The 4x200m relay was included in the unconventional TMS Starter docket (TMS photo credit)
It is not often that you will see an indoor track and field meet this early in Illinois. Usually athletes from the land of Lincoln would have to travel out of state or even the country to get in some pre-season activity. Meet organizer Abe Jones had taken several members of hisTrack My Speed Track Club to places like Toronto, Canada, Indianapolis, and Ft. Wayne, Indiana in past years. However, with rising travel costs and travel weariness it would seem more purposeful to stay local in the interim. "I always wanted to host my own track meet, one where kids [here] can compete in before the season really starts," said Jones. The TMS Starter Meet is a unique meet with mostly untraditional races and a scaled backed event menu.
Key highlights:
- David Oluyadi (Sr., Lane Tech) wins triple jump with an all time personal best 45-5.25. Oluyadi has made it known that he intends on applying pressure to the 50-foot mark and everyone that stands in the way of his goals.
- Jenna Diers (Sr., Lincoln Way West) recently finished a solid cross country season but was back in action. The future Colorado State University Ram won the 600m in 1:39.25. Diers boldly went out in 30, 61 seconds for her first two circuits. It will be interesting to see if she can make a run at the 800m state time after running 2:13.46 last year.
- Jaimie Robinson (Sr., Homewood-Flossmoor)- The jumps superstar took an opportunity to work on some speed. Robinson won her section in the 60m earlier in the meet. She would later return to win the 150m in 18.67.
- Elisabeth Drab (Sr., St. Viator)- Last year's outdoor surprise and 2A state champion in the 400m got her season going by winning the 300m in 41.51