images by colin boyle
The Illinois Top Times meet wrapped up the 2015 indoor season. Last week's question on the B-Side was "who's the man or woman?" I think we got our answers. The meet was like this year's NCAA basketball tournament. You had your upstarts who made noise during the season like Arizona, Villanova, Virginia and Gonzaga, but when the dust settled it was the usual names in the Final 4 -- Kentucky, Wisconsin, Duke, and Michigan St. Led by the cream of the crop coaches John Calipari, Bo Ryan, Coach K, and Tom Izzo.
What did we learn? The more things change, the more they stay the same. In my opinion, barring injuries to the veterans of IL high school track, Top Times was a preview of the outdoor state meet in May with the same results. These are a few that proved to be "The Man" or "The Woman."
Last week in Class A, I stated that KD Young (So., Warrensburg) would only be competing against herself. KD set a meet record and US #2 on her last throw with a heave of 49'1"1/4. For the 2A meet, I let everyone know in my first B-Side of the year, that Jaimie Robinson ( So., Chicago De LaSalle) would be the one to watch in the TJ. I personally saw a jump during the indoor club season that was huge. So I'm not shocked at all by her IL #2/US #17 39'09 and guess what? She's only a sophomore. Josh Eiker (Galesburg) was a double winner in the 60/200m breaking the 200m record of Zye Boey (Dec MacArthur 22.39) in a time 21.81. Once his starts are tightened up, his times will drop even more. I really don't see any problems for him in the outdoor season.
Jamari Ward (Cahokia) as my son "Champ" would say, gave us a taste of his U.S. leading LJ/TJ skills. He didn't give us the New Balance type leaps and there were some board issues, but truthfully it didn't require all of that -- 23'05 3/4 and 49'02 1/2 is what the fans got to taste. I actually saw and brought you the historic jump of 25'07. But on Saturday, I was impressed even more as he showcased his running ability on legs of the 4x2/4x4. I think he'd be a problem if he wanted to be in the 200 or 400m. Cahokia? Just give them the 2A trophy right now! Coach Leroy Millsap has too much depth and too many interchangeable parts. He can play mad scientist all season and still win it. But...we already knew that.
The incomparable Brittny Ellis ran "mad" in the 200 after a phantom DQ in the 400
The 3A meet was more of the same. But what I enjoyed the most was watching Brittny Ellis (Sr., Gurnee) and Kahmari Montgomery (Sr., Plainfield Central). Brittny won the 60/200m (both IL # 1s) and would've won the 400 if not for a false start. What that did was allow the fans to see Brittny run "angry" and fresh. Bruce Banner always says right before he turns into the Hulk, "Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me, when I'm angry!" Well Brittny, we like watching you run angry as she ran a blistering 24.75 in the 200m.
Kahmari won the 60m in an IL #1 & U.S. #15 6.84. Anyone who witnessed his 4x4 leg (48.1 carry) realized he had a touch of the Hulk in him as well. During the club season I watched Kahmari close. A laid back, happy go lucky athlete until it was time to run. Each meet he knew he would win. I think it was the USA Midwest zone meet at Purdue he easily won the 55m. But when the 200m came around, I noticed him limping a bit. Maybe he wasn't even entered in the 200m that day? Since then, there has been talk that he was ducking certain sprinters and meets now that a few people have tugged on his cape and opened their mouths; like West Virginia did in the tourney before Kentucky shut it. He is rounding into form and seems to have even more determination and focus. Let's not forget, this is the defending state champ. Kahmari has been awakened and I think the state is in big trouble. These were just a few of the athletes who proved they were "The Man" and "The Woman"
Kahmari Montgomery helped his Plainfield Central mates with a 48.1 anchor
B-Side noticed a couple of things at the meet. I don't have a problem with the meet being run on schedule. Just don't bring the athletes out so early, especially with no sweats, etc. The 3A girls 60m finalists stood at least 15-20 minutes waiting for the gun to be shot. When athletes are led from the check in area there is a serious adrenaline rush. You are focused and prepared to run, not stand. Finally, and I know I'm not the only one who saw this and I don't know any reasons or circumstances, but I found it to be very interesting that Morgan Schultz (Sr., Cary Grove) somehow wasn't declared for the meet by her coach. Everybody in the state knew the deadline. According to her interview a long process took place and somehow at the last minute Morgan was entered in the meet and won the 800m with an IL #1 and U.S. #19 with a time of 2:13.15. So we're talking one of the nation's best marks.
However, last week I received a text from TJones that the Lincoln-Way East girls had pulled out of the Texas Relays. Immediately I stated that they should be given an at large bid and come to the Top Times meet. It would have been like a Soul Train lifetime achievement award. LWE has become a brand name, represented IL all over the country the last few years and won! They even faced the Jamaicans at Penn Relays in the 4x1 final. Their 4x2 was currently ranked #24 in the U.S. and a rematch with Homewood Flossmoor (Top Times 4x2 champion) would've been great for the fans to see. I don't know LWE's situation, but if a 'long process" can place Morgan Schultz in the meet, I would think the same "long process" could've placed LWE in the meet. I'm Just Say'n!