Mikenna Robinson has shed the "little sister" role and is ready to star at the #ITT18
3A Breakdown-
Things will kick off in the field with the Long Jump. A rejuvenated Hannah Morris will be ready to explode. You can bet that she already has the data on the massive 2A entrants results. The senior from Bloom Twp returned from labrum surgery and dropped an US#6 19-10. "I want to jump 20-feet before the outdoor season starts, "said the future U of Minnesota Gopher. The workhorse junior Ameia Wilson of Danville will lather herself in the pit. Wilson may not be able to beat Morris but a 19-footer is in the cards... local favorite Ellie Weltha of Bloomington is the top seed in the Shot Put. Her best throw of the season is actually 45-5.5. After finishing second last year, she wants to clear the 47-foot mark again and become a champion. Jasmine Mitchell of Thornwood has breached 43-feet and Weltha should be concerned about that.
Lake Park High School has a strong tradition in the jumps. The Triple Jump will feature the Lancers next star named Isabelle Kennedy. Kennedy is a senior who comes in IL#2 with a sweet spot 39-3.5. The field itself is still open with new names looking to come up. A fleet of 38-foot jumpers will keep Kennedy honest... don't you wish we could go back in a time machine and rewind to 2017? Last year we were watching Jelena Rowe skied over 6-feet in the High Jump for Bloom Twp. Not this time. We will be faced with equality as 5'6" being the top mark. Homewood-Flossmoor junior Madison Myrick and McHenry junior Jenna Pauly are those 5'6" leapers... the best Pole Vaulters will come from the 1A and 2A ranks or Central Illinois. Bloomington native Brooke Misukonis is the favorite. She cleared 12-0 last year and will shoot for that this time around.
The feel of the distance races will be a little strange this time around. Last year's darling was then Glenbard West freshman Katelynne Hart. In the 3200m, Hart terrorized a strong field when she lapped everyone except second placer and teammate Lindsey Payne. Payne is entered again with the top seed followed by cross country stars Melissa Manetsch of Libertyville, Emily Shelton of Minooka, and the "surprise" Abby Lopez of Argo. Even without Hart and several no-shows, there are six girls under 11:00 making this a strong event... if Madison Marasco decides to hold off her team Schaumburg in the relay, she will an opportunity to challenge the 2:10 barrier in the 800m. Hart is entered with a SB 2:13.64 and will not doubt challenge Marasco for the title. Enyaeva Michelin of Evanston adds an element to the game as well. She recently ran 2:14.39 and will have a say in the title sweepstakes. All 12 finalists have broken 2:20... the final event will feature Hart vs. Michelin in the 1600m. Hart of course is the national champion in New Balance MILE. It will be hard for Michelin to stay with Hart in this one. The all-time meet record should be gone as well.
The 60HH will serve as an appetizer to the big menu sprint events to follow. Only two hurdlers have broken 9.00 and they are top rated Kayla Walters of Bolingbrook and Kaylah McCall of Homewood-Flossmoor. Being a great hurdler does not mean you will win. All it takes is one barrier mishap and it's a wrap. Freshman Victoria Spagnola of West Aurora will make her debut. Who is she? A former middle-school star whose older sister Emma Spagnola won this event four years ago. "Baby Spags" has the fourth fastest time in the state... the 60m is going to be awesome and a nail-biter. Dajour Miles (W. Aurora), Nya Carr (Hoffman Estates), Ozzy Erewele (Springfield), and Ameia Wilson are speedsters that we expect to win their heats. That means only four spots remain for the finals. Olivia Oliver (Homewood-Flossmoor), Brimonet Buggs (Dekalb), and Lyn'Nikka Vance (Crete-Monee) are the next best options to look out for. The state best 7.56 by Wilson should fall in the final... the 400m will see Miles for the first time ever. She had a rough time in New York running in traffic on a banked track. We don't expect the "human bowling" ball to get much work as she should be well out in front of the field. The long standing meet record of 55.09 is up for a serious challenge... a good field in the 200m with Wilson, Erewele, Miles, and Oliver should make things fun.
The relays are the life blood of this classification. All of the all-time records are so much faster and deeper than anywhere else when you do the comparisons. In the first one the 4x800 is going to set the tone. Downers Grove South has been building for this moment for several years now. The Mustangs won the high powered Mustang Relays in 9:25.32. They will be tough to beat but if Schaumburg can stay close through three legs and Maddie Marasco anchors, it is a wrap.... the first of two barn burning relays will take place. The 4x200 will see the fast paced Vikings from Homewood-Flossmoor ready to show the rest of the state they are for real. The 1:41.91 is nearly 2.5 seconds faster than nearest competitor Proviso West. If no else can step up, then crown the "Red Smoke" crew easy champions... last event of the day is the "showstopper" better known as the 4x400. There is more equality here than the 4x2. Proviso West has run 4:05.72, West Aurora could win it if Cinnamon runs, Naperville North has a strong unit, and Whitney Young is a dark horse contender. Whoever steps up, they are going to have run faster than they have all season.