Evan Jager has proven to be one of the best steeplechasers in the history of the sport (Michael Scott photo)
The biggest stage in track and field is of course the Olympic Games. However, the second biggest platform is the World Championships. This year's venue will be London, the same location as the 2012 Olympic Games. Here is a quick breakdown of the Illinois contingent.
Evan Jager (Jacobs HS/U of Wisconsin) steeplechase- Former all-time IHSA great has made good on his professional running career since leaving U of Wisconsin. Jager is the American record holder in the steeplechase at 8:00.45; personal bests: 5k-13:02.45; mile-3:53.33; 1500-3:32.97
Evan Jager Flo track article:
- Dawn Harper-Nelson (East St. Louis Sr. HS/UCLA) 100 hurdles- The IHSA great still holds the 100HH record (13.54); 1st team All-American at UCLA; 2008 Bejing Gold medalist/100HH; personal best 12.37
- Morolake Akinosun (Waubonsie Valley HS/U of Texas) 4x100 relay pool; all-time IHSA record in the 100m at 11.41(tied with Alexandria Anderson); U of Texas record in the 200; two-time NCAA champion (4x400); 2016 Gold medalist in the 4x100; PRs are 22.52, 10.95
- Aaliyah Brown (Lincoln-Way East/Texas A&M) 4x100 relay pool; a former IHSA great; three time team state champion; multi-first team NCAA 1st team all american; personal bests: 11.01/22.76
- Dani Bunch (Mahomet-Seymour HS/Purdue University) shot put; #2 all-time shot putter in IHSA history; All-American at Purdue University; personal best 64-4
- Emily Grove (Pontiac Township/U of South Dakota) pole vault; former state champion and record holder; NCAA runner up; became 9th vaulter over 15-feet with 15-1 best
- Gia Lewis-Smallwood (Champaign Centennial/U of Illinois) discus throw; former IHSA great; U of Illinois all-american; 4-time USATF national champion; 2012 Olympian; three-time world championship qualifier; American record holder
- Shamier Little (Chicago Lindblom Math & Science Academy/Texas A&M University) 400 hurdles; former IHSA great and is all time record holder in the 400m; former IAAF junior world champion; Silver medalist in the 2015 world championship 400H; three-time NCAA champion with Texas A&M in the 400H/record holder; 52.75 personal best (50.40 open 400m PR)
- Zach Ziemek (Lake Park HS/U of Wisconsin) decathlon; former IHSA state champion; NCAA champion; placed 7th in the 2016 Olympic games; 8143 personal best points
- Margaret Bamgbose (Evanston HS/U of Notre Dame) 400m- Former IHSA state 300H champion; 11 time All-American; 2016 Rio Olympian competing for Nigeria
- Lindsay Flanagan (Lake Park HS/U of Washington) Marathon- Former IHSA xc and track champion; NCAA xc and track all-american
- Tori Franklin (Downers Grove South/Michigan State University) Triple Jump- Former IHSA state champion; US indoor champion; NCAA All-American