Above Photo from left: Greetings from Normal West’s Mackenzie Gallagher, Ryan Ashenbremmer, and Hunter Whitwood; Tri Valley’s Jenna Ring and Cassie Wilson; and Tolono Unity’s Nicole Bagwell at last Saturday night’s Windy City Pole Vault Summit at Rolling Meadows HS (Photo: Michael Newman)

 

By Michael Newman

[email protected]

 

 

What a weekend of activity throughout Illinois! Track & Field athletes throughout the state kicked it into high gear with some great performances all over the state.

 

You can click on the NCC Cardinal Classic Girls HS Invitational, Homewood-Flossmoor Co-Ed Invitational, and the Windy City Pole Vault Summit to read recaps of what happened at those meets.

 

Here is some of the action that took place throughout the state.

 

 

Proviso West Lady Panther Invitational

 

After her races at North Central College Thursday night, Lindsay Graham (Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn) expressed that her main focus of this week was the races that she had just run. She was going to run at Proviso West to see what she could do. She did a lot Saturday afternoon.

 

The Glenbard junior started the day running a 2:18 split in the 3200 relay as her team won the event (9:44.19, IL #3). Graham came back in the 1600 to run a personal best 4:55.19 winning by 13 seconds ahead of Fremd’s Ayaiko Higuchi (5:08.44, IL #8). Graham lowered her state best time down by four seconds. Her time is also the third best time nationally.

 

The distances shined in this meet. Alexa Haff (Central HS, Hinsdale) pulled away from Maggie Schoelle (Lane Tech HS, Chicago) to win the 3200 Meter Run (11:15.08, IL #8). It was close in the 800 Meter Run as Nora Finergan (Fremd HS, Palatine) edged Jocelyne Mendoza (Taft HS, Chicago) by fifteen hundredths of a second (2:21.12 – 2:21.27).

 

Westinghouse Academy ran the second best time in the state as they won the 800 Meter Relay (1:46.21) by more than a second ahead of Bolingbrook. Fremd bounced back after being disqualified in the 3200 relay by winning the 1600 Meter Relay (4:10.30, IL #3) by five seconds ahead of Hinsdale Central.

 

Imani Carothers (Brooks College Prep, Chicago) did not run in the Varsity competition but did have a great day in the Frosh / Soph 55 Hurdles. The freshman ran 8.66 (IL #3) to win the race.

 

 

Champaign Centennial Charger Classic

 

Jon Davis (Oakwood HS, Fithian) made a statement not only to other runners in Class A but also throughout the state in this meet. Davis led from wire to wire to run the state’s best time in the 1600 Meter Run (4:16.77). His time is currently ranked #11 nationally. He won by an astounding eleven seconds ahead of Pavlo Hutsalyuk (Lane Tech HS, Chicago). Peter Johnsrud (Oswego HS), who finished third in the 1600), earlier in the meet won the 3200 Meter Run (9:32.48, IL #8) by less than four seconds ahead of Jack Sebok (North HS, Plainfield). Wes Schoenthal (Edwardsville HS) nipped John Partee (South HS, Plainfield) by eight hundredths of a second to win the 800 Meter Run (1:57.71 – 1:57.79). The two runners have the fifth and sixth fastest times in the state for the event.

 

Cory Lockhart (Bloomington HS) had a banner day in the sprints in this meet. He won the 60 Meter Dash (6.99) to edge Deshon Buchanan (West HS, Belleville) by two hundredths of a second. Lockhart came back to win the 200 Meter Dash (22.40, IL #3). Isaiah Michl (Edwardsville HS) started his season running the state’s best time (8.12) in winning the 60 Meter Hurdles. The big surprise was Michal’s teammate Travis Anderson. The freshman ran 8.32 to win his section of the race. He now has the fastest 55 & 60 Meter Hurdles times in the nation.

 

A big surprise was in the 400 Meter Dash. Steven Strange (Oswego HS) popped to #2 in the event with his win (50.35) ahead of Deshon Buchanan. Luther Newburn (Hillcrest HS, Country Club Hills) had the best field event performance when he jumped 45-10 (IL #2) in the Triple Jump. Ricky Nelson (West HS, Belleville) dominated the Shot Put winning the event with a 53-0 put (IL #10).

 

 

SIU Invitational (Girls – Friday, Boys Saturday)

 

Ja’Mari Ward (Cahokia HS) took the week off in the jumps but helped his team in two relay wins. Cahokia’s 800 relay ran the state’s second fastest time (1:31.30) winning by more than two seconds ahead of area rival East St. Louis-Senior. The two teams duked it out in the 1600 Relay. Cahokia ran 3:23.85 for the win. East St. Louis-Senior was disqualified for exchange interference.

 

Korrion Session (Cahokia HS) bounced back from his Proviso West loss to St. Rita’s Eric Walker with a big win at this meet in the 60 Hurdles. Session ran 8.24 (IL #3) in his preliminary heat. He won the finals (8.32) a quarter of a second ahead of Class 1A’s Nick Matthews (Cisne HS). Darryl Sullivan (Marion HS) and Anthony McRoberts (Cahokia HS) both cleared 6-8 in the High Jump. Sullivan won the event on fewer misses. McRoberts won the Triple Jump (44-5 3/4, IL #7) ahead of teammate Shunn Grace. Roman Hill (Centralia HS) jumped a season best 22-2 (IL #4) to win the Long Jump. Sam Sikon (Carbondale HS) improved his seasonal best to 56-11 ¼ (IL #3) to win the Shot Put.

 

Sidnee Williamson (East HS, Belleville) was a double winner in Friday night’s Girls meet. Both Williamson and Mariya Hudson (Cahokia HS) jumped 18-0 1/2 in the Long Jump with Williamson winning on a better second jump. Williamson won on the track in the 200 Meter Dash (26.51). Hudson also had success on the track winning the 400 Meter Dash (59.34) with the state’s sixth fastest time so far this season.

 

Anna Sophia Keller (St. Anthony HS, Effingham) made her track seasonal debut a successful one. She ran 5:02.80 (IL #2) to win by thirteen seconds ahead of Herrin’s Kara Martin (5:15.38). Keri Burmester (Red Bud HS) won a close 3200 Meter Run wining by less than a second ahead of Noelle Gilster (O’Fallon HS). Burmester’s winning time was 11:35.85. She also finished third in the 1600 Meter Run.

 

 

York Boys Invitational

 

Zach Dale (Conant HS, Hoffman Estates) tuned up for this weekend’s New Balance Indoor Nationals running three races on York’s track. He started off the night running a 1:57 leg for his team that finished third behind MSL conference rivals Prospect (8:18.94) and Hoffman Estates. Dale did get an individual win in the 1600 Meter Run with a then #1 performance in Illinois. The Conant senior went by the 800 in 2:09 and then cruised to a 4:21.32 winning time. He also ran a leg in his team’s 1600 Meter Relay.

 

York won the team championship powered heavily by two wins by Matt Plowman and Adam Teague. Plowman pulled away from Abraham Tobias (Taft HS, Chicago) in the final 200 Meters to win the 800 Meter Run (1:59.05, IL #11). Plowman came back 35 minutes later in the 600 Meter Run. He used the same strategy as the 800 for the win (1:24.67, IL #3) ahead of Kyle Svoboda (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights). Adam Teague swept both hurdle events winning the 55 Highs (7.81, IL #9) just ahead of Rob Fekete (Palatine HS). Teague was also victorious in the 55 Lows. York also picked up 2 wins in the relays capturing the 800 Relay (1:35.76) and the 1600 Relay (3:35.24).

 

Graham Brown (Palatine HS) outkicked Jon Klaiber (North HS, Naperville) to win by less than a second in the 3200 Meter Run (9:31.75 – 9:32.02). York’s Charlie Kern finished third (9:36.16) with the nation’s second fastest time in the event for a freshman. Devon Kelly (East HS, St. Charles) was a double winner in the 400 Meter Dash (52.66) just two hundredths ahead of teammate Joe Komlanc and then the 200 Meter Dash (23.26).

 

 

ISU High School Invitational

 

The meet at Illinois State University’s Horton Fieldhouse produced some fast times. Josh Eiker (Galesburg HS) ran his first 60 Meter Dash of the year and won (7.01, IL #4) ahead of Austin Sikora (Rockford Lutheran HS). Eiker was also a part of his team’s 800 Meter Relay which was victorious running 1:32.79 (IL#4). Kendall Battle (Oswego East HS), who’s dad Kenny played basketball for the University of Illinois) won the High Jump clearing 6-4 (IL #13). His teammate Khalil Driver won the Triple Jump (44-9, IL #5).

 

Kathleen Young (Warrensburg-Lathan HS) dominated the Shot Put (48-1) winning the event by thirteen feet. Amanda McClain (Sullivan HS) started her season by winning the Long Jump (17-6, IL #13). McClain also won the 200 Meter Dash (26.23). It was also a season opener from Daly Galloway (Dwight COOP HS) as she won the 1600 Meter Run (5:20.46) 13 seconds ahead of Kate Jacobs (Woodstock HS).

 

 

Hononegah Girls Classic

 

This meet is traditionally strong and was once again this year with 175 TFX Illinois elite performances. Grace Cronin (Fenwick HS, Oak Park) in the prelims of the 55 Meter Hurdles ran an IL #4 8.67. It was tight in the finals as Cronin edged Eva Burk (Cary-Grove HS) by two hundredths of a second (8.74 – 8.76). Brittani Griesbaum (Lakes HS, Lake Villa) looked strong winning the 55 Meter Dash (7.30, IL #6). She came back later in the meet to win the 200 Meter Dash (26.42) and also the Long Jump (16-9 ½)

 

Morgan Schulz (Cary-Grove HS) has recovered from the stress fracture she suffered at the end of last cross country season. The senior won the 800 Meter Run (2:19.12) by three seconds ahead of Danielle Griesbaum (Lakes HS, Lake Villa) and Skyler Bollinger (Yorkville HS). Bollinger also ran 5:18.14 in the 1600 to finish second behind Gabby Juarez (Streamwood HS) in the 1600 Meter Run. Juarez’s time was 5:13.89 (IL #17). It came down to the final lap to decide the 3200 Meter Run. Summer Peirson (Yorkville HS) won the race (11:16.94) by less than two seconds ahead of Kortney Schardt (Lakes HS, Lake Villa). Danielle Wojciechowski (Lake Park HS, Roselle) won the Pole Vault with a 12-0 clearance (IL #4).

 

 

Jacksonville HS Invitational @ Illinois College (Class AA/AAA Schools Friday; Class A Schools Saturday)

 

Heath Warren (Springfield HS) followed up his win at last week’s Normal West Invitational winning Friday night in the 800 Meter Run. His time of 1:57.63 (IL #4) was four seconds ahead of second place Trevor White (Highland HS). Adam Nelson (Triad HS, Troy) ran 7.03 (IL #8) in his preliminary heat. He won in the final (7.09) by only one hundredth of a second ahead of Logan Geiger (Highland HS). Nelson came back to finish second in the 200 Meter Dash behind Tyler Higgins (Highland HS). Lajarvia Brown (Alton HS) was a double winner in the Girls horizontal jumps. Brown on the Long Jump (17-7, IL #2) and came back to win the Triple Jump (37-7 ½, IL #2).

 

There were plenty of double winners in Saturday’s small school meet. Jacob Sholl (Illini West HS, Carthage) won the 200 Meter Dash (22.74, IL #10) just ahead of Andre McGill (Madison HS). Sholl controlled the 400 Meter Dash (51.77) winning by more than two seconds. Sholl finished third in the 60 Meter Dash behind Staunton Marcus Sitko (7.05, IL #10) and Connor Icenogle (Williamsville HS). Sitko also was a double winner also winning the Triple Jump (42-3).

 

Brett Charlton (Eureka HS) was part of three wins in this meet. He jumped 21-11 ¾ to win the Long Jump just ahead of Marcus Sitko by one inch. Charlton was also a part of his team’s winning 800 Meter Relay (1:38.02) and 1600 Meter Relay (3:40.03). Tyler Johnson (Pleasant Plains HS) also won two events winning the 800 Meter Run (2:05.38) and the 1600 Meter Run (4:46.04). Logan Ross (North Greene HS) won the High Jump clearing 6-9 (IL #2, US #17).

 

Cassie Mundekis (Midwest Central HS, Manito) dropped down from normal 800 meter run doing some speed work preparing herself for this week’s New Balance Indoor Nationals. She started off the meet winning the 400 Meter Dash (59.77) by almost five seconds. She then came back to win the 200 Meter Dash (27.24) by more than a second.

 

Carthage Illini West captured the 800 Meter Relay (1:50.29) and the 1600 Meter Relay (4:16.29). Deer Creek Mackinaw won a tight 3200 Meter Relay (10:36.65) by less than a second ahead of Decatur St. Teresa (10:37.01). The 1600 Meter Run was a tight finish with Erika Hibser (Lewistown HS) finishing ahead of Maria and Adrienne Brauer (PORTA HS, Petersburg). Hibser’s winning time was 5:15.38 (IL #18). Rachel Clowers (Pleasant Hill HS) won the Shot Put with a 40-0 effort (IL #11).

 

 

Fonzino Invitational @ York

 

York’s relay teams had a good Saturday on their home track. Their 3200 relay won the event (9:57.65, IL #8) by four seconds ahead of Downers Grove North. The Dukes also won the 1600 relay (4:14.62, IL #11) ahead of Downers Grove North again. Emma Moravec (North HS, Downers Grove) ran 5:16.03 to win a tactical 1600 Meter Run three seconds ahead of Mimi Smith (New Trier HS, Winnetka). Brooke Wilson (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect) had a breakout 3200 running a solo 11:16.04 (IL #9) winning the race by more than a minute. Maya Mason (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect won the 55 Meter Hurdles (8.68, IL #5) edging Emma Haugen (Lyons Township HS, LaGrange) by 28 hundredths of a second.

 

 

Bloomington Lady Raider Invitational

 

Ellie Weltha (Bloomington HS) had a huge PR winning the Shot Put (40-7) with an IL #6 performance. Bloomington athletes also had a good day with their 800 relay running 1:47.99 (IL #7) to win the event. Jezel Martin also helped the Raiders winning the 200 Meter Dash (25.97, IL #11) ahead of Dominique Lewis (Centennial HS, Champaign). Earlier in the day, Lewis won the 60 Meter Dash (7.80).

 

Batavia DiDomenico Boys Invitational

 

Dylan Schierich (Lake Park HS, Roselle) moved into the top 25 nationally in the Shot Put winning in this meet with a state leading 57-10 effort. Connor McCue (West Aurora HS) also had a state leading performance running 1:56.46 to win the 800 Meter Run. Ryan Wieties (Batavia HS) finished second (1:58.99, IL #10). Bryce Petty (Bartlett HS) was a double winner in the 55 Meter Dash (6.65) and the 200 Meter Dash (23.29). Petty also helped Bartlett win the 800 Meter Relay (1:33.50, IL #11).

 

 

Lyons Township / Oak Park-River Forest Boys Dual

 

Chris Wright-Madison (Oak-Park-River Forest HS) jumped a personal best 6-9 (IL #2) winning the High Jump. Teammate Kenny Brown also jumped a personal best 6-6. Adam Shaufelberger (Lyons Township HS, LaGrange) established a new school record when he won the Shot Put with a 57-2 ½ (IL #2) performance.

 

 

Glenbard East Girls Triangular

 

Kelly O’Brien (Palatine HS) ran the state’s fourth fastest time in the 3200 Meter Run. She ran solo throughout the race on Glenbard East’s 160 Meter Track finishing in 10:57.1.