Kankakee High School was the flavor of the month site for youth track and field. Actually, it was the home of the region 7 championships featuring club teams and individuals from Illinois and Indiana. The top five placers in the open event and relays advance to the national championships to be held in Greensboro, NC July 22-28.
New Superstars on the horizon-
Girls-
Six years ago it was the Aaliyah Brown (Frankfort Lincoln-Way East, IL) era in which the then youth terrorized pre-high school ranks. Of course, Brown went on to become a superstar in high school.
Now, the Midwest faithful may be witnessing another brooding superstar. Her name is Lynna Irby (Indiana Storm TC). She will be an incoming freshman this fall at Indianapolis Pike High School. Irby swept the dashes with ease: 100 (12.06), 200 (24.53), 400 (57.00). Keep in mind that the temps were in the upper 80s and lower 90s during the entire weekend. If Irby were in high school her season best times would have ranked as follow: 100 (11.74- #1), 200 (third fastest performance in the state regardless of conditions), 400 (55.60- #2). So it looks like Indiana’s defending 100 and 200 champion Brionna Thomas (Ft. Wayne Wayne HS) is going to have a difficult time defending her titles in 2014. By the way, Thomas was in attendance at Kankakee and she won the young women 100 by a centimeter over Ryan Preacely (Chicago Johnson Prep/O.F.F. TC) 12.16-12.17.
Keep an eye out for 12-year old Semira Killebrew (pictured above) (Indiana Storm TC). The amazing wunderkind is several years away from high school, but she has been busy resetting the age group records. Killebrew tore apart the competition this past weekend in the 100 (12.42) and 200 (26.04). Killebrew just missed former Evanston legend Shalina Clarke’s 25.64 mark. It is mentioned just missed because Killebrew floated the last 20m or so being that she won by two-seconds! Killebrew will keep the Indy Pike team stocked with talent when she joins the Red Devils crew in the fall of 2015.
Standout girls’ action follows-
Shianne Baggett may have walked across the Chicago Whitney Young graduation stage over a month ago, but the Depaul University bound middle-star is continuing to impress with solid performances this summer in the YW 800m. Baggett ran her third fastest time ever winning in 2:14.78. The opening pace went out in 64.8 and Baggett sat in third place until near the 600m mark and it was curtains on the field. Baggett stated that she is getting back her fitness after the high school season where she took some downtime to recover mentally and also working a summer job. “I’ve been working at Chipotle this summer,” she jubilantly after her race.
IG 100H: Taryn Milton (Ft. Wayne TC) won in a near record 14.68. Amber Farrell (formerly of IMSA) keeps her 14.67 record.
YW 200: Preacely gets a measure of revenge after losing the 100 by .01. She blazes a solid field in 24.96.
YW 100H: Indiana’s top hurdler Symone Black (Ft. Wayne Concordia) continued her undefeated ways by easily winning in 14.46.
Boys-
IB 3000: Christian Badillo (Track My Speed TC/Lane Tech) 9:18.78- Badillo cruised to victory despite running one lap short as did the entire field. The times were adjusted by meet officials who made a human error when they lost track of the laps.
YM 200 & 400: Sam Bransby (Naperville Central) wins both races. Bransby runs 22.05 in a personal best time. On Saturday, he breezed past foes in 49.04.
YM 110HH: Daylen Hubbard (Bloom Twp/Full Striders) takes 14.35 win over prelim leader Jacob Wright (Indiana Storm). Wright is an All-American hurdler from the Hoosier state.
YM 800: Matt Anyiwo (Homewood-Flossmoor/Illinois Elite) 1:56.45- Anyiwo hit the 600 in 1:26.4 and toying with the field. He would dash away the final 200 and win by nearly three seconds.
YM TJ: Marcus Jegede (Roselle Lake Park/DuPage TC) 49-5. Jegede produces personal best and top mark in the state regardless of conditions. It appeared as though wind would not have mattered. Hopefully, Jegede will have favorable conditions at nationals.
YM LJ: Gerald McGhee (Ft. Wayne Bishop Dwenger) stops Jegede 23-3 to 23-2.
Tidbits that make sense-
Meet director Marc Jones did a fine job in managing the association and regional meets. It is always good for the person in charge to be accessible and accountable. For example, there was an issue with the boys 3000 lap counting. The runners ran 6.5 laps instead of 7.5. Mr. Jones immediately took the weight in saying that it was a “human error” and that he fielded all complaints and protests on the matter. As well, the timing of the meet moved well despite horrid weather conditions.
Kankakee girls head coach Benny Phillips served as facilities director. Among talking summer track and sharing laughs, it was noted that he has done a fine job in turning the Lady Kays program around. His team placed 8th overall in the 2A state championship. Look for the Lady Kays to be one of the favorites in 2014 as the majority of the scoring members return.
Frankfort Lincoln-Way East assistant coach and Illinois Elite TC head coach Angelo Brown was in attendance. Coach Brown was mainly enjoying his clubs emergence with new and upcoming talent. He noted that one member of his summer team was Matt Anyiwo of Homewood-Flossmoor. “I can coach more than girls,” he said with a smile. Indeed Anyiwo will be the young man to watch in the 800m next season. He also stated that girls head coach Caroline Gerritson has resigned her position. Does that mean that Brown will make the jump as sole controller of LWE girls track and field? Stay tuned!
The forever social butterfly Shamier Little(pictured above) formerly of Chicago Lindblom arrived near the end of the meet because she was bored at home and wanted to see some track and field action. Little earned an automatic berth to nationals in the 200m. She initially stated that her high school career was over but decided let’s run one more time. “I really want to break 24-seconds in the 200,” she said in reference to the only blemish on her outstanding high school resume.