By Michael Newman, ILXCTF.com Editor

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There are so many scenarios to look at when trying to decide if there is a clear favorite for the IHSA 3A Girls State Championships. Here are some of the questions for these teams:

Homewood-Flossmoor: Will someone else score other than Jaimie Robinson? The senior qualified for in four individual events where she hopes for 4 state titles. The Vikings will need points from their relays. 

East St. Louis-Senior: Can the Flyers win the state crown? It is possible. They need a good Friday where their relays advance. Big points in the weight events plus big points from Rokelle Stanley could mean wonderful things for Eastside. 

West Aurora: Is his team just Dajour Miles? Not really. Miles could win three events but West Aurora will need help from Tamia Rayford in the 100 and 400 as well as their 400 Meter Relay.

Naperville North: Are the Lady Huskies overrated? No. It perhaps is the opposite where they are not getting any respect. They will get big points in the distance events as well with Halle Bieber in the hurdles and their relays. It could be enough to get into the top three.

Glenbard West: How much heart does this team have? Plenty. Katelynne Hart could push to three wins plus help from Lindsey Payne and Janie Nabholz. It is tough for a distance only team to win state. This squad could.

Here is a deeper looker at some of the teams that will contend for the 3A state championship.

3A Teams to Watch

Homewood-Flossmoor

1^st – Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional

Qualifiers – 10 Total (7 Individuals, 3 Relays)

Overview – One of the teams looked at for the 3A state championship. It starts with Jaimie Robinson as she looks to win four individual events. Robinson can just have an average day and still win the Triple Jump. She also has the best sectional performance in the Long Jump by more than a foot and should be the favorite in that event. Robinson has the top sectional time in what will be a loaded 100 Meter Dash. She also has the top sectional time in the 200 Meter Dash where she will be one of the favorites.

It will take more than just Robinson to win his state championship. Their 400 Meter Relay has the fourth fastest sectional & 3A time and will need big points from that event. Their 800 Meter Relay has also the fourth fastest sectional time and will need to match that seed placing. Olivia Oliver qualified for the 100 Meter Dash and Trelyn Newkirk qualified for the 200 Meter Dash. One of those athletes need to advance from Friday’s prelims in order for this team to contend for a state title.

East St. Louis-Senior

1^st – Belleville West Sectional

Qualifiers – 11 Total (9 Individuals, 2 Relays)

Overview – The Lady Flyers had a good meet advancing 11 to Charleston winning the sectional title. One thing that could haunt this squad is the bad exchange in the 400 Meter Relay that prevented them to qualify in that event. It would have made them the prohibitive favorite to capture the state crown. They still have the athletes to bring back the state championship to the St. Louis Metro area.

Junior Rokelle Stanley has the fastest 3A time in the 300 Hurdles and will be the favorite. She also is ranked third in the 100 Hurdles where she could pick up some big points. She could be part of both qualifying relays. The 1600 Meter Relay has the best 3A time by three seconds and will be tough to beat. Their 800 Meter Relay is one of the top five squads in 3A. Watch for them to pick up points in that event. Jazzmine Poole achieved the longest 3A throw in the Discus last week. She will be one of the favorites this weekend. Evangelynn Harris has the top 3A throw this season in the Shot Put. She could pick up big points. The Lady Flyers could also get points from Jariah Turner in the 400 Meter Dash and Nicquayleeontea Moore in the 100 Meter Dash. Ahmia Dorsey finishing in the top nine in the Triple Jump could be a bonus.

West Aurora

1^st – Bartlett Sectional

Qualifiers – 14 Total – (12 Individuals, 2 Relays)

Overview – The meet this weekend could show that this team is more than super-soph Dajour Miles. The Blackhawks could leave Charleston with a trophy. It could be the state championship.

Miles will be one of the favorites in all three sprint events with chances good that she could win the 400 Meter Dash. Senior Tamia Rayford has one of the top five 3A times this season and could pick up some big points. It would be a bonus for her to advance to the Saturday finals in the 100 Meter Dash. The two athletes will be part of a 400 Meter Relay team that could finish could finish third or better. Rajiah Andrews qualified in four events. She could score in both the 100 and 300 Meter Hurdles. It would be a bonus if she scores in the Long Jump. Abby Kuhn could also score in the Pole Vault.

Naperville North

1^st – Ottawa Sectional

Qualifiers – 13 Total (9 Individuals, 4 Relays)

Overview – You can’t call the DuPage Valley champs a sleeper or a surprise if they win the 3A State title. The Huskies have the athletes to come away with the state title to match the one they won last fall during cross country.

It all starts with their strong and deep distance team. They have the third fastest 3A time in the 3200 Meter Relay and will be one of the favorites in that event. Sarah Schmitt and Alex Morris are ranked among the top four in the 3200 Meter Relay and together pick up double-digit points. Claire Hamilton could challenge for the title in the 1600 Meter Run with Hannah Ricci also finishing in the top five. Halle Bieber is one of the best in 3A in the 300 Hurdles. She is one of the favorites in that event. Their 800 Meter Relay is the best chance of the three other qualifying relays to score points. It would be a bonus if Sarah Wastek scores in the Shot Put.

Glen Ellyn Glenbard West

2^nd – York Sectional

Qualifiers – 9 Total (6 Individuals, 3 Relays)

Overview – Freshman Katelynne Hart has been one of the big stories his 2017 season with her performances in the distance events. She could push the Hilltoppers to a place on the award stand on Saturday. Hart is the big favorite in the 3200 Meter Run and could also win the 1600 Meter Run. She has the fastest time in the state in both events. Hart also ran the anchor leg in the 3200 Meter Relay in which West won. They could also win that event.

Lindsey Payne qualified in the 3200 Meter Run and the 1600 Meter Run and should score points in both events. Janie Nabholz has come on strong at the end of the year and could score points in the 800 Meter Run. The Hilltoppers could get bonus points from Ashley Samuta in the Triple Jump as well as the 1600 Meter Relay.

O’Fallon

2^nd – Belleville West Sectional

Qualifiers – 12 Total (9 Individuals, 3 Relays)

Overview – The Panthers could sneak into the top three off strong performances in the sprints. O’Fallon has the fastest times in the 400 and 800 Relays in the state and will be the favorites in both events. You could also see them finish in the top five in the 1600 Meter Relay. Tamya Houston could score in both the 100 and 200 Meter Dash. Kersten Douglas also qualified in both events. It could be a bonus if she makes the finals in one or both events. Mackenzie Ryan is a possibility of points in the 100 Hurdles. Mya Watson-Blake could also get points for her team in the High Jump.

Downers Grove North

2^nd – Downers Grove South Sectional

Qualifiers – 7 Total (4 Individuals, 3 Relays)

Overview – The Trojans could be a surprise in this meet. Emma Moravec has the top sectional time in the 800 Meter Run and will be one of the favorites. Gina Kowalewicz also qualified at that distance and could be a surprise in the event. Isabel Maletich qualified in both horizontal jumps events. Watch for her to finish in the top four in both the Long and Triple Jump. Their 1600 Meter Relay ran the second fastest sectional time and could put up big points in that event. Their 800 Meter Relay could also advance to Saturday’s finals.

Bolingbrook

1^st – Downers Grove South Sectional

Qualifiers – 11 Total (10 Individuals, 1 Relay)

Overview – The Raiders will need a good weekend to finish among the top five teams. Kayla Walters will be one to watch in the 100 Hurdles. She could also score in the 300 Hurdles. Claire Young could be among the top five in the High Jump. It would be a bonus for points from her in the 200 Meter Dash. Kayla Perry could be among the finalists in the 400 Meter Dash. She could also finish in the top five in the Long Jump. They could also make the finals in the 400 Meter Relay.

Frankfort Lincoln-Way East

4^th – Downers Grove South Sectional

Qualifiers – 8 Total (6 Individuals, 2 Relays)

Overview – The three-time defending 3A state champs had a tough sectional but still have the athletes to finish among the top five this weekend. Ololade Ayoola could place high in the High Jump as well as scoring in the 400 Meter Dash. Ayoola was not part of East’s 1600 Meter Relay that was third in the meet and produced the fifth fastest 3A time in the state. They could be among the favorites in that event. Maddy Zednick surprised some by winning the 300 Hurdles. She could pick up points in that event. It would also be a bonus if she makes it to the finals in the 100 Hurdles. Lauren LaDere could also finish in the top five in the Shot Put.

Lockport Township

3^rd – Downers Grove South Sectional

Qualifiers – 9 Total (7 Individuals, 2 Relays)

Overview – The Lady Porters could push for a finish in the top five. Their 3200 Meter Relay has the fifth fastest sectional time and could contend for the state title. Jaclyn Greci could be among the top runners in the 400 Meter Dash. She could also pick up points in both the 100 and 200 Meter Dash. Their 1600 Meter Relay could challenge for the state title. Kayla Isom is a possibility to get points in the 800 Meter Run.