Class record: new event

Who to watch for: Britney Ellis (So., Gurnee Warren), Savannah Carson (Sr., Naperville Neuqua Valley), Kayla Hylton (Fr., Frankfort Lincoln-Way North), Jenna Moody (Sr., Plainfield Central).

Outlook: Although there is no national leader Aaliyah Brown to deal with, there still should be some fireworks. Carson seems to be the top 55m/60m choice with a ton of top finishes. Keep in mind that she is the state’s top long jumper too.  It is going to be hard for anyone to cover her in a short race.  Ellis has not suffered from the sophomore jinx as she continues to progress well.  The short dash is not really her fortitude but she is fast enough to challenge anyone in the field.  Hylton is an emerging star built from the Illinois Elite cloth.  The final should be a dandy.

Tony Prepster’s picks: Carson, Ellis, Hylton

 

Class record: Morolake Akinosun (Aurora Waubonsie Valley) 23.91- 2012

Who to watch for: Cameron Pettigrew (Sr., Chicago Payton Prep), Brittny Ellis, Kayla Hylton, Savannah Carson, Courtney Clayton (Sr., Rockton Hononegah)

Outlook: Pettigrew and Ellis will give the fans another reason to stay until the meet.  Pettigrew has the time edge 24.85-25.25.  However, that means very little in a rivalry where Ellis has yet to lose.  Hylton is fast and this is her better event.  How about middle-distance star Clayton mixing it up with speedsters?  Why not, she has the best range of any girl in the entire state.

Tony Prespter’s picks: Ellis, Pettigrew, Hylton

 

Class record: Adia McKinnon (Homewood-Flossmoor) 55.09- 2000

Who to watch for: Cameron Pettigrew, Brittny Ellis, Courtney Clayton, Jordan Shead (Jr., St. Charles East), Jenna Moody

Outlook: Another classic in the making with Ellis and Pettigrew.  Both girls have the potential to go under 56.0 if the pace is fast and clean on the opening lap.  Clayton has a personal best 55.71 in this one and will be a major factor in the outcome.  Shead will test the shark infested waters. Her credentials should keep her afloat.

Tony Prepster’s picks: Pettigrew, Ellis, Clayton

 

Class record: new event

Who to watch for: Alexis Jimson-Miller (Sr., Danville), Jayla Stewart (So., Homewood-Flosswood), Maya Neal, Emma Spagnola (Sr., West Aurora), Imani Haynes (Sr., Chicago Heights Marian Catholic), Darneisha Spann (Jr., Schaumburg).

Outlook: there will be no underestimating or sleeping on Jimson-Miller this weekend.  She got the attention of everyone in the building at U of I last weekend by blasting a good field in a US#12 8.64.  The University of Miami-Ohio product will be ready for any salvo that her competitors throw.  How effective will the multi-talented Neal be running a full slate of events? Stewart ranks IL#2 in the shorter distance and hasn’t run the 60H this season.

Tony Prepster’s picks: Jimson-Miller, Stewart, Spagnola

 

Class record: McKinzie Schulz (Lisle Benet Academy) 2:12.36- 2009

Who to watch for: Emma Reifel (Sr., Glen Ellyn Glenbard West), Stephanie Urbancik (Jr., Downers Grove North), Ali Gutt (So., Schaumburg), Torree Scull (So., St. Charles East).

Outlook: No Courtney Clayton leaves a big void in terms of a record chase and ultimate star power points.  But don’t tell that to Reifel who comes in with the second fastest time in the state at 2:15.73.  She should be able to run a tick or two faster because of no relay duties.  Urbancik may be Reifel’s nearest competitor but will have to run the 4x8r behind the open.  Actually several of the top girls will be doing double duty.  It will be a matter of inner fortitude that mandates getting the job done.

Tony Prepster’s picks: Reifel, Scull

Class record: Tera Moody (St. Charles) 4:54.0h- 2001

Who to watch for: Maddie Perez (Jr., Glen Ellyn Glenbard West), Kaylee Flanagan (Sr., Roselle Lake Park), Skyler Bollinger (Fr., Yorkville), Kelsey Schrader (Jr., Dekalb)

Outlook:  This field would be just as fine if Perez, Flanagan, and Bollinger were the only girls in the field.  This is no disrespect to the other nine ladies in the field.  But it appears by the numbers that it’s going to be a three-girl race and then everyone chasing pretty far off the pace.  But maybe not, it always seems like someone steps up in a championship race. It will be interesting to see if Tera Moody’s long standing meet record could be toppled.

Tony Prepster’s picks: Perez, Bollinger, Flanagan

Class record: Maria Cicero (Elmhurst York) 10:17.85- 2001

Who to watch for: Kaylee Flanagan, Emily Brelsfoard (Sr., Normal West), Lisa Luczak (So., Glen Ellyn Glenbard West), Lindsay Graham (Lombard Glenbard East), Kimber Meyer (Naperville North)

Outlook: A nice field has been pieced together here despite a few top names not entered.  We all know the pace will be quick with Flanagan.  In last year’s 10:29.02 win, Flanagan hit the halfway mark in 5:06.  But she also hit a lull with some 80-second quarter-miles. This seems to be the scouting report on Flanagan and her key opponents have taken notes.  Luczak may be the only athlete in the field who can stay with Flanagan past the mile.  If she can hold at 2400m, it will be a great race for both athletes.

Tony Prepster’s picks: Flanagan, Luczak, Graham

 

Class record: Glen Ellyn Glenbard West 9:18.77- 2012

Who to watch for: Yorkville, Schaumburg, St. Charles East, Downers Grove North, Chicago Lane Tech, Minooka, Naperville North, Hoffman Estates.

Outlook: This event is absolutely loaded- only missing IL’s1 and 2 Palatine and Wheaton-Warrenville South.  Yorkville is IL#3 and a very strong team with freshman Skyler Bollinger ready to take charge. Schaumburg appears to be back after rebuilding the unit over the past two years with young talent. Downers Grove North went the same changes as the Saxons; the Trojans now are in position to strike their foes late in the year.  Lane Tech is the third program to watch out for.  The Lady Indians are not a total mystery though.  They ran 9:26 last year and just missed the final.  They have a new distance coach and are on their way to big things as the outdoor season approaches.

Tony Prepster’s picks: Yorkville, Downers Grove North, Lane Tech

 

Class record: Evanston 1:40.83

Who to watch for: Danville, Plainfield North, St. Charles East, West Aurora, Homewood-Flossmoor

Outlook: Danville produced a strong 1:44.68 winner at the Gene Armer Invite last weekend with Alexis Jimson-Miller on anchor.  If she is in tow again, the same results could follow.  Plainfield North should be a solid team with Jazmyn Tabb running a leg.  The dark horse could be Homewood-Flossmoor.  The Lady Vikings have quietly retooled their team and look to be formable entering the outdoor campaign.

Tony Prepster’s picks: Danville, Plainfield North, Homewood-Flossmoor

 

Class record: Chicago Morgan Park 3:53.68- 1996

Who to watch for: St. Charles East, Danville, Downers Grove North, Schaumburg, West Aurora, Lane Tech.

Outlook: St. Charles East is the state leader (3:58.73) and heavy favorite.  The Chmelik twins and company should run away with the title.  There should several more teams bunched together seeking personal bests. Expect the final leader board marks to change dramatically after the race.

Tony Prepster’s picks: St. Charles East, Downers Grove North, Danville.

 

Class record: Dani Bunch (Mahomet-Seymour) 47’2”- 2008

Who to watch for: Emmonnie Henderson (Sr., Edwardsville), Banki Oginni (Jr., Hoffman Estates), Aaliyah Covington (Jr., Edwardsville), Morgan Keller (Sr., Rolling Meadows).

Outlook: This will one will be watched with great anticipation as Henderson is expected to continue her torrid run of 47+ foot jumps.  If this is the case, the class record and meet record of 47’9” is toast.  Ms. Henderson is already US#3 when she launched a massive 49’1” last weekend at the Gene Armer.  Her goal will be to hit the 50-foot mark- something that no Illinois girl has even come close to doing.  It may happen Saturday afternoon inside the Shirk.  Another athlete to watch out for is Oginni.  She will not be intimidated and will do her best in challenging the great Henderson.  Oginni produced a 46-7.5 a month ago.  So, it’s time for her to explode like a volcano.  Also, look out for Henderson’s apprentice Covington. She rocked a personal best 44-6 two weeks ago at Eastern Illinois HS Invite.

Tony Prepster’s picks: Henderson, Oginni, Covington

 

Class record: Lyshaya Stokes (South Holland Thornwood) 40’2”- 1999

Who to watch for: MacKenzie Bollinger (Sr., Yorkville), Chardae Greenlee (Homewood-Flossmoor), Jasmine Brown (Sr., Dekalb), Aliyah Harmon (Sr., Olympia Fields Rich Central), Ebony Smith (Sr., Waukegan)

Outlook: Word on the information front is that Bollinger is out of the jumps due to an injury to her knee.  It does not necessarily affect her oval running.  If this is indeed true, count the likes of Harmon as a favorite along with Greenlee.  For those that don’t know, Greenlee transferred from T.F. North this season.  She initially competed for HF two seasons before moving east.  She seems comfortable with an IL#5 mark of 37-8.5 to boot.

Tony Prepster’s picks: Greenlee, Harmon, Brown

 

Class record: Jasmin Jackson (Hillside Proviso West) 19’3”- 1997

Who to watch for: Savannah Carson, Maya Neal, Aliyah Harmon, Jasmine Brown, Emma Spagnola.

Outlook: This deep field will be led by the state’s pre-eminent jumper hands down in Carson, who has skied 19-3.75 along with a US#5 ranking.  Harmon is not far behind at 19-0 and has all the talent in the world to overthrow Carson.  But it seems that Carson is a big game athlete who will be ready for all attempts that threaten her crown.  Neal is another 19-footer but she is young and not as consistent as the veterans.

Tony Prepster’s picks: Carson, Harmon, Neal

 

Class record: Taylor Kirby (Normal West) 12’8”- 2011

Who to watch for: Carly Schmidt (Sr., Lake Forest), Julia Junkroski (So., Lincoln-Way East), Nicole Jaffke (Sr., Libertyville), McKenzie Kroeschell (Sr., Oak Park-River Forest), Maya Golliday (Sr., Lake Park).

Outlook: Schmidt has to be considered a high quality resume record 3-1.  Her only set back is a second place finish at a meet in Wisconsin. She also won the Windy City Pole Vault Summit over a solid field.  Junkroski will be on a mission to keep improving as her sprint oriented team look to secure vital field event points.  Junkroski placed a strong second to the state’s top vaulter Sarah Bell of Bloomington CC last weekend at the Gene Armer Invite.  

Tony Prepster’s picks: Schmidt, Junkroski, Jaffke

 

Class record: Nora Weber (Canton) 5’10”- 1993

Who to watch for: Omo Tseumah (Sr., Huntley), Natalie O’Keefe (Sr., Granite City), Kailey James (Sr., Carol Stream Glenbard North), Emma Spagnola.

Outlook: It will be hard to determine a favorite here but after throwing darts on the board, let’s give Tseumah a shot.  She recently jumped 5-7 at an invitational.  As well, she was the 2012 state runner up.  O’Keefe comes with the same 5-7 clearance.  Spagnola is a future hepthathlete.  So it’s very fitting that she would in the high jump.  Don’t expect her to go out meekly either.

Tony Prepster’s picks: Tseumah, O’Keefe, James