As quiet as it was in January on the home front and all of the indoor track and field talk coming out of the east coast, now things have shifted.
You don't want to be in the dark about this weekend as the 50th Annual Proviso West Boys Invitational will be the major bill. This meet has incredible history behind it with the likes of Olympian Greg Foster and former prep phenom Donald Sage. But now the new age kids are here. Cahokia HS will come to the Chicago proper for the first time in history and it is going to be an awesome experience. The nation's top LJ/TJer junior Ja'Mari Ward will be in the house and he made it clear that 50-feet is on his mind in the TJ. Can he reset the national LJ mark this weekend? I guess we will see.
Team wise, it could Cahokia running and jumping wild against a stellar field. The Comanches are as complete as any team in history when you consider they have field, sprints, hurdles, and middle-distance. Coach Leroy Millsap's bunch are dangerous in all of the relays.... the defending 3A state team champs Elmhurst York will be there looking to assert themselves after massive losses due to graduation. The Dukes appear to be reloading through their bread and butter: distance running... Neuqua Valley, Lyons Twp, and Lake Park are also real solid teams who have done well on the biggest stage.
The assortment of event previews
Lockport Open-
This meet is in its second year of existence and it will take place inside a wonderful facility at Olivet Nazarene University. The meet will feature a full slate of events for the frosh and varsity levels. The meet will allow for three entries. Edwardsville, Minooka, Thornton, Evanston, and Plainfield East are a few squads highlighting this event.
Normal West Invite-
Here is a meet that used to be run mid-week, but for some reason the meet management put themselves up with the marquee match-ups. This is actually a good thing to do as it strengthens the overall visibility of Illinois track and field. Illinois Wesleyan University will serve as host for the largest meet in Central Illinois.
Key teams here: Belleville East, Belleville West, Bloomington, Danville, Edwardsville, Hillcrest, Homewood-Flossmoor, Madison, Mahomet-Seymour, Minooka, Naperville North, Normal Community, Plainfield North, Sheppard (Palos Heights), Springfield Lanphier, Springfield, Normal U-High.