The speed game-
Assuming they will move on the finals of the 60m High Hurdles, the #1 ranked Imani Carothers (Jr., Chicago Brooks) and #4 Dontavia Howard (Sr., Springfield Southeast) are expected to shake the leaderboard. Carother's 8.83 is a personal best and she has more in the tank now that she's been working on her top end speed. It will be awfully difficult for anyone to stay with her after the first hurdle. The great Shamier Little's meet record 8.60 could be in danger as well.
There are going to be a few surprises coming in the 60m. Outside of hurdles, the short dash is a crap shoot in an evenly matched field. In the past we have seen nerves, bad block starts, pulled hammies, and unpredictability win. This year is no different. The top seed comes from a complete stranger in freshman Derria Edwards from Peoria HS. Edwards, a tiny but explosive speedster, recently concluded baskeball season has only three races under her belt and they are fast. The 7.51 beat the likes of standouts Ameia Wilson (Danville) and Kylie Welch (Bloomington). The pressure cooker will be the environment and that contains the competition, the crowd, and the track. Katina Martin (Jr., Decatur Eisenhower) is one of those competitors who stands in the way of success for Edwards. It will be interesting to see how things play out as two others drop in for the fun in Nicole Sreenan (Sr., Kaneland) and Kiara Pauli (So., Dunlap). Do not disregard them!
We have seen what defending outdoor state champion Elizabeth Drab (Sr., St. Viator) has done this season. In case you missed it, Drab has burned the track at all angles this season to a tune of 55.00 in the 400m- a time that ranks #2 in the state. Drab has an opportunity to grab the all-time meet record (Adia Mckinnon's 55.09) before leaving town. Tina Martin (Jr., Decatur Eisenhower) is the twin sister of Tina and she may pose a bit of a problem for Drab if healthy. Martin has not competed in several weeks and the Panthers camp was in a mummy state last weekend when asked about her whereabouts... lastly, the 200 could be a potentially great race if the fast section of Drab, Sreenan, and Pauli show up.
The distance-
Teammates Grace McLaughlin and Delaney Appino of Rockford Boylan dominated during the cross country season and look for them to do it here in the 3200m. McLaughlin's 10:42.18 ranks #2 in the state behind Katelynne Hart. In addition, McLaughlin is the defending champion and it will be interesting to see if she will go all out or work with Appino. Or could we see Appino do what she is capable of? After all she is the state runner up from cross country season. Enough said.
The 800 appears to have the most question marks on the docket. Rachel Hickey (Jr., Lasalle Peru) is the top seed but she cannot be called the definitive favorite. A fast pace setter in Shaheeda Dade (Jr., Chicago Lindbloom) could destroy race plans of her competitors. Then there is the returning Abby Fioresi (Sr., Aurora Central Catholic). She has been lowkey with a 2:22. It could change on Saturday. One thing is certain, it does not look as though we will get a 2:14 clocking from anyone in the field.
Can Appino and McLaughlin sweep the long distances? They return in the 1600 late in the meet and if they are interested they will be tough to beat. Megan Safranski of Burlington Central and Franny Verville of Dunlap are capable of doing some major damage.
Best of the rest-
LJ: No one is better than Carothers when it comes to the long jump. It may be her best event because she is a natural at it. She knows that her ultimate goal of jumping over 20-feet on a consistent basis is a process. For now jumping 19-3 has to be satisfying. Erika Furbeck (Jr., Geneseo) and Serena Bolden (So., Springfield Southeast) have both scaled past 18-5 this season.
PV: A good field featuring Aliyah Welter (Jr., Monticello), Josie Held (Jr., Mt. Zion) and a few others should electrify the pole vault crowd. Welter leads the classification with a 12-6 effort. Held is not far behind at 12-5.5- both are ranked 1-2 in Illinois. They perhaps can get up to 12-9 if they can push each other.
SP: This name Latavia Maines is becoming prominent. The Centralia senior indicated last year at the end of the outdoor season that she wanted to throw over 50-feet. She enters the meet with a great personal best 49-3. She may uncatchable now that she has elevated her game. Look for Latavia's first cousin Nikita Maines (Jr.) to try her best to stay with big cuz throughout each round. Another southern Illinois thrower to watch is A'Veun Moore-Jones of Mt. Vernon. She has thrown 45-2 this season.
TJ: It will be interesting to see how some of the top performers fare here. Chante Johnson (Jr., Thornridge) skied 37-7 during out of competition of the meet management scope, thus performance was taken off of the board. So as it may she sits in the #4 jumping spot. What ultimately matters is competing when it's time. Jayla Campbell from Rich Central has competed against some of the best athletes in the state. It will be interesting to see how she does in Bloomington.
HJ: Diamonasia Taylor (Fr., Urbana) has been solid in her first year of high school track and field. Being ranked #3 in the state is not a fluke. She starred in the age group competition during the AAU summer circuit. Now Taylor has dropped 5-6 so far on the season.
4x800: Not only has Dunlap covered the open sprints, field events, open distance events, speed relays, they now bring out whipping stick for this relay. Some have forgotten that the Eagles finished runner up in cross country state with a potent group. Don't expect 9:52 to end as the top time of the indoor season. Kaneland and Rosary will do their best to stop the Eagles.
4x200: Dunlap has the top time at 1:45.88 which happens to be the 5th fastest time in the state. We could see more fireworks if Springfield Southeast can stay close. Chicago Westinghouse and Springfield Lanphier are no slouches either.
4x400: Springfield Southeast is tough in this race and they will be the team to defeat. This is a fact. Evenso, it will not be easy for the Spartans because Westinghouse and Dunlap should not be discounted at all. The winner will need to go under 4:05 in order to get the gold medals.