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2015 3A Meet Preview - Illinois Top Times Championships - DyeStat ILPublished by
The sprints are one of the reasons why to drive to Bloomington Saturday
By Michael Newman
How tough are the sprints in the 3A meet this Saturday? You could have an athlete run under 7 seconds in the Boys 60 Meter Dash and not make the finals. That is how fast it could be Saturday evening at the Shirk Center on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan. The Illinois Top Times Championships could offer some great races Saturday evening. Brittny Ellis will be running in the three sprint events looking for three wins. Jessica Watkins may have a say in if Ellis does in the 60 Meter Dash.
The Girls 1600 Meter Run could have a new meet record with a ton of runners possibly going under 5 minutes. The field event of the 3A meet could be the Boys Pole Vault. Ryan Ashenbremer and Andy Jatis have gone over 16 feet this year. Do they have 17 feet in their sights in this meet?
Here is a look at each of the events that will be contested in the Illinois Top Times 3A Meet.
If you cannot make it to Illinois Wesleyan University for this meet on Saturday, you can watch a live webcast of the meet on RunnerSpace Plus. You can find details of the webcast here.
Long Jump – 2:15 PM
Girls 3A Meet Record – Janille Rogers – Minooka HS – 19-10.25 – 2014 2015 3A Leader – Briana Driver – Chicago Mother McAuley HS – 18-9.5
Preview – Some of the mystery of this event could be solved by the time the 3A field events are concluded early Saturday evening. Brianna Driver jumped 18-9 ½ at a small Lyons Township quad meet. She only jumped 17-11 to win the GCAC Championships last Saturday. Will she have a big upper 18 foot jump in her on Saturday? Maya Neal (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville) also had her jump (18-7) at a small meet at Oswego in February. She jumped 17-9 ½ at Nationals, but that was part of her pentathlon competition. Her personal best is 18-10 ½ making her a threat in this event.
The hot jumper in this field is Cheyenne White (Waukegan HS). In a span of 24 hours last week, she jumped 17-10 in flats to win the CSL-South Meet, then came back the following night at the Lake Michigan Invitational won the event with an 18-5 attempt. She was slowed by injuries last outdoor season. She is healthy making her a threat to get near 19-0. Ashley Raeshler (Lincoln-Way Central HS, New Lenox) is also a threat to find herself in the top three. Grace Bitangalo (East HS, Rockford) and Sade Akinfe (East HS, Oswego) could be the surprises in this meet.
Boys 3A Meet Record – Reggie Torian – Harvey Thornton HS – 24-4.25 – 1993 2015 3A Leader – Matt Fleming – Chicago Simeon Academy – 23-8
Preview – It will not be that much of a preview for what we could see at May in Charleston. Only two of the top six 3A jumpers indoors are competing at the Shirk Center. Louis Brown Jr. (Proviso West HS, Hillside) launched a 22-8 jump at last week at the WSC-Silver Meet. He has been consistant this indoor season. Before that meet, he has been between 21-4 and 22-1. All of his jumps have been in the comfort of his home field house. A key will be how he adapts to the runways of the Shirk Center. His teammate JaShaun Steward is in his first season of competition and has come on quickly with a PR 22-5 at Proviso West. The junior has the talent to possibly win in this meet.
Five athletes are in this meet that have jumped 22-0 or better. Any of the 12 athletes in this field could walk away with the win. Peter Andreano (Minooka HS), Robert Jones (Richards HS, Oak Lawn), Gio Basso (Lake Park HS, Roselle), De’Juan Ali (Central HS, Grayslake), and Dylan Boye (Hinsdale South HS, Darien) are some of the athletes to watch in this meet.
Triple Jump – 4:15 PM
Girls 3A Meet Record – Lyshaya Stokes – South Holland Thornwood – 40-2 – 1999 2015 3A Leader – LaJarvia Brown – Alton HS – 38-8
Preview – Allison Chmelik (East HS, St. Charles) and Hannah Schilb (North HS, St. Charles) put on a great show last Saturday at the Upstate Eight Conference Meet when they traded the lead on each jump. You can look for more of the same between these two in this meet. Cheyenne White has showed the same improvement in this event as she has in the Long Jump. Her 37-5 jump last Friday in Wisconsin is evidence that she could win in this meet on Saturday. Cierra Pulliam (Romeoville HS) and Emani James (Thornton Fractional North, Calumet City) also have the talent to come out on top.
Boys 3A Meet Record – Troy Doris – Bolingbrook HS – 50-2.75 – 2007 2015 3A Leader – Chris Walker – West Aurora HS – 47-1.25
Preview – This could be a wide open event. JaShaun Steward jumped 47-1 last week at his home field house. He has the potential to go farther this weekend. Akwasi Aikins (Central HS, Plainfield) has only jumped once this season jumping 46-6 ½ two weeks ago in Wheaton. Just like Steward, he has the potential to let go of a 48 foot jump in this meet. Malik Williams (Thornton HS, Harvey) and Gio Basso (Lake Park HS, Roselle) had great performances in their conference meets last weekend. Do not look past these two in this meet.
Juwan Wells (East HS, Plainfield) is also an explosive jumper that could win this meet. He jumped a PR 45-4 at the beginning of the year. He has the potential to go farther on Saturday. Khalil Driver (East HS, Oswego) has jumped 44-9 this indoor season. He could be the surprise in this event.
High Jump
Girls – 4:15 PM 3A Meet Record – Nora Weber – Canton HS – 5-10 – 1993 2015 3A Leader – Ololade Ayoola – Frankfort Lincoln-Way East HS – 5-8 Emma Haugen – LaGrange Lyons Township HS – 5-8
Preview – List leaders Ololade Ayolla and Emma Haugen will not compete this weekend. Haugen is resting after a grueling indoor season. Ayolla will competing with some of her Lincoln-Way East teammates at the Texas Relays. This is still a good field. Rachiel Augius (Yorkville HS) had a breakthrough last week at the NIB-12 Meet clearing 5-6. Kenna Lonergan (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville) has cleared 5-6. She will need to bounce back from her Upstate Eight Meet performance when she cleared 5-3 for a second place finish.
Julia Junkroski (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort) looks like she is healthy after having problems with her knee in the past month. She could be a threat in this event. Jes Skudlarek (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect) cleared 5-5 to win at the MSL Championships. Watch for her as well in this meet. Danielle Griesbaum (Lakes HS, Lake Villa) and Katie Stanczykiewicz (Mundelein HS) could also be in line for the win in this meet.
Boys – 2:15 PM 3A Meet Record – Major Clay – Springfield Lanphier HS – 7-0.25 – 2007 2015 3A Leader – Jamante Steward – Hillside Proviso West HS – 6-10
Preview – Jamante Steward had the meet of his life at the end of February at the Proviso West Invitational when he jumped 6-10 for the current state’s best. The rest of the meets he has jumped he has cleared 6-6 including last week at his conference meet when he finished second. He had a great state meet when he cleared a then PR 6-8 to place fourth. We could see another big clearance from him on Saturday.
If Steward remains in his 6-6 rut, this event could be wide open. Peter Andreano cleared 6-7 two weeks ago at Plainfield South. He could be in the mix for the win. The same can be said of Alex Daubon (Homewood-Flossmoor HS) and Anthony Colangelo (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort). Both have cleared 6-6 and could win on Saturday.
Pole Vault
Girls – 2:15 PM 3A Meet Record – Hannah Swift – Pekin HS – 12-8.5 – 2014 2015 3A Leader – Brooke Catherine – Normal Community HS – 13-4
Preview – Brooke Catherine will end her prep indoor career on home turf at the Shirk Center. The senior has cleared 13-0 four times this year including a third place finish at Nationals. She should break the 3A Meet Record. The question will be if she can improve on the 13-4 all-time Illinois indoor best that she achieved at the Reno PV Summit in January.
It realistically will be a battle for second in this meet after Catherine. Katherine Schroeder (Central HS, Grayslake) achieved a 12-3 PR at the Windy City Pole Vault Summit. She had some good 12-6 attempts at that meet. She could improve on her PR in this competition. Danielle Wojciechowski (Lake Park HS, Roselle) and Julia Junkroski have cleared 12-0 this year. They could push for higher heights in this meet. Hannah Swift (Pekin HS) had a big meet here last year establishing a new meet record. Even though she has only cleared 11-0 in 2015, we could see some big things from her on Saturday.
Boys – 4:15 PM 3A Meet Record – Phil Hanson – Pontiac HS – 17-1.25 – 2006 2015 3A Leader – Ryan Ashenbremer – Normal West HS – 16-5
Preview – This could be the best 3A field event in the meet. Andy Jatis (Providence Catholic HS, New Lenox) has gone undefeated this indoor season including his 16-3 PR he set in winning the Windy City Pole Vault Summit. He cleared 16-0 to win the CCL Championships last Saturday. Ryan Ashenbremer has showed amazing improvement in the last month. He started the month with a 114-9 personal best. Last week, he won at Charleston with a 16-5 clearance good for a top ten ranking nationally. The two will face off on Saturday afternoon. Could we see two athletes over 17-0 in this meet? It is a possibility.
The top 5 3A athletes in this event are here and have also improved dramatically this indoor season. Edward Smoliak (Highland Park HS) cleared 15-3 at Windy City. Jake Larocca (Palatine HS) cleared 15-0 for a PR last week at the MSL Championships. Zachery Bradford (Bloomington HS) is only a freshman but improved his PR from 13-6 to 14-9 at the Edwardsville two weeks ago. Could we see a 15-0 clearance from him on Saturday? It is a good bet that we will see some big PR’s in this meet.
Shot Put
Girls – 4:15 PM 3A Meet Record – Banke Oginni – Hoffman Estates HS – 48-2 – 2014 2015 3A Leader – Fiona Kaman – Skokie Niles West HS – 45-6
Preview – Fiona Kanam has emerged as the top 3A athlete in this event so far this season. She enters the meet with the top seed by almost two feet. Olivia Griswold (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville) has a best of 43-10 from two weeks ago. She could challenge Kaman for the win. Elle Weltha (Bloomington HS) could be the future of this event. The freshman has a 41-0 PR this season and looking to go farther. Rachel Wilson (Homewood-Flossmoor HS), Michaela Smith (Lake Park HS, Roselle), and Holly Julifs (Metea Valley HS, Aurora) are athletes that could challenge for a top three finish.
Boys – 2:15 PM 3A Meet Record – Jeremy Kline – Roselle Lake Park HS – 63-6.5 – 2011 2015 3A Leader – Dylan Schierich – Roselle Lake Park HS – 57-10
Preview – Four Lake Park athletes are a part of this field. The best is Dylan Schierich. He has a 57-10 3A best and will be one of the athletes that will be shooting for the magical 60 foot barrier. Kyle Hedge (South HS, Crystal Lake) had a huge 57-9 ½ PR at a quad meet in Crystal Lake. Both Schierich and Hedge should push each other in this meet. Rickey Hurley (Cary-Grove HS) could win this meet. He has gone 56-3 ½ this season but has a 57-0 PR from last year. He finished fourth last year. He will be looking for a better finish in 2015.
Ricky Nelson (West HS, Belleville) came up huge at the Edwardsville Invitational with a season’s best 55-3 put. Do not discount him in this meet. Lake Park has a tradition of preforming in big competitions. Chago Basso, Mike Prestigiacomo, and Austin Lynch could finish among the first five.
3200 Meter Run
Boys – 3:30 PM 3A Meet Record – Tim Keller – West Chicago HS – 8:58.96 – 2000 2015 3A Leader – Zach Dale – Hoffman Estates Conant HS – 8:59.76y
Preview – Even without Jesse Reiser or Zach Dale, this should still be a great race. The top nine runners are within 12 seconds of each other. Luke Hoffert (Yorkville HS) has run 9:28 this season but has a 9:11 PR from last year. He finished fourth last spring in the 3A state meet. Do not be surprised if he runs in the teens in this meet.
It could be a battle for second. Joe Suarez (East HS, Plainfield) is fully recovered from an injury that sidelined him during the fall. He has a PR similar to that of Hoffert. He could push for the win in this race. Peter Johnsrud (Oswego HS) ran 9:32.48 at Champaign at the beginning of March. It would not surprise me to see him towards the front. Dustin Macuiba (Warren Township, Gurnee) finished third at Lake Michigan last Saturday. We could see a mid-9:20 race from him in this meet. Jack Sebok (North HS, Plainfield), Raul Rosendo (Central HS, Joliet), and Seth Conroy (Huntley HS) could all challenge for a top five finish.
Girls – 3:45 PM 3A Meet Record – Maria Cicero – Elmhurst York HS – 10:17.85 – 2001 2015 3A Leader – Lindsay Graham – Glen Ellyn Glenbard West HS – 10:30.85
Preview – Lindsay Graham has been the top runner in 3A since October of last year. She will enter as the favorite in this race. She has run two races under 10:35 this season so far. We could see a time near 10:20 in this race.
Judy Pendergast has been the only runner to stay with Graham for 1800 meters of the race. Rachael Lau (North HS, Plainfield) is the only other runner in this race under 11 minutes. She could push Graham to a fast time. The question will be how fast can she go? Abby Kargol (South HS, Downers Grove), Hannah Ewald (East HS, St. Charles), and Brooke Wilson (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect) are some of the runners that will challenge for a place in the first three.
4 x 800 Meter Relay – 4:55 PM
Girls 3A Meet Record – Glen Ellyn Glenbard West HS – 9:18.77 – 2012 2015 3A Leader – Wilmette Loyola Academy HS – 9:25.02
Preview – This will be a rematch of the Mustang Relays race from more than two weeks ago when a last 200 surge by Kathryn House gave Loyola Academy the edge ahead of Downers Grove North. The two teams will face off again for a race that could see a winning time in the teens. Fremd is coming off of a strong MSL win where they ran 9:26. They will also push for the win. Yorkville, St. Charles East, and Minooka have the talent to chaise for the win along with being in the first three. Traditional distance powers Glenbard West and 3A state cross country champion Naperville North have come on strong the past two weeks. Do not count them out in this race.
Boys 3A Meet Record – Schaumburg – 7:56.16 – 1990 2015 3A Leader – Orland Park Sandburg – 7:53.49
Preview – This race will be the exact opposite of what you will watch before it in the Girls 4x8. Plainfield South is the highest seeded team in this race but only have the fourteenth fastest time in 3A (8:11.35). They should be the favorite in this race with strong anchor John Partee leading them. The team to keep an eye on is Jones College Prep. Their 8:20 seed time was run in the middle of February. They have the talent led by Mark Protsiv that could challenge for the win. St. Charles North, Niles North, and Lincoln-Way Central could also challenge for the win in this race.
60 Meter Hurdles – Prelims 4:15 PM / Finals 5:35 PM
Girls 3A Meet Record – Emma Spagnola – West Aurora HS – 8.82 – 2014 2015 3A Leader – Jayla Stewart – Homewood-Flossmoor HS – 8.68
Preview – Jayla Stewart has been the dominant athlete in this event this season. She will be the one to watch in this race. Her seed time is almost three seconds faster than her closest competitor. In hurdling circles, that is like a light year. Shaliyah Dixon-Tucker (South HS, Downers Grove) is coming off of a great WSC-Gold meet last week where she won four events including the 55 hurdles. Keep an eye on her in this race. Maya Neal ran 8.85 at Kentucky in February. She has the talent to pull off the possible upset. Also keep an eye on Maya Mason (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect), Soren Umali (South HS, Downers Grove), and Grace Cronin (Fenwick HS, Oak Park) are athletes to keep an eye on in this race.
Boys 3A Meet Record – Tifonte Hunt – Harvey Thornton HS – 7.95 – 2014 2015 3A Leader – William Session – Belleville East HS – 8.04 Eric Walker – Chicago St. Rita HS – 8.04
Preview – Eric Walker has gone undefeated this season with big wins against some of the top hurdlers in the state. His time has dropped the past couple of weeks including his 8.04 that he ran last Saturday at the CCL Championships. We could see him running under 8 in this race.
Walker is the class of the field. It could be a battle for second in this race. Keep an eye on Tyler Kirkwood and Jeff Penny (Waubonsie Valley HS, Aurora), Demtius Mitchell (Thornton HS, Harvey), Roland Amarteifo (Evanston Township HS), Timmy Brundidge (Grant HS, Fox Lake), and Rob Fekete (Palatine HS) to challenge for a top three finish in this race.
60 Meter Dash – Prelims 4:35 PM / Finals 5:55 PM
Girls 3A Meet Record – Antoniette Broughton – Homewood-Flossmoor HS – 7.70 – 2013 2015 3A Leader – Jessica Watkins – Bolingbrook HS – 7.67
Preview – This should be a great race with some of the top sprinters in the state in this field. Jessica Watkins ran a state best 7.67 last week at the SWSC Meet at Olivet Nazarene. Brittny Ellis (Warren Township HS) ran 7.13 (IL #1) for the 55 Meter Dash at the Lake Michigan Invitational last Friday. It will be close between these two athletes in the finals.
It is a loaded field. Antoinette Broughton (Homewood-Flossmoor HS) ran 7.74 to finish to Watkins last week. She will push for the win. She set the meet record her sophomore season. Natajah Simmons (Oswego HS) could be one of the most underrated sprinters in the state. She did run 7.17 for the 55 Meter Dash at Plainfield North last weekend. I would not count her out in this race. Shaliyah Dixon-Tucker, Yakira Love (Westinghouse Academy, Chicago), and Emmone Davis (Danville HS) are some of the runners that will be towards the front in this event.
Boys 3A Meet Record – Cole Henderson – Pekin HS – 6.85 – 2013 & 2014 2015 3A Leader – Kahmari Montgomery – Plainfield Central HS – 6.94
Preview – The 3A record goes down in this year’s meet. This event is ultra-loaded. You could run under 7 seconds in the prelims and still not advance to the finals. Shandall Thomas (Schaumburg HS) ran 6.35 for 55 Meters last week at the MSL Championships. He will be one sprinter to watch. Kahmari Montgomery has the fastest 3A time in this event. He has improved his start. He will need that kind of start to win this race. Marcus Jones (Brother Rice HS, Chicago) ran 6.95 to win at the CCL Championships last Saturday. He will be in the mix. Deshon Buchanon (West HS, Belleville) won a big race (6.97) at the Edwardsville Invitational two weeks ago. I would not count him out.
One athlete that has been a surprise this year is Jack Machometa (McHenry HS). He ran 6.47 for 55 Meters to win in Wisconsin last Saturday. Montgomery ran the same time for 55 Meters at the Proviso West Invitational at the end of February. Cary Lockhart (Bloomington HS) has run 6.97 this season. He will be on his “home track” and could rip a time in the 6.8’s. DeVaughn Hrobowski (North HS, Plainfield), Malachi Adams (Evanston Township HS), and Derrius Rodgers (Lockport Township HS) are three other sprinters that could push for the top five.
800 Meter Run – 6:00 PM
Girls 3A Meet Record – Lauren Van Vlierbergen – Algonquin Jacobs HS – 2:11.80 – 2014 2015 3A Leader – Morgan Schulz – Cary-Grove HS – 2:14.31
Preview – Defending champion and 3A meet record holder Lauren Van Vlierbergen is not entered in this event opting for the 1600 Meter Run. We could see a time that might get close to the record. Michaela Hackbarth (South HS, Downers Grove) has the fastest seed time (2:16.82) that she ran in New York at the New Balance Nationals. Last year’s 2nd place finisher at the state meet could be tough to beat. Emma Moravec (North HS, Downers Grove) ran a great 800 / 400 double win at the WSC-Silver Meet last Friday. The sophomore is running with so much confidence this winter. She will push her cross town rival in this event.
Skyler Bollinger (Yorkville HS) will be running the 1600 along with this race. You can expect her to be towards the front. Mackenzie Callahan (Minooka HS) will be following the same path as Bollinger. She should be towards the front as well. Danielle Griesbaum will be in the High Jump, but will be fresh enough in this race. Watch for her to challenge for a top three finish.
Boys 3A Meet Record – Jason Van Swol – New Lenox Lincoln-Way – 1:53.3 – 1998 2015 3A Leader – Connor McCue – West Aurora HS – 1:56.46
Preview – Konrad Eiring (Barrington HS) has been the man in this event this season going undefeated in the three 800’s that he has competed in. He likes to take the pace out fast. Eiring is only three tenths of a second behind Connor McCue’s state best time. He could have the fastest time in the state by the time the race is over.
Carl Klamm (Evanston Township HS) is the defending champion in this race. He will push Eiring making a 1:55 time possible in this meet. Heath Warren (Springfield HS) has quietly put up some fast 1600 times this winter. He has run 1:57.63 this season. He will be a threat up front. John Partee (South HS, Plainfield) will be coming back from the 3200 relay. Watch for him to challenge for the lead in this race.
4 x 200 Meter Relay – 6:30 PM
Girls 3A Meet Record – Evanston Township – 1:40.83 – 2006 2015 3A Leader – Frankfort Lincoln-Way East HS – 1:41.90
Preview – With list leader Lincoln-Way East running at the Texas Relays this weekend, the focus will be on SWSC powers Bolingbrook and Homewood Flossmoor in this event. Bolingbrook ran 1:45.02 at the Mustang Relays with Jessica Watkins part of their quartet. Homewood-Flossmoor ran 1:43.83 at the end of February at Lewis University. They have been in a “slump” the past two meets running 1:46 at Nationals and being disqualified last Friday at the SWSC Meet. Their fortunes could change in this meet. Bloom, Westinghouse Academy, and Danville will be challenging for a spot in the first three.
Boys 3A Meet Record – Springfield Lanphier – 1:29.76 – 2008 2015 3A Leader – Plainfield East HS – 1:30.42
Preview – Section four of this event should be dynamite with a possibility of a new 3A record. The rest of the sections of this event will not be that shabby either. Plainfield East has been the only team to run under 1:31 in the state this year. The Bengals have great handoffs giving them the edge in this race. Evanston Township ran 1:31.41 last Saturday in Michigan. They have the talent to run with Plainfield East in this race. Homewood-Flossmoor edged Thornton by three hundredths of a second last week at the SWSC Meet. Both of these teams could be under 1:31. The key will be the first handoff. It is a two turn stagger at this meet. Anything goes after that.
Watch for Minooka in the section before that. They won the 4x2 at the Proviso West Relays running in the section before the final. They are used to this situation. Avoiding the logjam of handoffs could help them. Metea Valley, Bartlett, Bloomington, and Plainfield North could run times in the 1:32’s. It is a tough field.
400 Meter Dash – 7:00 PM
Girls 3A Meet Record – Adia McKinnon – Homewood-Flossmoor HS – 55.09 – 2000 2015 3A Leader – Brittny Ellis – Gurnee Warren HS – 56.85
Preview – Brittny Ellis runs her second race of the meet where she should be the favorite. Her experience will pay off in this race. She has run 56.85 this season. Could we see a time under 56 in this meet? Kierra Griggs (Bloom Township HS, Chicago Heights) has emerged as one of the top 400 runners in the state. She ran 58.10 last week at Champaign. She could challenge Ellis in this race.
Samara Miller (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville), continues to improve in this event. The junior ran 58.60 to win the Upstate Eight Meet last Saturday. She will be a threat up front. Ashleigh Wilson (Minooka HS), Tashee Hargrave (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville), and Jasmine Smyles (Prosser Academy, Chicago) have all run under 60 seconds. Watch for them to challenge for a top three finish.
Boys 3A Meet Record – Juan Coleman – Hillside Proviso West HS – 48.24 – 2000 2015 3A Leader – Ty Moss – Naperville Neuqua Valley HS – 49.96
Preview – This event in 3A has been a mystery most of the season until last weekend when Neuqua Valley’s Ty Moss and Zac Espinosa dipped under 50 seconds. There is still a sense of mystery in this event. Chris Thompson (Lemont HS) ran a surprising 50.34 at his home invitational. Junior Steve Strange (Oswego HS) ran 50.35 earlier this year. Both were not looked at in pre-season previews but here they are now as favorites in this event. The favorite could be Corey Hertz (Lakes HS, Lake Villa) who ran 50.39 earlier this year. His big meet experience could be the difference in this race.
Carl Klamm will be coming back from the 800 and could play a factor in this race. Jacquere Williams (Waubonsie Valley HS, Aurora) has run 51.23 this season. He could be the surprise athlete in this event.
1600 Meter Run – 7:15 PM
Girls 3A Meet Record – Madeline Perez – Glen Ellyn Glenbard West HS – 4:53.60 – 2013 2015 3A Leader – Lindsay Graham – Glen Ellyn Glenbard West HS – 4:55.19
Preview – This could be the race of the Girls Meet where Madeline Perez’s meet record could be broken. Gabby Juarez (Streamwood HS) and Torree Scull (East HS, St. Charles) ran an epic 1600 at the Upstate Eight Conference Meet. Juarez ran 4:58.66 to nip Scull by 26 hundredths of a second. Expect these two to be at the front on Saturday. Judy Pendergast could push this race to faster times. Last week at her conference meet, she ran 2:17 coming back 38 minutes later to run 5:02. She has run 5:00 fresh. I would not be surprised if she runs 4:55 or faster in this meet.
Lauren Van Vlierbergen ran 5:04 on a 150 Meter track at Wheeling in the beginning of March. She is fit with 2:10 800 speed. She is one of those runners that will be pushing for under five. Lauren Opatrny (McHenry HS) ran 5:06 last week in Wisconsin. She has gone under 5 minutes outdoors. The possibility that she does it here is good. Skyler Bollinger will be coming back from the 800. She will be pushing in the front. Ayako Higuchi (Fremd HS, Palatine) ran 5:11 last week. She could be a surprise in this event.
Boys 3A Meet Record – Jeff Thode – Hoffman Estates Conant HS – 4:09.94 – 2009 2015 3A Leader – Zach Dale – Hoffman Estates Conant HS – 4:14.11
Preview – The top three runners from the inaugural Batavia Distance Madness meet two weeks ago have the top three seeds in this race. Keagan Smith (Huntley HS) has emerged as one of the top junior distance runners in the state in the last 6 months. He ran 4:17.47 in the Batavia meet. Smith outkicked Jake Hoffert (Yorkville HS) in that race with Hoffert running 4:19. Watch for a quicker pace from him with sights on a sub 4:15 time. Bryce Richards ran 4:21 on a 160 Meter Track (in flats) two weeks ago. He showed his fitness level by running 9:19 in Wisconsin last Saturday. He has run 4:18 outdoors. He could be in position to win in this race.
Brady Bobbitt (Marmion Academy, Aurora) ran 4:20.21 to place third in the Batavia race. He is capable of running faster in this race. Do not be fooled by the 4:24 seed time of Graham Brown (Palatine HS). He ran that in mid-February. He showed he is ready for a fast time by running 9:14 to finish second at the MSL Championships. He will be challenging in the front in this race. Henry Mierzwa (Maine South HS, Park Ridge) ran 4:24 on Evanston’s 160 meter track last week. He could be the surprise in this race.
200 Meter Dash – 7:40 PM
Girls 3A Meet Record – Morolake Akinosun – Aurora Waubonsie Valley HS – 23.91 – 2012 2015 3A Leader – Brittny Ellis – Gurnee Warren Township HS – 25.14
Preview – This will be the third event of the meet for Brittny Ellis in this meet. She could also be going for her third win. Ellis ran 25.14 at last week’s meet in Wisconsin. She could go under 25 in this race. Antoinette Broughton, Maya Neal, and Jezel Martin (Bloomington HS) will challenge her in the final section. Yakira Love would be another runner to keep an eye on.
Boys 3A Meet Record – Anthony Moorman – Roselle Lake Park HS – 21.72 – 1996 2015 3A Leader – Kahmari Montgomery – Plainfield Central HS – 22.21
Preview – The final section of this event should be a close one. All four runners are within 15 hundredths of a second of each other. Dwight Johnson (Thornwood HS, South Holland) ran 22.33 last week at the SWSC Meet. Cary Lockhart ran 22.34 a few weeks ago on this track at the Big 12 Meet. Throw in Shandall Thomas, who ran 22.37 last week at North Central College, and Octavian Wells (Grant HS, Fox Lake) and you could see a final time near or under 22 seconds. Watch for Secton 3. Defending 2A 200 champion Demoria Harris (Dunbar Academy, Chicago) has run 22.51 this year but against little competition. It would be a surprise if he wins this event from that section.
4 x 400 Meter Relay – 8:00 PM
Girls 3A Meet Record – Chicago Morgan Park – 3:53.68 – 1996 2015 3A Leader – Frankfort Lincoln-Way East HS – 3:55.95
Preview – This will be a close final with a winning time under 4 minutes. St. Charles East ran 4:00.10 to place second at the Mustang Relays. Bloom Township will be their biggest threat especially with Kierra Griggs anchoring for the Trojans. Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, and Yorkville will also challenge for the win.
Boys 3A Meet Record – Hillside Proviso West – 3:21.95 – 2000 2015 3A Leader – Naperville Neuqua Valley HS – 3:25.09
Preview – The final race of the meet should be up for grabs. Evanston Township ran 3:27 last week and will have Carl Klamm, who has run under 49 seconds, in their quartet. Plainfield East, Cary Grove, Plainfield South, Homewood-Flossmoor, and Grant all have the talent to go for the win. The winner could come from the first section. At the Mustang Relays, Plainfield Central led off with 3A 400 champ Kahmari Montgomery leading off with a 49.3 split. Plainfield Central went on to run 3:30.91 in that race. They could go faster Saturday. Minooka could also threaten with a top three finish. More news
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