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DyeStat IL – 2015 Downers Grove South Mustang Relays Preview

Published by
DyeStatIL.com   Mar 9th 2015, 6:15am
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How fast will the quartets go at North Central College Monday night?

 

 

By Michael Newman

[email protected]

 

 

The 36 team Mustang Relays held at the Res-Rec Center on the campus of North Central College always produces some memorable performances as one of the most anticipated meets of the indoor season. It gives a chance for teams to see what they have in the 800, 1600, and 3200 relays without having their athletes double and triple back in other events.

 

Four of the six events will have teams competing that have the fastest times in the state. By the time the meet is done Monday Night, the TFX Leaderboard will be rewritten. It always happens after this meet.

 

Here is a look at each of the six events that will be contested. The first race starts at 6:30 PM. Meet Program

 

 

Girls 4 x 800 Meter Relay

 

Mustang Relays Meet Record – 9:22.68 – Schaumburg – 2011

2015 State Best – 9:37.65 – Chicago Lane Tech

 

Outlook – This could be a mystery event. Only two of the top teams in the TFX Leaderboard are entered in this meet. We still could see a winning time between 9:25 – 9:30. Lane Tech scorched the field at the Proviso West Relays in the middle of February winning that race by 36 seconds. That is the only time this season that the Indians have loaded their relay in this event. They should be the favorite in this race with a strong quartet led by Imani Davis and Madeline Monticello.

 

Minooka ran 10:00.47 last Thursday on this track running Mackenzie Callahan and Emily Shelton in the first two legs. Throw in Ashley Tutt and possibly Ashleigh Wilson and this team has the horses to challenge for the win. Downers Grove North did not load their relay Saturday at York but still ran 10:01. With Zayna Jan and Emma Moravec leading this team, the Lady Trojans could end up in the first three. Yorkville has a tendency of running great in this event. Skyler Bollinger and Alexis Grandys should lead a strong Foxes quartet.

 

Hoffman Estates has a strong crew led by Meghan Biddle and Alondra Aguirre that will challenge for the front. Loyola Academy, St. Charles East, and Lyons Township could also be surprises in this competition.

 

 

Boys 4 x 800 Meter Relay

 

Mustang Relays Meet Record – 7:54.21 – Chicago Lane Tech – 2014

2015 State Best – 8:03.48 – LaGrange Lyons Township

 

Outlook – Last season’s race was memorable as Lane Tech held off Downers Grove North as the two teams ran the fastest two times in meet history. We could see the same type of fast race in 2015 even though only two schools in the state have run 8:10 or faster. Maybe it is because none of these teams have loaded up their squads until now.

 

Lyons Township is the favorite in this event. They showed how strong they were 9 days ago when they beat Cahokia at the Proviso West Invitational. They have a talented group led by Connor Madell and anchored by Alex Lima. The Lions could dip under 8 minutes in this event. Sandburg had a standout cross country season and should run under 8 chasing Lyons in this race. Brothers Sean and Chris Torpy lead a team that could also threaten the meet record. Downers Grove North finished second last season with Ryan Clevenger anchoring. He will back in that role on Monday as well as having a good supporting cast around him. Defending 3A Neuqua Valley has a strong group that will challenge for the championship led by 600 state list leader Ty Moss. The Wildcats could be without Connor Horn who has shin splints. The team is talented to capture the win.

 

A team to watch for is Glenbard West. The Hilltoppers return all four runners from last year’s team led by Chris Buechner. They have run in some low keyed meets early this season. They have the talent to be a threat for the win. St. Ignatius also could surprise led by Danny Santino and Kallin Khan. Hinsdale Central, Minooka, and Whitney Young also could challenge for top finishes.

 

 

Girls 4 x 200 Meter Relay

 

Mustang Relays Meet Record – 1:41.36 – Frankfort Lincoln-Way East – 2014

2015 State Best – 1:43.83 – Homewood-Flossmoor

 

Outlook – Only two schools with top ten times are in this event. It is hard to bet against the two time defending champions in this event Lincoln-Way East. The Griffins ran 1:48.31 without some of their key members in placing third Saturday at Homewood-Flossmoor. Bet on East to have a loaded crew, led by Asia Brown, which will have their eyes on the win in this event.

 

Their top competition in this event will be Whitney Young. The Dolphins ran a season’s best 1:47.01 last week at Lewis University. Freshman Amara Young has been the sparkplug on this quartet so far this season. The talent is there for the Dolphins to win this event. Thornwood, who ran 1:49.35 at Bloomington on Saturday, Minooka, and Batavia could challenge for a top finish in this race.

 

 

Boys 4 x 200 Meter Relay

 

Mustang Relays Meet Record – 1:30.50 – Plainfield South – 2011

2015 State Best – 1:30.42 – Plainfield East

 

Outlook – The name of the game in this relay is to get the lead early and never let it go. That is what Plainfield East did last year when they were the surprise winner in this event. The Bengals this year could break the meet record. At the Lockport Open 9 days ago, they ran a state best 1:30.42. This sprint squad, led by Christian Glass and Jarvis Carter, are underrated. They should get the recognition that they deserve in this race.

 

Minooka finished second behind Plainfield East in that race at Olivet Nazarene on February 28. Watch for the Indians to challenge their SPC rivals for the championship. Bloom Township, who ran 1:32.81 two week ago at Grand Valley State in Michigan, are another team with talent that could get the win. Metea Valley, Glenbard West, and Plainfield South could also challenge for a top three finish.

 

 

Girls 4 x 400 Meter Relay

 

Mustang Relays Meet Record – 3:59.04 – Chicago Whitney Young – 2011

2015 State Best – 3:56.16 – Frankfort Lincoln-Way East

 

OutlookLincoln-Way East set a high standard when they ran a national top 20 time of 3:56.16 at the UK HS Invitational in February. They will load this relay up led by Ololade Ayoola that could re-write the meet record. Lane Tech ran 4:07.72 in the middle of February at Proviso West. Imani Davis leads a group that could get close to 4 minutes. Minooka, Downers Grove North, and St. Charles East, all have the talent to finish in the top three.

 

 

Boys 4 x 400 Meter Relay

 

Mustang Relays Meet Record – 3:22.63 – Plainfield South – 2011

2015 State Best – 3:21.77 – Cahokia

 

Outlook – The meet record could go down in this event. Neuqua Valley has the talent to achieve that. The Wildcats came from behind at Proviso West to best Cahokia led by a 49.2 anchor leg by Ty Moss. Throw in 48 second 400 runner Zac Espinosa and Kyle Bender making this team a force in this event.

 

Lyons Township finished behind Neuqua Valley in that Proviso race and could be a team that could be near 3:25 or under. Minooka ran a season’s best 3:31.43 on Saturday at Homewood-Flossmoor. The Indians will be running in section 5 and could be a threat for a top finish. Plainfield South, Plainfield East, and Metea Valley will challenge for a top spot Monday night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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