Amira Young in the middle comes from behind to win her first state championship
100m-
2016 State Champion: Amira Young (Jr., Chicago Whitney Young) 11.78 [+3.1]
Key returners: Amira Young, Dajour Miles (So., West Aurora), Ozzy Erewele (Jr., Springfield), Lauren Kroll (Sr., Addison Trail), Hannah Wilson (Sr., Glenbrook North), Jaimie Robinson (Sr., Homewood-Flossmoor), Melzina Johnson (Jr., Joliet West), Lyn'Nikka Vance (So., Crete-Monee), Nya Carr (Jr., Buffalo Grove)
Outlook: Amira Young has come to age a year early. The come from behind victory in Charleston signaled perhaps the birth of a new generations of sprinters. Young is more graceful than powerful in the sleekness way she blazes down a track. Her stock will rise even more with great talent around her. The re-emergence of Dajour Miles who is also a sleek sprinter is going to be in the forefront this season. Though she missed out on the IHSA outdoor season, she was able to make up during the summer and run 11.91. Compared to Cinnamon's other personal bests the Century seems average. Look for her to bust out in the 11.7s or better this spring. Ozzy Erewele is another rising sprinter who finished the season well and placed third at state last year. She actually had an opportunity to win it but was overpowered during the final meters. Since this race is a crapshoot anything can happen and we could see another champion in 2017. Jaimie Robinson is not just a great jumper, she has been working hard to be a respected sprinter. Her coaches trusted her enough to be an integral part of some stout relays. Robinson has a personal best of 12.22; don't be surprised if she gets under 12.00 this season. Lyn'nikka Vance of the famous Vance bloodline has a future in this sport. Her oldest sister Wanikka won the biggest class 2A state 100 crown almost 20 years ago! The "baby' Lyn'nikka herself blazed 12.07 as a freshman and advanced to state. Tamya Houston will be the centerpiece of great O'Fallon sprint relays this season. Also, look for her to move up the charts in the individual category. Lauren Kroll should get more notoriety this season after making two state finals last year. Though she finished last in the 100 final, getting there is an honor and going home with an all-state medal is a great consolation prize. She is here to stay. Hannah Wilson made the final and she will return with a vengeance.
Top returning performances-
| RANK | TIME | WIND | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11.79 | 2018 | |||
| 2 | 11.94 | 2018 | |||
| 3 | 11.96 | 2017 | |||
| 4 | 12.07 | 2019 | |||
| 5 | 12.08 | 2018 | |||
| 6 | 12.19 | 2017 | |||
| 7 | 12.20 | 2017 | |||
| 7 | 12.20 | 2019 | |||
| 9 | 12.27 | 2018 | |||
| 10 | 12.28 | 2017 |
Kylie Welch surprised the 400 ranks last year with a state championship
400m-
2016 State Champion: Kylie Welch (Sr., Bloomington)
Key returners: Kylie Welch, Dajour Miles (So., West Aurora), Alexis Knight (So., Wheeling), Daijah Brown (Jr., Plainfield South),
Outlook: Kylie Welch was a complete surprise in 2016. No one saw her rise coming. She did not make any state final prior nor did she have an outside season. This is what makes track and field so wondering, the element of surprise. One surprise could be Daijah Brown. She missed the state final by a spot last year. It would be easy to discount her but she was a solid performer all season long included a personal best 56.89- good for #3 classification returner. But the main 1-lapper to watch out for is Dajour Miles. She put up a state best 53.98 to win her AAU national age group championship. The blazing time ranks in the top 10 all-time of state annals. Miles has three more years of greatness and an opportunity to put up more incredible marks and become a legend. Alexis Knight was the only freshmen in a loaded state championship field a year ago. Her supreme confidence allowed her earn a 7th place finish. Tamia Rayford experimented in the event last summer which may signal good things and some depth for the Blackhawks this season.
Top returning performances-
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 53.98 | 2019 | ||
| 2 | 54.84 | 2017 | ||
| 3 | 56.89 | 2018 | ||
| 4 | 57.03 | 2019 | ||
| 5 | 57.06 | 2017 | AAU Junior Olympic Games15th P | |
| 6 | 57.66 | 2017 | ||
| 7 | 57.89 | 2019 |
200m-
2016 State Champion: Amira Young (Sr., Chicago Whitney Young) 24.24 [+1.9]
Key returners: Young, Dajour Miles (West Aurora), Lauren Kroll (Sr., Addison Trail), Kylie Welch (Sr., Bloomington), Lyn'nikka Vance (Crete Monee), Hannah Schlaman (Sr., Batavia), Jaimie Robinson (Sr., Homewood-Flossmoor)
Outlook: Cinnamon has the top returning time virtue of summer track circuit but Amira Young won the big class state title and did not compete in the summer season. That may change because both titans are expected to lock horns a few times this season. It will be epic for sure over the next two years in an event that evenly matches the young ladies strength. Don't worry about the high graduation rate this past year. This event will immediately stock back up and be even better than 2016! Not many fans were aware of Hannah Wilson last season. Maybe it was because she competed in a conference void of star sprint talent or perhaps it was because she did not compete in many high profile races. Those things don't should not matter or get in the way of great talent and performances. Another key returner is Lauren Kroll. She ran 24.99 makes her better here than in the Century.
Top returning performances-
| RANK | TIME | WIND | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24.14 | 0.3 | 2019 | ||
| 2 | 24.24 | 2018 | |||
| 3 | 24.91 | 2017 | |||
| 4 | 24.99 | 2017 | |||
| 5 | 25.06 | 2017 | |||
| 6 | 25.09 | 2019 | |||
| 7 | 25.26 | -0.9 | 2017 | ||
| 8 | 25.38 | 2017 | |||
| 9 | 25.45 | 2017 | |||
| 10 | 25.50 | 2018 |