ESPNHS Track & XC

It was perhaps one of the most diverse state championships in Class A history between the top three trophy winners.

Moweaqua (Central A&M) muscled their way to a first championship with power and strength. The Raiders picked up big points in the throws and hurdles to score 59 points.

The runner-up spot went to Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley on the strength of two young ladies: seniors Sydni Meunier and Angel Gaesser. They helped churn out 48 points in the middle-distance and relay arena.

St. Joseph-Ogden took the third and final team plaque with 46 points with long distance star senior Chelsea Blaase and standout sprinter/jumper senior Rachel Ballard leading the way.

Meunier and Gaesser form strong running pact-
It’s not a secret that Meunier and Gaesser are close teammates. But what is perhaps hidden is that the dynamic duo are very good friends who have competed together in a variety of sports since the sixth grade. GCMS has no cross country program so the pair uses the fall season to compete in volleyball to stay fit. Gaesser also played basketball during the winter session.

The spring season seems to bring out the best in the two runners.

After Gaesser assisted her teammates in earning one point the 4x100 relay it was time to go to work. The next event would be crucial for the Falcons. They needed to strike it big in their best event. Meunier got out well after the cut in bolting fast to the pole- Gaesser chased hard. The first 400 was clocked in 61.8 by Meunier. They were seemingly light years ahead of the chase pack entering the backstretch. Meunier continued to press the pace through the 600 mark. Gasser tired a bit over the last 200 but was able to hold off the surprisingly feisty Kristen Paris (Sr., Fisher) for second place. Meunier won going away in a personal best 2:11.30.

Meunier returned a bit later to breeze in the 1600 over 3200 champion Chelsea Blaase in 5:07.88.

The final event of the Spartan’s pair legacy was cemented in winning the 4x400 in a solid 3:59.22. It was very appropriate for Meunier and Gaesser to finish things off before heading into the sunset.

Field events enjoy a super day-
Often times the field events will get attention on the front page story because of a super human performance of one athlete.

It would be different this time.

Central A&M throwing ace senior Janie Howse would lead a strong contingent in the discus; she won with a healthy 140-7. Two other throwers eclipsed the 135-foot mark including teammate junior Genny Rose Stringer who placed third (137-9). In all it 11 of the 12 finalists exceeded the state standard of 112-3.

Megan Lauzon (Jr., Rushville-Industry) kept the pressure on the heavily favored Whitney Walker (Sr., Illini Bluffs) after leading in Thursday’s preliminary round. Lauzon was able to improve from her 42-9.25 to 43-9.5 on Saturday. Walker moved up well the 43-6 output fell short. Anisa Razo (Sr., Ottawa Marquette) also threw over 40-feet with a solid 40-1.75.

Katie Bloch (Jr., Argenta-Oreana) seized her shining moment with she tied a US#2/IL#1 high jump of 5-10. Upon being declared the winner at 5-8, Bloch asked event officials to place the bar up to 6-0 instead of the IHSA record of 5-11. The three attempts fell quietly short, but perhaps 2013 will be the year that Melinda Morris’ 1980 long standing record will fall.

The sprint action did not disappoint-
South Holland Seton Academy’s 4x100 upperclassmen quartet of Jasmine Gardner, Mykel Adams, Nancy Jeanty, and DeJanae Terry finally achieved a feat that many supporters thought they could, an IHSA record. The four young ladies got the stick around the track nicely in setting a meet record 48.51. Eureka ran well but had to settle for second with a very fine time of 48.63.

Sullivan Co-op took a bit of a chunk off of the 4x200 record (1:43.35) set last year by then 1A champion Aurora Christian with an impressive 1:42.82. Starlet Paige Neuhauser took the baton on the anchor leg and blazed the final curve with whippet appeal- so much that Seton Academy’s Terry had no answer and settled for a distant second in 1:44.87.

Moweaqua’s Madison Renfro and Taylor Adcock took care of the hurdle titles. The senior Renfro won in a speedy 14.55. Last year she ran 14.99. Adcock completed the sweep in 44.46.

It is very fitting that the Illinois High School Association has dubbed the three-day track weekend as "The Spring Spectacular."

The 40th edition of the IHSA Girls State Championships were filled with awesome performances throughout all three classes, but as is customary, Class 3A would cap off things off in style with unpredictable team scores as well as most of the weekend's best marks.

Edwardsville won their first state championship, scoring 51 points. The Tigers had to sweat things out after the 4x400 because they didn't have a team entered. However, the high jump results weren't final and they had a scoring performance not yet tallied. Sophomore Deborrah Blackburn would finish fourth in the event and the seven points were enough to topple rival Belleville West (48.5) and Evanston (47) for the victory.

Junior Emmonnie Henderson provided the foundation for Edwardsville's victory, sweeping the throwing events, as anticipated. She is now three-for-three in the shot put after a second-day performance in which she improved to US#14 with a monster 48-2.5. She smiled for the interviews afterwards and uttered a few choice words: "I wanted to come out here and help my team win first... but next year I plan on hitting [the 50-foot mark]."

Henderson would later claim the discus title. She actually sewed up the 157-11 winning performance in Friday's prelim.

4x800 was epic

Sometimes the best races turn out to be those with little advance hype. Earlier in the season, one might not necessarily have picked an event like the 4x800 to make history at state or produce a nation-leading mark, but maybe coaches Paul Haas of Glen Ellyn Glenbard West and Rob Harvey of Wheaton Warrenville-South knew something others didn't. But certainly when Glenbard West produced an eye-popping 9:06.69 in their conference meet, and Wheaton South did one slightly better at the Lake Park Sectional with a sensational 9:06.25, the stage was set for greatness. There have never been two teams with season bests under 9:10 before the state preliminaries.

The two powerhouses advanced to Saturday’s final with ease. In fact, Wheaton South’s anchor McKenna Kiple jogged home with a 2:23 split to win the heat for the Tigers in 9:13.56. Glenbard West and Elmhurst York also did the same with their heat winners.

The final started out fast as Mt. Prospect (Prospect) decided to take matters in their own hand. Lead leg Christina Santiago paced the field through a solid 65.6 first 400 split and came around first in 2:14.7. Glenbard West rolled the dice with Maddie Nagle and she did well, but came home to a cluttered transition zone.

Palatine used their best runner, Tess Wasowicz, on the second leg and she opened up a sizable lead on the field. Palatine had a four-second lead going into the third leg. The Lady Pirates know a little bit about competing in the 4x8, having won state five titles in their glorious history. But things would soon change.

Glenbard West and Wheaton South came to life on the third leg. The Hilltoppers had their diminutive, but super aggressive Madeline Perez to get things going. The Tigers deployed Hope Schmelzle.

It would be all Hilltoppers and Tigers from this point on. Schmelzle ran her best ever race in a Wheaton South uniform, producing a scorching 2:11.2 split and putting her team in the lead for the final exchange.

It was dually noted the time just after the two anchors got the sticks: 6:50. This meant something around 2:10 would break the mythical 9:00 barrier.

Wheaton South’s Kiple pushed hard on her first lap, but could not shake the Hilltoppers' Emma Reifel. They both worked hard in tandem through the first 500, and then 600. The trailing pack, aside from Prospect, was running well but completely in the rearview mirror.

Finally, Kiple got a little a bit of separation from Reifel as they entered the homestretch, with the entire stadium abuzz and on its feet.

The announcer, Billy Poole-Harris, shouted, “8:56, 8:57, 8:58, 8:59” as Kiple desperately sprinted home with her teeth clinched. Reifel followed just a few strides back and obviously also under the former meet record of 9:04.14. The official time on the scoreboard displayed 8:59.03, a new all-time state best mark, IHSA meet record, and made WWS the first under 9:00 in Illinois history -- as well as a national leader.

Glenbard West, which really got the sub-9:00 talk started, ran an amazing 9:00.72 -- good for the second-fastest in state history and the fourth-best time in the country.

Wheaton South splits: 2:16.3, 2:19.7, 2:11.2, 2:10.5
Glenbard West splits: 2:15.8, 2:17.4, 2:15.0, 2:12.7

Prospect set a school record as well as a Mid-Suburban League mark, placing third in 9:06.18 -- also good for US#8. Anchor Lauren Poplawski left her best effort the track with a solid 2:15 leg.

It was also the deepest 4x8 in state history -- all twelve finalists were among the 75 squads in the country. Lagrange Lyons Township had the distinction of taking the caboose spot in 9:22.95, but their time would have finished first in Class A and second in 2A.

“We wanted to just come here and run our best… run our best for each other,” said the second leg Erin Herrmann after the awards.

“We didn’t have a goal to break 9:00… it just happened,” added lead off runner Amy Yong.

Akinosun vs. Brown: Split decision

There was some concern that the Aaliyah Brown (Jr., Frankfort Lincoln-Way East) vs. Morolake Akinosun (Sr., Aurora Waubonsie Valley) 100 dash duel would be a dud.

Well, not exactly.

Both superstar sprinters won their respective prelim heats easily. The stage was now set for a showdown that featured a true all-star cast with the likes of Cessily Jones (Sr., Plainfield North), Kim Azie (Sr., Bolingbrook), Savannah Carson (Jr., Naperville Neuqua Valley), and Cherise Porter (Sr., Villa Park Willowbrook). Seven of the nine finalists ran sub-12.00 to make it to the big stage. By all accounts, it was the best girls 100 field ever assembled in Illinois.

The meet officials decided it was best turn the races around to avoid a headwind. They would also be taking a chance that the wind would pick up and go over the allowable 2.0. The 2A race had been 3.8.

Akinosun tweeted that all she wanted for her birthday was an Illinois state title. “I’m not leaving here without one,” she would add.

The race was a blur as Akinosun got out of the blocks fast. She already had a few meters on Brown and the field before the halfway mark. It became a complete blowout for Akinosun as she displayed the dominance she put on her foes during the indoor season.

Akinosun tied the all-time state best of 11.41 with the immortal Alexandria Anderson (Chicago Morgan Park) set in 2005. The wind reading was +1.7. She could now rejoice in the one record that she wanted.

Brown finished well back in second with a 11.67 clocking. In fairness to her, she had to wait in the infield for the 4x100 medal ceremonies. The wait was a ridiculously long 40 minutes. This is something that meet officials should consider altering - having finalists in subsequent races not wait and sit for mandatory medal sessions.

Six of the nine finalists broke 12.00; another record for the books.

Brown came back in the 200 trying even the score. The race was contested into a slight head wind (-0.9), but no match for the “Brown Franchise.” She won easily in 24.18.

Redemption time for Bamgbose

In last year’s 300H, she tried to carry the weight of the team’s trophy chances on her back. The result was Margaret Bamgbose (Sr., Evanston) never finishing the race. This year she has simply gone out and done whatever the coaching staff has asked of her. She earned medals in the 100H, 200 and 4x100. But the 300H is the race that she most adores.

There would be no doubt this year, despite the defending champion Markita Rush (Jr., East St. Louis Sr.) in the field. Bamgbose got a safe and conservative start over the first few hurdles before turning it on late in the contest. She hit the tape in 41.11, the fourth fastest time in state history and only the third fastest in her team annals. The legendary Shalina Clarke has the other three previous bests. Bamgbose will now take her talents to the University of Notre Dame.

Tomorrow’s stars get their start today

Brittny Ellis (Fr., Gurnee Warren) is no stranger to big time track. She was a celebrated athlete in the youth ranks for several years. In her first state final, she was one of the favorites in the 400. Ellis took the challenge from Cameron Pettigrew (Jr., Chicago Peyton) and matched her stride for stride before pulling away late to win in 54.08. The IHSA doesn’t keep class records, but if it did, Ellis would hold it. She would later return to the 200 and place sixth in 24.88 despite a painful blister on her foot.

Maya Neal is also a talented freshman who hails from Naperville Neuqua Valley. It has been said that she fits the mold of former Waubonsie Valley legend Shakeia Pinnick in her multi-event talents. Neal placed third in the long jump with a great jump of 19-1. She also placed eighth in the 300H and 4x100 relay. The future is definitely bright for Neal.

Distance races were as hot as the track

Kaylee Flanagan (Jr., Roselle Lake Park) has admitted on numerous occasions that she likes to run fast (sometimes too fast) from the beginning of the races. She has often times crossed the first mile of a deuce in a blazing 5:05. Her coach, on the other hand, prefers that she sits back and run more of a controlled and even race.

Flanagan showed Saturday she's coming around a little to the idea: She started the race under relative control, leading the first four laps with splits of 73.9, 2:30.0, 3:50.1, 5:12.4. Ariel Michalek (Sr., Oswego East) and Amanda Fox (Sr.,Naperville Central) were right on her hip.

Flanagan entered the fifth lap running her style. She picked up the cadence and that seemed to drop Fox back a few meters. It appeared to be over for Michalek, too, when the bell lap rung. Flanagan would hit the finish line in 10:30.47, while Michalek raced hard to the very end and held off Fox 10:33.53-10:35.17. The top 12 finishers would go on to break 11:00.

Courtney Clayton (Jr.,Rockton Hononegah) and Lindsey Rakosnik (Sr., Lombard Glenbard East) decided the best way to running fast in the 800 is to get out and do it. Rakosnik took advantage of her speed, strength, and endurance to lead the first 400 in 62.3. Clayton, who is also blessed with tremendous leg speed, remained patient until just after the 600 mark. She began to move on Rakosnik and actually passed her with ease. The end result was Clayton winning in a personal best of 2:08.48. As a consolation prize, Rakosnik also recorded a PB 2:09.23.

All 12 finishers broke 2:19 - a first in Illinois meet history.

Michalek returned several hours later to contest the 1600. Although she won in 4:53.37, it would not be an easy affair. The victory was set up by a tactical pace for the first three laps with as many as a half-dozen runners battling for the win. It was only 3:44.1 at the bell when Michalek asserted herself. She pulled away from a tiring Rakosnik to win her first title.

Coaches like to play mind games when it comes to the state preliminary round. Any average track and field observer understands that getting into the final in the least amount of energy exerted is the focus. But what about loading a particular relay to make a point to the competition or having a kid sit on the competitor to only blow them out in the end?

Belleville West was not one of the teams that sat back and toyed with the competition. Coach Paul James let his girls loose on the field and the results show them going into the finals with nine total entries: six individuals, three relays.

The southern part of the state has another familiar foe in Edwardsville with eight entries (all individuals). The Tigers will contend with Evanston (8 total) and Frankfort Lincoln-Way East (6 total) for the right to earn one of the three team trophies.

Field events grab center stage first-

The field events got things off to a flying start with discus defending champion Emmonnie Henderson (Jr., Edwardsville) heaving a mighty 157-11. She leads the field by more than 20-feet. In reality, she would need to only check in on Saturday to earn her gold medal. But she will probably attempt her full allotment and go after her class record IHSA record of 161-1 set last year.

Over the past two weeks, long jumper Savannah Carson (Jr., Naperville Neuqua Valley) has gotten real healthy. She missed a portion of the season with a sore back but has since jumped well. She battled Aliyah Harmon (Jr., Olympia Fields Rich Central) throughout the afternoon for the pole position. Carson leads the field 19-4.5 to Harmon’s 19-2.5. But watch out for the future multi-events star Maya Neal. She is a freshman teammate of Carson’s and has been compared to the legendary and former Waubonsie Valley star Shakia Pinnick because of her versatility. Neal is seeded third with a sweet 19-1 mark.

21 high jumpers eclipsed the automatic 5-3 mark to Saturday’s final. Watch out for US#2 Jacklyn Aremka (Sr., Plainfield North) to improve one spot to first. Aremka’s has jumped 5-10 this season.

Chaz Duson (Sr., Olympia Fields Rich Central) triple jumped 40-6.25 out of nowhere to grab the top seed for the final. Her effort is just over the legal allowable wind of 2.0.

The sprint power brokers will lead Saturday’s charge-

Aaliyah Brown (Jr., Lincoln-Way East), Morolake Akinosun (Sr., Aurora Waubonsie Valley), and Cessily Jones (Sr., Plainfield North) are the main name brand power sprinters here. All three superstars have qualified for the 100 and 200 final. Brown and Jones will have relay duty as well- Brown in the 4x1 and 4x1 while Jones will assist her team in the 4x2.

Distance events get into the act-

Wheaton-Warrenville South, Elmhurst York, and Glen Ellyn Glenbard West are three of the key teams to watch for in the 4x800. York won heat 1 (9:13.67), Glenbard West took heat 2 (9:14.78), and Wheaton South grab the final section in 9:13.56. It will be interesting to see if they will let their runners go and get after the state meet record of 9:04.14 and the elusive 9:00 barrier.

The 1600 is an event even had sprint fans buzzing as it produced the deepest and fastest field to the final. Ariel Michalek (Sr., Oswego East) burned a 4:54.21 first heat winner that pulled several other runners under 5:00. It forced the two heats to run it was the Saturday final. The 12^th and final seed mark was an astounding 5:00.97. In most years, 5:06 would make the final. Not this year. It was only the 18^th best mark on Friday.

It would be a crime to not mention Evanston and the outstanding job that Coach Fenton Gunter has done. The Wildkits are on the verge of winning another state championship if they can finish out races cleanly. Back is leader and senior stalwart Margaret Bamgbose. The University of Notre Dame signee had an awesome day with top marks in the 100H, 300H, and 200. She will be ready to duel for team in the 4x400 if need be.

Coaches like to play mind games when it comes to the state preliminary round. Any average track and field observer understands that getting into the final in the least amount of energy exerted is the focus. But what about loading a particular relay to make a point to the competition or having a kid sit on the competitor to only blow them out in the end?

Belleville West was not one of the teams that sat back and toyed with the competition. Coach Paul James let his girls loose on the field and the results show them going into the finals with nine total entries: six individuals, three relays.

The southern part of the state has another familiar foe in Edwardsville with eight entries (all individuals). The Tigers will contend with Evanston (8 total) and Frankfort Lincoln-Way East (6 total) for the right to earn one of the three team trophies.

Field events grab center stage first-
The field events got things off to a flying start with discus defending champion Emmonnie Henderson (Jr., Edwardsville) heaving a mighty 157-11. She leads the field by more than 20-feet. In reality, she would need to only check in on Saturday to earn her gold medal. But she will probably attempt her full allotment and go after her class record IHSA record of 161-1 set last year.

Over the past two weeks, long jumper Savannah Carson (Jr., Naperville Neuqua Valley) has gotten real healthy. She missed a portion of the season with a sore back but has since jumped well. She battled Aliyah Harmon (Jr., Olympia Fields Rich Central) throughout the afternoon for the pole position. Carson leads the field 19-4.5 to Harmon’s 19-2.5. But watch out for the future multi-events star Maya Neal. She is a freshman teammate of Carson’s and has been compared to the legendary and former Waubonsie Valley star Shakia Pinnick because of her versatility. Neal is seeded third with a sweet 19-1 mark.

21 high jumpers eclipsed the automatic 5-3 mark to Saturday’s final. Watch out for US#2 Jacklyn Aremka (Sr., Plainfield North) to improve one spot to first. Aremka’s has jumped 5-10 this season.

Chaz Duson (Sr., Olympia Fields Rich Central) triple jumped 40-6.25 out of nowhere to grab the top seed for the final. Her effort is just over the legal allowable wind of 2.0.

The sprint power brokers will lead Saturday’s charge-
Aaliyah Brown (Jr., Lincoln-Way East), Morolake Akinosun (Sr., Aurora Waubonsie Valley), and Cessily Jones (Sr., Plainfield North) are the main name brand power sprinters here. All three superstars have qualified for the 100 and 200 final. Brown and Jones will have relay duty as well- Brown in the 4x1 and 4x1 while Jones will assist her team in the 4x2.

Distance events get into the act-
Wheaton-Warrenville South, Elmhurst York, and Glen Ellyn Glenbard West are three of the key teams to watch for in the 4x800. York won heat 1 (9:13.67), Glenbard West took heat 2 (9:14.78), and Wheaton South grab the final section in 9:13.56. It will be interesting to see if they will let their runners go and get after the state meet record of 9:04.14 and the elusive 9:00 barrier.

The 1600 is an event even had sprint fans buzzing as it produced the deepest and fastest field to the final. Ariel Michalek (Sr., Oswego East) burned a 4:54.21 first heat winner that pulled several other runners under 5:00. It forced the two heats to run it was the Saturday final. The 12th and final seed mark was an astounding 5:00.97. In most years, 5:06 would make the final. Not this year. It was only the 18th best mark on Friday.

It would be a crime to not mention Evanston and the outstanding job that Coach Fenton Gunter has done. The Wildkits are on the verge of winning another state championship if they can finish out races cleanly. Back is leader and senior stalwart Margaret Bamgbose. The University of Notre Dame signee had an awesome day with top marks in the 100H, 300H, and 200. She will be ready to duel for team in the 4x400 if need be.

It’s a good bet that most of the of the competing athletes came to Charleston thinking about hot the weather would be. But after the morning session, it’s a good hypothesis they left thinking about Shamier Little (Jr., Chicago Lindbloom).

It has been well publicized that Little was going to run four events: 100H, 400, 300H, and 200- all in a day’s work. To a sprinter, it's like competing in an ultra-marathon.

Wow, did she compete.

Little’s day did not start out with peaches and cream. She spent the majority of the morning icing a sore knee that she banged on a hurdle during a drill earlier in the week.

Little showed no ill effects of any leg pain as she got out of the blocks well and smooth over the first hurdle. The result was a meet record 14.16 ran into a -2.1 head wind. Little quickly ushered herself off of the track and back to solace.

The next event of the day would be the first real test. The 400 seems to be a race that Little delights her fancy in. The question would be how would she go out and run it? It was just as many track jurists in the stands had predicted. Little got out reserved through the first curve and floated the backstretch; she didn’t pick up the stagger until the last 150 in the race. However, it was at that moment that she would begin to turn on the jets and pull away to a comfortable victory in 56.27.

As good as Little is in the short hurdles and flat events, she could perhaps be one of the best to ever run the 300H if she would take it more serious. But long hurdle race has been in decline in recent years and so goes the fanfare for that event. Still, it hasn’t stopped Little from clocking the US#2 mark of 57.83 for the 400 variety from last summer.

After just fifteen minutes, Little was back on the blocks and ready to go. If you blink, the race was over. Little won in a breeze and in record time too- 43.06. Her mark would be faster than girl in the mighty 3A would produce. It was simply amazing.

The final event of the day was just as thrilling as the first. Little was lined up in lonely lane nine and struck the competition like a rattle snake when she lit the home straightaway. It was then lights out all the way through the finish line in 24.57.

Little now heads into Saturday’s final with a realistic goal of winning four medals. If she can do that, she would most certainly win a team trophy all by herself. It would also mean she would take home memories of producing one of the best performances ever, girl or boy, in Charleston.


Springfield Southeast is ready to defend
While the fans eyes were on Little, the Springfield Southeast track team was quietly going about the business of defending their state championship for a third year in a row.

The results were solid enough to keep them in the picture but the Spartans are going to have to work for every point on Saturday.

The team’s workhorse junior Charday Crawford leads the 100 (12.13) and 200 (24.53) fields. In addition, she will anchor two strong relays (4x1 and 4x2) that have an opportunity to earn gold medals.

The supporting cast held its own as well. Junior Brion Portis leads the triple jump going into the final with a season best mark of 38-1. Although she is seated seventh in the long jump, her teammate senior Shawnise Stelvian has the fourth best mark in the long jump (17-9.5).

If every point counts, then the Spartans better hope that discus thrower sophomore Shaniera Wilson can move up from her 10th place seed from the prelims.

Believe it or not, it’s been four years since the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) implemented the three-class system for track and field. The system was supposed to balance equality throughout the class structure. Although it is too early to determine if having a third class was the right call, it’s not too soon to gauge the benefit of additional opportunities for quality athletes to compete in a state championship. Many of the supporters of the expansion are pleased with the outcomes.

Class 2A, formerly the biggest class and now the "middle" class, seems to be at full strength after four years. Sprint-rich schools Peoria Richwoods, Rock Island, and Springfield have added depth and talent. The distance powers had movement as well with Yorkville and Crystal Lake Central shoring up the division.

Springfield Southeast aims for another title through tragedy and triumph

The Spartans are in the midst of building a dynasty with two championships and a runner-up trophy in three attempts. This weekend at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium, it could be three plaques in a row.

Head coach Tom McBride is the patriarch of the program who will be retiring at the end of the season after a 31-year ride. He has seen some good and bad times in his program, but nothing could be worse than losing his assistant coach and long-time friend Dana Rountree, who passed away in February. “It was tough… I mean real rough not [having coach Rountree] around,” said a somber McBride during a meet in March.

Rountree was a revered coach among his peers and his athletes. He was a “lifer” in the sport. Rountree spent his entire teaching and coaching career in Springfield. Among the pupils he was most proud of was Alexandria Harden. She won four straight long jump and three triple jump titles under Rountree’s tutelage. She has earned a basketball scholarship to Wichita State University.

The Lady Spartans have taken no prisoners this season, despite the emotional downfall that engulfed the team. The team has won the city, conference, and sectional in dominating fashion. The final frontier would be the state championship.

The title chase will begin and end with emerging star junior Charday Crawford. Crawford, who cut her teeth under the guidance of Harden, now is the team leader. She also leads all sectional entrants in the 100 (12.03) and 200 (24.53).

The Spartans will also look to deploy their speed relays in which they posted the sectional best in the 4x200 (1:42.69). The 4x100 also qualified and produced a blistering 48.43 earlier in the season. The 4x400 will be a wildcard event should the Spartans need it at the end. The quartet has run 4:02 on several occasions.

In order to complete their task, the Spartans will need assistance from a strong supporting cast. Junior Brion Portis and senior Shawnise Stelivan will command the long jump. They both have competed well throughout the season and should make the final to score vital points. Portis will double back in the triple jump as one of the state’s top jumpers.

Senior K’Leesa Gilliam will look to duplicate her all-state performance from a year ago in the shot put. She has the third-best performance during the season. Gilliam doesn’t have to beat the favored Lena Giger (So., Highland); she just needs to score points. Her teammate Shauniera Wilson is a strong candidate to advance to the discus final in an evenly shaped field. The top 12 hurlers will advance to Saturday’s final.

The Shamier Little saga set for the weekend

Let the chase begin. It actually began at the beginning of the outdoor season when there was talk of junior superstar Shamier Little (Lindblom, Chicago) entering in four individual events for the state championship series. This is nothing innovative for top level track and field athletes. However, what is different is attempting four events featuring both hurdle races and with one of them back-to-back with a long sprint.

Little flew out to the prestigious Arcadia Invitational in California to test this theory. She competed in the 100H, 400, and 300H. The 400 and 300H were conducted within a 25-minute span that saw Little blaze 53.79 and 42.95 - both top ten marks in the country at the time. Those results proved to Little and her coaches that she had what it took.

Now, after easily qualifying for state in the four events, including the addition of the 200, Little has an opportunity to compete for a state title all by herself. It will be a very tall order but if anyone can garner 40 points solo, it is Little. The faithful of Charleston will have to wait until Saturday afternoon to see if history is made.

Paul focused on individual events

For the first time in her high school running career, University of Arkansas-bound senior Megan Paul of Mundelein Carmel Catholic will be entered only as an individual and free of relay duties. Paul now has the opportunity to settle matters in the 100, 200, and 400. The showdowns with Little and Crawford will be perhaps it will be the most intriguing part of the weekend on the track.

Distance running will have a new look

Last year, Kayla Beattie of Woodstock performed as Wonder Woman in the state tournament. It would be an understatement to say that she had the best performance of any athlete in the entire state meet, setting all-time records in the 3200 (9:56.96) and 1600 (4:43.65).

Junior Katie Adams of Marengo will be strangely chasing a title in the 3200 amongst strangers. None of the six girls who finished ahead of her in last fall’s cross country state championship will be competing either from moving up in class or running in other events. Even the Illinois Prep Top Times indoor champion Kristen Busch (Sr., Freeburg) has opted to run elsewhere in the meet program. Still, look for Stephanie Saey (Jr., Galesburg) to provide good company. Saey was the top sectional mark of 11:07.16 to Adam’s 11:10.20.
The 1600 will feature Adams, Sydney Billingsley (So., Normal University), Emma Preston (Sr., East Peoria), and Olivia Ryan (Fr., Oak Park Fenwick) as the prime targets- all five runners have run under 5:10. The state champion will more than likely run under 5:00.

Watch out for Sarah Bell-
Sarah Bell (Jr., Bloomington Central Catholic) has quickly become of the best if not the best pole vaulter in the country. She concluded the indoor season as co- US#1 (13-0.25) with good friend Brittany Hull (Jr., Normal Community). That confidence has continued to produce great results as Bell is a big favorite win a title in a new classification. Last year her school competed in Class A.

The US#4 ranked Bell will take on all challengers and certainly the ones that Chelsea Bingham (Sr., Effingham) and from newcomer Hannah Swift (Fr., Canton) will provide. Both young ladies have vaulted 12-0 during the season.

Don’t sleep on the relays
The 4x100 will be an event to watch because of the thrill of speed as the well as the uncertainty of the unknown. If there are no mishaps in the prelims the battle between Melrose Park Walther Lutheran should duel for supremacy. Walther Lutheran has the top sectional and seasonal best of 48.37 compared to the Spartan’s 48.43 effort.

The 4x200 should be all Springfield Southeast. The Spartans are more than a second better than the nearest competitor.

Richton Park (Rich South) are the defending state champion; they also have the top mark of 4:00.74 heading into the 4x400 prelims.

Lake Villa (Lakes), Effingham, and Petersburg-Porta will challenge for the top spot in the 4x800 arena.

Many have tabulated the two-time defending state team champion Byron as the favorite to win their third in a row. But one well known coach (who wishes to remain anonymous) has said there are as many as four teams capable of knocking off Byron and supplanting themselves among the top three trophy chasers. Eureka, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, Moweaqua (Central A & M), and South Holland Seton Academy are the premier names being touted. But as the coach has said: “these teams still have to compete [for their trophies]… nothing is guaranteed.” Well said.

Here is a quick look at the key team’s chances:

Byron-
Head Coach: Scott McMullen
2011 State Final Finish: State Champion, 54 points
Key qualifying events: HJ, 4x1, 4x2, 4x4, 4x8, 100, 200, 100H
Key individuals: Brooke Holloway (Jr.), Jael Christensen (Jr.), Cara Cortese (Sr.), Elyse Adkins (Jr.),
Team outlook: not as deep as the previous two state championship outfits, but the Tigers will pack a strong punch using a diversely talented team from the field to the track. Christensen, Cortese, and Adkins will carry a bulk of the load now that former star Paige Knodle has taken her talents to Northern Iowa University. For Cortese, she will be focused with redemption flowing through her veins after false-starting in last year’s 100 final. If she can get through Thursday’s prelim as well as the other events on the docket, then it should be a sweet ride for the Tigers.

Eureka-
Head Coach: Don Samford
2011 State Final Finish: Third, 44 pts.
Key qualifying events: TJ, 4x1, 4x4, 4x8, 100, 400,
Key individuals: Kalla Gold (Sr.), Shelby Kupferschmid (Sr.), Taylor Krile.
Team outlook: there are some minuses from the Tremont Sectional for the Hornets like a dropped baton in the 4x200 relay that led to the top seeded quartet not qualifying. How about several key members not running up their usual standards due to the flu. No matter because Gold is the main element the team will depend on for the open and relay events; she is a two-time defending champion in the 400 and favored to nab her third title. If winning the state crown comes down to the show-stopping 4x400 relay, it would most certainly be in Gold’s hands to bring home a championship.

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley-
Head Coach: Erica Kostoff
2011 State Final Finish: Tenth, 28 pts.
Key qualifying events: TJ, 4x1, 4x4, 800, 1600, 300H
Key individuals: Sydni Meunier (Sr.), Angel Gaesser (Sr.), Jordyn Nettleton (Sr.), LaToya Baillie (Jr.)
Team outlook: in order for the Falcons to excel and have a chance to hoist a trophy, the small but talented contingent must hit hard on all cylinders. Gaesser is a strong candidate to make the finals in the triple jump and it would be a bonus if she could score in the middle of the pack. But her bread and butter will be the 800 where she is ranked second in the state to her teammate Meunier. Meunier could be a triple winner if she can capitalize in her favorite event the 1600, and assist along with Gaesser in the 4x400 relay.

Moweaqua (Central A&M)-
Head Coach: Todd Rork
2011 State Final Finish: Eighth, 29 pts.
Key qualifying events: DT, SP, 4x1, 4x4, 4x8, 100, 100H, 300H
Key individuals: Janie Howse (Sr.), Genny Rose Stringer (So.), Madison Renfro (Sr.), Taylor Adcock (Jr.), Kaitlyn Corzine (Jr.)
Team outlook: the Raiders will start the assault with Howse and Stringer. They return as the state’s most dangerous throwing duo with Howse earning runner-up honors in the discus and Stringer placing fourth. However, this squad is much deeper than in recent years as depth on the track should aid the team’s surge toward a team trophy. Renfro is the returning runner-up in the short hurdles and the current state leader. Add in Adcock and Corzine on relay duty and it could be a great weekend for the Raiders.

South Holland (Seton Academy)-
Head Coach: Damani Shakoor
2011 State Final Finish: Eleventh, 21 pts.
Key qualifying events: 4x1, 4x2, 4x4, 100, 200,400
Key individuals: DeJanae Terry (Sr.), Mykel Adams (Jr.), Jasmine Gardner (Sr.), Hunter Guy (Sr.)
Team outlook: this is a team with an opportunity to do some damage with Grade A sprints and relays. It is also a team that cannot slip up in a sport where sprints are the name of the game. Terry returns as one of the best sprinters in the field and will perform solidly in four events. Look for her to move up one spot on the podium and take the Century. She will anchor the 4x1 and 4x2 relays along with unfinished matters in the 400 in which she took second last May. But as with all teams chasing a team title, the supporting cast must do their job. Adams, Gardner, and Guy will have a long and busy week getting their tasks accomplished.

Distance running preview:

University of Notre Dame bound Sydni Meunier will be looking to cement her legacy on the EIU blue track this weekend in the 1600, 800 and 4x400 in which it is quite conceivable that she could trot home with three gold medals. Meunier is among the state leaders in all of Illinois with smoking 4:55.19 (IL#1) and 2:15.40 (IL#9) marks.

Chelsea Blaase (Sr., St. Joe-Ogden) will be seeking her first distance triple crown. She won the cross country title last fall followed by the Illinois Prep Top Times indoor 3200 title. The final item would be the outdoor 3200 where she is entered as the top seed. Blaase, who has signed with the University of Tennessee, hasn’t touched her indoor marks of 11:01.81 and 5:05.07. Somehow the weather statewide, which hasn’t been that great during the spring thus leading to slower than expected times from many, is expected to be in the low to mid-eighties for state. That could either mean the age of fast times or slow and tactical paces leading to a fast lap finish.

Meunier’s teammate Angel Gaesser could be ready to strike first in the 800 after winning the indoor crown and finishing second in the main forum last spring. Gaesser has a life time best of 2:15.53 from last year. She has come within a second of that this season, and it will be prudent for her to be at least in the ball park of her career bests to challenge Meunier and Ellen Toennies (Sr., Breese Mater Dei). Toennies has busted out with a sensational spring and enters the state championship as a threat to the Muenier/Gasser balance; she has the second best sectional seeds in the 800 and 1600.

Sprints/hurdles outlook:

There are several different names listed on top of the sprint charts. The key athletes to watch for are Amelia Glueck (So., Tremont), DeJanae Terry, Cara Cortese, Kalla Gold, Molly Smith (Jr., Cambridge), and Madison Renfro.

Field events overview:

Alyssa Applebee (Sr., Seneca) is entered in several events going into the prelims, but most notably is the pole vault where she is the defending state champion. Applebee should be able to leap past any resistance once Saturday’s final begins. The only thing standing in her way may only be the meet record of 12-9 she set a year ago.

Kelsey Card- the greatest thrower in IHSA history- has finally graduated and moved on to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her exodus will obviously produce a huge void in terms of extreme excitement and performances, but a solid shot putter in Whitney Walker (Sr., Glasford Illini Bluffs) has seized the most of her opportunity. First, she captured the IPTT title ahead of the state’s top returner Olivia Herzog (Sr., Sullivan-Okaw Valley Coop). Second is obtaining the top state meet seed alongside the IL#2 mark. Walker will be tough to beat.

Janie Howse is entered in the shot put field but her bread and better will be the discus throw favorite in a deep field featuring teammate Genny Rose Stringer, Herzog, and Walker. Ms. Howse is the state’s top returner with the season’s best mark but she can be beaten if an off day occurs. The aforementioned young ladies will be there ready to pounce should the unexpected occur.

Roselle, Ill--- Wheaton-Warrenville South Head Coach Rob Harvey sent a direct message to his team prior to entering the premises of Lake Park High School: “our #1 goal is to qualify as many girls as possible for [next week’s state championship].” The Tigers won the sectional title with 101 points but more importantly qualified nine individuals and four relays for Charleston (site of state championship).

It was a total team effort for the Tigers
Wheaton South got things rolling in the field events with returning all-state high jumper Kasey Gassensmith won with a personal best 5-5. It was also a big sigh of relief from last week’s lowly performance at the Dupage Valley Conference meet when she only mustered 4-11.

Desirae Ranberg has already had a career year in the discus throw with personal bests every weekend. The senior standout continued to raise her approval rating with another fine performance another personal best effort of 131-3. Her efforts netted third place and will more than likely be situated in a scoring slot for the state championship.

Pole vault specialists Emily Schwartz and Christen Saccucci go 1-3 with very respectable 11-3 and 10-9 marks. Schwartz will be among the favorites in Charleston based on being the second best returner and season best of 12-0 set a week ago at the conference meet.

The tone on the track was set immediately in the event’s first event: the 4x800 relay. Wheaton South showed the Glenbard West express that their road to a state championship is not going to be easy. The Tigers struck the Hilltoppers and the rest of the talented field like lightning bolt with Amy Yong assuming the lead off chores. The senior got things started with a fast 2:15.4 split that put the competitors in a big hole. Although Madeline Perez was able to quickly close down the deficit on the second leg and take a lead for her team, it would be short lived.

Wheaton South regained the momentum when third leg Hope Schmelzle took the baton and virtually sprinted the opening 200 which produced a huge gap on Glenbard West and Mt. Prospect (Prospect). It was all peaches and cream by the time anchor McKenna Kiple got the baton. She could have just maintained a safe lead, but instead chose to hammer it for the entire two laps. The final outcome was a sensational 2:12 split and 9:06.25. The sizzling mark is good for US#5.

Wheaton South continued to rack up key performances including Schmelzle’s fine second place effort in the 1600 (4:59.00), Kiple in the 800 (2:17.81), and Jessica Spera’s 100H winning performance (15.32).

Kaylee Flanagan sets tone in the 3200
Everyone in the stadium knew that the 3200 was going to be an event that would attract a fleet of runners vying for Charleston. Lake Park distance coach Lauren May had a specific plan for her star runner Kaylee Flanagan. “I told her to go in 75-seconds… and we can work from there,” she said directly with a hint of a smile. Was that smile because she knew what the real outcome would be?

Flanagan took the pace out fast, as it is her customary style, in 70.6. She continued to surge against the field over the next three laps in 2:27.5, 3:44.7, and 5:04.7. Flanagan was already ahead of a strong field by over 15-seconds but still would not show any mercy.

The next three laps were each conducted in a shade under 80-seconds, which meant she had a shot at setting a personal best. On the gun lap, Flanagan passed by in 9:04.6 and on pace to run a very fast time. Indeed, it would be 10:25.98. Flanagan recaptured the state lead over Winnetka New Trier’s Courtney Ackerman (10:28.98). She also outdistanced runner-up Emma Fisher (York, Elmhurst) who ran a fine 10:46.45. In addition, a total of six girls qualified for the state championship.

“I tried to go out [easy],” Flanagan said with an honest shrug in reference to her coach’s plan. “I just wanted to run and not think about anything… make it a fun race.”

Rakosnik continues to excel
University of Illinois-Champaign bound Lindsey Rakosnik (Glenbard East, Lombard) has come a long way from being a long sprinter. Rakosnik was the state runner-up in the 400 in 2010; she moved up to the 800 last season and won the state title in 2:11.08. After a great cross country campaign that netted her the seventh place medal, she has moved up in distance once more to the “mile.” On Thursday evening she would sweep the 800 and 1600 runs in stellar fashion.

Rakosnik methodically controlled her first race of the day, the 800, by going out in 65.6- a sizable pack with Lauren Poplawski (Prospect, Mt. Prospect), Michelle Frigo (York, Elmhurst), and several others in close proximity. However, the dream of an upset would not materialize as Rakosnik turned on the jets with 250 to go and easily won in 2:12.78. Poplawski set a school record (2:14.55) to place second. A total of six runners earned tickets to Charleston. Rakosnik quickly exited the track after her race to prepare for her next event.

The 1600 started as modestly as the 800 for Rakosnik in a 71.2 and 2:30.3 for the first two laps. Believe it or not the pace for the four-lapper was slower than what Flanagan ran for the 3200. The lagging tempo allowed a fleet of girls to stay with Rakosnik, and set themselves up with perhaps a shot of winning or at the very least earn a personal record and a trip to state. The third lap did not pick up any (3:45.4) and two runners lurking. The gun lap sounded and Rakosnik moved hard on the backstretch and opened a bit of day light on Schmelzle and Brooke Wolfe (Prospect, Mt. Prospect). With less just the final curve to negotiate, Rakosnik picked up the pace a bit more but not full out. Schmelzle and Wolfe moved into all out sprint mode but would not catch Rakosnik who cruised home in 4:57.79. Rakosnik once again disappeared after crossing the finish line.

Rakosnik appeared after her the 4x4 relay to discuss her day. “I knew that there was more break between the races,” she said regarding reserving energy and pacing herself hard at different points in her races. It may have also been a way to test herself for next weekend’s strategic preliminary races that begin on Friday.

The state’s best kept secret
Cherise Porter (Willowbrook, Villa Park) has a very impressive resume in that she is a five-time state medalist in the 100 and 200. In addition, she has been a decorated sprinter on the summer track circuit. But standing in her way are superstars Aaliyah Brown (Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort), Morolake Akinosun (Aurora, Waubonsie Valley), and Cessily Jones (North, Plainfield). Now, let’s re-enter Porter after she produced workwomen like evening on the track. The standout speedster ran four events and produced three tough victories for: herself, team, and fans.

After cruising past qualifying rounds in the 100 and 200, it would be the 4x1 that presented a challenge for Porter. Her team was sitting in fourth place and on the verge of not advancing to state when she got the stick. The two-time state 200 runner-up bolted down the track and passed Wheaton South for second and then nipped Proviso West for the heart pounding victory 49.11-49.17.

Porter returned a short later and won the 100 in less dramatic fashion but a still solid 12.06. After speaking with her teammates and coaches she ushered off the track to get ready for her next race. That next race would be the 4x200 relay. Once again it would be Porter vying to rescue her squad’s fortunes when she moved hard on the anchor leg. She needed to least catch at least two or three teams to secure a spot to state. Porter rolled past three teams and placed second to Proviso West 1:44.11. “I’m out here running my best and having fun,” she said afterwards with a smile.

The final event of the day for Porter would be winning her specialty the 200 in 24.51 over Hoffman Estates Angela Hermann. “I want to win state year,” she said pointing to her back-to-back second place state finishes in the 200. “I’m aiming for it this year.”

Other key meet performances
Morgan Keller (Rolling Meadows) won the shot put (41-10) and discus (140-4) and completed the throws sweep. Keller improved on her 137-0 mark from the prelim but stays in the IL#3/US#53 positions.

Colleen Krawczykowski (Willowbrook, Villa Park) helped herself by winning the long jump in a solid 17-4.5 effort.

It was indeed an evening to remember for the hearty dozen athletes who competed in the prestigious Arcadia Invitational in California. The boys and girls of Illinois proved themselves and the competition that they were worthy of competing on track and field biggest regular season stage.

Brown stakes her name as Illinois sprint queen

Over the past five years no name has been more synonymous in the Illinois girls sprinting world than Aaliyah Brown- that includes the spoils of victory and the agony of defeat.

The goals of California were pretty defined by coach and father Angelo Brown: “win both the 100 and 200.” That’s as about as a direct answer as one can give. But in reality, it’s what the athlete says and feels that’s more important. Aaliyah, according to her father, had been working extremely hard to re-obtain her mettle. “She said she feels ready! We will just have to see… if anything we will see where we are,” offered by Mr. Brown about an hour before the Invitational 100.

As Brown settled into her blocks, she appeared to be poised and relaxed. After the starting gun went off, there was no doubt of the outcome for Brown, but by how much? The margin of victory was incredible over her best friend and competitor Cessily Jones of Plainfield North 11.48-11.71. Brown’s amazing start enabled her pull away from a strong field and repeat as the Arcadia 100 dash queen. Only Shayla Sanders of Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes, FL) has a faster legal clocking.

Brown’s celebration was short lived because she needed to prep for the Invitational 200 that would be coming up in less than two hours.

The half-lap affair has always been more of a challenge for Brown but she is beginning to handle the longer race better. The question for many pundits: “would she be able to hold her max speed off the curve with a bad leg?” Mr. Brown previously stated that everything is fine in his camp.

Brown got out well but she was in a dog fight from the beginning with several competitors. As the race entered the last 60 meters or so, it appeared as though Arianna Washington of Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) was going to steal the victory. However, Brown had other plans. The defending champion reached down deep and right before the line, she dipped perfectly- and a few tense moments later the scoreboard read: 23.96 Brown, 23.97 Washington. The sweep was complete as well a feeling of redemption and joy for the ‘Brown Franchise.’

Little successfully completes triple play

Shamier Little (Chicago Lindblom) is as playful and fun to be around as any average teenager is. However, when she laces up her spikes and steps on to the track it is a completely different story. The state of Illinois has witnessed her wrath on numerous occasions over the past several years. Now, it’s the national stage that Little would begin her quest for stardom.

The first event of the evening for Little would be the Invitational 100H. This event has arguably been her best event. It didn’t take long for Little to find out how good the competition would be. She placed a respectable 4th but was a considerable distance from winner Traci Hicks of Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.), won in a US#2 legal 13.63.

Little easily put behind her first 100H loss in over a year to step in the blocks for the 400. Her lifetime best of 53.83 was from last summer’s AAU Nationals. So far this season, she had only produced a 57.10.

That would change in less than a minute.

Little got out well but it was difficult to tell what her in race status was until after the first 200. Ms. Little was in great position entering the homestretch and up on the competition by a considerable distance. It was anticlimactic feeling as she destroyed a solid field by nearly two seconds. A happy but exhausted Little had little time to rejoice. “I gotta go and get ready for the 300H,” she quickly stated.

The final stanza of the day would obviously be the most interesting one because Little has stated on record that she may attempt the 400/300H double at the state championship next month. What better venue to test the mettle than at Arcadia?

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for Little as she got behind the tremendous field from the start. But she didn’t quit, she didn’t have much gas in the tank after a grueling 400 win just 25 minutes prior. However, she was still able to prove that she is a gamer and finish strong and place 3rd in 42.95. The mark was a big personal best for the event and a nice consolation prize of US#11 to go home to Chicago with. “I was scared to get out too fast [because] I didn't wanna run out of gas, [but] I turned it on at the curve,” she said in reference to finishing strong after the initial sluggish start.


Fast 3200 finishes abound for the boys

The boys meet fortunes were just as fruitful as the ladies on all fronts- albeit from a distance running perspective.

From the onset, the prospects of a fast race that would yield some great marks didn’t look good. The pre-meet favorite Futsum Zeinasellassie decided shortly after the race got underway that he didn’t want to lead or do any of the arduous pace chores after only taking the initial circuit in 64.5.

Cameron Miller of Stockton (CA) took over but the entire field of 28 or so runners were still bunched together through 2:17 and 3:25 laps. Meanwhile, the Illinois contingent of Leland Later (New Trier), Michael Clevenger (Decatur MacArthur), Jack Keelan (Chicago St. Ignatius), and Tyler Yunk (Belvidere North) were content will sitting in the middle of the pack.

Race announcer David Mitchell began to urge the crowd to encourage the field to get moving. After coming through the mile in 4:33, things finally began to pick up. Zeinasellassie and Bernie Montoya of Cibola (AZ) pushed the pace furiously. Montoya bolted on the bell lap and actually surged away from the Indiana legend Zeinasellassie. But it would be for not as Zeinasellassie proved that he had more in the tank and blazed easily past Montoya on the final straight to win in 8:47.75.

The Illinois crew followed suit as good pursuers are supposed to. It was Clevenger that first came home with his teeth tightly clenched in 5th at 8:54.12. Later held off Keelan 8:55.61-8:55.86 to respectively take 11th and 12th- Yunk was the good caboose in 9:03.09.

In using Later as the spokesman, he assessed his feelings on the historical night: “I had no issue staying free from collisions, but the slow pace really surprised me in the first mile. It didn't feel like a 4:35, but everyone knew it was slow. When the pace dropped hard that 5th or 6th lap, I wasn't really expecting it, and maybe let too much room separate me and the pack. But I was totally zoned out for most of the race, and just being a part of that huge mass of talented runners urged me on more than anything.”

The rest of the best

Graylake Central senior Luke Zygmunt opened up the evening session with a solid performance in the seeded Mile by placing second in 4:14.90. It is a new personal best and IL#1 mark for the Butler University bound runner.

Zygmunt’s teammate Will Brewster placed 7th in the Invitational Mile running 4:15.77 and just ahead of Belvidere North’s Garrett Lee (4:17.75). Brewster stayed behind the pace that wasn’t overly fast in the beginning but it got hot once New Balance Indoor national champion Brad Nye of Davis (UT) took over and won in 4:08.80.

Will Crocker of Belvidere North took over the Illinois 800 ranks with a sensational 1:52.66 to place 7th in the Invitational section.

Junior Chad Weaver of Providence Catholic competed in the pole vault and cleared 14-0.75 to take 16th place.

ARCADIA COVERAGE | RESULTS

ARCADIA, Calif. – The maximum number of events an athlete can enter at the Arcadia Invitational is four.

No one apparently told Devon Allen, because he won five times over two days at the country's biggest in-season high school track meet. And if he happened to step into a sixth or seventh event, he might have won those too.

The junior from Brophy Prep (Phoenix) was unstoppable over two days at Arcadia, earning four gold medals Saturday on top of the one he picked up Friday. Allen ran the second leg on Brophy Prep’s winning 4x100 relay team (41.15), swept the hurdles races (13.52 in the 110s, 36.39 in the 300s), and also beat an elite field in the 200 (21.10).

The hurdles performances were both Arizona all-time records. On Friday, Allen had anchored the shuttle hurdles relay – crashing on the final barrier and then getting back to his feet to complete his team’s win.

Allen was named the outstanding boys performer of the meet, although his victory in his fifth event (the 200) may be vacated from the meet records because of the four-event limit.

“I came here feeling pretty confident about the hurdles and I thought our 4-by-1 team could win if we had good hand-offs,” Allen said. “In the 200 I just wanted to run fast.”

He is the first male athlete to win three individual events at Arcadia since Xavier Carter (2003).

Records bonanza in 3,200

More history was made in the meet’s signature event, the boys 3,200, where 16 runners charged across the finish line in less than nine minutes and six state records were broken.

Over a dramatic final lap, unheralded Bernie Montoya kicked into high gear and rocketed past Futsum Zeinasellassie with about 280 to go.

The Nike Cross National champ was momentarily stunned to see Montoya cruise past him and gathered himself to make a final attempt at the win. Zeinasellassie caught Montoya with 80 meters left and pulled clear, taking the win in 8:47.75.

It turns out Zeinasellassie and Montoya connected at NXN in Portland. They met at breakfast and then warmed up and cooled down together after the cross country championship, which Zeinasellassie won (Montoya was 12^th).

“I just got this adrenaline rush,” said Montoya, who PR’d by 34 seconds. “Me and Futsum are good friends. I was so excited to get past him and maybe win this, but he got me in the end.”

Said Zeinasellassie: “When he went by me I couldn’t believe it. I was like, ‘Is that (Montoya) or somebody else?’ I couldn’t respond to that (surge). I had to hope he would die a little bit in the last 100.”

State records tumbled in Indiana (Zeinasellassie), Arizona (Montoya 8:48.25), North Dakota (Jake Leingang 8:51.23), Montana (Zach Perrin 8:55.24), Idaho (Dallin Farnsworth 8:55.28) and Delaware (Sam Parsons 9:00.61). Zeinasellassie took down a Rudy Chapa equivalent two-mile record from the mid-1970s to set a new mark in the Hoosier state.

Forty-six boys broke 9:20 in the invitational and seeded sections of the event, including sophomore Blake Haney of Stockdale, Calif., who was seventh in the invitational race in 8:54.65, and freshman Elijah Armstrong of Pocatello, Idaho, who was third in the seeded race in 9:04.78.

Baxter repeats as girls 3,200 champ

Simi Valley sophomore Sarah Baxter led wire-to-wire to defend her Arcadia title in the girls 3,200, pulling away from Marina’s Laura Hollander in the final 300 meters to win in 10:08.02. She earned the girls’ athlete of the meet award.

Baxter ran a 4:52 anchor leg for Simi Valley in a second-place finish in Friday’s 4x1600 relay.

On Saturday, Baxter, Hollander and North Central (Spokane, Wash.) junior Katie Knight pulled away from the field by the start of the third lap. Those three were together for laps 3-4-5-6 before Knight fell off the pace.

Hollander, from Huntington Beach, Calif., has shaved more than a minute off her PR in the past year.

In the girls mile, Amy-Eloise Neale of Glacier Peak (Snohomish, Wash.) won her second straight title by running 4:51.43. Neale went through the first 400 in 72 seconds and staked a 10-meter lead on the field. On the second and third laps, fellow Washingtonian Maddie Meyers, the 2010 champ, moved up to challenge Neale, but then fell back again. Less than an hour later, Neale returned to the track and ran the 800, kicking too late to challenge winner Savannah Camacho of Templeton (Calif.), who won in 2:07.61. Neale was second in 2:10.00.

Illinois duo Aaliyah Brown and Shamier Little dominated the girls individual sprints. Brown won the 100 easily (11.48) and outleaned Long Beach Poly’s Arianna Washington to win a close 200 (23.96 to 23.97).

“It feels really good to run some good times. I’ve been trying to bust a 23 for over two years now,” Brown said.

Little, of Lindblom (Chicago), won the 400 in 53.79 and was also fifth (100) and third (300) in the hurdles races.

While Long Beach Poly’s Traci Hicks sped off with the 100 hurdles title (13.63), the 300 hurdles came down to a dramatic finish. Jordie Munford of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. and Jaide Stepter of Canyon del Oro (Tucson, Ariz.) were running side by side approaching the final hurdle when both of them lost the rhythm of their steps.

Munford reached out her hands and pushed over the final barrier and still managed to break the tape in 41.93, ahead of Stepter, who stutter-stepped before clearing the final hurdle and crossing in 42.22. Munford was disqualified, moving Stepter to first place.

Raymond Bozmans from Fort Collins, Colo. backed up his stunning early season results with a blistering 10.41-second clocking in the 100 meters. Then he returned in the 200 and finished in a near-tie with Allen.

In the 400, Champ Page of Henry Wise (Md.) ran 47.31 to beat Arnold Carrillo of McQueen (Nev.), who finished in 47.43 and Rashard Clark of Dorsey (Calif.), who posted 47.54.

Canadian Tyler Smith kept finding extra gears on the final lap of the 800, pulling away and winning the title in 1:49.23. It’s his third big 800 win in the U.S., coming on the heels of indoor wins at the Simplot Games and Brooks PR Invite.

In the mile, Brad Nye from Davis (Kaysville, Utah) replayed his victory from New Balance Nationals Indoor, summoning a kick at 300 that drove him into the lead. He held off Marcus Dickson of White River (Buckley, Wash.) to win the race in 4:08.80. Dickson, who will be his teammate at BYU, was next in 4:09.41.

Cochran PRs in the discus

Ethan Cochran of Newport Harbor, Calif. improved to 209-8 to win the discus, a mark that ranks fifth in Arcadia Invitational history and ranks US#1 this season.

“It’s exciting,” Cochran said of the early season success. “I can’t wait until the end of the year to see how it all comes together.”

Cochran is specifically targeting 213-11, which is the California state record. He also won the shot put with a best of 62-10.

Klyvens Delaunay of Claremont (Calif.) swept the horizontal jumps with wind-legal marks of 23-11.50 and 49-4.25.

Peter Chapman of Murrieta Valley (Calif.) cleared 16-6.50 to win the pole vault.

Sophomore Gabrielle Williams from Reed (Nev.), the U.S. leader in the high jump, won the event with a clearance at 5-10. Another talented Nevada sophomore, Ashlie Blake of Liberty (Las Vegas) won the shot put (49-10.5) and discus (152-5).

Freshman Margaux Jones of Redlands (Calif.) jumped 19 feet even to win the long jump, while Rachel Toliver from St. Mary’s Academy (Calif.) soared 40-3.75 to win the triple jump.

McKenzie Johnson of Clairmont (Calif.) won the pole vault at 12-7.50.

Vista Murrieta boys win DMR

The quartet of Tyler Dain, Kevin Gonzalez, Omar Solis and Porter Reddish pieced together a US#1 time of 10:08.52 to win the distance medley relay, with Reddish outkicking Centennial (Nev.) star Nick Hartle to take the win. Centennial was next in US#2 10:08.96. Those were the sixth and seventh fastest performances in meet history.

The girls distance medley also held some drama, but for a different reason. Big favorite Harvard-Westlake got a gutsy 800-meter leg from Elle Wilson, but fumbled the baton on the exchange to anchor Cami Chapus.

Two teams went flying by but Chapus reached down to grab the baton and then tore after the leaders. She dueled for three laps with Redondo Union’s Lyndsey Mull but then put her away on the final lap, bringing it home in 11:45.18. Amy Weissenbach led off with a 3:30.66 split for the 1,200.

It was a rough day for the sprinters from Wakefield (N.C.). The national indoor champions dropped the baton on the final exchange in the girls 4x100 relay. Later, Olicia Sharp pulled up with an apparent injury in the invitational 200 meters. Wakefield then withdrew from the 4x400 relay.

California schools closed the meet with victories in the 4x400. Serra anchor Chimere Ezumah tracked down St. Mary’s from behind and pulled into the lead in the last 120 meters to bring home victory in 3:47.18.

“I didn’t know if I could get her but I was like ‘I think I got a little bit left. I think I can pull it off,’” Ezumah said.

Long Beach Poly’s boys pulled out the win in the 4x400 in 3:18.55.

Fans can be forgiven if before the girls Class AAA portion of the 23rd Annual Illinois Prep Top Times Classic, they were thinking more about the stars on the sidelines than the stars set to compete. After all, super sprint queen Aaliyah Brown (Frankfort Lincoln-Way East) wasn’t going to compete due to a sore hamstring, and the state’s top long jumper Savannah Carson (Naperville Neuqua Valley) was out with a lower body injury.

But by the time the evening was done in the Shirk Center, the focus was firmly on the accomplishments of who was there rather than what could have been or might have been. The result was one of the better meets in state indoor history -- Morolake Akinosun and Lindsay Rakosnik made sure of that.

In the space of about 30 seconds of actual running, the Aurora Waubonsie Valley senior Akinosun left an imprint that will be forever remembered by those in attendance. First came not one, but two revisions of all-time 55 meter dash best in Illinois state history as Akinosun rocketed to a 6.81 prelim, then a momentous 6.76 in the final. The latter mark is the best in the nation this year and #10 in U.S. annuls. Then in the 200, she responded to the challenge and set another state best with a 23.91 -- another state all-time mark and the fifth-best in the country this winter (and the best on a flat, regulation oval).

Rakosnik's feat took several minutes longer, but was impressive enough that the Glenbard East senior was awarded Athlete of the Meet honors along with Akinosun. She first captured a very close 800 with a 2:12.38, then returned to pull away from the field in the 1600 with a 4:56.86. Both are the top times in Illinois this winter.

Akinosun: Best ever

With her pair of history-making performances, Akinosun left no doubt who the winter's outstanding performer was in the Land of Lincoln. There are not enough superlatives to describe how amazing of a sprinter she is, or how engaging her personality is toward her competitors and the media. Those two entities are going to serve her well moving forward for the rest of her senior season and on to the University of Illinois.

The battles between Akinosun and Brown were hyped up coming into the IPTT weekend and Brown can only hope she can return outdoors to meet the challenge. But Saturday was all Morolake.

The 55 prelim field that was assembled was still considered one of the best of all-time in the Illinois sprints, indoors in or out. Akinosun watched from the background as the first heat ran a solid 7.28. But what was going to happen next no one could have predicted. She blasted her 6.81 that tied the nation's best mark by New Balance Nationals Indoor 60 champ Jennifer Madu, who coincidentally split two 60m races against Brown back in January. Akinosun’s run hushed the crowd and left everyone wondering what she could do for an encore. Meanwhile, Oklahoma signee Cessily Jones (Plainfield North) and Bolingbrook’s Kim Azie had qualified with 6.98 performances, both top ten in meet history.

However, no prepster in the nation was going to touch Akinosun in the final. She blasted out of the blocks so fast that the race was over before the halfway mark. The time on the scoreboard read a chilling 6.76! Immediately several reporters turned to timing operator Marchan Adkins to confirm the unbelievable mark. He indeed put up his thumb and the official times on the Daktronics scoreboard.

Akinosun immediately jumped for joy in the arms of her coaches and teammates. The media enveloped her as well as did the smiles and congratulatory applause of the very appreciative crowd. Ironically, Akinosun said she didn’t have a perfect week leading up to the IPTT. “I guess it was good I took one day off,” she said afterwards. “My leg was trembling and shaking on Thursday. Maybe it was weather related. I don’t know. ... It’s always like my fourth step out of the blocks when I feel [any hamstring issue].”

Akinosun would come back to polish off the competition in the 200 and put a stamp on her indoor legacy that will more than likely not be topped for a long time to come.

The super serious demeanor of Cessily Jones lurked in the distance just beyond the start line prior to the 200 start. If there was anyone who could spoil Akinosun’s run at immortality, it would be her. The race got out well and both girls were glued together around the opening turn like a GPS tracking device. Jones could not make a move on Akinosun, but she didn’t lose any ground. It was off the final turn that Akinosun would go into another gear and finish things off. The closing arguments were done and the verdict read: 23.91, good for another fieldhouse and meet record. Jones graciously accepted the runner-up finish in 24.40, #3 in history. However, the day was to be Akinosun’s as she sewed up the co-athlete of the meet award.

Rakosnik makes a statement, too

Rakosnik didn’t exactly come from a humble beginning. She finished second in the state in the 400 as a sophomore. But it was the longing to be a middle-distance runner that was truly in her heart. Rakosnik moved up to the 800 last year and won the title in the spring state championship; she also won the USATF Junior Olympic 1500 YW title in the summer.

The 2011 cross country season saw more growth for Rakosnik as she vastly improved her aerobic capacity to eventually take on possibly running the mile/1600 during the track season. The fruits of the harrier season yielded a seventh-place finish in the state championship. It was running with the state’s best cross country runners that cemented a possible 800/1600 double for the future. The Illinois signee took on the 800 at IPTT as her first challenge.

Rakosnik took the lead right away with Jahnell Horton (Evanston) and Dhia Dean (Chicago Kenwood) shadowing her for the first two circuits at 64.3. Rakosnik refused to give in as the race passed the 600 in 1:38.8. Horton could have made a move to lead shortly thereafter, but she didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. Dean was the next to challenge for the win. It was on the homestretch and in lane three that she gained a closing momentum and, for a brief moment, she appeared to be the winner. But no, Rakosnik veered over toward Dean and the two collided and the win went to Rakosnik in 2:12.38. It was just two-tenths short of McKinzie Schulz’s (Benet Academy) AAA record. Rakosnik didn’t have time to talk as she had to prepare for the 1600 later.

In the eight-lap race, Rakosnik sped out quickly in 69.0 and 2:24.9 for the first two 400 splits. She continued to lead at the 1200 mark in 3:42.7, with Haley Goers moving into second a considerable distance back. Rakosnik only had the clock to beat for time and for the state overall lead. The finishing mark was 4:56.86 and good for IL#1 that Class A winner Sydni Meunier (GCMS) only kept as a loaner for one day. Thus, Rakosnik shared the athlete of the meet along with future teammate and roommate Akinosun.

Best of the rest

" Kaylee Flanagan (Roselle Lake Park) has to be tired of being compared with her big sister Lindsay. It started almost immediately two years ago when Kaylee was a freshman and has intensified every year since then. The younger prodigy has taken it all in stride with a braces smile and great attitude. Because in reality, she knows it’s part of the deal until she steps out of Lindsay’s shadow. In the 3,200, Kaylee burst immediately into the lead after the gun. The first half of the race felt like a Kayla Beattie (Woodstock) record run with early splits of 2:29.7 800, 3:46.7 1,200 and 5:06 1,600. Flanagan had a big lead at that point and unintentionally ran on auto pilot with a few 80-second 400s. The net result was a stinging 10:29.02 win and good for IL#3 all-time and current US#4 for 3200.

All 14 finishers broke 11:45, a feat that has never been accomplished before at IPTT. In addition, there were six girls who broke the elusive 11:00 barrier and 13 of 14 runners hit the meet qualifying time of 11:30. The outdoor season should be a spectacular one to watch for long distance fans.

" The girls 4x200 relay field was small, but the outcome was big. Several naysayers in attendance spouted that Bolingbrook’s 1:42.96 state best came virtue of luck. The supposed top team was to be Plainfield North, but they had exchange issues at the Downers Grove South Relays. With everything on the line, Plainfield North got off to a great start with Cessily Jones’ lead leg, but the advantage was quickly lost. The Raiders used their final weapons in Kim Azie and Kym Taylor running the penultimate and anchor legs. It was no contest as Bolingbrook got in the clear on the third leg and won in 1:41.55.

" It was mentioned in the preview that any meet record should not be considered soft. However, the 4x800 all-time record was seemingly impenetrable over the past 15 years. Not even the great Schaumburg team of ’10 or the ’11 indoor quartet could break 9:20. That would change on Saturday. Glen Ellyn Glenbard West entered their great team for the second season in a row to do battle. The Lady Hilltoppers previously enjoyed a seasonal best of 9:23, but weren't content. The lead leg Emma Reifel got right to work and produced a chilling 2:16.4 split. Downers Grove South got through with a strong 2:17.6 carry by Rebecca Stearn, as did Prospect’s leading girl at 2:17.8. Still, it was Glenbard West running strong despite the chasers tightening the clamps down on Maddie Nagle. Nagle was able to hold on and keep the ball rolling.

The Hilltoppers' third leg Katie Born was moving hard, but not out of the woods yet. Prospect’s Brooke Wolfe chased hard and caught up to the leader and actually made a move to take over the lead. Wolfe ran well but faded back toward the end of her daring leg but still ran 2:19.2. Downers South and crosstown rival North moved up in position as did Hoffman Estates on the strength of Haley Goers awesome 2:17.1 run. Goers shunned the opportunity to run in the 3200 to help her team compete for a relay title. But it was all Glenbard West on the anchor with fast freshman Julia Sakach as they finally swatted the pests away to win in a meet record of 9:18.77. The mark was good for the IL#1 and US#18. This will be a team to be reckoned with during the state series in two months.

" Brittny Ellis (Gurnee Warren) has been well known in the middle-school ranks as it’s been reported numerous times over the past few years. She has finally entered the big leagues of IHSA track and field. It was without a beat that she imprinted her name along the greats who have won a 400 title at such an early age. Ellis went out in a smooth fashion and beat the state’s previous leader, Cameron Pettigrew, of Chicago Peyton with ease in 55.72. It is just the beginning for Ellis and a career that we all will be talking about for years to come.

The initial prospect of morning anxiety ran high as Class AA division of the Illinois Prep Top Times Classic stepped up to start the final day of the meet … but it wouldn't be enough to stop the main cogs from stepping into the arena, living up to the hype and then going out performing up to the very best of their abilities. There were many top names that stood tall on Saturday morning, but none were more bigger than Bell or Little.

A common bond between Bell and Hull

The first event of the morning was the girls’ pole vault, and it was kind of ironic that Sarah Bell’s biggest competitor and fan would be on the sidelines. The competitor and fan in question? Brittany Hull goes to neighboring Normal Community and Bell is a student-athlete at Bloomington Central Catholic. The two best friends rarely compete against each other because of classification reasons. Hull’s school is in the larger 3A division, so she would be vaulting later in the day, but it doesn’t stop the two from having a competitive drive to top one another. “I knew [Brittany] had the top jump in the country, but I wanted to go over 13-0 too,” said a seemingly relieved Bell.

Bell had a recipe that would ultimately tie for Hull's national lead (from a previous meet) at 13-0.25. “I started at 11-0 and then cleared 11-6. I passed up to 12-0. I didn’t miss until I got to 13-0,” she said. “I blew two poles along the way and once I got over 13, I was using a 150 [weight pole].”

Now the new personal goals have to be reassessed by Bell because she achieved her season aspirations. “My goal was to reach 13-0 and I did that (13-0.25, actually). I think now it’s going to have to be 13-3 or 13-4.”

Whatever happens from here on in the vault world, you can bet Bell and Hull will continue to be best friends as they go for top marks -- though Hull would suffer an upset loss in the evening's 3A session.

Little tough to beat over flat land and obstacles

Shamier Little of tiny Chicago Lindblom on the south side of Chicago (in the rugged Englewood Community) didn’t appeared to be fazed by the competition even though she said she was. The first obstacle to erase any self-doubts or fears would be the 55HH. Little was already the state’s overall leader at 8.19.

As the gun sounded for the first prelim heat, Little smashed through the barriers in a meet record 8.03. It also happened to be the second-fastest time ever run at the meet. The only girl ahead of her: Evanston’s Shalina Clark’s awesome 7.96 set in 2006. Clark has been revered as the state’s best-ever hurdler.

The final wasn’t much different as Little came back within an hour and devoured the field in 8.06.. “I was just trying to run my race; I didn’t have any thoughts of big records -- just running a clean race,” said a stoic Little.

The 400 is perhaps Little’s strongest event in terms of having an equal competitor. She would draw class leader Megan Paul in the championship heat. Keep in mind that Paul had to run hard in the 4x800 relay for her team about an hour prior. As the race got off to a flying start, Paul got out on Little. However, Little did not panic as she moved up like an elevator on the backstretch after a conservative opening 200. It wasn’t until the final curve that Little shifted into overdrive. Paul moved her legs valiantly, but she could do little to keep from rigging up. Little held on for the 57.10-57.29 win. Both tough competitors shared a congratulatory hug shortly afterwards.

The final event of the day for Little was the 200 and it would serve as icing on the cake for one of the state’s most premier athletes. She appeared to acknowledge that she perhaps spent whatever energy reserves she had in the hurdles and long dash. Instead, Little hung tough for a strong second place and season's best 25.34.

Little went on to earn the athlete of the meet for her fine feats.

Best of the rest

" The 4x800 saw Class 2A newcomers Petersburg-Porta impress a solid field in their first attempt. The Lady Blue Jays trailed after the first leg on Normal U-High’s Sydney Billingsley’s strong 2:18 leg. But it was all over after that for Porta, which won going away in 9:43.01. University of Arkansas-bound Megan Paul brought her team from way back in 8th place to the runner-up slot on the strength of a 2:16.7 carry (9:49.05).

" Springfield South East didn’t need the spectacular feats of Charday Crawford to get the job done in setting a class meet record in the 4x200 relay. The Spartans took complete control after the lead leg and won in 1:45.94. By the time Crawford got the stick on anchor leg, she was on auto pilot. The runner-up Urbana charged hard on the final straight, but they ran out of real estate in running a season best 1:46.10.

" Kristen Busch of Freeburg's introduction into Class AA was a breeze in a winning 11:01.23 during the 3,200. Busch stayed glued to a pack of eight girls for the first two kilometers (7:02.7). She then made a crucial move with just under four laps remaining that was the moment of truth. No one matched her surge and she won going away over the runner-up Julia Williams (Washington Community) who ran to a personal best 11:08.66.

" The slowdown tactics of the main players in the 1600 was expected after several of the ladies doubling back from other events. The first half pace was around 2:35 and turned into a kicking affair between the aforementioned Billingsley and Busch over the final 400. Billingsley hung on for the slim victory, 5:07.84-5:08.44.

" Charday Crawford once again helped her team when she won the 200 in a class record 24.68. Crawford got out well against a solid field that featured the likes of Little and Lake Kwaza. By the time the Crawford hit the homestretch, it was too late to even think of making up any ground.

" Kayla Wolf (Burlington Central) likes the 400 a lot. “I consider myself more of a quarter-miler,” she would say after a barnstorming victory in the 800. Wolf’s undetected long speed surprised the field when she immediately took charge of the race, after breaking strong after the first cut-in. Wolf led in strong 200 increments of 31.0, 64.3, and 1:40.8. The tremendous bank of space that she created with just one circuit remaining dwindled as Allie Sprague (Marengo) and pre-meet favorite Kelsey Cramsey (Effingham) began to move strong. It was a little too late, though, as Wolf barely hung on for the win.

" Sophomore Lena Giger (Highland) improved on her state leading shot put mark from 42-7 to 43-6.5. Giger stays in the IL#2 slot, but moves up in the US rankings to #21. Also, four other throwers eclipsed the 40-foot mark making the event very competitive despite only seven finalists.

 Illinois Prep Top Times - 3/24/2012                      

                         Indoor Track & Field Classic                          

                                   Class AAA                                   

                                    Results                                    



Event 25  Girls Long Jump

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

Finals

  1  1146 Smith, Ebony           Waukegan HS         17-04.00   17-10.50  

  2  1149 Spagnola, Emma         West Aurora         18-03.50   17-08.75  

  3  1088 Neal, Maya             Neuqua              18-08.00   17-07.50  

  4  1102 Price, Kyla            Oswego East         17-09.75   16-11.75  

  5  1016 Okoro, Uzo             Hinsdale Sou        17-07.00   16-10.75  

  6   977 Johnson, Tess          Downers Grov        17-07.50  J16-10.75  

  7  1401 Williams, Rashida      Dunbar                         16-06.50  

  8   970 Cox, Janae             Bradley Bour        17-05.00   16-03.25  

  9  1045 Freeman, Tyshai        Lake Park HS        17-10.00   16-01.00  

 10  1122 Johnson, Emani         Proviso West        17-04.00   15-11.50  



Event 26  Boys Long Jump

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1208 Asani, Ardian          Dundee-Crown        22-04.25   22-00.00  

  2  1245 Jegede, Marcus         Lake Park HS        22-04.00   21-11.00  

  3  1221 James, Antwon          Glenbard Eas        22-03.50   21-08.50  

  4  1270 Ross, Jarrell          Metea Valley        21-11.75   21-06.50  

  5  1244 Filip, Scott           Lake Park HS        23-04.00   21-03.75  

  6  1287 Dean, Kerry            Mount Carmel        22-03.00   20-09.50  



Event 24  Boys Pole Vault

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1335 Ward, Joe              Rockford Jef        14-07.00   15-00.00  

  2  1220 Bednarek, Nick         Fremd HS            14-00.00   14-09.00  

  3  1247 Smith, Derrick         Lake Park HS        14-03.00   14-06.00  

  4  1293 Gordon, Eric           Normal West         16-02.75  J14-06.00  

  5  1206 Rosete, Adrian         Downers Grov        13-09.00   14-03.00  

  6  1337 Cagwin, Kody           Rolling Mead        14-03.00   14-00.00  

  6  1313 Winder, Luke           Plainfield C        14-07.00   14-00.00  

  8  1256 Swanberg, Joel         Lincolc-Way         14-03.00  J14-00.00  

  9  1211 Schuette, Tom          Edwardsville        14-00.00   13-06.00  

  9  1243 Ehrhardt, Tim          Lake Park HS        14-06.00   13-06.00  

 11  1264 Richartz, Nate         McHenry HS          14-00.00   13-00.00  

 --  1242 Sheehan, Ryan          Huntley HS          14-00.00         NH  



Event 29  Girls Shot Put

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1   961 Theuerkauf, Haleig     Batavia             40-06.50   41-08.00  

  2  1396 Donnell, Jennifer      Conant Track                   41-04.00  

  3  1022 Oginni, Banke          Hoffman Esta        41-11.00   39-11.00  

  4  1116 Reese, Erin            Prospect            38-04.00  J39-11.00  

  5  1073 Davis, Jasmine         Metea Valley        39-03.00   38-07.00  

  6  1147 Marion, Maya           West Aurora         38-08.75   38-04.00  

  7  1090 Townsend, Jasmine      Niles West          38-01.50  J38-04.00  

  8   962 Dovenmuehle, Katie     Belvidere No        40-02.00   38-03.00  

  9  1087 Maclin, Jasmine        Neuqua              39-02.00   37-06.00  

 10  1059 Tulloch, Kylie         Lincoln-Way         38-01.00   36-08.00  

 11  1397 Lauesen, Katie         Bartlett                       35-11.50  

 12  1042 Clark, Shayna          Lake Park HS        38-04.00   35-05.00  

 13  1013 Grant-Shaffer, She     Highland Par        39-01.00   35-02.00  



Event 30  Boys Shot Put

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1399 Freeman, Josh          Cary Grove                     62-03.25  

  2  1234 Balmes, Mark           Hersey HS           55-06.00   57-07.25  

  3  1294 Tucker, Kyrin          Normal West         54-03.00   55-07.25  

  4  1347 Ford, Perez            Romeoville H        54-08.50   55-05.25  

  5  1388 Kittridge, Riley       Waubonsie Va        54-01.00   53-09.25  

  6  1384 Bearden, Jamaal        Waubonsie Va        54-05.00   51-06.50  

  7  1231 Orc, Chris             Grant Commun        53-01.00   49-11.50  

  8  1228 Lair, Kentaye          Granite City        54-01.00   49-03.00  

  9  1170 Bauers, Kevin          Bartlett            53-03.50   48-00.75  



Event 22  Boys High Jump

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1248 Spejcher, Kevin        Lake Park HS         6-10.00    6-10.00  

  2  1309 Heniz, Carl            Oak Park Riv         6-11.00    6-09.00  

  3  1263 Stefanski, Peter       Marmion Acad         6-06.00    6-07.00  

  4  1176 Dix, Devaughn          Bloomington          6-06.00    6-05.00  

  5  1230 Wilson, Matt           Granite City         6-05.00   J6-05.00  

  6  1232 Wells, Jonathon        Grant Commun         6-04.00   J6-05.00  

  7  1270 Ross, Jarrell          Metea Valley         6-06.00    6-03.00  

  8  1218 Northern, Lawrence     Evanston Tow         6-06.00   J6-03.00  

  9  1351 Lee, Londell           Shepard              6-04.00    6-01.00  

  9  1178 Jones, Kevin           Brother Rice         6-07.00    6-01.00  

  9  1284 Zumbahlen, Kurtis      Minooka Boys         6-04.00    6-01.00  

  9  1179 Bowers, Ben            Conant Track         6-07.00    6-01.00  

  9  1208 Asani, Ardian          Dundee-Crown         6-04.00    6-01.00  

  9  1235 Bricker, John          Highland Par         6-04.00    6-01.00  

  9  1370 Hodges, Oshay          St Charles N         6-06.00    6-01.00  

  9  1272 Andreano, Peter        Minooka Boys         6-04.00    6-01.00  

 --  1350 Richard, Juwaan        Schaumburg H         6-04.00         NH  

 --  1308 Gay, Harrison          Oak Park Riv         6-04.00         NH  

 --  1195 Buczek, Sean           Crystal Lake         6-04.00         NH  

 --  1244 Filip, Scott           Lake Park HS         6-04.00         NH  



Event 21  Girls High Jump

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1105 Aremka, Jaclyn         Plainfield N         5-05.00    5-06.00  

  2  1011 Okeefe, Natalie        Granite City         5-04.00    5-04.00  

  3  1149 Spagnola, Emma         West Aurora          5-04.00   J5-04.00  

  4   999 Uhrich, Stephanie      Fremd HS             5-05.00   J5-04.00  

  5  1014 Bodee, Bridget         Hinsdale Sou         5-05.00    5-02.00  

  6  1045 Freeman, Tyshai        Lake Park HS         5-04.00   J5-02.00  

  7  1053 Junkroski, Julia       Lincoln-Way          5-04.00   J5-02.00  

  7  1401 Williams, Rashida      Dunbar                         J5-02.00  

  7  1049 Pavlou, Maria          Lake Zurich          5-03.00   J5-02.00  

 10  1142 Pettigrew, Cameron     Walter Payto         5-03.00    5-00.00  

 10  1015 Hawken, Jessica        Hinsdale Sou         5-04.00    5-00.00  

 10   963 Cadman, Darcy          Benet Academ         5-04.00    5-00.00  

 10  1100 Jones, Morganne        Oswego East          5-03.00    5-00.00  

 10  1002 James, Kailey          Glenbard Nor         5-05.00    5-00.00  



Event 27  Girls Triple Jump

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1016 Okoro, Uzo             Hinsdale Sou        37-04.00   36-11.25  

  2   972 Brown, Jasmine         DeKalb HS           36-01.00   36-06.25  

  3  1102 Price, Kyla            Oswego East         36-05.50   36-03.00  

  4  1134 Harris, Mariah         St Ignatius         37-02.00   36-02.25  

  5  1012 Heersche, Kimberly     Grant Commun        35-08.00   35-07.00  

  6  1131 Raucci, Kaylee         St Charles N        36-02.00   35-02.25  

  7  1086 Kondry, Kate           Neuqua              35-08.00   34-09.75  

  8   977 Johnson, Tess          Downers Grov        35-11.50   34-00.25  



Event 28  Boys Triple Jump

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1380 Osisanya, Femi         Thornwood HS        45-01.50   45-09.00  

  2  1260 Shields, James         Maine East          44-07.75   45-04.75  

  3  1246 Koch, Shawn            Lake Park HS        46-01.00   45-01.00  

  4  1214 Jones, Adonis          Evanston Tow        44-04.25   44-07.50  

  5  1309 Heniz, Carl            Oak Park Riv        45-05.00   44-05.00  

  6  1244 Filip, Scott           Lake Park HS        44-09.00   43-10.75  

  7  1199 Katz, Danny            Deerfield HS        44-11.00   43-09.00  

  8  1267 King, Will             Metea Valley        44-04.25   42-08.25  

  9  1261 Simmons, Matthew       Marian Cahto        44-07.75   42-01.75  

 --  1245 Jegede, Marcus         Lake Park HS        46-00.00       FOUL  



Event 23  Girls Pole Vault

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1040 Schmidt, Carly         Lake Forest         12-09.00   12-03.00  

  2  1092 Hull, Brittany         Normal Commu        13-00.25   12-00.00  

  3  1039 Carmichael, Caroli     Lake Forest         11-09.00   11-09.00  

  4  1104 Vann, Riley            Oswego HS           11-06.00   11-06.00  

  5   971 Dahl, Lexi             Crystal Lake        11-00.00   11-03.00  

  6  1091 Catherine, Brooke      Normal Commu        11-00.00   11-00.00  

  7  1089 Reid, Annemarie        Niles North         10-06.00   10-06.00  

  7  1046 Golliday, Maya         Lake Park HS        11-00.00   10-06.00  

  9  1053 Junkroski, Julia       Lincoln-Way         10-06.00  J10-06.00  

 10  1133 Boulger, Stephanie     St Ignatius         10-06.00    9-06.00  

 10  1050 Jaffke, Nicole         Libertyville        10-06.00    9-06.00  



Event 14  Boys 3200 Meter Run

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1175 Yunk, Tyler            Belvidere No         9:25.55    9:16.62  

  2  1348 Santino, Patrick       Saint Ignati         9:33.56    9:17.94  

  3  1259 Hague, William         Loyola Acade         9:24.86    9:20.22  

  4  1349 Prizy, Evan            Schaumburg H         9:26.66    9:25.93  

  5  1203 Kirk, Nick             Downers Grov         9:29.69    9:28.75  



Event 1  Girls 55 Meter Dash

============================================================================

Top 14 Advance by Time

    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  H#

============================================================================

Preliminaries

  1  1144 Akinosun, Morolake     Waubonise Va            6.91       6.81q  1 

  2   964 Azie, Kim              Bolingbrook             7.16       6.98q  1 

  3  1108 Jones, Cessily         Plainfield N            7.00       6.98q  3 

  4   967 Taylor, Kym            Bolingbrook             7.22       7.12q  2 

  5  1080 Hyshaw, Alexis         Naperville N            6.93       7.18q  2 

  6  1099 Everson, Aliyah        Oswego East             7.26       7.24q  3 

  7  1029 Nwokenkwo, Shayna      Homewood-Flo            7.33       7.27q  2 

  8  1148 Saffa, Anita           West Aurora             7.12       7.28q  2 

  9  1072 Cowan, Emily           Metea Valley            7.43       7.36q  2 

 10  1027 Farley, Taylor         Homewood-Flo            7.44       7.37q  3 

 11  1112 Ayers, Jessica         Prairie Ridg            7.35       7.46q  1 

 12   981 Baeten, Samantha       Downers Grov            7.38       7.47q  2 

 13  1129 Sepanski, Sarah        Springfield             7.39       7.50q  3 

 14  1136 Shaw, Taylor           St Ignatius             7.28       7.54q  3 

 15  1107 Frank, Jazmine         Plainfield N            7.36       7.55   1 



Event 2  Boys 55 Meter Dash

============================================================================

Top 14 Advance by Time

    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  H#

============================================================================

  1  1229 Myers, Jay             Granite City            6.59       6.50q  2 

  2  1257 Hylton, Julian         Lincoln-Way             6.48       6.51q  1 

  3  1333 Foster, Kendrick       Richwoods HS            6.51       6.51q  2 

  4  1298 McGee, Terry           North Lawnda            6.57       6.59q  1 

  5  1303 Booth, Zach            Oak Park Riv            6.58       6.61q  2 

  6  1261 Simmons, Matthew       Marian Cahto            6.65       6.62q  2 

  7  1270 Ross, Jarrell          Metea Valley            6.62       6.62q  1 

  8  1171 Burnett, Andre         Belleville E            6.62       6.69q  1 

  9  1350 Richard, Juwaan        Schaumburg H            6.64       6.71q  2 

 --  1347 Ford, Perez            Romeoville H            6.49         FS   2 



Event 3  Girls 55 Meter Hurdles

============================================================================

Top 14 Advance by Time

    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  H#

============================================================================

  1  1149 Spagnola, Emma         West Aurora             8.65       8.51q  1 

  2  1067 Haynes, Imani          Marian Catho            8.57       8.53q  3 

  3  1088 Neal, Maya             Neuqua                  8.58       8.54q  2 

  4  1155 Keiger, Claire         Whintey Youn            8.57       8.60q  3 

  5  1104 Vann, Riley            Oswego HS               8.41       8.62q  1 

  6  1140 Robinson, Ashley       Thornwood HS            8.75       8.64q  1 

  7  1039 Carmichael, Caroli     Lake Forest             8.84       8.69q  2 

  8  1398 Wolney, Kathy          Cary Grove                         8.78q  3 

  9  1128 Spann, Darneisha       Schaumburg H            8.93       8.84q  2 

 10   997 Kendzior, Kathryn      Fremd HS                8.94       8.85q  1 

 11  1135 Karnatz, Madlen        St Ignatius             8.54       8.89q  2 

 12  1068 Walker, Taylor         Marian Catho            9.12       9.05q  2 

 13  1069 Brandenburg, Nina      Metea Valley            8.86       9.13q  3 



Event 4  Boys 55 Meter Hurdles

============================================================================

Top 14 Advance by Time

    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  H#

============================================================================

  1  1334 Glasper, Clayton       Richwoods HS            7.60       7.45q  1 

  2  1332 Wolff, Mitchell        Plainfield S            7.55       7.53q  2 

  3  1185 Hulbert, Rashad        Crete-Monee             7.45       7.55q  1 

  4  1189 Sykes, Brandon         Crete-Monee             7.84       7.56q  2 

  5  1233 Wells, Sean            Grant Commun            7.58       7.57q  1 

  6  1199 Katz, Danny            Deerfield HS                       7.68q  2 

  7  1179 Bowers, Ben            Conant Track            7.53       7.72q  2 

  8  1176 Dix, Devaughn          Bloomington                        7.87q  1 

  9  1216 Levy, Xavier           Evanston Tow            7.84       7.96q  2 

 10  1169 Bailey, Alex           Bartlett                7.93       8.30q  1 



Event 19  Girls 4x800 Meter Relay

================================================================================

    School                                               Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

Finals

  1 Glenbard West  'A'                                9:23.60    9:18.77  

  2 Downers Grove South  'A'                          9:35.85    9:23.10  

  3 Downers Grove North  'A'                          9:31.76    9:25.10  

  4 Hoffman Estates Hs  'A'                           9:38.00    9:25.18  

  5 Prospect  'A'                                     9:28.04    9:26.64  

  6 Yorkville HS  'A'                                 9:36.57    9:28.84  

  7 Naperville North HS  'A'                          9:37.17    9:34.60  

  8 Loyola Academy  'A'                               9:50.94    9:44.69  

  9 Lake Park HS  'A'                                 9:30.17    9:48.07  

 10 Downers Grove South  'B'                          9:49.83    9:50.96  



Event 20  Boys 4x800 Meter Relay

================================================================================

    School                                               Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1 Minooka Boys Track And Field  'A'                 8:03.91    8:00.27  

  2 Niles North HS  'A'                               8:01.97    8:00.50  

  3 Lane Tech College Prep  'A'                       8:07.00    8:00.68  

  4 Downers Grove South  'A'                          8:17.22    8:05.25  

  5 Conant Track  'A'                                 8:11.24    8:05.56  

  6 Oak Park River Forest HS  'A'                     8:10.00    8:05.72  

  7 Plainfield South Cougars  'A'                     8:11.54    8:10.91  

  8 Crystal Lake Central  'A'                         8:10.73    8:11.75  

  9 Rolling Meadows HS  'A'                           8:16.50    8:12.73  

 10 Thornwood HS  'A'                                 8:10.32    8:16.36  

 11 Springfield HS  'A'                               8:14.36    8:27.29  



Event 13  Girls 3200 Meter Run

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1044 Flanagan, Kaylee       Lake Park HS        10:36.40   10:29.02  

  2  1007 Perez, Madeline        Glenbard Wes        10:51.64   10:48.85  

  3  1101 Michalek, Ariel        Oswego East         10:48.56   10:48.89  

  4  1103 Hjorth, Kelsey         Oswego HS           11:16.06   10:51.13  

  5  1004 Luczak, Lisa           Glenbard Wes        11:07.34   10:52.72  

  6  1066 Leonard, Emily         Maine South         11:09.24   10:58.86  

  7  1125 Sanchez, Amanda        Rolling Mead        11:18.49   11:01.93  

  8   996 Breen, Kelly           Fremd HS            11:29.85   11:05.99  

  9  1081 Meyer, Kimber          Naperville N        11:16.01   11:16.23  

 10  1071 Cast, Kendall          Metea Valley        11:24.71   11:16.70  

 11  1127 Kurdej, Caroline       Schaumburg H        11:18.01   11:20.51  

 12   989 Strelau, Katherine     Downers Grov        11:28.96   11:21.30  

 13  1010 DeVito, Danielle       Glenbrook So        11:14.10   11:30.73  

 14  1024 Patel, Takshaka        Hoffman Esta        11:29.40   11:42.76  



Event 4  Boys 55 Meter Hurdles

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School               Prelims     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1  1185 Hulbert, Rashad        Crete-Monee             7.55       7.40   2 

  2  1332 Wolff, Mitchell        Plainfield S            7.53       7.43   2 

  3  1334 Glasper, Clayton       Richwoods HS            7.45       7.45   2 

  4  1189 Sykes, Brandon         Crete-Monee             7.56       7.50   2 

  5  1233 Wells, Sean            Grant Commun            7.57       7.54   2 

  6  1199 Katz, Danny            Deerfield HS            7.68       7.67   2 

  7  1179 Bowers, Ben            Conant Track            7.72       7.68   2 

  8  1176 Dix, Devaughn          Bloomington             7.87       7.76   1 

  9  1216 Levy, Xavier           Evanston Tow            7.96       8.11   1 

 10  1169 Bailey, Alex           Bartlett                8.30       8.17   1 



Event 3  Girls 55 Meter Hurdles

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School               Prelims     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1  1149 Spagnola, Emma         West Aurora             8.51       8.34   2 

  2  1067 Haynes, Imani          Marian Catho            8.53       8.41   2 

  3  1104 Vann, Riley            Oswego HS               8.62       8.52   2 

  4  1088 Neal, Maya             Neuqua                  8.54       8.56   2 

  5  1135 Karnatz, Madlen        St Ignatius             8.89       8.62   1 

  6  1155 Keiger, Claire         Whintey Youn            8.60       8.70   2 

  7  1398 Wolney, Kathy          Cary Grove              8.78       8.73   1 

  8  1039 Carmichael, Caroli     Lake Forest             8.69       8.80   2 

  9  1128 Spann, Darneisha       Schaumburg H            8.84       8.88   1 

 10   997 Kendzior, Kathryn      Fremd HS                8.85       8.89   1 

 11  1140 Robinson, Ashley       Thornwood HS            8.64       9.00   2 

 12  1069 Brandenburg, Nina      Metea Valley            9.13       9.04   1 

 13  1068 Walker, Taylor         Marian Catho            9.05       9.05   1 



Event 1  Girls 55 Meter Dash

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School               Prelims     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1  1144 Akinosun, Morolake     Waubonise Va            6.81       6.76   2 

  2  1108 Jones, Cessily         Plainfield N            6.98       6.95   2 

  3   964 Azie, Kim              Bolingbrook             6.98       7.02   2 

  4   967 Taylor, Kym            Bolingbrook             7.12       7.11   2 

  5  1080 Hyshaw, Alexis         Naperville N            7.18       7.17   2 

  6  1099 Everson, Aliyah        Oswego East             7.24       7.26   2 

  7  1148 Saffa, Anita           West Aurora             7.28       7.32   1 

  8  1027 Farley, Taylor         Homewood-Flo            7.37       7.33   1 

  9  1112 Ayers, Jessica         Prairie Ridg            7.46       7.35   1 

 10  1072 Cowan, Emily           Metea Valley            7.36       7.38   1 

 11  1029 Nwokenkwo, Shayna      Homewood-Flo            7.27       7.38   2 

 12  1136 Shaw, Taylor           St Ignatius             7.54       7.40   1 

 13  1129 Sepanski, Sarah        Springfield             7.50       7.46   1 



Event 2  Boys 55 Meter Dash

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School               Prelims     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1  1333 Foster, Kendrick       Richwoods HS            6.51       6.46   2 

  2  1229 Myers, Jay             Granite City            6.50       6.48   2 

  3  1257 Hylton, Julian         Lincoln-Way             6.51       6.51   2 

  4  1298 McGee, Terry           North Lawnda            6.59       6.61   2 

  5  1261 Simmons, Matthew       Marian Cahto            6.62       6.63   2 

  6  1270 Ross, Jarrell          Metea Valley            6.62       6.69   1 

  7  1350 Richard, Juwaan        Schaumburg H            6.71       6.72   1 



Event 9  Girls 800 Meter Run

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1000 Rakosnik, Lindsey      Glenbard Eas         2:20.60    2:12.38  

  2  1033 Dean, Dhiaa            Kenwood Acad         2:16.01    2:12.48  

  3   995 Horton, Jahnell        Evanston             2:18.60    2:13.00  

  4  1098 Schmitz, Kaylee        Ofallon Town         2:18.21    2:13.85  

  5  1008 Reifel, Emma           Glenbard Wes         2:17.15    2:16.23  

  6   988 Stearns, Rebecca       Downers Grov         2:21.27    2:19.16  

  7  1151 Baggett, Shianne       Whintey Youn         2:20.30    2:19.37  

  8  1074 Lindholm, Lauren       Metea Valley         2:21.36    2:20.70  

  9  1126 Coombs, Hannah         Schaumburg H         2:20.80    2:21.84  

 10  1088 Neal, Maya             Neuqua               2:20.68    2:22.22  

 11  1145 Bruner, Ashley         Waubonise Va         2:21.10    2:24.68  



Event 10  Boys 800 Meter Run

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1173 Crocker, Will          Belvidere No         1:56.53    1:54.87  

  2  1305 Fisher, Evan           Oak Park Riv         1:58.47    1:55.79  

  3  1366 Mazanke, Jake          St Charles E         1:58.25    1:55.81  

  4  1192 Alvarez, Chris         Crystal Lake         1:59.03    1:56.31  

  5  1258 Ford, Todd             Loyola Acade         1:58.86    1:57.07  

  6  1184 Weaver, James          Conant Track         1:59.71    1:57.88  

  7  1345 Thielsen, Brendan      Rolling Mead         1:58.57    1:58.45  



Event 15  Girls 4x200 Meter Relay

===================================================================================

    School                                               Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1 Bolingbrook Lady Raiders  'A'                     1:42.96    1:41.55   2 

  2 Plainfield North HS  'A'                          1:46.71    1:43.44   2 

  3 Homewood-Flossmoor  'A'                           1:44.35    1:44.51   2 

  4 Whintey Young  'A'                                1:46.87    1:45.69   2 

  5 Proviso West  'A'                                 1:46.75    1:45.70   2 

  6 Thornwood HS  'A'                                 1:48.86    1:47.84   1 

  7 North Lawndale College Prep  'A'                  1:48.60    1:48.67   1 

  8 Metea Valley  'A'                                 1:47.16    1:49.89   1 



Event 16  Boys 4x200 Meter Relay

===================================================================================

    School                                               Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1 Thornwood HS  'A'                                 1:31.71    1:30.96   2 

  2 Crete-Monee  'A'                                  1:33.10    1:31.49   1 

  3 Plainfield North  'A'                             1:32.76    1:31.79   2 

  4 Waubonsie Valley HS  'A'                          1:32.38    1:32.20   2 

  5 St Charles North HS  'A'                          1:33.32    1:32.57   1 

  6 Plainfield South Cougars  'A'                     1:33.32    1:33.44   1 

  7 North Lawndale College Prep  'A'                  1:32.75    1:33.90   2 

  8 Hinsdale South  'A'                               1:31.79    1:33.95   2 



Event 7  Girls 400 Meter Dash

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1  1143 Ellis, Brittny         Warren Towns           58.24      55.72   3 

  2  1142 Pettigrew, Cameron     Walter Payto           56.47      56.77   3 

  3  1001 Carr, Simone           Glenbard Nor           57.88      57.87   3 

  4  1130 Williams, Britney      St Charles E           59.00      59.24   3 

  5   974 Slaughter, Jaylaan     DeKalb HS              59.69      59.32   3 

  6  1156 Nalls, Rori            Whintey Youn         1:00.23      59.60   2 

  7  1085 Jackson, Stephanie     Neuqua               1:00.18    1:00.62   3 

  8  1112 Ayers, Jessica         Prairie Ridg         1:00.27    1:00.89   2 

  9  1400 Valdiava, Lali         West Chicago                    1:01.22   2 

 10  1017 Warren, Sarah          Hinsdale Sou         1:00.29    1:01.40   2 

 11   998 Plager, Laura          Fremd HS             1:01.19    1:01.63   1 

 12  1114 Grossman, Christin     Prospect             1:00.99    1:02.05   1 

 13   979 Ridderhoff, Rebecc     Downers Grov         1:00.72    1:05.40   2 



Event 8  Boys 400 Meter Dash

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1  1172 Randolph, Jeremy       Belleville W           50.72      50.18   3 

  2  1350 Richard, Juwaan        Schaumburg H           51.64      50.77   2 

  3  1353 Bremhorst, Peter       Springfield            51.38      50.79   3 

  4  1352 Broger, Jeff           South Elgin            52.03      51.02   1 

  5  1339 Gundersen, Ryan        Rolling Mead           50.53      51.11   3 

  6  1297 Jordan, Deshuan        North Lawnda           51.84      51.12   1 

  7  1254 French, Cyrus          Larkin HS              51.80      51.14   2 

  8  1177 Lewis, Bryant          Bloomington            52.12      51.50   1 

  9  1288 Trainer, Matt          Mount Carmel           52.15      51.63   1 

 10  1215 Klamm, Patrick         Evanston Tow           51.25      51.65   3 

 11  1285 Foster, Stedman        Morgan Park            51.35      51.92   3 

 12  1402 Isianayi, Hall         Elk Grove              52.06      52.07   1 

 13  1287 Dean, Kerry            Mount Carmel           52.12      52.26   1 

 14  1275 Ingram, Daniel         Minooka Boys           51.72      52.42   2 

 15  1394 Howard, Dakarai        Whitney Youn           51.58      53.15   3 

 --  1267 King, Will             Metea Valley           51.73         DQ   2  Lane Violation



Event 11  Girls 1600 Meter Run

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1000 Rakosnik, Lindsey      Glenbard Eas         4:59.90    4:56.86  

  2  1020 Goers, Haley           Hoffman Esta         5:06.50    5:00.40  

  3  1132 Stuenkel, Sydney       St Charles N         5:15.30    5:03.11  

  4  1044 Flanagan, Kaylee       Lake Park HS         5:02.96    5:03.29  

  5  1119 Wolfe, Brooke          Prospect             5:07.33    5:03.74  

  6  1101 Michalek, Ariel        Oswego East          5:05.83    5:04.58  

  7  1117 Santiago, Christin     Prospect             5:13.70    5:08.73  

  8  1165 Hester, Ali            Yorkville HS         5:17.60    5:09.34  

  9   990 Thate, Amanda          Downers Grov         5:14.95    5:11.42  

 10  1082 Moxon, Alex            Naperville N         5:16.80    5:11.91  

 11   973 Schrader, Kelsey       DeKalb HS            5:17.33    5:12.84  

 12  1003 Born, Katie            Glenbard Wes         5:17.20    5:12.89  

 13  1004 Luczak, Lisa           Glenbard Wes         5:08.80    5:13.93  

 14  1048 Murphy, Brianne        Lake Park HS         5:17.17    5:18.73  

 15   976 Hesslau, Gabrielle     Downers Grov         5:15.02    5:22.69  

 16   991 Thate, Jacquelyn       Downers Grov         5:16.64    5:27.77  



Event 12  Boys 1600 Meter Run

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1  1311 Schrobilgen, Malac     Oak Park Riv         4:22.00    4:14.32  

  2  1174 Lee, Garrett           Belvidere No         4:23.30    4:14.37  

  3  1182 Schneider, Tyler       Conant Track         4:14.34    4:14.98  

  4  1262 Dickson, Nolan         Marmion Acad         4:22.50    4:16.52  

  5  1289 Beller, Micah          Niles North          4:25.20    4:19.14  

  6  1210 Sands, Keith           East Moline          4:23.50    4:19.42  

  7  1224 Lederhouse, Mike       Glenbard Wes         4:21.00    4:20.46  

  8  1175 Yunk, Tyler            Belvidere No         4:26.69    4:24.17  

  9  1292 Sebhat, Aron           Niles North          4:22.60    4:27.40  



Event 5  Girls 200 Meter Dash

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1  1144 Akinosun, Morolake     Waubonise Va           24.60      23.91   2 

  2  1108 Jones, Cessily         Plainfield N           24.81      24.40   2 

  3  1155 Keiger, Claire         Whintey Youn           26.28      25.13   1 

  4  1088 Neal, Maya             Neuqua                 25.77      25.59   2 

  5  1080 Hyshaw, Alexis         Naperville N           25.78      25.87   2 

  6  1148 Saffa, Anita           West Aurora            26.23      26.47   1 

  7  1130 Williams, Britney      St Charles E           26.30      26.84   1 

  8  1136 Shaw, Taylor           St Ignatius            26.34      27.10   1 



Event 6  Boys 200 Meter Dash

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1  1229 Myers, Jay             Granite City           22.95      22.66   1 

  2  1172 Randolph, Jeremy       Belleville W           22.82      22.79   2 

  3  1209 Atwater, Jordan        East Moline            22.75      22.85   2 

  4  1255 Griffin, Jalen         Larkin HS              22.87      22.90   1 

  5  1297 Jordan, Deshuan        North Lawnda           22.82      22.95   2 

  6  1347 Ford, Perez            Romeoville H           22.88      23.02   1 

  7  1287 Dean, Kerry            Mount Carmel           22.22      23.53   2 



Event 17  Girls 4x400 Meter Relay

================================================================================

    School                                               Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1 Downers Grove South  'A'                          4:05.70    4:03.70  

  2 Kenwood Academy  'A'                              4:08.21    4:04.01  

  3 Glenbard West  'A'                                4:08.20    4:04.19  

  4 Whintey Young  'A'                                4:05.01    4:05.80  

  5 Plainfield North HS  'A'                          4:04.96    4:16.55  

 -- York HS  'A'                                      4:06.00         DQ   Lane Violation.



Event 18  Boys 4x400 Meter Relay

===================================================================================

    School                                               Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1 St Charles East  'A'                              3:26.44    3:23.98   3 

  2 Waubonsie Valley HS  'A'                          3:25.62    3:24.25   3 

  3 Springfield HS  'A'                               3:30.91    3:26.36   1 

  4 Evanston Township HS  'A'                         3:29.57    3:27.12   2 

  5 Plainfield South Cougars  'A'                     3:29.83    3:27.70   2 

  6 Crete-Monee  'A'                                  3:31.95    3:28.00   1 

  7 Oak Park River Forest HS  'A'                     3:31.00    3:28.05   1 

  8 Plainfield North  'A'                             3:30.68    3:29.25   2 

  9 St Charles North HS  'A'                          3:28.89    3:29.58   3 

 10 Metea Valley  'A'                                 3:30.51    3:30.28   2 

 11 Rolling Meadows HS  'A'                           3:30.40    3:34.61   2 

 12 Whitney Young  'A'                                3:29.52    3:52.19   3 

 -- Minooka Boys Track And Field  'A'                 3:28.74         DQ   3  Interference

 -- Thornwood HS  'A'                                 3:24.84         DQ   3  Interference

It has often been said there is calm before a storm. It couldn’t have been more true Friday when the rain and wind outside turned into loud thunder that permeated the inside of the cozy Shirk Center on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. From that moment, just after the dash and hurdles prelims, it was all busy on the track and in the field.

GCMS duo shines bright

The biggest fireworks inside would come later in the meet. Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley coach Erica Kostoff has a wonderful problem on her hands. She has two of the most prolific middle-distance runners in the state in Angel Gaesser and Sydni Meunier. Kostoff knew her girls were workhorses, but the rest of the state may not have been paying attention. The first event of the evening for the duo was be the 800. Gaesser and Meunier set the tone immediately with a 32-second first 200. After that the two teammates were glued together like Siamese twins. They negotiated the 400 in 67.7, well ahead of the field.

Maddison Zimmer of Delavan did her best to be in the discussion but she could not keep pace, nor could Stacie Hall (Reed Custer). The duo up front rolled past 600 in 1:43.4. They were in full sprint mode with just one turn left. Gaesser finally got a step or two on Meunier and held on for a tough win over her good friend since the sixth grade. The final margin: 2:16.43 to 2:16.77.

Gaesser went on to place second in the triple jump with a leap of 33-2 and fourth in the 400 with a solid time of 1:01.47. She also anchored her team to a meet record in the 4x4 relay (4:08.45).

Meunier one-upped her teammate when she came back for the 1,600. Meunier wasted no time taking the lead and it was Chelsea Blaase on her heels. Meunier controlled the race through each 400 with splits of 74.3, 2:30.3, 3:45.0. Finally, she had enough of the pedestrian pace and took off. Meunier bolted hard and put herself in position to break the 5:00 barrier with the bell lap remaining. The University of Notre Dame-bound senior charged home hard and crossed the line amid a throng of cheering admirers in a state-leading 4:57.91.

She would add a leg on the winning 4x400 and earn Athlete of the Meet honors.

Too close to call

Earlier, the 55 dash featured list leaders Danielle Crawley (Sherrard) and DeJanae Terry (South Holland Seton Academy) starting in the prelim round. Crawley ran 7.25 to earn the fastest seed in the final; Terry jumped into second spot. The final was about as even as it could get with both girls pushing hard on the homestretch. The verdict was too close to call with the Daktronics board reading 7.30 for both. However, it was Crawley that earned the slim 7.293-7.294 victory. It was the closest margin between first and second place in meet history.

XC champs win the 4x800

Decatur St. Teresa wasn’t even remotely satisfied with their previous season best in the 4x800 relay. As anchor Ivy Handley put it “we wanted the meet record.” The meet record of 9:46.7 set back in 2006 has been called soft by some pundits but the fact is that very few teams have touched it. St. Teresa was capable. The school won the state cross country championship with ease and four members of that team were part of the relay effort. Lead-off runner Ellen Devereux got her mates off to a tremendous start with a solid 2:24.1 carry and it was pretty much curtains (for everyone else) from there. The lead grew to nearly five seconds after the second leg (2:28.7). Handley brought it home with a 2:25.9 split for a 9:48.13 total. The Lady Bulldogs didn’t get the record but they earned a huge seasonal best and the second fastest time in meet history.

Blaase impresses in the 3,200

The 3,200 was filled with anticipation because the reigning cross country champion, Chelsea Blaase (or 'Blaze' when she runs) of St. Joe-Ogden, was in the field. She had intentions of bettering her time of 11:09 and showing the faithful that her harrier title wasn’t a fluke. Blaase got out well, leading with splits of 75.7, 2:36.4, 3:59.8, and 5:24.5 to get to the halfway mark. Marquette Alton’s Dani Aurit hung close until that halfway point. Blaase turned on the jets and opened up a huge lead. The final verdict was a 27-second win and class best 11:01.81. “Oh, I wanted to break 11:00 but I fell asleep a little (in the middle of the race). I heard my teammates cheering me hard on that last lap,” she said, referring to her strong kick at the finish.

Seton Academy sprinters step up

Head coach Damani Shakoor knows quite a bit about track and field. Aside from being a quality prep athlete back in his day, he is a better coach. Shakoor more than likely has shunned bigger named programs to stay with tiny school in South Holland. “We are trying to get a track (at our school) and make some moves,” he said. It does help to have a fleet of talented runners, especially one in DaJanae Terry, a senior standout who has been here before. She won the short dash last year and already has put up some solid marks over the indoor season. After finishing second in the 55, Terry anchored her team in the 4x200 relay and set a class record 1:47.50. Terry finished her evening by winning the 200 in 26.19. Her teammate Mykel Adams placed second in 26.75. Another Sting teammate Jasmine Gardner placed third in the 55 dash in 7.54.

Best of the rest

" Whitney Walker (Illini Bluffs) was the first girl beside Kelsey Card (Carlinville) to win the shot put in four years. She won with a classification best 42-4.5.
" Jessica Jump (Metro-East Lutheran) dogged the first lap leader in 29.5 before taking over the with less than 100 remaining to win the 400 meters in 1:00.14. Her time is the class best.
" Rachel Ballard (St. Joe-Ogden) won the long jump on her first attempt when she skied 17-6. She was able to hang on and defeat Ashley Thomas of Rushville-Industry.

Illinois Prep Top Times - 3/23/2012

                         Indoor Track & Field Classic

                                    Class A

                                    Results                                    



Girls 55 Meter Dash

============================================================================

Top 14 Advance by Time

    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  H#

============================================================================

Preliminaries

  1   165 Crawley, Danielle      Sherrard                7.30       7.25q  3

  2   161 Terry, DeJanae         Seton Academ            7.31       7.30q  3

  3   103 Gibbs, Ariel           Momence HS              7.54       7.41q  2

  4   156 Gardner, Jasmine       Seton Academ            7.55       7.44q  2

  5    64 Giordani, Jade         Francis W Pa            7.54       7.46q  1

  6   211 Glueck, Amelia         Tremont                 7.50       7.50q  2

  7   901 Miller, Chelsea        Session Valley                     7.55q  1

  8   155 Adams, Mykel           Seton Academ            7.65       7.57q  1

  9   179 Neuhauser, Paige       SOV                     7.08       7.58q  1

 10     1 Dynes, Erica           Annawan-Weth            7.58       7.60q  1

 11    40 Adcock, Taylor         Central AM              7.52       7.63q  1

 12    29 Cortese, Cara          Byron HS                7.28       7.64q  2

 13   139 May, Elle              Riverdale HS            7.70       7.65q  3

 14   157 Guy, Hunter            Seton Academ            7.70       7.66q  3

 15   227 Ensminger, Alexis      West Central            7.66       7.71   2

 16    26 Adkins, Elyse          Byron HS                7.54       7.71   3

 17    53 Cobert, Courtney       ErieProphets            7.57       7.74   3 



Girls 55 Meter Dash

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School               Prelims     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

Finals

  1   165 Crawley, Danielle      Sherrard                7.25       7.30   2  7.293

  2   161 Terry, DeJanae         Seton Academ            7.30       7.30   2  7.294

  3   156 Gardner, Jasmine       Seton Academ            7.44       7.54   2  7.531

  4   211 Glueck, Amelia         Tremont                 7.50       7.54   2  7.540

  5    64 Giordani, Jade         Francis W Pa            7.46       7.55   2

  6   155 Adams, Mykel           Seton Academ            7.57       7.56   1

  7     1 Dynes, Erica           Annawan-Weth            7.60       7.58   1

  8   103 Gibbs, Ariel           Momence HS              7.41       7.60   2

  9    29 Cortese, Cara          Byron HS                7.64       7.61   1

 10   179 Neuhauser, Paige       SOV                     7.58       7.66   1

 11   901 Miller, Chelsea        Session Valley          7.55       7.67   2

 12    40 Adcock, Taylor         Central AM              7.63       7.68   1

 13   157 Guy, Hunter            Seton Academ            7.66       7.69   1

 14   139 May, Elle              Riverdale HS            7.65       7.72   1 



Girls 200 Meter Dash

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1   161 Terry, DeJanae         Seton Academ           26.35      26.19   4

  2   155 Adams, Mykel           Seton Academ           27.24      26.75   4

  3   185 Ballard, Rachel        St Joseph-Og           26.62      26.80   4

  4   102 Jump, Jessica          Metro East L           27.54      26.84   3

  5   177 McClain, Amanda        SOV                    27.61      26.89   3

  6   227 Ensminger, Alexis      West Central           27.09      27.00   4

  7   211 Glueck, Amelia         Tremont                27.14      27.04   4

  8   901 Miller, Chelsea        Session Valley                    27.12   1

  9   139 May, Elle              Riverdale HS           27.83      27.16   2

 10    64 Giordani, Jade         Francis W Pa           27.32      27.22   3

 11   179 Neuhauser, Paige       SOV                    27.82      27.50   3

 12   181 Cunningham, Megan      Sparta HS Gi           27.93      27.66   2

 13   156 Gardner, Jasmine       Seton Academ           28.14      27.78   1

 14    70 Nagle, Lauren          GCMS                   27.66      27.79   3

 15     1 Dynes, Erica           Annawan-Weth           28.05      27.85   2

 16   158 Jeanty, Nancy          Seton Academ           28.05      28.01   2

 17   152 Plotner, Toria         Salt Fork              28.06      28.14   1

 18   228 Rhodes, Rachel         Williamsvill           27.67      28.28   3

 19   223 Stumborg, Taylor       Unity                  27.95      28.48   2 



Girls 400 Meter Dash

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1   102 Jump, Jessica          Metro East L         1:02.20    1:00.14   2

  2    77 Mosbach, Liz           Hall HS              1:01.90    1:00.24   2

  3    46 Wright, Rayanne        Clifton Cent         1:02.49    1:00.97   2

  4    68 Gaesser, Angel         GCMS                 1:01.17    1:01.47   2

  5    40 Adcock, Taylor         Central AM           1:03.11    1:02.03   1

  6   155 Adams, Mykel           Seton Academ         1:01.15    1:02.21   2

  7   121 Michl, Jamie           Newton HS            1:03.20    1:02.34   1

  8    62 Holland, Tessa         Fieldcrest           1:03.26    1:02.46   1

  9   152 Plotner, Toria         Salt Fork            1:02.99    1:03.10   2

 10    65 Wiebe, Lauren          Francis W Pa         1:03.80    1:03.99   1

 11   159 Mays, Kyla             Seton Academ         1:04.00    1:05.06   1 



Girls 800 Meter Run

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1    68 Gaesser, Angel         GCMS                 2:17.91    2:16.43

  2    69 Meunier, Sydni         GCMS                 2:17.27    2:16.77

  3    52 Zimmer, Maddison       Delavan HS           2:22.77    2:18.94

  4   137 Hall, Stacie           Reed Custer          2:26.00    2:19.57

  5     8 Edwards, Taylor        Arcola Women         2:29.00    2:22.29

  6    22 Sanden, Kimi           Bureau Valle         2:23.60    2:26.12

  7   106 Tharp, Mallory         Monmouth Uni         2:31.02    2:27.02

  8   107 Byrne, Megan           Monmouth-Ros         2:30.34    2:31.60

  9    33 McCarey, Erin          Byron HS             2:32.35    2:36.19  



Girls 1600 Meter Run

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1    69 Meunier, Sydni         GCMS                 4:59.73    4:57.91

  2   186 Blaase, Chelsea        St Joseph-Og         5:08.76    5:05.07

  3   199 Devereux, Ellen        St Teresa HS         5:18.52    5:10.02

  4   201 Handley, Ivy           St Teresa HS         5:24.14    5:10.73

  5    86 Ummel, Kaley           Lexington HS         5:28.00    5:11.27

  6   194 Paden, Jolee           St Joseph-Og         5:29.81    5:23.91

  7    11 Briggs, Haley          Argenta-Orea         5:29.30    5:24.13

  8    88 Aurit, Dani            Marquette Ac         5:29.45    5:25.04

  9   182 Garwood, Kristen       Springfield          5:31.72    5:25.60

 10   197 Burgener, Megan        St Teresa HS         5:35.95    5:25.96

 11    23 Weidner, Regan         Bureau Valle         5:29.53    5:29.40

 12   213 Holmes, Jade           Tremont              5:35.00    5:32.75

 13   200 Devereux, Rachel       St Teresa HS         5:34.20    5:34.18

 14   215 Miller, Haley          Tremont              5:34.79    5:35.49

 15    85 Hibser, Ericka         Lewistown HS         5:39.04    5:37.44

 16   162 Duckett, Katelyn       Shelbyville          5:36.72    5:41.42

 17    61 Baldwin, Maria         Fieldcrest           5:38.41    5:44.49

 18   221 Seiler, Laura          Unity                5:37.08    5:45.35

 19    34 Viano, Lea             Carlinville          5:39.16    5:48.86

 20   137 Hall, Stacie           Reed Custer          5:34.00    5:52.04  



Girls 3200 Meter Run

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1   186 Blaase, Chelsea        St Joseph-Og        11:09.66   11:01.81

  2   182 Garwood, Kristen       Springfield         11:47.19   11:28.62

  3    23 Weidner, Regan         Bureau Valle        11:41.79   11:33.22

  4    88 Aurit, Dani            Marquette Ac        11:32.00   11:54.83

  5   171 Costanzo, Megan        Somonauk HS         12:22.71   11:55.22

  6    34 Viano, Lea             Carlinville         12:34.83   12:02.30

  7   164 Corken, Skye           Sherrard            12:33.33   12:06.60

  8   173 Towle, Jaimie          Somonauk HS         12:37.00   12:23.94

  9   105 Bishop, Caitlen        Monmouth Uni        12:31.71   12:33.14

 10    89 Bugelholl, Katie       Marquette Ac        12:02.00   13:08.71  



Girls 55 Meter Hurdles

============================================================================

Top 14 Advance by Time

    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  H#

============================================================================

Preliminaries

  1    43 Renfro, Madison        Central AM              8.65       8.65q  1

  2   153 Applebee, Alyssa       Seneca HS               9.47       8.91q  1

  3    41 Corzine, Kaitlyn       Central AM              9.24       9.24q  2

  4   143 Hasson, Devin          Rockridge               9.27       9.35q  3

  5    72 Nettleton, Jordyn      GCMS                    9.31       9.45q  3

  6    36 Carlisle, Aubrie       Carthage Ill            9.55       9.50q  2

  7   183 Dammerman, Kassy       St Anthony H            9.53       9.52q  3

  8   198 Dayson, Camila         St Teresa HS            9.52       9.52q  2

  9   132 DeBaillie, Abigail     Orion HS                9.53       9.53q  3

  9   133 McGinnis, Miranda      Peoria Chris            9.52       9.53q  1

 11   104 Graf, Kathryn          Momence HS              9.73       9.54q  1

 12    28 Christensen, Jael      Byron HS                9.62       9.58q  1

 13     2 Fisher, Sara           Annawan-Weth            9.57       9.62q  1

 14   148 Haywood, Kattie        Rushville-In            9.45       9.65q  2

 15   134 Stouffe, Leeann        Pleasant Pla            9.66       9.84   3

 16   140 Smith, Allison         Riverdale HS            9.64       9.96   3 



Girls 55 Meter Hurdles

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School               Prelims     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

Finals

  1    43 Renfro, Madison        Central AM              8.65       8.75   2

  2    41 Corzine, Kaitlyn       Central AM              9.24       9.08   2

  3   143 Hasson, Devin          Rockridge               9.35       9.11   2

  4   198 Dayson, Camila         St Teresa HS            9.52       9.18   1

  5   148 Haywood, Kattie        Rushville-In            9.65       9.24   1

  6   153 Applebee, Alyssa       Seneca HS               8.91       9.33   2

  7   104 Graf, Kathryn          Momence HS              9.54       9.34   1

  8   133 McGinnis, Miranda      Peoria Chris            9.53       9.35   1

  9   132 DeBaillie, Abigail     Orion HS                9.53       9.44   1

 10    72 Nettleton, Jordyn      GCMS                    9.45       9.44   2

 11    28 Christensen, Jael      Byron HS                9.58       9.54   1

 12   183 Dammerman, Kassy       St Anthony H            9.52       9.62   2

 13    36 Carlisle, Aubrie       Carthage Ill            9.50       9.68   2

 14     2 Fisher, Sara           Annawan-Weth            9.62       9.81   1 



Girls 4x200 Meter Relay

===================================================================================

    School                                               Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1 Seton Academy  'A'                                1:47.90    1:47.50   3

  2 Sov  'A'                                          1:52.64    1:48.02   3

  3 St Joseph-Ogden HS  'A'                           1:53.24    1:49.77   2

  4 Sherrard  'A'                                     1:52.85    1:49.96   3

  5 Carthage Illini West  'A'                         1:52.00    1:50.90   3

  6 Athens HS  'A'                                    1:52.30    1:51.00   3

  7 Oregon Hish School  'A'                           1:54.10    1:53.08   2

  8 Bureau Valley  'A'                                1:55.23    1:53.44   1

  9 St Teresa HS  'A'                                 1:53.82    1:53.46   2

 10 Neoga HS  'A'                                     1:53.34    1:54.09   2

 11 Rockridge  'A'                                    1:55.20    1:54.18   1

 12 Unity  'A'                                        1:54.71    1:57.00   1 



Girls 4x400 Meter Relay

===================================================================================

    School                                               Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1 Gcms  'A'                                         4:11.20    4:08.45   2

  2 Sov  'A'                                          4:21.77    4:13.99   1

  3 Annawan-Wethersfield Titans  'A'                  4:22.31    4:15.06   1

  4 Deer Creek Mackinaw HS  'A'                       4:23.46    4:15.39   1

  5 St Joseph-Ogden HS  'A'                           4:20.16    4:16.88   2

  6 Newton HS  'A'                                    4:22.00    4:17.51   1

  7 Hall HS  'A'                                      4:23.94    4:17.73   1

  8 Bureau Valley  'A'                                4:24.88    4:19.22   1

  9 Carthage Illini West  'A'                         4:20.82    4:19.97   2

 10 St Teresa HS  'A'                                 4:21.56    4:20.78   2

 11 Seton Academy  'A'                                4:16.83    4:31.32   2

 -- Tremont  'A'                                      4:20.96         FS   2 



Girls 4x800 Meter Relay

================================================================================

    School                                               Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1 St Teresa HS  'A'                                 9:57.15    9:48.13

  2 Tremont  'A'                                     10:28.54   10:01.13

  3 Mercer County  'A'                               10:24.26   10:01.70

  4 Byron HS  'A'                                    10:23.80   10:03.54

  5 Newton HS  'A'                                   10:26.09   10:05.60

  6 St Joseph-Ogden HS  'A'                          10:07.83   10:13.31

  7 Monmouth-Roseville HS  'A'                       10:30.79   10:18.73

  8 Marquette Academy HS Ottawa  'A'                 10:31.00   10:21.78

  9 Somonauk HS  'A'                                 10:42.65   10:31.21

 10 Oregon Hish School  'A'                          10:46.93   10:55.13  



Girls High Jump

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1    10 Bloch, Kandie          Argenta-Orea         5-08.00    5-06.00

  2   228 Rhodes, Rachel         Williamsvill         5-04.00    5-03.00

  3    63 Baker, Makenzie        Fithian Oakw         5-02.00    5-02.00

  3     5 Roman, Karissa         Annawan-Weth         5-05.00    5-02.00

  5   104 Graf, Kathryn          Momence HS           5-02.00    5-01.00

  5   136 Christian, Emily       Reed Custer          5-01.00    5-01.00

  5    62 Holland, Tessa         Fieldcrest           5-03.00    5-01.00

  8   225 Ruffner, Sierah        Vandalia HS          5-02.00   J5-01.00

  9    84 Akers, Valerie         Lawrencevill         5-04.00    5-00.00

 10   116 Walk, Erin             Neoga HS             5-02.00    4-10.00

 10   141 Bower, Daisy           Rockridge            5-01.25    4-10.00

 10   147 Collins, Allison       Rushville-In         5-01.00    4-10.00

 10    74 Bergschneider, Tay     Greenfield N         5-02.00    4-10.00

 10    31 Holloway, Brooke       Byron HS             5-01.00    4-10.00

 10    20 Hoffert, Lindsey       Bureau Valle         5-01.00    4-10.00

 16    66 Piersol, Kayla         Frankfort            5-02.00    4-08.00  



Girls Pole Vault

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1   153 Applebee, Alyssa       Seneca HS           11-00.00   11-06.00

  2   151 Thomas, Ashley         Rushville-In        10-06.00   11-00.00

  3   138 Zacharias, Morgan      Reed Custer         10-06.00   10-06.00

  4     4 Mahnesmith, Morgan     Annawan-Weth         9-00.00   10-00.00

  5   154 Warning, Madisen       Seneca HS           10-00.00  J10-00.00

  6   226 Turner, Lauren         Waverly HS           9-06.00    9-06.00

  7   212 Gossmeyer, Zoe         Tremont             10-06.00   J9-06.00

  8   150 Simpson, Rachel        Rushville-In         9-00.00    9-00.00

  9    71 Nettleton, Jaymi       GCMS                 9-03.00   J9-00.00

  9   219 Reifsteck, Bailey      Unity                9-06.00   J9-00.00

 11   136 Christian, Emily       Reed Custer          9-06.00    8-06.00

 11   167 Munday, Chelsea        Sherrard             9-00.00    8-06.00

 11    54 Unruh, Kali            ErieProphets         9-00.00    8-06.00  



Girls Long Jump

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1   185 Ballard, Rachel        St Joseph-Og        18-01.00   17-06.00

  2   901 Miller, Chelsea        Session Valley                 17-05.50

  3   211 Glueck, Amelia         Tremont             17-01.50   17-01.00

  4   177 McClain, Amanda        SOV                 16-05.00   16-09.00

  5    20 Hoffert, Lindsey       Bureau Valle        16-03.00   16-07.75

  6    87 Winterland, Taylor     Lexington HS        16-00.00   16-00.25   2nd Best 15'9.25

  7   198 Dayson, Camila         St Teresa HS        16-05.00  J16-00.25   2nd best 15'6.5

  8    45 Barclay, Vivian        Christian Li        16-07.00   15-09.00

  9    18 Calvert, Haley         Bpcawp Spart        17-00.50   15-05.50  



Girls Triple Jump

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1    18 Calvert, Haley         Bpcawp Spart        34-04.00   34-04.75

  2    68 Gaesser, Angel         GCMS                32-10.00   33-02.00

  3   111 Marlow, Ciara          Monmouth-Ros        33-01.00   33-00.25

  4    27 Adrian, Micheilla      Byron HS            32-09.00   32-09.50

  5   141 Bower, Daisy           Rockridge           32-06.00   31-10.75   31'7

  6    38 Gronewold, Lauren      Carthage Ill        32-04.00  J31-10.75   31'1.75

  7     6 Thompson, Margaret     Annawan-Weth        32-03.00   31-03.00

  8    97 Krstic, Bailey         Mercer Count        32-02.50   31-00.25  



Girls Shot Put

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1    81 Walker, Whitney        Illini Bluff        42-01.00   42-04.50

  2   149 Lauzon, Megan          Rushville-In        40-03.50   39-10.75

  3    42 Howse, Janie           Central AM          38-00.50   38-04.00

  4    80 Kachanuk, Abby         Havana HS           35-09.50   37-00.00

  5   702 Putnam, Paige          Knoxville HS                   36-06.25

  6   135 Brundage, Abbey        Red Bud HS          37-02.00   36-05.25

  7    92 Razo, Anissa           Marquette Ac        36-02.00   36-02.00

  8   218 Graham, Paige          Unity               35-11.75   35-04.50

  9    83 Block, Freya           Kewanee HS B        35-07.50   35-03.00

 10   101 Riddell, Dylane        Mercer Count        36-05.50   31-08.00  



Boys 55 Meter Dash

============================================================================

Top 14 Advance by Time

    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  H#

============================================================================

Preliminaries

  1   454 Johnson, Micah         Unity                   6.62       6.55q  4

  2   368 Hutchison, Jonatha     Peoria Chris            6.68       6.55q  1

  3   298 HarrisJr, Keith        Leo Catholic            6.49       6.57q  1

  4   343 Rude, Nick             Newman Centr            6.59       6.63q  3

  5   294 Pryor, Dontae          Kewanee HS              6.55       6.63q  2

  6   306 Dixon, Carvel          Madison HS              6.72       6.66q  4

  7   292 Farmer, Damiel         Johnston Cit            6.70       6.67q  2

  8   275 Albertson, Brent       Flanagan-Cor            6.65       6.67q  3

  9   252 Andrews, Austin        Deer Creek M            6.66       6.67q  2

 10   265 Johnson, Devin         EriePropetst            6.69       6.67q  1

 11   282 Morrow, Joe            Hales Franci            6.61       6.68q  4

 12   380 Garza, Michael         Riverdale HS            6.71       6.71q  3

 13   309 Strohm, Andre          Marshall Lio            6.72       6.75q  3

 14   310 Fippinger, Nathan      Mercer Count            6.82       6.76q  2

 15   340 Woodruff, Bobby        Monticello              6.76       6.80   1

 16   342 Williamson, Derek      Neoga HS                6.80       6.82   4

 17   304 Picton, Austin         Lewistown HS            6.79       6.84   3

 18   373 McNamara, Jake         Pleasant Pla            6.81       6.85   4

 19   280 Hall, Joshua           Hales Franci            6.80       6.86   3

 20   475 Mosby, Fred            Winnebago HS            6.76       6.89   2

 21   323 Hunter, Martel         Monmouth-Ros            6.73       6.91   2

 22   468 Pearce, Ryan           Villa Grove             6.76       6.92   1

 23   381 Johnson, Bart          Riverdale HS            6.84       6.99   1

 24   353 Goeddeke, Steven       North Boone             6.72       7.12   4 



Boys 55 Meter Dash

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School               Prelims     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

Finals

  1   294 Pryor, Dontae          Kewanee HS              6.63       6.50   2

  2   298 HarrisJr, Keith        Leo Catholic            6.57       6.52   2

  3   368 Hutchison, Jonatha     Peoria Chris            6.55       6.58   2  6.573

  4   454 Johnson, Micah         Unity                   6.55       6.58   2  6.576

  5   306 Dixon, Carvel          Madison HS              6.66       6.60   2

  6   292 Farmer, Damiel         Johnston Cit            6.67       6.61   2

  7   275 Albertson, Brent       Flanagan-Cor            6.67       6.62   1  6.611

  8   282 Morrow, Joe            Hales Franci            6.68       6.62   1  6.618

  9   343 Rude, Nick             Newman Centr            6.63       6.62   2  6.619

 10   252 Andrews, Austin        Deer Creek M            6.67       6.69   1

 11   309 Strohm, Andre          Marshall Lio            6.75       6.70   1

 12   265 Johnson, Devin         EriePropetst            6.67       6.71   1

 13   380 Garza, Michael         Riverdale HS            6.71       6.74   1

 14   310 Fippinger, Nathan      Mercer Count            6.76       6.78   1 



Boys 200 Meter Dash

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1   292 Farmer, Damiel         Johnston Cit           23.10      22.47   3

  2   368 Hutchison, Jonatha     Peoria Chris           23.11      22.68   3

  3   275 Albertson, Brent       Flanagan-Cor           23.19      22.75   3

  4   454 Johnson, Micah         Unity                  23.51      22.88   2

  5   323 Hunter, Martel         Monmouth-Ros           23.03      22.88   3

  6   343 Rude, Nick             Newman Centr           23.25      22.90   3

  7   282 Morrow, Joe            Hales Franci           23.33      22.94   2

  8   265 Johnson, Devin         EriePropetst           23.59      23.36   2

  9   451 Smith, Broc            Tuscola                23.81      23.48   1

 10   299 Hopkins, Theodore      Leo Catholic           23.30      23.59   3

 11   309 Strohm, Andre          Marshall Lio           23.81      23.59   1

 12   273 Vance, Carter          Eureka HS              23.68      23.90   2

 13   347 Johnson, Dylan         Newton                 23.89      24.00   1

 14   274 Leigh, Christopher     Fieldcrest             24.07      24.27   1

 15   462 Kalita, Nealay         Urbana Univ            23.97      24.35   1

 16   411 Confer, Reggie         Seton Academ           23.72      24.56   2

 17   240 Konneck, Kristian      Bureau Valle           23.94      24.64   1 



Boys 400 Meter Dash

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1   292 Farmer, Damiel         Johnston Cit           52.74      51.02   2

  2   252 Andrews, Austin        Deer Creek M           52.35      51.52   2

  3   401 Leonard, Eric          Sangamon Val           53.35      51.66   2

  4   268 Hunt, Alex             Eureka HS              52.39      51.96   2

  5   394 Stevens, Nyle          Rockridge HS           53.22      52.28   2

  6   427 Hennig, Joshua         Springfield            53.41      53.14   1

  7   426 Weber, Mikey           Sparta HS              53.74      53.80   1

  8   411 Confer, Reggie         Seton Academ           53.65      54.62   1 



Boys 800 Meter Run

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1   384 Hale, Blake            Robinson             1:57.14    1:57.48

  2   434 Elkins, Zeke           St Joseph-Og         1:59.39    1:59.90

  3   401 Leonard, Eric          Sangamon Val         2:00.01    2:00.07

  4   237 Curtis, Lance          Bpcawp Spart         2:00.40    2:00.86

  5   461 Gunter, George         Urbana Univ          2:04.16    2:01.22

  5   239 Johnson, Derrick       Bureau Valle         2:05.07    2:01.22

  7   244 Halsmer, Jackson       Byron Boys           2:02.02    2:01.49

  8   467 Crutchley, Adam        Villa Grove          2:02.15    2:02.48

  9   354 Kennedy, Armon         North Boone          2:05.67    2:02.73

 10   358 Jones, Nick            Oregon HS            2:06.02    2:03.44

 11   366 Thompson, Andy         Paxton Buckl         2:05.83    2:04.10

 12   276 Flack, Caleb           Francis W Pa         2:05.65    2:04.28

 13   382 Yoggerst, Zach         Riverton             2:04.83    2:04.50

 14   425 Morgan, Trevor         Sparta HS            2:03.66    2:04.66

 15   453 Eckert, Kendal         Unity                2:05.90    2:04.97

 16   416 Foor, Myles            Shelbyville          2:05.60    2:05.37  



Boys 1600 Meter Run

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1   444 Dill, Cole             Tremont HS           4:35.41    4:31.70

  2   409 Hahne, Jesse           Schlarman Ac         4:32.26    4:31.78

  3   423 Hill, Jon              Sparta HS            4:30.80    4:32.62

  4   445 Ehnle, Connor          Tremont HS           4:36.98    4:32.74

  5   459 Woodard, Scott         Unity                4:33.87    4:34.89

  6   239 Johnson, Derrick       Bureau Valle         4:42.00    4:38.65

  7   384 Hale, Blake            Robinson             4:31.70    4:40.94

  8   330 Easton, Tim            Monticello           4:42.10    4:41.33

  9   457 Walsten, Doran         Unity                4:42.90    4:42.13

 10   467 Crutchley, Adam        Villa Grove          4:40.17    4:46.82

 11   308 Weissensel, James      Marquette Ac         4:41.42    4:52.68  



Boys 3200 Meter Run

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1   337 Schroeder, Steve       Monticello           9:37.05    9:27.71

  2   409 Hahne, Jesse           Schlarman Ac         9:51.23    9:36.48

  3   313 Whan, Sam              Mercer Count         9:54.79    9:51.91

  4   308 Weissensel, James      Marquette Ac        10:20.00    9:53.95

  5   307 Hill, Luke             Marquette Ac         9:55.70    9:57.22

  6   379 Claus, Kevin           Riverdale HS        10:16.00   10:04.72

  7   246 Pitcock, TJ            Byron Boys          10:20.56   10:08.67

  8   322 Clark, Devin           Monmouth-Ros        10:11.85   10:09.78

  9   367 Young, Hayden          Paxton Buckl        10:23.89   10:22.22  



Boys 55 Meter Hurdles

============================================================================

Top 14 Advance by Time

    Name                    Year School                  Seed    Prelims  H#

============================================================================

Preliminaries

  1   249 Carver, Colin          Casey-Westfi            7.86       7.66q  3

  2   296 Britton, Marlon        Leo Catholic            7.75       7.98q  1

  3   378 Wayda, George          Pleasant Pla            7.97       8.01q  3

  4   469 Parsons, Caleb         Watseka                 8.15       8.10q  1

  5   356 Barton, Braden         Oregon HS               8.02       8.17q  2

  6   443 Vahling, Andrew        Teutopolis I            8.04       8.19q  1

  7   397 Kirby, Taylor          Salt Fork               8.39       8.26q  1

  8   704 Austin, Quentin        Vandalia HS                        8.26q  3

  9   474 Kleindl, Zach          Winnebago HS            8.30       8.31q  2

 10   236 Cooper, Spencer        Bpcawp Spart            8.34       8.33q  3

 11   320 Smith, Gordon          Momence HS              8.40       8.34q  1

 12   383 Akande, Michael        Robinson                8.55       8.37q  2

 13   400 Craig, Nick            Sangamon Val            8.44       8.40q  3

 14   371 Harney, Caleb          Pleasant Pla            8.41       8.42q  2

 15   238 Hoffert, Logan         Bureau Valle            8.52       8.50   1

 16   295 Reed, Johnathan        Knoxville HS            8.52       8.52   2

 17   338 Strack, Vinny          Monticello              8.47       8.53   3

 18   302 Wright, Joshua         Leo Catholic            8.36       8.77   3

 19   311 Speaker, Bryce         Mercer Count            8.36       9.17   2

 --   282 Morrow, Joe            Hales Franci            7.78         DQ   2  Hurdle Violation



Boys 55 Meter Hurdles

===================================================================================

    Name                    Year School               Prelims     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

Finals

  1   249 Carver, Colin          Casey-Westfi            7.66       7.62   2

  2   378 Wayda, George          Pleasant Pla            8.01       7.86   2

  3   296 Britton, Marlon        Leo Catholic            7.98       7.88   2

  4   469 Parsons, Caleb         Watseka                 8.10       8.01   2

  5   443 Vahling, Andrew        Teutopolis I            8.19       8.06   2

  6   356 Barton, Braden         Oregon HS               8.17       8.07   2

  7   236 Cooper, Spencer        Bpcawp Spart            8.33       8.16   1

  8   704 Austin, Quentin        Vandalia HS             8.26       8.16   1

  9   383 Akande, Michael        Robinson                8.37       8.19   1

 10   320 Smith, Gordon          Momence HS              8.34       8.23   1

 11   397 Kirby, Taylor          Salt Fork               8.26       8.26   2

 12   371 Harney, Caleb          Pleasant Pla            8.42       8.36   1

 13   400 Craig, Nick            Sangamon Val            8.40       8.45   1

 14   474 Kleindl, Zach          Winnebago HS            8.31      12.95   1 



Boys 4x200 Meter Relay

===================================================================================

    School                                               Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1 Pleasant Plains  'A'                              1:36.77    1:34.52   2

  2 Tuscola  'A'                                      1:35.69    1:34.80   2

  3 Newton  'A'                                       1:36.67    1:34.87   2

  4 Leo Catholic  'A'                                 1:37.36    1:35.32   1

  5 Monticello  'A'                                   1:37.07    1:36.37   1

  6 Illini West Chargers  'A'                         1:37.24    1:36.46   1

  7 Hales Franciscan HS  'A'                          1:37.62    1:36.59   1

  8 EriePropetstown  'A'                              1:37.94    1:37.32   1

  9 Eureka HS  'A'                                    1:36.58    1:38.44   2

 10 Sangamon Valley  'A'                              1:37.73    1:39.79   1

 11 St Joseph-Ogden  'A'                              1:36.61    1:39.81   2

 -- Oregon HS  'A'                                    1:36.48         DQ   2  Exchange Violation



Boys 4x400 Meter Relay

===================================================================================

    School                                               Seed     Finals  H# Points

===================================================================================

  1 St Joseph-Ogden  'A'                              3:33.20    3:30.50   2

  2 Deer Creek Mackinaw HS  'A'                       3:34.40    3:31.80   2

  3 Bureau Valley  'A'                                3:36.73    3:32.60   2

  4 Monmouth-Roseville HS  'A'                        3:39.33    3:34.61   1

  5 Sangamon Valley  'A'                              3:39.02    3:35.20   2

  6 Sparta HS  'A'                                    3:35.59    3:37.20   2

  7 Pleasant Plains  'A'                              3:41.29    3:37.26   1

  8 Robinson  'A'                                     3:41.43    3:37.32   1

  9 Monticello  'A'                                   3:41.30    3:41.47   1

 10 Seton Academy  'A'                                3:39.04    3:44.20   2 



Boys 4x800 Meter Relay

================================================================================

    School                                               Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1 St Joseph-Ogden  'A'                              8:27.17    8:14.36

  2 Sparta HS  'A'                                    8:30.80    8:15.96

  3 Monticello  'A'                                   8:23.84    8:23.04

  4 Rockridge HS  'A'                                 8:41.20    8:23.35

  5 Tremont HS  'A'                                   8:36.08    8:23.45

  6 Shelbyville HS  'A'                               8:26.42    8:26.76

  7 Oregon HS  'A'                                    8:42.00    8:29.85

  8 Pleasant Plains  'A'                              8:45.52    8:30.00

  9 Unity  'A'                                        8:25.18    8:33.81

 10 Meridian Hawks  'A'                               8:42.00    8:36.46

 11 Urbana Univ HS  'A'                               8:42.84    8:37.01

 12 Sangamon Valley  'A'                              8:47.26    8:59.11  



Boys High Jump

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1   251 Landon, Kyle           Chester HS           6-10.00    6-09.00

  2   341 Mueller, Matt          Mt Olive HS          6-03.00    6-03.00

  3   378 Wayda, George          Pleasant Pla         6-02.00    6-02.00

  4   261 McDonald, Matt         Dupo HS              6-01.00   J6-02.00

  5   339 Welling, Daniel        Monticello           6-01.00   J6-02.00

  6   250 Postin, Kolten         Central AM           6-01.00   J6-02.00

  7   345 Ebeling, Blake         Newton               6-01.00    5-11.00

  8   391 Henry, TJ              Rockridge HS         6-01.00   J5-11.00

  9   405 Rentschler, Dan        Sangamon Val         6-01.00   J5-11.00

 10   342 Williamson, Derek      Neoga HS             6-01.00    5-09.00

 10   355 Adams, Jake            Oregon HS            6-01.00    5-09.00

 10   471 Priester, Paul         Williamsvill         6-02.00    5-09.00

 10   439 Rydell, Eric           St Joseph-Og         6-01.00    5-09.00  



Boys Pole Vault

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1   348 Mammoser, Mitch        Newton              14-06.00   15-01.00

  2   247 Denby, Jack            Carlinville         14-00.00   14-00.00

  2   395 Plumer, Dalton         Rushville-In        13-00.00   14-00.00

  4   471 Priester, Paul         Williamsvill        12-06.00   13-06.00

  5   351 Tolliver-Goode, Br     Newton              13-06.00  J13-06.00

  6   245 McMullen, Matt         Byron Boys          12-06.00   13-00.00

  7   233 Howorth, Billy         Aurora Chris        12-06.00   12-06.00

  7   248 Blome, Josh            Casey-Westfi        13-06.00   12-06.00

  7   259 Sweetin, Haeden        Du Quoin HS         13-00.00   12-06.00

 10   363 Schmidt, Mark          Oregon HS           12-06.00   12-00.00

 10   229 Wager, Nick            Annawan-Weth        12-06.00   12-00.00

 10   472 Bradfield, Max         Winnebago HS        12-06.00   12-00.00

 10   303 McCoy, Matt            Lewistown HS        12-06.00   12-00.00

 14   360 McCourt, Austin        Oregon HS           12-06.00   11-06.00  



Boys Long Jump

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1   442 Baumgarten, Alex       Stewardson-S        21-03.25   21-06.00   21'5

  2   231 Wenskunas, Austin      Argenta-Orea        20-03.00  J21-06.00   20'6.50

  3   293 Williams, Malik        Judah Christ        21-09.00   21-04.00

  4   294 Pryor, Dontae          Kewanee HS          22-04.00   21-02.00

  5   323 Hunter, Martel         Monmouth-Ros        21-11.00   21-01.75

  6   265 Johnson, Devin         EriePropetst        21-00.50   20-08.25

  7   261 McDonald, Matt         Dupo HS             20-09.75   20-05.00

  8   428 Arteaga, Alex          St Joseph-Og        20-05.00   20-01.50

  9   230 Washington, DeAnge     Annawan-Weth        20-03.00   19-10.00

 10   251 Landon, Kyle           Chester HS                     19-07.50

 11   232 Harrell, Johnathan     Aurora Chris        20-11.00   18-00.25

 12   305 Burton, Lamont         Madison HS          20-04.50   17-11.50  



Boys Triple Jump

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1   398 Weaver, Kaleb          Salt Fork           40-11.50   42-10.75

  2   369 Cornett, Josh          Pleasant Pla        41-10.00   42-08.25

  3   278 McEvers, Mason         Greenfield N        41-03.00   42-06.50

  4   319 Hundley, Nick          Momence HS          42-06.00   42-03.50

  5   326 Willett, Bryce         Monmouth-Ros        41-05.50   41-01.75

  6   387 Weck, Austin           Robinson            40-07.25   40-07.00

  7   255 Evans, Brandon         Deer Creek M        40-07.00   40-06.00

  8   428 Arteaga, Alex          St Joseph-Og        40-11.00   40-02.00

  9   312 Stubenrauch, Richi     Mercer Count        40-11.00   39-04.25  



Boys Shot Put

================================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Seed     Finals  Points

================================================================================

  1   468 Pearce, Ryan           Villa Grove         53-00.50   54-07.50

  2   260 Williams, Brandon      Du Quoin HS         51-04.00   53-11.50

  3   243 Weidner, Adam          Bureau Valle        53-08.00   53-10.75

  4   470 Manning, Gabe          Williamsvill        48-02.75   49-04.00

  5   285 Frevert, Heath         Illini Bluff        47-06.00   48-04.50

  6   473 Furseth, Mitchell      Winnebago HS        46-10.00   46-09.00

  7   417 Griesemer, Brice       Shelbyville         45-11.00   45-10.50

  8   396 Dutton, Alec           Salt Fork           46-05.25   45-05.00

  9   435 Gilly, Sam             St Joseph-Og        47-05.00   44-04.50

 10   392 Simmons, Eli           Rockridge HS        46-10.00   44-01.00  



Boys' Athlete of the Meet: Daniel Farmer

Girls' Athlete of the Meet: Syndi Meunier

by Tony Jones- anthony.jones@espn.com

The 2nd Annual Lady Pirate Invitational more than held its own and lived up to the pre-meet hype- thanks to the individuals who were spotted days before the meet even occurred.

The tale of three girls-

Aaliyah Brown (Frankfort Lincoln-Way East), Shamier Little (Chicago Lindblom), and Cessily Jones (Plainfield North) each one event but the magnitude held a separate meaning- by the end of a long day each athlete would have a story tell… even when it didn’t contain words.
The morning started rather slow with several field events on the docket coupled by frosh-soph and varsity hurdle and 55 dash prelims. Although Brown, Jones, and Little won their respective heats, the action remained a bit stagnant when meet officials decided to force multiple heats of the varsity 3200. It could have been staged in one heat with 17 girls or at the very least split evenly before the prelims started.

Shamier Little: things finally got serious after the national anthem with the 55HH. Little and Chicago Heights (Marian Catholic) 60HH leader Imani Haynes were ready to settle who would be the indoor dash queen to date. It wasn’t much of a battle as it would turn out. Little and Haynes were virtually even for the first three hurdles before Little accelerated away from her and the rest of the field. The final verdict was 8.26- a new state best. Ms. Little appeared to want more as she continued to sprint well past the finish line and around part of the first turn of the track. She finally slowed down enough to offer her assessment of a fine performance: “all I wanted to do was to stay low coming out of the blocks and attack each [hurdle].” The second fastest time actually came from a freshman, Jayla Stewart, who won the frosh heat in 8.51. She will be a name to watch as the indoor season comes to a peak in several weeks.

Little came back during the middle of the meet to compete in the 400. The field wasn’t stellar and she very quickly opened up an insurmountable lead on the field by 150m in. The smooth striding gazellean Little hit the halfway mark so alone it appeared as if she was conducting a solo time trial. Her competitors Jacky Bynes (Chicago Lane Tech) and Rebecca Stearns (Downers Grove South) fought hard but were no match for the dominant Little. Little won in 58.63, narrowly missing the meet record and over three seconds ahead of Stearns.

Aaliyah Brown: ‘The Franchise’ got her day off to a flying start with a solid 7.09 in her prelim. The mark held up over the next five rounds… the stage would be set for the final. Brown appeared to come out of her blocks just a tiny bit sluggish but not enough to be upset though. She gained her top speed at 30m and before the crowd could blink, the race was over in a smoking hot meet record: 6.95. The mark is now IL#2/US#8.

Brown continued her red hot ways when she brought her teammates back once again in a relay- this time the 4x2r- in dramatic fashion to win in 1:46.11.

The final event of the day was a little tough for Brown who finished second in the 200 in 25.21. It was a valiant effort before falling to Jones, who had a little more in the tank over the final 40m. Brown didn’t offer an excuse in one of her few high school losses. She immediately hugged her close friend and moved on.

Cessily Jones: it doesn’t bother her at all when she finishes second to Brown who she calls her “best friend.” Besides, “I have to go out and execute my own race”, she asserts. That would make a ton of sense for an athlete on the verge of elite status that Jones is. The senior standout has already signed to compete at the University of Oklahoma next season. Now, it’s all about finishing her high school season in good standing. The diminutive Jones ran well in the 55 in a personal best 7.00 and good enough for 2nd place and US#16- not bad for being a second place finisher.

The 200 has always seemed to be Jones’ better event. The final would be loaded with Brown, Alexis Hyshaw of Naperville North, and Seton Academy’s DaJanae Terry in the championship heat 7. Little had already put the pressure on when she coasted to victory in heat 6. The race got out well with Jones running even with Brown for the the initial turn and through first 100. Surprisingly, Brown didn’t pull away on the final turn. That inability gave Jones all the confidence in the world and in a matter of a few seconds, she turned on the jets and pulled away from her on the homestretch and won easily in a meet record 24.81. Jones knows the state championship doesn’t start today, so there wasn’t any need to jump and down or any big smiles. She realizes every finishing step on the track is a process in the plan to elite status.