2018 Class 2A Girls Pre-Season Relays Preview


Dunlap kicked off the relay spree last year by commanding the 4x8 (Mark Capapas photo)

4x800m- 

2017 State Champion: Dunlap 9:31.91
Key Returning teams: Dunlap, Dixon, Freeburg, E. St. Louis Sr., Morton 
Season Outlook: It was a tight battle against the previous defending champion Washington and the upstart challenger Dunlap. The Eagles pulled it out late for the opening track win. As for Washington, they will move up to 3A this season. E. St. Louis has had great success in this event through history. Look for the Flyerettes to re tool their middle distance corps and make a run at scoring some majoring presence here.  Kaneland and Vernon Hills also make the jump upstairs leaving this event a bit weakened depth wise.
Top performers in 2017

Dunlap anchor Kiara Pauli adds the exclaimation point to a dominating win (Angela Kerndl photo)

4x100m- 
2017 State Champion: Dunlap 47.74
Key Returning teams: Dunlap, E. St. Louis Sr., Springfield Southeast, Chicago Morgan Park, Springfield Lanphier, Cahokia, Rich South
Season Outlook: The best team in 2A and certainly one in the entire state returns back with three staters including super anchor speedster junior Kiara Pauli. Depth is an allie for the Eagles who have several top replacements. This team will see challenges from several teams along the way including Springfield Southeast and newcomer E. St. Louis Sr. Both teams had held IHSA records and will produce great quality once again. Let's include Decatur Eisenhower in the mix with the state's top sprint duo twins Katina and Tina Martin. In last year's prelims, they were on their way to dominating it's foes but a terrible exchange on anchor prevented the team from advancing to the final. All four legs return. Of course, the state's most decorated team in the relays will be back in Chicago Morgan Park.
Top performers in 2017

The 4x200 at state featured many top notched teams who produced some fast times (A. Kerndl photo)

4x200m- 
2017 State Champion: Dunlap 1:41.50
Key Returning teams: Dunlap, E. St. Louis Sr., Cahokia, Urbana, Chicago Morgan Park, Chicago Brooks
Season Outlook: Dunlap was the squad to beat here and will be so again. Kiara Pauli will more than likely anchor things in crunch time. Cahokia had the fastest time last year in a loaded circumstance. They no longer have Mariya Hudson to assist them. E. St. Louis returns and they have run some beastly times in history. Urbana is a squad that I would be afraid of as the season processes. They have too much returning talent to overlook and getting state runner up leaves for more motivation.
Top performers in 2017
RANKTIMETEAMMEET DATEPLACE
11:40.98
21:41.50
31:41.64
41:42.16
51:42.92

4x400m- 
2017 State Champion: Dunlap 3:55.99
Key Returning teams: Dunlap, E. St. Louis Sr., Rochelle, Morgan Park, Springfield Lanphier, Lasalle-Peru, Monticello, Springfield Southeast
Season Outlook: Dunlap completed the sweep in a school record time. They will see E. St. Louis this season and they actually ran the fastest time in Illinois prior to the state meet. The Flyerettes will be on display in their favorite event with some new talent abound. 3rd placer Rochelle is back with all four girls returning. Look out for many teams to jump into the mix this season. Both Springfield schools Lanphier and Southeast will be tough.
Top performers in 2017