Gene Armer Invitational: Super Hot Performances Highlight ‘The Last Chance’ Weekend

Complete Results & Coverage index

---

The weekend prior to the Illinois Top Times Indoor Championship has been appropriately dubbed “Last Chance” weekend for several reasons: 1) It’s the last chance for run a fast time before the start of outdoor season; 2) perhaps the most obvious reason is last chance for teams and individuals to qualify for Top Times.

Recently, new ITT management has ridded the automatic entry standards and moved back to taking the top competitors.  The short sprints will take 24 entrants; long sprints, relays, distance, and field events will see the top 12-15 invites.

On the boys’ side, Chicago Lawndale Prep dethroned defending champion Chicago Heights Bloom Township 49-48.   The girls’ fate was similar.  Frankfort Lincoln-Way East won by two points over Danville 81.5 to 43. 

North Lawndale Prep Boys emerge from the shadows

Head coach Zontavious Johnson had one goal for his team: “we want to win a trophy.”  The top two teams were awarded the distinction in taking home a big team plaque.  Coach Johnson doesn’t have a big or deep team but his young men are very talented.   The Phoenix used hard hitting performances from Deshawn Jordan (1st- 51.04/400m), Imani Payton (3rd- 8.63/60HH & LJ- 20-11.75/4th), 4x200r (1:33.20), 4x400r (3:31.86).  This will be a team to watch in 2A come the post-season.

Virgin’s presence felt on the youngsters

The University of Illinois Armory Track and Floor was once known as the house that legendary distance runner Craig Virgin built.  He ran some sickening times that still echo throughout the building.

Marcelo Burbano (Sr., Chicago Lane Tech) told his coaches earlier in the week that he planned on running 9:25 in the 3200m.  Coaches Kris Roof and Tony Jones thought his sentiments were a little wishful thinking since he had not competed in the event since last May. Besides, his indoor best was only 9:47.  Burbano and pre-race favorite Marc Maton (Sr., Glenwood-Chatham) began to separate themselves from the pack after hitting the 1200 in 3:30. Both runners moved through 1600 in 4:42.  Burbano became the aggressor during the second half of the race producing 5:56, 7:10, and 8:20 metric checkpoints. His final 400 was in a strong 65 that yielded a personal best and meet record 9:25.36.

The 1600m once again provided the fireworks that Caleb Beck (Sr., Oswego) and Johnny Leverenz (Jr., Danville) promised it would.  Beck did not let Leverenz control any part of the race in this one.  Beck roared out to a 2:10 first half and kept the pressure on at 3:16 through 1200m.  It was smooth sailing afterwards in 4:20.02.  Leverenz clocked 4:24.12.

Tutor vs. Pupil

Tyler Ginger (Sr., Stanford-Olympia) and Adam Coulon (Fr., Downs Tri-Valley) make a great pair.  If you were watching closely in between jumps you could see them chatting and possibly sharing tips.  Ginger and the freshman sensation got things interesting when the bar reached 15-0.   Coulon wins on misses when Ginger missed the next height. Coulon asks the bar to be raised to 15-6.5.  He cleared the height on his second attempt.  The mark is now a national freshman record for the kid who now holds records as an 7th and 8th grader.  Coulon talked using a new pole and the immediate future.  “I don’t have any real goals yet.  I’m still new here and happy with my effort today,” he said.

Hyshaw leads the charge for Lincoln-Way East Girls

It was just a few days ago leading up to the meet that Coach Angelo Brown challenged Alexis Hyshaw (Jr., Frankfort Lincoln-Way East) to put the team on her back.  His point was that superstar athlete Aaliyah Brown won’t be around forever to provide heroin heats.  Hyshaw would be entered in the 60, 200, and 4x200.

Hyshaw did her part nabbing the fastest 60 and 200 prelim marks.  It was from there that she won the 60 easily in 7.65- good for IL#3.  After freshman teammate Alexis Pierre-Antoine placed third in the 60HH, Hyshaw went back to work in the 200.  She broke stagger on the field around 100 into race and zipped home to an indoor personal best 25.17 winner. 

The Griffins supporting cast was just as nice with a winning effort in the 4x800 relay (10:01.07), and three second place  efforts: 4x200r (1:45.31), 1600- Kaley McLawhorn (Sr.) [5:24.45]. Sophomore Julia Junkroski broke Brittany Hull’s pole vault meet record with a great 12-7 clearance and good for runner-up honors.

The Griffins completed their masterful day with a lockdown performance in the 4x400r- clocking 4:03.45.  Aaliyah Brown replaced her sister Asia who had a sore ankle.  The Franchise came off the bench to anchor the quartet w/a stout but controlled 58.1 split. She said afterwards: “my sister’s ankle was hurting so I had to get ready and go.” The Griffins= definition of a true team.

Emmonnie in the middle

Emmonnie Henderson (Sr., Edwardsville) really don’t need an introduction when it comes to the shot put.  She has increased her diet of launching the 12-lb steel every time out.  On this occasion it was the same thing.  Ms. Henderson entered the cage like a rock star as a huge throng of onlookers anxiously waited for her performance.

Her first throw flew 47-6 and so did the existing meet 44-2.5.  Henderson did not seem fazed or overly pleased about the effort. The second attempt was a monster fling that went… 49-1- another all-time indoor record and one step closer to the magical 50-foot mark.  This time Henderson cracked a tiny smile but she was clearly in business mode. The final attempt would conclude the prelim round.  As Emmonnie was about to launch her final throw several hurdlers clacked their hurdles loud enough to throw her concentration off.  The throw sailed to the right of the ring but still a very solid 48-5.5.  However, Henderson was not a happy camper, “was that the hurdles making that noise,” she uttered aloud. 

How would the finals go? Henderson fouled on all three attempts.  It was obvious that she was gunning for 50-feet.  She didn’t mind staying in the US#3 position for the time being. “I was working on my footwork,” she said afterwards.  It will be a matter of time before Ms. Henderson eclipses her goals.

Ring the Bell

Sarah Bell (Sr., Bloomington Central Catholic) appeared calm and collected with consulting with her father and coach between attempts.  Her opponent Julia Junkroski had other things on her mind besides jumping.  She was trying to help her team win a title competing in the high jump and possibly in the 4x4r. 

The competition really got going when the bar reached 12-0.  They both cleared it and the bar was raised to 12-9.  Junkroski made the height but Bell deferred to 13-1.5.  She made the height!!  It was next moved to 13-6.  Bell got close once but missed all three attempts.  She was very excited about her day.  “I was happy with my performance today and happy that I got over 13-0.  I was in a rut for a little while at 12-10,” said Bell.

Welcome Alexis Jimson-Miller

It is true that yours truly may have snoozed a bit on Alexis Jimson-Miller (Sr., Danville). She basically came out on the track soft spoken with a big stick.  She beat up the 60HH and 400m fields with ease.  Jimson-Miller got everyone out of their seats in her first race blazing 8.64 over the barriers.  So impressive and dominating that the name Shamier Little (Chicago Lindblom) came out of a few folks mouths.  Her mark did produce a US#12 effort.  The 400 was clocked in 59.39.  But the most impressive performance of her day was the anchor leg of the 4x2 that yielded her team a victory over Lincoln-Way East.  Jimson-Miller got the baton a few strides ahead of the Griffins Alexis Hyshaw.  Hyshaw could not run her down.  Impressive!           

 

More on Gene Armer Invitational