Anna Sophia Keller is entered in the 1600m (Beth Schied photo)
-Girls-
Distance events should rule the docket-
The 3200m field is a small one but with Caitlin Shepard (Sr., Lake Zurich) entered it should be a fast one. The University of Kentucky bound Shepard comes in fresh from her personal best 10:51.22 2-mile run at the New Balance Indoor National Championships. There is nothing really for Shepard to prove except getting a better 3200m mark on the board and perhaps going after Anna Sophia Keller's meet record 10:55.83... speaking of Keller, the junior from Effingham St. Anthony is rated #2 in the state in the 1600m rolling a solo 4:53. Keller is in a league of her own and may need to use lapped runners as motivation to run faster. Maggie Scholle (Jr., Chicago Lane Tech) and Maria Brauer (Sr., Petersburg-PORTA) will be out to gain big personal bests.
The 800m will feature IL #2 Imani Davis (Sr., Lane Tech) who sports an indoor best 2:15.64 from NBIN. Davis has a bad taste in her mouth from her less than stellar New York experience. It will be pity on the field come early Saturday afternoon.
Speed and relays will find their lanes-
Some big emerging names will take the stage. Let's start with the 60m as summer time beast Courtney Sockwell (Jr., Rockford Lutheran). Sockwell is not as known on the high school circuit simply because she hasn't run in many IHSA contests. That apparently has changed and she will make herself known. She will be in a dog fight with Gabrielle DesRosiers (Sr., Chicago Lawndale) and Stacia Lee (Sr., Eisenhower).
The 200m will feature the state's top speedster DesRosiers and her 24.69. DesRosiers competed at NBIN last weekend and that experience will go a long way in staying ahead of the competition.
Kierra Griggs (Sr., Bloom) has come into her own since last year in the 400m. Before Griggs takes the blocks in the 200 she will contest her favorite event. The IL #3 performer should be the favorite over a solid field that will feature Alexis Henry (Sr., Springfield Southeast) and Imani Davis.
The 4x200 and 4x400 relays will feature state powers Morgan Park, Bloom, Kankakee, Southeast, and North Lawndale Prep. The 4x4 may not have Griggs on for Bloom. If not, then look for Southeast, Crete-Monee, and North Lawndale to push to the front.
The field events-
Two of the nation's best will lock horns in the high jump. Jelena Rowe (Jr., Bloom) and Jamari Drake (Sr., Springfield Southeast) is ranked #5 with a good 5-9. She has attempted 5-10 several times this season and it may be the ripe time get over the hump. Drake is the defending 2A state champion who has leaped 5-8 this season. To say the least it is going to be a great competition.
Nikki Ogorek (Jr., Normal Community West) is fresh off of her 11-7 pole vault effort at NBIN. She attempted over 12-feet there and had a few good attempts. U of I is a good place to jump in with a fast and long run way. Kristen Slaughter (Jr., Effingham St. Anthony) placed second in the state 1A title chase last year. She has leaped 11-6.25 on the indoor season. She and Ogorek will battle for the top spot.
There is not an outstanding long jumper in the field but instead look for a slew of 17-footers to step forward and grab the title. Hannah Morris (So., Bloom) leads the pack.
Triple Jump specialist Emani James (Sr., TF North) is IL #5 in a very deep state event. Look for her to eclipse the 38-foot barrier.
Allison Richter (Sr., Triad) and Latavia Maines (Jr., Centralia) will go head to head a few times this season in the shot put. They bring their rivalry from the deep south to U of I. Richter is ranked #5 and Maines is #7 in the state.