. Kyser Anderson of Clovis missed his personal best by just one inch with his 15-6 pole vault win. Phillippe Ueng of Temple City was second at 15-0.
Freshman Joey Souza of Kingsburg was the long jump winner with a personal best of 22-4¾, followed by Willie Alexander of Central (Fresno) at 22-3 ¼ and Rio Mesa’s Selig at 22-3. Last year, Selig jumped 23-8 ½ and Alexander 23-6. Eric Sloan of Bear Creek (Grass Valley) won the triple jump at 47-3 and Jeff Prothro of James Logan was second at 46-7 ¾. Shot putter Nick Budincich of Loyola (Los Angeles) won the 25-lb weight throw at 62-5 for the 11th-best throw in the nation and the best by a Californian. The shot went to defending state discus champ Jayson Kovar of Burroughs in 58-3 1/2.
In the girls’ field events, sophomore Claire Keiffer-Wright of South Pasadena had a four-inch personal best in winning the high jump at US#5 5-8. Raegan Nizdil of Rio Mesa was second, leading four girls that cleared 5-4. Hicks became a double winner by also taking the long jump with a personal best of 19-3¼. Kierra Miller of Carson was second at 18-10—also a personal best. Graham was third at 18-1. Wallace also picked up her second win taking the triple jump at 39-11 ½. Tamika Brazzel of El Camino (Oceanside) was second at 38-6. Danielle Steffen of Petaluma won the pole vault at 11-6, just three inches off her personal best.
Junior Tanya Sapa of La Sierra (Riverside) turned back the challenge of freshman Nia Britt in the shot put, 44-0 to 42-11½. Sophomore Stamatia Scarvelis of Dos Pueblos (Goleta) was third at 41-6. Both Britt and Scarvelis hot personal bests. Lissette Mendivil of Redwood (Visalia) won the 20-lb weight throw at 47-6.
In boys’ 4 x 800 relay, San Ramon Valley (Danville) at 8:18.62, Beverly Hills at 8:19.07 and Rio Mesa (Oxnard) at 8:41.38 were all section winners and had the three fastest times. In the 4 x 145-meter relay, Colony (Ontario) just ran down Great Oak (Temecula) in a photo-finish, 68.13 to 68.14, with 55-meter winner King on the anchor leg. Deer Valley (Antioch) defeated Carson in the final section of the 4 x 400 relay, 3:31.47 to 3:33.80, for the two fastest times. Deer Valley’s time broke the meet record of 3:31.71 set by Rio Mesa in 2010.
Beverly Hills won the girls’ 4 x 800 relay at 10:06.85 with James Logan (Union City) second at 10:17.22. Long Beach Poly was an easy winner over Great Oak in the girls 4 x 145-meter relay, 1:13.78 to 1:15.82. Running in the final section of the girls 4 x 400 relay, Great Oak was an easy winner over Long Beach Poly, 4:06.61 to 4:09.92 for the two fastest times.
(FRESNO, Calif.) -- When it came to come-through performances, close finishes and upsets, the sprints and hurdles at the Fifth Annual Run for the Dream indoor high school invitational Saturday – also now known as the California Indoor State Meet – at the Save Mart Center in Fresno really produced.
First up were the girls’ 55-hurdles. After the prelims, freshman Jasmyne Graham of Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) had the fastest qualifying time at 8.09. Last summer, she was the USATF National Youth (age 13-14) champion in the 100-meter low hurdles at 14.04. Also qualifying for the A-heat (fast heat) final were veterans Sasha Wallace of Holy Names (Oakland) at 8.16 and Jordie Munford of Rancho Cucamonga at 8.29. Last spring, Munford placed fifth and Wallace sixth, respectively, in the state meet 100 hurdles. The real surprise was Micha Auzenne of St. Francis (Mountain View), who qualified at 8.21. Last year as a sophomore, she had a best of just 15.10 over 100H.
In the final, Wallace was out with the leaders and pulled away for a convincing win over Graham, 7.94 to 8.01—good for the #2 and #4 fastest times in the nation after the smoke cleared Saturday. Akayla Anderson of Benjamin Cardozo (Oakland Gardens, N.Y.) was the previous leader at 8.02. Munford was third in the race at 8.10 and Auzenne was fourth at 8.28.
The boys’ 55-meter high hurdles featured the 4-5-6 finishers from the s 2011 state 110-meter high hurdles—Devin Hickey of Vista, Julian Todd-Borden of La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) and Kenneth Walker of Kennedy (Richmond). Walker had the fastest qualifying time with a very smooth 7.50. Todd-Borden also qualified for the A final with a 7.69. James Knowles of St. Francis (La Canada Flintridge) and Duane Solomon of Great Oak (Temecula) had the next fastest times at 7.64 and 7.68.
Walker dominated the final while defeating Knowles, 7.37 to 7.50. Walker’s time is the fourth-fastest in the nation. Todd-Borden was fourth at 7.69. Hickey had the sixth-fastest time, running 7.72 in winning the B heat final. (Editors note—The A final is made up of the top six qualifying times and the B final is made up of the seventh- through 12th-fastest qualifying times. Final standings are based on combined results from the two races).
If Auzenne’s performance in 55-meter high hurdles was not enough of a surprise, she made a strong bid to be considered the “find of the meet” when she clocked the fastest preliminary time in the 55-meter dash at 7.14 and then came back to win the A final in 7.16, defeating Jasmine Gibbs of El Camino (Oceanside) by .01. Gibbs was fifth in last year’s state meet 100 and had a best of 11.85. Auzenne’s best in 2011 was 12.50. The fastest time in the event actually came out of the B heat final when Traci Hicks of Long Beach Poly ran 7.12.
The unexpected continued in the boys’ 55-meter dash when senior Kryee King of Colony (Ontario) had the top qualifying time at 6.50. Last spring, his best 100 meters was 10.80 in winning the Mt. Baldy League title before being eliminated in the Southern Section Division II prelims. He confirmed his prelim time with a 6.47 win in the A final for the tenth-fastest time in the nation behind a nation-leading 6.35 by Tevin Hester (Granville Central, Stern, N.C.). But look who King beat in the final: Khalfani Muhammad (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks), who was second at 6.47 and last year was second at state and had a best of 10.55; Jordan Riggins (Fairfield), who was third at 6.52; and Blake Selig (Rio Mesa, Oxnard), who was fourth at 6.52 and ran 10.73 last year before injury ended his season.
In the girls distance races, Savannah Camacho of Templeton, the state runner-up in the 800 and ranked fifth in the nation in 2011 with her 2:07.71, ran virtually alone in passing 400 in 65.0 and pushing forward to US#3 2:12.30. Sophomore Janice Lane of Poly (Long Beach) was second at 2:22.78. In the 600-yard run, freshman Mikaela Smith of Clovis North overtook junior Nijae Jones of San Leandro for the win, 1:27.80 to 1:28.59. Nicole Lane of El Molino (Forestville) won the 2-mile at 11:18.98.
Sergio Gonzalez of Arcadia, who ran 4:18.57 for the full mile last spring, had the early lead in the event while passing 800 in 2:14, but was overtaken in the last 600 by Brandon Messerly of Great Oak (Temecula), who went on to win in a personal best of 4:24.20. Gonzalez was second at 4:26.64, then came back to win the two-mile at 9:28.47. Sophomore Miguel Bautista of Long Beach Poly was second there at 9:29.06.
Nick Ratto of St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) held off Conner Vigil of Redlands East Valley in the 800, 1:59.32 to 2:00.79. The finish was even closer in the 600-yard run as Alex Rohani of Beverly Hills just edged a fast-closing Isaiah Cantu of Hanford, 1:14.75 to 1:14.76. Rohani just missed the meet record of 1:14.72, set by Trabuco Hills’ Chad Rozean in 2010.
In the boys’ field events, state outdoor champion Cody Crampton of Canyon (Anaheim) defended his indoor title with a 6-8 clearance. He had two good and one great attempt at 6-10¼. Gyle Becker of Bullard (Fresno) was second at 6-6. Kyser Anderson of Clovis missed his personal best by just one inch with his 15-6 pole vault win. Phillippe Ueng of Temple City was second at 15-0.
Freshman Joey Souza of Kingsburg was the long jump winner with a personal best of 22-4¾, followed by Willie Alexander of Central (Fresno) at 22-3 ¼ and Rio Mesa’s Selig at 22-3. Last year, Selig jumped 23-8 ½ and Alexander 23-6. Eric Sloan of Bear Creek (Grass Valley) won the triple jump at 47-3 and Jeff Prothro of James Logan was second at 46-7 ¾. Shot putter Nick Budincich of Loyola (Los Angeles) won the 25-lb weight throw at 62-5 for the 11th-best throw in the nation and the best by a Californian. The shot went to defending state discus champ Jayson Kovar of Burroughs in 58-3 1/2.
In the girls’ field events, sophomore Claire Keiffer-Wright of South Pasadena had a four-inch personal best in winning the high jump at US#5 5-8. Raegan Nizdil of Rio Mesa was second, leading four girls that cleared 5-4. Hicks became a double winner by also taking the long jump with a personal best of 19-3¼. Kierra Miller of Carson was second at 18-10—also a personal best. Graham was third at 18-1. Wallace also picked up her second win taking the triple jump at 39-11 ½. Tamika Brazzel of El Camino (Oceanside) was second at 38-6. Danielle Steffen of Petaluma won the pole vault at 11-6, just three inches off her personal best.
Junior Tanya Sapa of La Sierra (Riverside) turned back the challenge of freshman Nia Britt in the shot put, 44-0 to 42-11½. Sophomore Stamatia Scarvelis of Dos Pueblos (Goleta) was third at 41-6. Both Britt and Scarvelis hot personal bests. Lissette Mendivil of Redwood (Visalia) won the 20-lb weight throw at 47-6.
In boys’ 4 x 800 relay, San Ramon Valley (Danville) at 8:18.62, Beverly Hills at 8:19.07 and Rio Mesa (Oxnard) at 8:41.38 were all section winners and had the three fastest times. In the 4 x 145-meter relay, Colony (Ontario) just ran down Great Oak (Temecula) in a photo-finish, 68.13 to 68.14, with 55-meter winner King on the anchor leg. Deer Valley (Antioch) defeated Carson in the final section of the 4 x 400 relay, 3:31.47 to 3:33.80, for the two fastest times. Deer Valley’s time broke the meet record of 3:31.71 set by Rio Mesa in 2010.
Beverly Hills won the girls’ 4 x 800 relay at 10:06.85 with James Logan (Union City) second at 10:17.22. Long Beach Poly was an easy winner over Great Oak in the girls 4 x 145-meter relay, 1:13.78 to 1:15.82. Running in the final section of the girls 4 x 400 relay, Great Oak was an easy winner over Long Beach Poly, 4:06.61 to 4:09.92 for the two fastest times.