Tony's Take: The Final Look At The Illinois Top Times


-Girls-

3A-

The field events as always was the first focus of the competition and with the transition between the 2A events, it was difficult to pick something to focus on. The long jump was the first event along with the shot put that was underway. Jaimie Robinson (Sr., Homewood-Flossmoor) and state leader Hannah Morris (Jr., Bloom Twp.) was supposed to lock horns, but Morris had to scratch the event because of a hip injury aggravation. Robinson went right to work with a 19-foot jump, her first jump over the threshold since early February. Everyone who follows girls track and field knows that the triple jump is Robinson's primary event. However, she is Grade A in whatever event that she touches. She connected on the big one: 19-11 which broke former Minooka star Janile Rogers' all-time record from 2015. It was an exciting moment to say the least and moved Robinson end inside the national top 10 at #9.

It did not take long for Robinson to set a record in her favorite event the triple jump. She reset the 41-3.5 with a 41-4.5 banger. Isabel Maletich (Jr., Downers Grove North) was second at 37-2.

The second move was to trek over to watch Courtney Morgan (Sr., Aurora Metea Valley) compete in the shot put. She had opportunity to extend the greatness of the event through the weekend. Class A and AA throwers KD Young (Warrensburg-Latham) and Latavia Maines (Centralia) finished up as US #2 and #3 throwers for the undercover season. Morgan has returned in full swing after suffering a back injury several years ago. Coming into the contest, Morgan was looking forward to breaking the meet record and defending her championship. Morgan connected on a 48-8 toss which broke the record that Banke Oginni (Hoffman Estates) set three years ago. Morgan had to keep pace with three sport star Ellie Weltha (Jr., Bloomington) who also plays softball. Weltha was throwing in the 44 foot range before connecting on a 47-7.75 personal best. Morgan was able to stay strong against Weltha for the win. 7 of the 12 throwers threw over 40 foot. 

Lauren Seaver (Jr., Normal University) did not move up the pole vault charts but she did obtain the pole vault title in 12-0. This was one of the few occasions that a girl did not attempt 13-0 with force. Maybe we will see it during the outdoor season. 

The individual performance of the day came via Jelena Rowe (Sr., Bloom Twp.) in the high jump. Rowe had already proved she was the #1 girl in the country, just not on the big stage. Last weekend at the Gene Armer Invitational, Rowe indicated that her confidence has soared through the roof and she wanted to everyone that she was for real. She cleared 6'0" with relative ease and it energized the crowd. Shortly there after 6'1" was next. Rowe cleared it to set a new all time indoor record for Illinois girls. It also established her in the #3 indoor performer all-time on the national stage. Nora Weber's 24 year old record is no longer on the boards. 

Katelynne Hart is an amazing distance runner to say the least... and durable. I watch her all season dominate in the mile, 800, and 2mile. She twice ran US #1 marks for the 3200 and did so one last time. It did not take long before she starting lapping the field. The freshman from Glenbard West lapped virtually the whole field that was stocked full of all-state talent from cross country. The only athletes who were sparred was her teammate Lindsey Payne and Alex Morris of Naperville North. Payne is a Footlocker Cross Country participant and Morris competed in the Nike Cross Nationals.  Can you imagine running 5:02 for the first mile and being asked to run another one and not stopping? Hart would have finished second in the 1600 had the meet officials taken her 3200 split and applied it to that event. Unbelievable. The final result was a new all-time indoor best for girls in Illinois, 10:11.51. Hart returned a few hours later and won the 1600 with ease in 4:53.68.

Ozzy Erewele (Springfield) took down the 60m in 7.56. She held off Nya Carr of Buffalo Grove whose 7.60 was welcomed with open arms in her camp. The 100 field is going to be great this spring. I told Kylie Welch of Bloomington that she cannot no longer hide after winning the 400. She had ice on her shin when we talked which probably meant that she was capable of going faster than 57.13.

2A-

Derria Edwards came out of the bat cave to win the sprint queen title

Imani Carothers is a magnet for titles. The Brooks College prep star loves track and field because you can see it in her personality. She broke the class long jump record with a 19-5 and did not take her final two attempts because he had to run hurdles. She dominated the hurdles too in 8.67- the fastest time in Illinois this season and just off of her idol Shamier Little's record (8.60). 

Latavia Maines (Centralia) said her rise this season is the result of "training hard, especially in the weight room." The result was a state title repeat and meet record 48-8 which puts her among the elite in the country entering outdoor. 

Derria Edwards was a name that no one outside of Peoria knew about when the season started. The new found freshman from Peoria HS came straight from basketball with only one race under her belt. The 5-3 speedster is compact and fast down the straight. She powered past a solid group to win in 7.57.

How about the oval and Elizabeth Drab? She only proved that her New York performances were not a fluke. The St. Viator standout senior easily won in 56.06. She endured a strong challenge from Tina Martin of Decatur Eisenhower. Martin, if healthy all season is going to make Drab work for hers. Drab's friend Nicole Sreenan got the best of her in the 200 by an inch running 25.21. Kaneland won the state title last year with Cahokia. The Knights will need everything from their star. 

Delaney Appino (Rock Island Boylan) and Grace McLaughlin (Boylan) was supposed to tag team the competition but only Appino was entered into the 1600 and 3200. Appino took matters in her own hands and won both events. She held off a pesky Franny Verville of Dunlap in the 3200 by a second 10:59.23. Appino completed the sweep 5:05.26 in the latter.

Rachel Hickey (Lasalle Peru) ran tactically smart all the way around in the 800 in beating Abby Fioresi (Aurora Central Catholic) 2:17.52-2:17.68. There was a little #trackscandal near the end of the race when Hickey held the rail on Fioresi who tried to move inside and was abruptly cut off. There was no foul. Smart track and field racing. Hickey wants to break 2:10 in the spring. She will need to get out faster and avoid any traps to accomplish that feat.