By Michael Newman, ILXCTF.com Editor

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Friday morning started out with thunderstorms in the Charleston area delayed the meet twice. By the time the storm clouds disappeared, great performances started to appear from every part of Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium.

The big story heading into this meet was whether Homewood-Flossmoor’s Jaimie Robinson would be able to win four individual events. It is still possible after Friday’s 3A prelims as she advanced in all four of her qualified events for Saturday’s finals.

Robinson is a good bet to win the Long Jump after she jumped 19-10.5 to lead all qualifiers to the finals. Allison Woerner of Chatham-Glenwood is her closes challenger as she jumped a personal best 19-3.5. Defending 3A champion Hannah Morris is currently fourth jumping 18-10.25. Robinson was even more commanding in the Triple Jump. Her 41-11 jump that put her in the lead was not perfect as she took off more than a foot behind the board. She leads that event by four feet.

Her toughest challenge could be in the 100 Meter Dash where again she had the fastest prelim time (11.86) in winning her heat. Five other runners are within six hundredths of a second of her lead by Danville sophomore Ameia Wilson (11.88).

Robinson had the second fastest time in the 200 Meter Dash (24.48). Defending 3A champion Amira Young of Whitney Young had the fastest qualifying time in the event (24.47).

Homewood-Flossmoor’s chances for a state title took a setback when they dropped the baton on the first exchange of their heat in the 400 Meter Relay failing to advance to the finals. He Vikings did advance to Saturday in the 800 Meter Relay.

The 3A team battle is still up for grabs. East St. Louis-Senior advanced seven to the finals including both of their relays. Naperville North is a team to watch as they advanced nine to the finals. Glenbard West is still in the mix with eight total qualifiers.

The story for Glenbard West was another amazing double by their freshman Katelynne Hart. She took the baton in third heading into the final 800-meters of the 3200 Meter Relay. She ran a 2:13 split passing Schaumburg’s Madison Marasco to give Glenbard West the win (9:21.54) ahead of Schaumburg (9:21.99) and Hinsdale Central (9:22.38).

Hart came back to lead all qualifiers in the 1600 Meter Run as she won her heat running 4:53.79. they were fast prelims as Isabelle Christiansen of Oswego was the final qualifier running 5:00.86. Hart will run in the 3200 Meter Relay, 3200 Meter Run, and the 1600 Meter Run on Saturday.

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Dunlap put themselves in great position to win the 2A state title in the morning session of the meet as they advanced 16 to Saturday’s finals including all four of their relays. The Eagles had the fastest relay time in the 400 Meter Relay (48.39) and the 1600 Meter Relay (3:57.91).

Three-time defending champion Cahokia could pick up their fourth straight 2A title as they qualified ten to the Saturday finals led by Mariya Hudson qualifying in four events as well as LaQwasia Stepney in three events.

Hudson will be a part of an electrifying 100 Meter Dash final as evidenced by some great times in the 100 Meter Dash. The senior ran 11.64 to win Heat 3 of the event. A couple of minutes later, Katina Martin of Decatur Eisenhower ran 11.66 to win Heat 4.

The two will face-off towards the end of the meet in the 200 Meter Dash. Hudson led all qualifiers when she ran 24.42 to win the final heat of the event. Martin won Heat 2 in 24.68. Martin’s sister Tina ran 24.75 to win Heat 3.