The build up to the 50th Annual Proviso West Boys Invitational came with a heavy price tag: HYPE! The fact that a solid number of the state's top teams was in the Proviso West Field House wasn't enough. There were at-large participants and greats from the past. Let's not mention that a big time meet sponsor Dick Pond Athletics featured the latest accessories in the shoe game. And of the course the DJ kept the massive crowd entertained throughout the afternoon.
*meet images by Mark Capapas
7 New state #1's:
- Triple Jump: Ja'mari Ward (Jr., Cahokia) is a guy could be overlooked because he is such a great athlete. He is one of the best in IHSA history. Even on his worst day, he is better than most of his competitors. Ward won the long jump with solid but average (for him) 22-8. Matt Fleming (Sr., Chicago Simeon) had to settle for second with a 22-5 mark. But the big news was Ward's great triple jump and the series. Two 49-foot efforts were good enough to win but it was the 50-foot effort that was on Ward's palate. On his third attempt Ward connected on a US#2 50-5 mark that was very satisfying to those in attendance.
- 600m: Ty Moss (Sr., Naperville Neuqua Valley) 1:22.76 won a spirited race against Alex Lima of Lyons Twp. Moss split 26.xx, 55.0 enroute to the convincing win.
- 55HH: Eric Walker (Sr., Chicago St. Rita) blasts new personal best 7.48 and won in a laugher. "The Clout man" walked about with the 20th best mark in the country for his efforts.
- Naperville (Neuqua Valley) took down the 42 year old 4x4 relay record that stood since 1973. The quartet of Jacob Sampson, Kyle Bender, Zac Espinosa, and Ty Moss rocked the crowd and the supposed favorite Cahokia with a sensational 3:25.09. Ty Moss blitzed past anchor Chris Stanley with ease in the first 100m of his leg. Moss was clocked at 49.2. The time was amazing considering many great times over the years have competed in the Proviso meet and never took down the record.
- Lyons Twp won another big invite 4x8 relay. The Lions did not need a big come from effort this time. It was all Lyons and Cahokia until the anchor leg when Alex Lyons used a 26.3 opening lap to separate himself from Cahokia. The 1:56.5 carry led to a 8:03.48-8:07.98 victory.
- Jamante Steward (Sr., Proviso West) locked in and focused like his coaches said he could. The result was a meet record 6-10 (actually tied with two other performers). Steward did not practice much during the week because of a persistently sore left knee that was visibly wrapped. A mum Steward would not have it any other way and he wanted to compete against the best competition that featured Anthony McRoberts of Cahokia and Chris Wright-Madison of Oak Park-River Forest. They copped out at 6-8 (clearing 6-6). Steward moved up to the glorious 7-feet mark and the pressure that follows it. He took three calculated attempts but was unable to complete his ultimate goal. There will be a next time.
- Lake Park shot putter Dylan Scheirich wrestled the state best away from Lyon Twp's Adam Schaufelberger tapping out 55-6.5 to 55-2.
- Kahmari Montgomery (Sr., Plainfield Central) wins a spirited photo finish 55m against Barrington senior Scotty Miller 6.47.6.48. Johnathan Stokes of Chicago North Lawndale was third making it three top marks in the state.
Miscellaneous action:
- Matt Plowman (Sr. York) is back to his winning ways. The Dukes standout pulled off two late race burners to win the 3200m (9:36.63) and 1600m (4:28.44).
- Konrad Eiring (Sr., Barrington) was an at-large entry in the 800m and he did not disappoint. Eiring took flight from the gun with a 54.9 opening quarter-mile enroute to winning easily in 1:57.51.
- Of course what would a very fast field of 4x200 relays be without bumping and aggression? Cahokia and Proviso West got tangled up on the 2nd leg and Proviso West went down for the count. The Comanches sped away for the 1:32.58 win. The time is the third fastest mark in the state.