Ebony McClendon "Ebony Mac" is ready to invade and conquer the Hoosier Land faithful on Saturday (Colin Boyle photo)
For as long as the mind can remember, the Midwest Prep Invitational was always a meet that top notched Indiana prep track and field athletes wanted to compete in. The mid-season classic often clashed against throws of proms and other weekend getaways and won. The caveat to those that ventured on the IUPUI Robert Carroll track was hurt feelings and more.
The meet moved from downtown Indianapolis to Lawrence Central High School on the southeast side of town somewhere around 2000. Although times have changed and teams travel palates have moved on to different venues, the Midwest Prep Invitational has remained a solid if not great invitational on occasions.
Illinois girls aim to invade Indy and conquer-
For those that are unaware of the Midwest Prep Invite, the host Hoosier state has always extended a welcoming hand to out of state teams and athletes. The Prairie state faithful in particular have extended in kind some great performances over the years. How about the sizzling performances by former Evanston legend Shalina Clarke back in 2005 and 2006 when she set current meet records in the 100HH (13.52), 300H (41.41), and 200m (23.90). This is also the meet where another all-time Illinois great Shamier Little (formerly of Chicago Lindblom) got her start as a freshman.
One key potential match-up that everyone in attendance and from afar should watch for is the girls 200m final. If Parker English (Sr., Evanston), Ebony McClendon (Sr., Chicago Brooks), Briyahna Desrosiers (Sr., Chicago North Lawndale Prep), and Brittany Thomas (Sr., Chicago Heights Bloom) all get in, the track surface may be set ablaze. The meet record may be safe but the all-time event performance won’t be. McClendon has moved from emerging elite to superstar territory. This meet will be her first attempt at establishing herself as the true Illinois sprint queen and perhaps plant some doubts in her foes heads on foreign soil. It will not be easy for the hunted McClendon who will have the multi-talented and decorated all-star Parker waiting in the wing. Desrosiers has dropped from the 400m to be ready in the half-lap affair.
Indianapolis Pike freshman sensation Lynna Irby will not be in attendance. Despite several attempts to get her in on the sweepstakes, she will be competing with her team at the Hamilton Southeastern Relays. However, there is some local fire power to watch out for in senior Kiawna Cottrell of Pendleton Heights. Cottrell ran 25.73 two seasons ago. She earned all-state honors in the 400m last year running 57.84 (57.55pb).
Illinois boys out to prove themselves too-
North Lawndale Prep seniors Terry McGee and Imani Payton will both attend Indiana State University on track and field scholarships in the fall. Before they head off to Terre Haute, they are going to get a taste of Hoosierland competition. For McGee, he has been very consistent in from the 55m to 400m and these are the characteristics that Indiana State liked the most. McGee is entered in 100, 200, and 4x100 relay. McGee should see some resistance from Malcolm Dotson (Jr., Indy Cathedral), Josh Miller (Sr., Plainfield, IN), and several others. Dotson had a sensational indoor season in which he won the 60m state title in 6.88.
Payton will see action in the 110HH and 300H as well as the 4x1 relay. The long hurdles is Payton’s best event and he is ready to see how good he is right now in both disciplines. In short event, Payton should move on to the final to meet up with Bloom’s Jonah Wiley (Sr.) and the extremely dangerous Jacob Wright (left photo; Sr., Hamilton Southeastern). Wright blazed 14.11 legal wind in last year’s New Balance Outdoor Nationals to earn himself All-American honors. At the very least he will be the favorite if not more. The same may go in the 300H for Wright who placed 4th at state with a time of 37.84. Wright’s personal best is 37.40.
Best of the rest (Girls)-
• Keri Ertel (Jr., Jennings County) has a lifetime best of 14.55 in the 100HH from 2013. She will be among a solid group of short hurdlers to watch out for.
• 4x100r: Brooks, Evanston, and Bloom Township are the teams that should be concerned with. Ebony McClendon brought her team back from the jaws of defeat with a heart stopping anchor carry last weekend. She will have a bigger stage on Saturday.
• Gabby Sims (Sr., Columbus North) placed third in the Indiana State 400m champion with a rocking time of 56.31. Kiawna Cottrell was a state finalist (mentioned earlier) and will be a big threat to Sims. Rebecca Coan (Sr., Indy Chatard) has a personal best of 58.67.
• Samantha Woodford (Jr., Plainfield) returns armed and dangerous with an 800m personal best of 2:14.44 that earned her a 5th place state meet finish in 2013.
• The long jump will be stacked as a bevy of girls with personal bests over 17-feet. Natalie Ravenell (Fr., Westfield) and Parker English will duel. English has leaped over 18-feet on several occasions.
• Indiana’s top two shot putters are here in Adriana Brown (Sr., Lawrence Central) and Liz Iverson (Sr., Martinsville). Both girls come in with 47-9.5 marks. Demara Compton (Sr., Lawrence Central) has thrown 45-7.5 and will aid her teammate Brown; Brown is a big favorite in the discus having already thrown a US#64 162-10.
Best of the rest (Boys)-
• The long jump field is strong with two jumpers entered over 23-feet in Keshawn Robinson (Plainfield) and Jordan Partee (Madison Consolidated). Bloom’s Jonah Wiley (Sr.) is a contender for the title with his personal best 22-11.
• Thornton Fractional North senior Myles Barbee is a title favorite in the high jump with a 6-6 mark. He will contend with home favorite Cameron Law of Lawrence Central who has the same height advantage.