By Michael Newman

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Weather cooperated for the second week in a row giving athletes a chance for great performances. Illinois athletes are climbing up the national leaderboards with many of them in the top ten.

 

Here are summaries of some of the top meets that took place throughout Illinois this week as well as Illinois athletes performing at meets outside of the state. You can read about the Bruce Ritter Invitational here.

 

 

Granite City Invitational

 

If there is anyone in Illinois doubting that Cahokia has the best team in the state, maybe they should look at the results of this meet. The Comanches flexed their muscles taking advantage of some great weather to put up some state leading performances. They easily won the team championship even without jumps star Ja’Mari Ward just concentrating on the relays at this meet. The 4x1 and 4x2 relays produced state top performances. Their 400 relay ran the state’s best time (41.31) winning the race by more than a second ahead of Belleville West (42.44). Cahokia’s 800 Meter Relay was just as dominant also running the state’s best time (1:27.31) in finishing almost two seconds ahead of Collinsville. Their 1600 relay ran the state’s second fastest time (3:19.22) in winning the race by more than nine seconds ahead of Troy Triad. It was closer for Cahokia in the 3200 Relay as they ran 8:01.42 to win the race by four seconds ahead of Granite City.

 

Keveion Akins (Cahokia HS) had a great triple in this meet. He started by finishing second in the 100 Meter Dash only three hundredths of a second behind Andre McGill (Madison HS). McGill’s winning time was 10.98. Akins had a breakout race in the 400 Meter Dash running 48.96 (IL #7) to win the race by a tenth of a second ahead of Tyler Higgins (Highland HS). Akins ran a seasonal best 21.77 to win the 200 Meter Dash a tenth ahead of McGill.

 

Chris Stanley (Cahokia HS) held off fellow sophomore Will O’Keefe (Granite City HS) to win the 800 Meter Run (1:57.64 – 1:57.82). Ricky Nelson (West HS, Belleville) dominated the weight events winning the Shot Put with a seasonal best 56-10 ½ put (IL #5). He as 10 inches ahead of Daniall Akins (Cahokia HS). Nelson came back to win the Discus (168-10, IL #8). Darryl Sullivan (Marion HS) won the High Jump clearing 6-10 for the second time this season. Wes Schoenthal (Edwardsville HS) continued on his distance success winning the 1600 Meter Run (4:18.83, IL #4) eight seconds ahead of Waterloo’s Lance Mueller.

 

 

Gus Scott Co-Ed Invitational

 

In this Co-Ed ABC Meet Friday night at Naperville North, Oak Park-River Forest dominated winning three of the four Boys relays. The Huskies started off the meet winning the 3200 relay (8:00.41) six seconds ahead of New Trier. OPRF’s 400 Meter Relay dominated their event winning their race (42.88, IL #10) by more than a second ahead of Jacobs. They also won the 800 Meter Relay (1:29.75) by more than a second ahead of Waubonsie Valley. The outcome was different in the 1600 relay as the Huskies finished second behind Jacobs (3:23.6, IL #7).

 

Oak Park also received a win by Chris-Wright-Madison in the High Jump. The senior achieved a new personal best (6-9) finishing ahead of teammate Kenny Brown who also achieved a personal best clearing 6-7. Irwin Loud (Oak Park-River Forest HS) won the 1600 Meter Run (4:24.01) winning by more than a second ahead of Jon Klaiber (North HS, Naperville). Ty Seager (Wheaton Academy HS, West Chicago) was a double winner winning the 100 Meter Dash (11.03) and the 200 Meter Dash (22.28).

 

The distance races were in the spotlight in the Girls meet. Lauren Van Vlierbergen (Jacobs HS, Algonquin) and Judy Pendergast (North HS, Naperville) ran the top two times so far this season in the 1600 Meter Run. Van Vlierbergen ran 4:54.88 to win the race by more than a second ahead of Pendergast (4:56.53). Naperville North had the top three times in the 3200 Meter Run producing three times in top 15 state wide. Claire Hamilton (10:59.76) ran the fastest time in the Girls 3200 in the meet. Naperville North’s 3200 relay dominated their race running a solo 9:39.23 in winning by 38 seconds ahead of Cary-Grove.

 

The times were in fast in the 800 Meter Run. Morgan Schulz (Cary-Grove HS) ran an outdoor seasonal best (2:14.92, IL #3) to win the race ahead of Torree Scull (St. Charles East HS) by three tenths of a second (2:15.30, IL #4). Schulz came back to win the 300 Hurdles (43.73, IL #2) by more than three seconds ahead of Emma Jones (Benet Academy HS, Lisle). Nikki Freeman (Cary-Grove HS) won both weight events winning the Shot Put (37-10) and the Discus (133-10).

 

 

Capital City Classic

 

The Springfield meet once again produced some top performances within the state. Cory Lockhart (Bloomington HS) was the meet’s only individual double winner. The sophomore won the 100 Meter Dash (10.94) eleven hundredths of a second ahead of Vincent Gordon (Centennial HS, Champaign). Lockhart came back to win the 200 Meter Dash (21.99) winning by more than half a second. Carl Klamm (Evanston Township HS) easily won the 400 Meter Dash (49.01, IL #8) by more than two seconds ahead of teammate Collin Watson. The two were part of the Wildkits winning 1600 Meter Relay. Evanston ran 3:21.98 (IL #4) to win by more than four seconds ahead of Bloomington. Evanston also won the 400 Meter Relay (42.95) and the 800 Meter Relay (1:30.48) finishing ahead of Belleville East in both races.

 

Heath Warren (Springfield HS) continues to emerge as one of the top distance runners in the state. Warren won the 800 Meter Run (1:55.05, IL #4). Josh Cable (Rochester HS) ran 1:56.37 to finish second. Cable’s time is the fastest nationally for a freshman. William Session (East HS, Belleville) won the 110 Meter High Hurdles (14.49) as Roland Amartefio (Evanston Township HS) finished second running 14.87. Amarteifio turned the tables winning the 300 Meter Hurdles (39.12) three tenths of a second ahead of Session.

 

 

Barrington Girls Invitational

 

Great performances at this Friday night meet delayed by a finish line camera malfunction. Someone unplugged it to charge up their phone. Brittny Ellis (Warren Township, Gurnee)was a double winner running the state’s fastest time to win the 400 Meter Dash (54.80) in a race where five runners dipped under a minute. Ellis also won the 100 Meter Dash (12.18) ahead of Nina Hodges (Barrington HS). Hodges came back to win the 200 Meter Dash (25.54).

 

Barrington captured three out of four relays in this meet. The Fillies won the 400 Meter Dash (48.98) ahead of Warren’s 49.54 second place finish. Barrington won the 800 Meter Relay (1:45.17) more than a second ahead of New Trier. The Fillies finished the night winning the 1600 Meter Relay (3:57.22) winning by five seconds ahead of Warren. New Trier won the 3200 Meter Relay (9:44.23) finishing more than four seconds ahead of Hoffman Estates.

 

The 1600 & 3200 were good and deep in this meet as seven runners dipped under 11:40 in the 3200 and six under 5:20 in the 1600. Mimi Smith (New Trier HS, Winnetka) ran the third fastest time in the state were three runners went under 11 minutes in that race. Smith’s time of 10:47.13 was five seconds faster than second place Alondra Aguirre (Hoffman Estates HS) who ran 10:52.98). Rachael Lau (Plainfield North HS) also dipped under 11 minutes running 10:54.99 to finish third. Meagan Biddle (Hoffman Estates HS) ran 5:03.07 (IL #3) to win the 1600 Meter Run by more than ten seconds ahead of Lau and Aguirre.

 

 

Minooka Co-Ed Invitational (Girls Friday, Boys Saturday)

 

This two day meet featured the Girls meet on Friday night. Host Minooka had two individual double winners in the meet. Ashleigh Wilson won the 400 Meter Dash (57.22, IL #5) then came back to win the 200 Meter Dash (25.44). Mackenzie Callahan won the 800 Meter Run (2:17.40) ahead of Nikki Cast (Metea Valley HS, Aurora) who was under 2:20 in this race (2:19.74). Callahan won a close 1600 Meter Run (5:11.41) ahead of teammate Emily Shelton (5:12.58) and Cast (5:12.64).

 

Plainfield South swept all four relays winning the 3200 Meter Relay (9:49.31), 400 Meter Relay (51.03), the 800 Meter Relay (1:48.25), and the 1600 Meter Relay (4:06.56).

 

Huntley edged Minooka for the Boys team championship in a meet that had some great performances. Peter Andreano (Minnoka HS) was a triple winner taking fist in the High Jump (6-5), Long Jump (21-5 ¾), and the Triple Jump (42-11 ¾). Connor Boos (Huntley HS) is starting to step up on the center stage in the sprints. Boos was a double winner in the 100 Meter Dash (10.89) finishing four hundredths of a second faster than Jack Machometa (McHenry HS). Boos came back to win the 200 Meter Dash (22.15). Alex Lima (Lyons Township HS, LaGrange) dropped down to the 400 Meter Dash winning that race with a personal best 49.69.

 

Minooka and Plainfield South split the four relay events winning two each. Plainfield South ran a season’s best 8:01.28 to win the 3200 Meter Relay ahead of McHenry. The Cougars also bested McHenry winning the 800 Meter Relay (1:30.12). Host Minooka grabbed the 400 Meter Relay (42.11) with the best 3A time in the state. The Indians held off Plainfield South to win the 1600 Meter Relay (3:22.94 – 3:23.33).

 

Jones College Prep went 1-2 in the 800 Meter Run led by Mark Protsiv (1:56.91) and Will Sarchet (1:57.16). Huntley took the other two distance races. Seth Conroy won the 3200 Meter Run (9:36.34) by 12 seconds ahead of Vince Arata (Lyons Township HS, LaGrange). Five runners went under 4:23 in a close 1600 Meter race. Keagan Smith ran 4:18.49 (IL #3) to finish three seconds ahead of John Partee (Plainfield South HS) and Soren Knudsen (Minooka HS).

 

 

Bud Mohns Invitational

 

 

Kahamri Montgomery (Plainfield Central HS) forecasted what he would do in this meet with great performances in a quad meet at Oswego earlier in the meet. In that meet, Montgomery ran 10.3 in the 100, 20.8 in the 200, and 48.6 in the 400 (all hand timed). He was unchallenged on Saturday easily winning the 400 Meter Dash in a state best time (48.28) as well as the 200 Meter Dash in a wind legal 21.05 to win that race by almost two seconds. Defending 3A 110 Meter Hurdles champion Antonio Shenault (Lake Park HS, Roselle) returned to the track after missing all of indoor season with an ankle injury. He won the 110 Meter Hurdles (14.65) after running 14.64 in his preliminary heat. He also anchored Lake Park’s 400 Meter Relay coming from behind to catch York for win (43.92 – 44.00).

 

Defending 3A state champion York won the meet ahead of Lake Park without Matt Plowman in their lineup. Plowman punched his ticket to the adidas Dream Mile by winning the 1600 Meter Run at the Kansas Relays Friday afternoon. The York senior found the pace to his liking as the pace went through the first three laps in 3:12 with Plowman waiting to make his move. He did that with 250 meters to go. He pulled away to win (4:11.43) by more than a second ahead of Ben Barrett (Norman North HS OK). Bryce Richards (Mundelein HS) ran a personal best 4:13.73 to finish third in that race.

 

The absence of Plowman gave York athletes an opportunity to step up in the distance races. Max Denning ran a 1:57.3 second leg and Charlie Kern ran a 1:58.5 anchor to give York the win in the 3200 Meter Relay (7:57.01, IL #4). Kern came back later in the meet to win the 1600 Meter Run (4:26.38) holding off Jack Lalonde (Downers Grove South HS). Alex Sepanski (York HS, Elmhurst) pulled away in the last 200 meters to win the 800 Meter Run (2:01.94). Chris Brenk and Josh Feldman (Hinsdale Central HS) ran a good tactical 3200 Meter Run sitting on York’s Jon May’s shoulder until the final 100 meters to go 1-2 in the race. Brenk’s winning time was 9:36.91 with Feldman close behind.

 

Alex Teague (York HS, Elmhurst) dominated the 100 Meter Dash running the fifth fastest time in the state this year regardless of conditions (10.72). Teague also was part of York’s winning 800 Meter Relay (1:30.65). Lake Park dominated the weight events. Mike Prestigiacoma had the longest throw in the state (191-10) in winning the Discus. Dylan Schierich won the Shot Put (55-8 ¾).

 

 

Galesburg ABC Invitational

 

 

Josh Eiker (Galesburg HS) took advantage of near perfect conditions Friday night putting up two state leading times. He dominated the 100 Meter Dash running a wind legal and state leading 10.58 seconds. The junior won the 200 Meter Dash by almost two seconds when he ran a then state leading 21.05 with no wind. Tevin Taylor also took advantage of the weather winning three events. He jumped a personal best 23-4 ¾ to win the Long Jump, a personal best 45-7 ¾ to win the Triple Jump, and cleared 13-0 to win the Pole Vault.

 

 

Bartlett Flyin’ Hawk Invitational (at Streamwood HS)

 

Cory Hertz (Lakes HS, Lake Villa) was a double winner and almost won a third at this meet Saturday afternoon. Hertz ran a season’s outdoor best 49.46 (IL #12) to win the 400 Meter Dash. He finished second in the 100 Meter Dash (10.88) as Shandall Thomas (Schaumburg HS) won the race (10.80). The 200 Meter Dash was loaded with three runners finishing under 22.1. Hertz won the race with the fourth fastest time this season regardless of conditions (21.49). Bryce Petty (Bartlett HS) ran a personal best 21.74 in finishing second. Thomas finished third (22.09).

 

Ryan Mullen conquered the weight events winning the Shot Put (53-9 ½) and the Discus (170-1, IL #6). Chris Douglas (Deerfield HS) was a double winner winning the 110 High Hurdles (14.63) and the 300 Intermediate Hurdles (39.07). Charles Nash (Deerfield HS) ran a big PR (4:22.07) to win the 1600 Meter Run by 10 seconds.

 

 

Homewood-Flossmoor Boys Invitational

 

Elijah Douglas (Crete Monee HS) was a triple individual winner as well as being part of his team’s winning 400 Meter Relay. Douglas won the Long Jump (22-2 ¾) and then got onto the track. He won the 110 High Hurdles (14.61) and the 300 Hurdles (39.07). Three athletes were under 22 seconds in the 200 Meter Dash. Marquise Peggs (Mt. Carmel HS, Chicago) ran 21.81 for the win only three hundredths ahead of Dwight Johnson (Thornwood HS, South Holland). Camron Harrell (Bradley-Bourbonnais HS) finished third (21.91). Earlier in the meet, Harrell won the 100 Meter Dash (10.85). Emmanuel Spearman (Homewood-Flossmoor HS) won the 400 Meter Dash (49.05, IL #9).

 

 

Mike VanDeever Invitational (at Geneva)

 

Kelly O’Brien (Palatine HS) doubled back from the Bruce Ritter Invitational the night before to win the 800 Meter Run (2:16.35) nine seconds ahead of teammate Kara Burton. McKenzie Altmayer (Geneva HS) won the 3200 Meter Run (11:09.68) in a personal best. She came back to finish second in the 1600 Meter Run two seconds behind St. Charles North’s Audrey Ernst 5:13.24 winning time. Lucas Ege (Burlington Central HS) celebrated signing his national letter of intent with Stanford by winning two races in this Co-Ed meet. He ran the fourth fastest time in the state regardless of conditions (14.56) to win the 110 High Hurdles. He came back to win the 300 Intermediate Hurdles (39.01, IL #5). Josh Pelock (St. Charles North HS) cleared a personal best 14-10 (IL #6) to win the Pole Vault.

 

 

Oswego East Girls Invitational

 

Jessica Watkins (Bolingbrook HS) ran a seasonal best 12.12 to win the 100 Meter Dash ahead of Hannah Schlaman (Batavia HS). Schlaman also finished second in the 200 Meter Dash behind Rich South’s Amber Jones (24.83). Only two seconds separated the first four runners in the 400 Meter Dash. Kammeesha Smith (Thornwood HS, South Holland) crossed the line first (58.34). Freshman Imani Carothers (Brooks College Prep, Chicago) won the 100 Hurdles (14.81) with the fourth fastest time in the state so far this season.

 

 

Rock Island Girls ABC Invitational

 

Jayla Stewart (Homewood-Flossmoor HS) had two individual wins Saturday in western Illinois. The senior won her specialty event, the 100 Hurdles, by almost a second ahead of Jewel Jones (Rock Island HS). Stewart’s time (14.19) is the fastest in the state so far this season. She came back in the 200 Meter Dash (25.60). Ayaiko Higuchi (Fremd HS, Palatine) looked impressive winning a solo 1600 Meter Run (5:05.38). Michaela Smith (Lake Park HS, Roselle) won both the Shot Put (39-9 ½) and the Discus (126-4).

 

 

Windy City Relays

 

Briana Driver (Mother McAuley HS, Chicago) popped a huge jump at this meet. Her wind legal 19-8 ½ jump (IL #1, US #7) won the event by two feet ahead of Cheyenne White (Waukegan HS). Jaimie Robinson (DeLaSalle Institute, Chicago) also had a big day winning the Triple Jump (39-2). Indiana swept the 100’s. Carlton Sims (Westside HS, Gary) won the Boys race (10.92) six hundredths ahead of Dewayne Collins (Phillips Academy, Chicago). Antonise Christian (West Side HS, Gary IN) won the Girls race (11.94) ahead of Makayla Pierce (Westinghouse HS, Chicago) and Kelsie Prear (Morgan Park HS, Chicago).

 

 

Wheaton North Falcon & Blue Invitational

 

Natajah Simmons (Oswego HS) crossed the line first twice in winning the 100 Meter Dash (12.48) and the 200 Meter Dash (25.06). Samara Miller (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville) ran 58.50 (IL #13) to win the 400 Meter Dash. Miller finished second in the 200 Meter Dash behind Simmons. Maine South ran a season’s best 9:43.28 to win the 3200 Meter Relay ahead of Oswego (9:50.21) and Wheaton-Warrenville South (9:55.60).

 

Maya Neal (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville) won both the 300 Hurdles (44.14, IL #3) and the Long Jump (18-6). It was close in the 100 Meter Hurdles. Shaliyah Dixon-Tucker (Downers Grove South HS) edged Neal to win by one hundredth of a second (14.95-14.96).

 

 

Monticello Boys Invitational

 

Andrew Warnes (Tolono Unity HS) stepped up to the 1600 Meter Run winning the event (4:22.53) ten seconds ahead of Marcus Skinner (Shelbyville HS). Warnes currently has the state’s fastest 1A time in the event. Eric Ponder (Tuscola HS) also recorded a 1A best time winning the 3200 Meter Run (9:34.48) eleven seconds ahead of second place Matt Norvell (Monticello HS). Arcola will be a team to watch in the 1A relays. They won the 400 Relay (43.71) eight hundredths ahead of St. Joseph-Ogden. The margin was just as close in the 1600 Relay as Arcola edged SJO by thirteen hundredths of a second (3:28.39 – 3:28.52).

 

 

Matt Wulf Invitational

 

Luke and Jake Hoffert (Yorkville HS) crossed the line at the same time (4:18.97, IL #5) in the 1600 Meter Run with Luke being given the win. Aaron Harris (Lisle HS) swept the sprints winning the 100 Meter Dash (11.19), 200 Meter Dash (22.43), and 400 Meter Dash (50.25). Quinn Halverson (Rockford Christian HS) cleared a personal best 6-6 to win the High Jump. Karina Liz (Aurora Christian) ran the state’s fastest time in winning the 800 Meter Run (2:13.64) ahead of Yorkville’s Skyler Bollinger (2:17.25, IL #6). Liz came back to win the 400 Meter Dash (59.22).

 

 

Tolono Unity Girls Invitational

 

Jenny Kimbro (Sidell Jamaica HS) had a great night running near state best times in the hurdles. She started off by running the state’s second fastest time in the 100 Hurdles (14.41). She came back to win the 300 Hurdles (43.55) with the state’s fastest time (43.55). Her teammate Abby Nicholson was also a double winner winning the Shot Put (39-7) and the Discus (130-5). Amanda McClain (Sullivan HS) came out on top in two events. She won the Long Jump (16-8) followed by a win in the 400 Meter Dash (57.85, IL 1A #1). McClain was surprised in the 200 Meter Dash finishing second (25.91) behind the 25.75 winning time of Lizzie Rupkey (Monticello HS). Rupkey ran 12.39 in the 100 prelims. She won the finals (12.41) ahead of Emily Neuhauser (Sullivan HS).

 

 

Midwest Prep Invitational (Indianapolis IN)

 

Illinois athletes headed to the Indiana capital and brought back some good performances. Jenny Kimbro (Sidell Jamaica HS) came back from some super performances the night before at Tolono to win both hurdle events in this meet. She ran 14.52 to win the 100 Hurdles and 44.27 to win the 300 Hurdles. Her teammate Abby Nicholson also was a winner in the Discus (121-6). Nicholson finished second in the Shot Put behind the 39-9 winning put of Genara Garcia (Evanston Township HS). Kierra Griggs (Bloom Township HS, Chicago Heights) ran a seasonal best 57.75 to win the 400 Meter Dash. She also ran on the winning 1600 Meter team of Bloom (3:56.86, IL #2) that won by more than 10 seconds.

 

 

Glenbard South Lady Raider Invitational

 

Julia Junkroski (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort) cleared a season’s best 12-8 (IL #1) to win the Pole Vault. Lincoln-Way East had two double winners in this meet. Ololade Ayoola won the High Jump (5-2) and the 400 Meter Dash (58.36). Asia Brown swept the sprints winning the 100 Meter Dash (12.62) and the 200 Meter Dash (25.77). Mercedes Whitaker (Glenbard South HS, Glen Ellyn) was the meet’s other double champion winning the Shot Put (38-1 ½) and the Discus (108-6).

 

 

Metea Valley Boys Invitational

 

Ty Moss (Neuqua Valley HS) stepped up to the 1600 Meter Run in this meet but the outcome was still the same. Moss won the race (4:25.41) ahead of Joseph Suarez (Plainfield East HS) and Brady Bobbitt (Marmion Academy, Aurora). Earlier in the meet, Bobbitt won the 3200 Meter Run (9:33.45) thirteen seconds ahead of Jack Sebok (Plainfield North HS). Zac Espinosa (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville) ran a season’s best 22.01 to win the 200 Meter Dash. Prince Smith (Plainfield East HS) was a close second (22.11). Thomas Harris (Plainfield North HS) ran 11.05 to win the 100 Meter Dash. Harris was also a part of Plainfield North’s winning 800 Meter Relay (1:29.49, IL #6). They won the race by seven hundredths of a second ahead of Plainfield East (1:29.56, IL #7).

 

 

Lane Tech Boys Quint

 

Three runners went under 1:58 in this small meet at Lane Stadium. Pavlo Hutsalyuk (Lane Tech HS, Chicago) won the race (1:55.73, IL #6) by two seconds ahead of the Whitney Young duo of Kevin Ma (1:57.59) and Kaduse Worku (1:57.87).