By Michael Newman, ILXCTF.com Editor

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It sounds like a broken record but this was another great weekend of high school track & field in Illinois.

The highlight of the weekend was the solo effort that Katelynne Hart of Glenbard West had in the 3200 Meter Run at the Proviso West Lady Panther Invitational on Saturday. She was in a race against the clock rather than the competition. It was not really a race but more of a time trial as Hart passed every 400-meter checkpoint trying to hit her goal time. She had a goal of 10:16. She hit 10:15.95 which is the fastest time nationally for that distance. The 10:21.41 that she ran for the 2 Mile Run at Kentucky on February 18 converts to 10:17.81. The race on Saturday at Proviso West did not have the competition that Kentucky had. It makes her Saturday race that much more special.

There was also another news of note that nine-time state champion Anna Sophia Keller of St. Anthony High School in Effingham made her decision to attend the University of Notre Dame for the next four years. You can read more about Keller in this announcement.

There were some great performances and more meets that we can count on. The most important thing is that the leaderboards are starting to fill up. The more “data” that we have, then we can do more comprehensive team rankings. You will see the first update of those rankings next week.

Here is a look at some of the notable performances that happened throughout Illinois this past weekend.

You can read about the following meets that were at over the past week:

·         DGS Mustang Relays

·         NCC Cardinal Girls HS Classic

·         York Boys Invitational

·         Proviso West Lady Panther Invitational

Charger Classic @ the U of I Armory

This meet was the first of two meets for Zachery Bradford of Bloomington on Saturday. After all the athletes had completed their attempts in the Pole Vault, Bradford entered the event. He took 10 attempts clearing a personal best of 16-6. It is the best in the state and currently ranked seventh nationally.

Brayden Hamblen of Rock Falls HS will attend the University of Illinois this fall. The 1A State Cross Country champion did make some noise on his future home track winning the 3200 Meter run. It was Logan Hall of Arthur-Lovington hat did most of the pace work before Hamblen pulled away for the win. Hamblen’s time of 9:18.02 (IL #4) was three seconds ahead of that of Hall (9:21.70, IL #5). Bennett Peterson of Oswego (9:28.19, IL #9) and Tyler Dau of Geneva (9:29.88) both ran under 9:30 finishing third and fourth.

Travis Anderson of Edwardsville High School broke the meet record running 8.07 to win the 60-Meter High Hurdles. The 8.00 hat he ran las week at Lockport is still ranked tenth nationally. Anderson was also a part of Edwardsville’s winning 1600 Meter Relay. The Tigers ran 3:33.82 just edging Plainfield North (3:33.82) for the win.

Windy City Pole Vault Summit @ Rolling Meadows HS

There was not much drama in this meet but there was once again excitement that is always a part of the Summit. Zachery Bradford made the trip to Rolling Meadows and captured the Boys event championship. Sam Peschke of Crystal Lake South was the only athlete left in the event when Bradford entered at 15-0. Peschke achieved an indoor personal best clearing that height but left the competition when he missed his attempts at 15-3. Bradford, who passed at 15-3, cleared 15-6 on his second attempt and then 16-0 on his first attempt. He then had the bar raised the bar to 16-9 missing all three of those attempts. They were good attempts that will help Bradford in his next competition at the New Balance Indoor Nationals this weekend in New York.

Lauren Seaver of Normal University was in complete control of the Girls Meet clearing 12-0 to win the competition. She did have three good attempts at 12-7 to end the meet. Stephanie Jacobs of Freeburg cleared a personal best of 11-3 to finish second.

Southern Illinois University High School Invitational

This big meet draws most of the top athletes from the southern portion of Illinois to Carbondale where there were again some great performances. The Girls Meet contested on Friday showcased some state champions who made some big statements early in this track season.

2A State Champion Latavia Maines of Centralia started her season booming a huge 47-3 (IL #2) to win the Shot Put. That mark is currently ranked sixth nationally. Aveun Moore of Mt. Vernon finished second with a 45-2 put (IL #4). The Triple Jump also produced a Top Ten Illinois mark as Tarynn Mays of DuQuoin jumped 37-3 (IL #3) to win the event. Aliyah Welter of Monticello cleared 12-0 (IL #3) to finished second in the Pole Vault behind the 12-6 clearance by Jaci Bickett of Henderson County KY. Cahokia sophomore LaQwasia Stepney achieved a personal best 18-2.5 (IL #6) to win the Long Jump less than an inch ahead of teammate Mariya Hudson (18-1.75).

Hudson won two events on the track. She ran 7.72 (IL #6 tie) to win the 60 Meter Dash to finish ahead of DuQuoin’s Mays (7.89) and Tamya Houston of O’Fallon (7.93). Hudson came back to run a personal best 24.82 (IL #3) to win the 200 Meter Dash more than a second ahead of O’Fallon’s Houston (26.14).

Anna Sophia Keller of St. Anthony had an easy time in winning the 1600 Meter Run. She closed in a 70 second final 400 to cross the line in 5:00.85 (IL #2) to win the event by 28 seconds ahead of Indiana’s Grace McDurmon of Evansville Mater Dei.

The Boys meet on Saturday had the same firepower as the Girls meet did. Sam Sikon of Carbondale was in control of the Shot Put once again winning the event with a 62-7 mark. Dillon Birch of Shelbyville achieved a personal best of 53-8 (IL #8) to finish second. Andra Ward of Cahokia took over the Triple Jump just like his older brother Ja’Mari did in this meet. The sophomore achieved a personal indoor best of 43-7.75 to win the event.

Cahokia is in command in the baton events winning all three relays contested in this meet. Cahokia ran 8:18.12 to win the 3200 Meter Relay six seconds ahead of Marion (8:24.30) and East S. Louis-Senior (8:27.93). The Comanches got the stick around the track to win the 800 Meter Relay (1:32.09, IL #5) ahead of a good Collinsville quartet (1:33.29) who finished second. The 1600 Meter Relay pitted the two S. Louis area rivals of East. St. Louis-Senior and Cahokia. Cahokia completed the relay sweep running 3:28.35 (IL #6) finishing ahead of the Flyers (3:29.82, IL #8).

Collinsville swept the short sprints as freshman Jermarrion Stewart ran 7.07 to win the 60 Meter Dash just three hundredths of a second ahead of East St. Louis-Senior. Trevore Sanders, who false started in the 60 Meter Dash finals, came back to win the 200 Meter Dash (22.59) ahead of Marquis Murray of Cahokia (22.94). Deante Anderson of East St. Louis-Senior looked strong in winning the 400 Meter Dash (51.04, IL #4) ahead of Cahokia’s Brandon Roberson (51.57).

Chris Stanley of Cahokia ran the best time in the state this year so far in the 800 Meter Run. The senior recorded a time of 1:57.70 to finish almost a second ahead of East St. Louis-Senior’s Bryaun Manuel (1:58.61, IL #4). Zach Young of Marion ran a season best of 4:27.52 to win the 1600 Meter Run.

Jacksonville High School Invitational @ Illinois College

Tony Rolfe of Chatham-Glenwood was the star of the Friday night meet that featured Class 2A & 3A schools. Rolfe swept the horizontal jumps as he jumped 22-11 (IL #2) to win the Long Jump and then 47-4 (IL #2) to win the ripple Jump. Both jumps were personal bests for Rolfe. He then stepped to the track and won the 60 Meter Dash (6.92, IL #2). Ben Rakers of Breese Central also had a good night running 8.58 to win the 60-Meter High Hurdles as well as jumping 21-10 to finish second behind Rolfe in the Long Jump.

Andrew O’Keefe of Granite City led a “O’Keefe sweep” in the distance events. The sophomore ran 1:59.35 (IL #5) to win the 800 Meter Run more than a second ahead of Rochester’s Josh Cable (2:00.82). Will O’Keefe ran 4:29.81 to win the 1600 Meter Run more than three seconds ahead of Freeburg’s Charlie Parrish (4:33.26).

The Girls Friday night meet also had some great performances. Ozzy Erewele of Springfield High School ran 7.70 (IL #4) to win the 60 Meter Dash just three hundredths of a second ahead of Kiara Pauli from Dunlap High School (7.73, IL #8). The two athletes faced off again in the 200 Meter Dash with Erewele again coming across the line first (25.82, IL #7) ahead of Pauli (26.06). Maggie Schutte of Quincy High School was also a double winner running 9.24 (IL #5) to win the 60 Meter Hurdles and then jumping a personal best of 34-2 to win the Triple Jump.

Franny Verville of Dunlap was impressive in the 1600 Meter Run. She ran 5:12.20 to win ten seconds ahead of teammate Ayah Aldadah (5:22.28). Dunlap also had a good night in the relays running 1:45.88 (IL #2) to win the 800 Meter Relay ahead of Granite City who ran 1:46.57 (IL #8). Dunlap also ran the fastest 2A time in the state with 9:52.96 to win the 3200 Meter Relay.

The 1A Boys meet on Saturday showed that Illini West could be one of the favorites in that classification at state in May. Connor Artman led his team recording three individual wins. Artman jumped 22-2 (IL #5) to win the Long Jump. His efforts on the track were even more impressive. Artman ran 8.60 to win the 60-Meter High Hurdles and then came right back to run 7.14 to win the 60 Meter Dash ahead of New Berlin’s Kahlil Wassell (7.24) and Diondre Lewis of Warrensburg-Latham (7.25).

The 800 Meter Run had a close finish as Illini West’s Jacob Bryan won (2:02.79) just one hundredth of a second ahead of Carlinville’s Jason Landon (2:02.80). Wyatt McIntyre of Athens won the 1600 Meter Run (4:30.70) three seconds ahead of Bryan and Eli Ten Eyck of Pittsfield. Jace Norman of Illini West cleared 6-6 (IL #2 tie) to win the High Jump.

Only three hundredths of a second separated the first three finishers in the 400 Meter Dash as Diondre Lewis of Warrensburg-Lathan ran 53.87 finishing ahead of Jason Landon (53.88) and Diondre’s brother Dionte (53.90).

Warrensburg-Latham looked good in the 1A Girls Meet. Kathleen Young continued her dominance in the Shot Put as she had a 49-5.5 effort to win the event by more than 13 feet. Young currently has the second-best performance in the Shot Put nationally. Taylor George was a double winner running 8.16 to win the 60 Meter Dash and then 26.96 to win the 200 Meter Dash just four hundredths of a second ahead of Tori Keeler of Astoria.

DaeLin Switzer of St. Teresa and Ellie Niemann of Litchfield both cleared 5-4 in the High Jump with Switzer winning on fewer misses. Switzer jumped 5-7 at the Decatur Area Indoor Invitational last Wednesday. It is the second-best height in the state so far this indoor season.

Normal University Invitational @ Illinois State University

Riley Wells of Rockford Christian had the best performance in the Boys Meet. The sophomore ran 4:29.69 to win the 1600 Meter Run ahead of Justin Phillips of St. Joseph-Ogden (4:30.88). Myles Davis of Payton Prep in Chicago ran 7.01 (IL #5 tie) to win the 60 Meter Dash.

Ameia Wilson of Danville High School had a great double win in the sprints. She started by running 7.69 (IL #2) to win the 60 Meter Dash and then running 25.51 (IL #6) to win the 200 Meter Dash ahead of Urbana’s Jyana Anderson (25.90, IL #10). Mya Robinson of Thornton Township High School ran 9.18 (IL #3 tie) to win the 60 Meter Hurdles. Freshman Diamonasia Taylor of Urbana High School achieved a personal best of 5-6 (IL #3 tie) to win the High Jump.

Daly Galloway of Dwight High School ran 5:08.41 (IL #9) to win the 1600 Meter Run by 18 seconds ahead of Payton Prep’s Alana Chandler.

Rockford Auburn Girls Invitational

The Auburn High School indoor track was busy on Saturday hosting two meets. The morning session belonged to this meet. Courtney Sockwell of Rockford Lutheran, who is the 1A defending champion in the 100 and 200 Meter Dash, started her season by running 7.87 to win the 60 Meter Dash. 2A State Cross Country Champion Jenna Lutzow of Belvidere North ran 2:22.15 to win the 800 Meter Run. She finished 13 seconds ahead of teammate Mia Rodriguez.

Hononegah Girls Classic

The afternoon session at Auburn produced some great performances. West Aurora, who was without Dajour Miles who is nursing a hamstring injury, still took home the team title with 78 points. DeKalb scored 74 points to finish second.

Elizabeth Drab of St. Viator was All-State in three sprint in last year’s 2A state meet including winning the 400 Meter Dash. Drab looked strong in winning two events. It was close in the 400 Meter Dash as Drab ran 57.65 to win the event just ahead of West Aurora’s Tamia Rayford (57.84, IL #5). Drab came back to run 25.86 (IL #8) to win the 200 Meter Dash. Brimonet Buggs of DeKalb High School ran an indoor personal best of 25.96 to finish second.

Grace McLaughlin of Rockford Boylan Catholic had one of the best performances so far this indoor season in winning the 3200 Meter Run. The junior ran the second-best time in the state (10:42.18) to win the event lapping the field in the process on Auburn’s 200-meter track. McLaughlin’s teammate Delaney Appino ran 5:03.41 (IL #5) to win the 1600 Meter Run. Kudos also go out to Olivia Niziolek of Maine South who ran 5:08.38 (IL #8) to finish second.

Bloomington Lady Raider Invitational @ Illinois Wesleyan University

This meet at Illinois Wesleyan’s fast Shirk Center track produced some lightning quick sprint times. The star in the sprints was Tina Martin of Decatur Eisenhower. The junior ran 7.78 in the prelims of the 60 Meter Dash which would have been a top ten time in the state. She came back in the finals to run the state’s fastest time in the distance (7.64) to win the event. Kylie Welch of Bloomington High School ran 7.82 (IL #10). The two faced off in the 400 Meter Dash which proved to be a memorable race. Martin again had the upper hand for the win (56.74, IL #2) ahead of Welch who is the 3A defending champion in the event. Welch finished second with an indoor personal best of 57.34 seconds (IL #4). Welch came back later in the meet to easily win the 200 Meter Dash (25.88, IL #9).

Parker Francisco of St. Joseph-Ogden ran 9.18 (IL #3 tie) to win the 60 Meter Hurdles. Kameesha Smith of Thornwood cleared 5-6 to win the High Jump. Serena Bolden of Springfield Southeast achieved a personal best of 18-4.25 (IL #5) to win the Long Jump.

York Girls Invitational #3

The same track that produced some fast times in the Boys Invitational the night before gave us some fast times in this meet especially in the distance events. Brooke Wilson of Prospect ran 5:02.71 (IL #3) to win the 1600 Meter Run. Teagan Beckley of Hersey achieved a personal best of 5:05.83 (IL #6) to finish second in the race. The 800 Meter Run was extremely close as Marne Sullivan of New Trier ran 2:20.11 (IL #6) to edge Emma Moravec of Downers Grove North for the win by one hundredth of a second. Moravec’s time of 2:20.11 is seventh fastest indoors in the state.

Hailey Bowes of Hersey won a close 3200 Meter run as four seconds separated the first three runners. Bowes ran 11:02.65 (IL #5) for the win with Caroline Fix of New Trier (11:03.54, IL #6) and Sarah Harden of Hersey (11:06.76, IL #9) finishing second and third. Annie Walsh of Prospect was a double winner in the sprints running 7.35 (IL #8) to win the 55 Meter Dash and then later in the meet winning the 200 Meter Dash (26.02). Sonia Slusarczyk of Lyons Township ran 8.93 to win the 55 Meter Hurdles (IL #10).

Homewood-Flossmoor Boys ABC Invitational

Tyler Elmore of Bolingbrook High School led a charge of fast performances in this meet Friday evening. Elmore won the 60 Meter Dash over a state-class field including Aaron Westmoreland of Crete-Monee, who has the #2 time in the 55 Meter Dash in the state, Mitch West of Montini Catholic, and Jesuseun Adeyiga of Homewood-Flossmoor. Elmore’s winning time of 6.96 (IL #4) was just sixth hundredths of a second ahead of Wesmoreland (IL #8 tie). Elmore came back to blaze a quick 22.53 (IL #6) just one hundredth of a second ahead of Westmoreland (IL #7).

Tyler Robinson of Homewood-Flossmoor ran the state’s fastest FAT time in the 600 Meter Dash last week at Lockport. He won the 400 Meter Dash in 51.16 (IL #7). Nick Miranda, who ran for Lincoln-Way North last year but now running for Lincoln-Way East, ran 51.57 to finish second.

Danny Peterson of Fremd ran 4:23.58 (IL #3) to win the 1600 Meter Run edging Jack Aho of Grayslake Central by less than half a second (4:23.97, IL #4). Aho, the two-time 2A state cross country champion, earlier in the meet ran 9:51.96 to win the 3200 Meter Run.

The best field event competition of the night was in the Shot Put. Ethan Hanson of Fremd achieved a new indoor personal best of 59-10.5 (IL #3) to win the Shot Put just 6.5 inches ahead of Lockport’s John Meyer.