There is no doubt that 3A Girls sprints have been hotter than a stove top over the past four years thanks to some speedsters like Morolake Akinosun (Aurora Waubonsie Valley), Aaliyah Brown (Frankfort Lincoln-Way East), Shamier Little (Chicago Lindblom), and Cessily Jones (Plainfield North) are among the very top that elevated the state game to the national level and even international. The girls will undoubtedly be missed, but at the same time their performances and and extreme dedication to countless Illinois girls will never be forgotten.
100m-
2013 State Champion: Aaliyah Brown (Frankfort Lincoln-Way East) 11.42 [+2.7]
Key returners: Alexis Hyshaw (Sr., Frankfort Lincoln-Way East), Nyjah Lane (Sr., Highland Park), Mystique Thompson (Sr., Rock Island), Jessica Watkins (Jr., Bolingbrook), Meghan Marias (Sr., Frankfort Lincoln-Way East), Brittny Ellis (Jr., Gurnee Warren), Cydney Anderson (Sr., Chicago St. Ignatius), Kyrah Sherrod (Jr., Hoffman Estates Conant).
Outlook: The era of superstar sprints may be over for the next several years with the notable losses Morolake Akinosun and Aaliyah Brown. This year will give credence to the term emerging talent as the likes of Alexis Hyshaw, Brittny Ellis, and Mystique Thompson seek to be the new Century dash queen. Hyshaw may have the jump on the field after finishing second in the state last year to her former teammate “The Franchise.” Hyshaw ran a nifty but windy 11.86w last year. She will need to keep good health on her side as well as fellow emerging elite talented teammate Meghan Marias.
Ellis may be using this event as a tune-up for her main events, the 200 and 400 dashes. Still, she was able to show some burning power 11.94 and anchoring an occasional 4x100m relay. Don’t be surprised if she follows a trend of running three events in the post-season that other multi-talented speedsters have done.
Nyjah Lane is a name that many people glossed over in 2013. But if you look very closely at the stat sheet, you will see a 12.09 as well as a fourth place finish. Lane quietly honed her skills on the North Shore after transferring from Kansas two seasons ago. She may be ready to challenge for the top of the podium this spring.
Briyahna Desrosiers and Brittny Ellis will stand tall as friendly foes this season
400m-
2013 State Champion: Brittny Ellis (So., Gurnee Warren) 54.34
Key returners: Ellis, Parker English (Sr., Evanston), Briyahna DesRosiers (Sr., Chicago North Lawndale Prep), Jordan Shead (Sr., St. Charles East), Simone Carr (Sr., Carol Stream Glenbard North), Dana O’Grady (Sr., Frankfort Lincoln-Way East), Jasmine Berry (Sr., Belleville West), Emma Spagnola (Sr., West Aurora), Patrice Jones (Sr., Rockton Hononegah).
Outlook: Brittny Ellis is two for two and on her way to a third consecutive all season quarter-miler crown that encompasses the indoor and outdoor season through the state meet (for true sprinters it may last well into the summer). But let’s hold up! Let’s all welcome Briyahna DesRosiers to the spoils party. In the Chicago Public League, this young lady was bubbling under the surface at tiny CICS/Longwood High School on the far southside as early as two seasons ago. After going AWOL during most of the 2013 indoor and outdoor campaign, DesRosiers emerged this past summer in the North Lawndale camp under the tutelage of Coach Zontavious Johnson. At print time, DesRosiers is ranked #1 in the country at 55.04. She took the pre-season world by storm with that personal record run as well as several other dazzling performances. The best is yet to come for DesRosiers.
We cannot forget several other notables in the crowd like Jordan Shead, who has enjoyed a good career to this point for the Saints. She ran 55.37 last year on the strength of a quality workload. She is on several relays including the showstopper. She will probably get the honor in anchoring it this year in an attempt to repeat as a state champion.
Parker English placed fourth here in the event and is slated to be one of the favorites this season. But head coach Fenton Gunter may move English back into the 300 Hurdles if needed. Last season the Midwest weather was nastier than usual and it prevented any significant hurdle work to their liking.
200m-
2013 State Champion: Aaliyah Brown (Sr., Frankfort Lincoln-Way East) 24.03 [-1.7]
Key returners: Brittny Ellis (Jr., Gurnee Warren), Alexis Hyshaw (Sr., Frankfort Lincoln-Way East), Mystique Thompson (Sr., Rock Island), Parker English (Sr., Evanston), Briyahna DesRosiers (Sr., Chicago North Lawndale Prep), Jessica Watkins (Jr., Bolingbrook), Antoinette Broughton (Jr., Homewood-Flossmoor), Hannah Cohn (So., Chicago St. Ignatius), Kyla Jimmar (Sr., Oak Lawn Richards), Kyla Hylton (So., Frankfort Lincoln-Way North), Jayla Stewart (Homewood-Flossmoor), Maya Neal (Jr., Naperville Neuqua), Asia Brown (So., Frankfort Lincoln-Way North), Emily Cowan (Sr., Aurora Metea Valley), Meghan Marias (Sr., Frankfort Lincoln-Way East).
Outlook: Brittny Ellis has a legal wind best of 24.19. Parker English ran 24.48 to beat Ellis and finish runner-up in the state championship last spring. Briyahna DesRosiers has already burned the track to its core with several great performances including a US#10 24.70 back in mid-January. Alexis Hyshaw will be fun to watch this winter and spring as she is making moves to become a champion. Mystique Thompson is a four year veteran who as a freshman became an all-state sprinter. Also, look for the feisty Hannah Cohn on the track this spring.
100HH-
2013 State Champion: Alexus Jimson-Miller (Danville) 14.12 [NWI]
Key returners: Emma Spagnola (Sr., West Aurora), Jasmine Berry (Sr., Belleville West), Kristen Dowell (Sr., Edwardsville), Claudette Day (Sr., Belleville West), Alexis Antoine-Pierre (So., Frankfort Lincoln-Way East), Jasmine Berry (Sr., Belleville West), Maya Neal (Jr., Naperville Neuqua Valley), Katie Shifflet (Sr., Normal Community), Darneisha Spann (Sr., Schaumburg).
Outlook: Before we go on a rant, it must be noted that one so-called favorite had moved on to college a year early. Claudette Day, who was one of the best hurdle talents in the state, decided to graduate early and enroll at Northern Illinois University a season early and now is competing for the Huskies. The Belleville West coaching staff was shocked to learn that she would give up her final year of eligibility- especially when she still was coming into her own senior year.
Emma Spagnola lost the state title by the slimmest of margins last spring to Alexus Jimson-Miller. Spagnola’s good friend and summer track club teammate Jasmine Berry was third. Both young ladies could very well be the top two hurdlers this season because they are workaholics. Abe Jones is the hurdling guru who has guided several top barrier specialists and the results are beginning to show. Spagnola ran a fleet footed 13.84 last summer in the USATF Junior Olympic Championship that netted fourth place. Jones believes she can go under 13.50 this year. Alexis Pierre-Antoine ran well in her first season while jumbling relay chores. Pierre-Antoine will be expected to do the same when she returns off the shelf.
300H-
2013 State Champion: Brenna Detra (Peoria Richwoods) 42.76
Key returners: Emma Spagnola (Sr., West Aurora), Jasmine Berry (Sr., Belleville West), Parker English (Sr., Evanston), Alexis Pierre-Antoine (So., Frankfort Lincoln-Way East), Hannah Raus (So., Evanston), Morgan Schulz (Jr., Cary-Grove), Emma Gambol (Jr., Glen Ellyn Glenbard West), Amari Wilkerson (Sr., Oak Park-River Forest), Tineja Foy (Jr., Crete-Monee).
Outlook: Emma Spagnola was the second best long hurdler in the state last year according to the IHSA state final annals, but in the 400H variety she was the top ace. She will more than likely specialize in the longer one at the University of Minnesota. This year should be another good one with the likes of Alexis Pierre-Antoine, Jasmine Berry, and Emma Gambol. Keep an eye out for these two Evanston part-timers known as Parker English and Hannah Raus. It was revealed that weather will play a significant factor in English pursuing this event long term this season. It will also depend on the yearling Raus. She is a home grown local talent that if she can improve from the fine 45.53 she ran in just one race as a freshman, then that will free up Parker to stay in the flat events and relays.