The heraled 1974 State Champion Lane Tech quartet cut their teeth in CPL meet first (Lane Alum Glenn Hamilton photo credit)
The upcoming Ninth Annual Chicago Public Schools Co-Ed Track and Field Championships may be one of the best and most competitive meets since the inception back in 2006. The preliminary meet will begin on Tuesday May 6 for the girls and Wednesday May 7 for the boys. The co-ed championship will take place on Saturday May 10. All races will be held at refurbished Hanson Stadium.
Lane Tech Boys and Girls swept the team titles away from Whitney Young last year, but that is old news now as the Dolphins return formable teams capable of recapturing the prized first place plaques.
On the boy’s side, North Lawndale Prep has emerged as a team to watch within the past three years. The Phoenix are mostly a sprint dominate team but equipped with high point men. Also keep an eye out for Northside College Prep who will try and deploy an array of speed, field, and distance to obtain one of the two city championship trophies. Other key teams to watch out for are Phillips, Morgan Park, Jones, Payton, Dunbar, and Mather.
The girl’s side of the ledger appears less complicated than the boys. Lane and Whitney Young are heads and shoulders above anyone else out there. However, only a foolish one would forget to include Morgan Park. The Mustangs hold the CPS record 14 titles in a row and may be in line to start another streak should the two aforementioned teams slip up. Other squads to consider are Brooks College Prep and North Lawndale Prep.
Let’s take a look at the event categories:
-Boys-
Distance-
The CPS was once a laughing stock around the state in the distance running arena. Today this is no longer the case the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m is stocked full of talent from various schools competing well on the state level.
800: This event is deeper than it ever has been since the glory days of the 1970s. Whitney Young junior Kevin Ma had a breakout race last weekend at the Prospect Invite and now has the fastest seed time of 1:56.93. Lane’s David Schmieg (Sr.) has run the open in 1:57.70. However, he is much more capable of a better time when the right situation presents itself. He has split 1:54.8 on leadoff of the 4x8 relay. The Jones duo of Mark Protsiv (Jr.) and Kevin Johnson (Sr.) are just a dangerous.
1600: This is another event that presents danger because of the tremendous depth- 29 of the 32 entrants have broken the 5:00 barrier. Lane Tech junior Pavlo Hutsalyuk leads the way with his chilling 4:17.85. Kyle Maloney, Jones Prep junior, has clocked 4:21 this season and is equipped to run much faster. His fellow junior teammate Will Sarchet will be expected to make noise in the final. Bryan Quinonez (Sr., Kennedy) is also a threat for top honors after recently running 4:25.9 at the Rolling Meadows Invite. Mainstays Jon Vara (Sr., Lane) and Deivi Tahiraj (Sr., Mather) are among the best in the city over the past several years.
3200: This is the only event that is not contested in the preliminary round. So look forward to seeing the Jones duo of Peter Schaible (Sr.) and Kyle Maloney dominating the field.
Sprints/hurdles-
It’s going to be very difficult to make the 100m field for anyone who cannot run 11.20 or faster. The CPS has improved so much in the Century race that it is now an indicator for how things will transpire on the state level. Terry Magee (Sr., N. Lawndale Prep) has been on a rampage this season and currently ranks #2 in the state with a smoking 10.62. Right behind him is Brandon Lane (Sr., Phillips), Demoria Harris (Jr., Dunbar), Eric McMiller (Sr., Lane Tech), and Malik Hamilton (Jr., Lane Tech).
The 200m will be just as enticing as the 100m when you double back the likes of Magee, Hamilton, and Harris. Add in speedsters Jeremiah Watson (Sr., Urban Prep) and Joseph Branch (Jr., Dunbar) for added depth. The winner will more than likely have to crack 22.00 on Saturday.
The 400m has been a little down but that won’t prevent a few solid long sprinters from running some slick times. Jeremiah Watson has been one of the best in the state over the past two seasons. The southside ace has run 49.44, which is #11 in the state. Morgan Park’s Brandon Riley (Sr.) is right behind Watson at 49.87. The final should be a great one between the pair.
North Lawndale Prep senior Imani Payton is the consensus choice to win both the110HH and 300IH. Payton has improved his speed and technique in the short version to a season best 14.69. Payton, who is already the CPS meet record holder in the longer version, is ranked #1 in the state with a sizzling 37.55.
Relays-
Lane Tech is coming off of a state leading time of 7:49.57 in the 4x800 that they achieved at the prestigious Prospect Wanner Knights Invitational last Friday. The Indians more than likely will not assemble that same cast, but it can be assumed the one issued will be quite potent. Last year Jones Prep set the CPS record of 7:52.05 from last year. The Eagles return several members from that squad and will be a big threat to repeat.
Assuming that the main players Phillips, Lane Tech, Dunbar, and N. Lawndale Prep move on to Saturday’s final, it should be a good one in the 4x100. Phillips has the fastest time coming in of 42.36.
The 4x2 will be equally as exciting to watch as the 4x1 despite Phillips having the top mark of 1:28.77- that is nearly three seconds faster than their nearest competitor.
Whitney Young is the league leader in the 4x4 at 3:25.95. Lane Tech has the second best time. Don’t be surprised if it comes down to the final event for points and the big hardware.
Field-
The field events should see some improvement over last year with a number of quality athletes returning. Carzelle Elicke (Sr., Dunbar) is one of those improved athletes that transferred in from Wheaton North. Elicke will be a force in the high jump with his leading 6’3”. Elicke along with junior Matt Fleming of Simeon are the leaders of the pack in the long jump that will feature seven jumpers over 20-feet. Elicke is also one of the favorites in the triple jump at 43’2”.
The Briyahna vs. Ebony show will take center stage this week at the CPS championships (Abe Jones photo credit)
-Girls-
Sprints-
100: Ebony McClendon (Sr., Brooks), Briyahna Desrosiers (Sr., N. Lawndale), and Ryan Preacely (Sr., Johnson College Prep) are among the premier short sprinters in the state. In fact, the trio is ranked 2-4 in the state in this event. McClendon is perhaps the top short sprinter in the state with a lifetime best of 11.81. Expect her times to drop big time in the coming weeks. Preacely has run 11.85 and Desrosiers at 12.00.
200: Desrosiers was mentioned in the 100 despite her not running it as a reference to how deep the CPS is in the sprints. The transfer from CICS-Longwood has made tremendous returns on the investment the N. Lawndale coaching staff put in. The future Texas A&M Aggie is ranked #1 in Illinois with a fast 24.12 mark. McClendon is #3 at 24.36. Preacely is entered in this event and ranks #6 with a great time of 24.60.
400: The state’s indoor leader Desrosiers may be the outdoor leader after the weekend if she can capitalize on her 55.04 personal best.
Hurdles: Joelle Ataessien (So., Whitney Young) is the favorite in the 100H with a time of 15.94. Sariaya Phillips (Sr., Brooks) is top choice to win the 300H. Her season best is 46.43.
Distance-
The league leader in the 800m is senior Alex Martel of Lane Tech. Martel’s services will be used elsewhere to help her team secure vital points. The half-mile honor will be bestowed upon teammate and fellow senior Joanna Podosek. Podosek has clocked 2:19 in the 4x8 relay and should be just as deadly in the open event. Northside Prep juniors Elizabeth O’Connor and Sarah Parks come in with marks similar to Podosek. Saturday’s final should be a fun one to view.
Podosek will return to run the 1600m as a slight favorite should she advance to Saturday’s final. Whitney Young senior Isobel Araujo will keep the final respectable and honest with her 5:21 season best. Lane freshman Roisin Mulkerrins is one of the top freshman middle-distance runners in the state.
The 3200m will be contested on Saturday. Lane freshman Margie Schoelle is the heavy favorite to win her first crown. Schoelle’s personal best is 11:26 from the indoor season.
The best of the rest-
Lane Tech, Northside Prep, and Whitney Young should easily qualify out of the prelims of the 4x8 relay prelims and duel for supremacy on Saturday. Johnson College Prep will be the team to watch in the 4x2 with Ryan Preacely on the quartet. The same will go for the 4x1, but don’t count out N. Lawndale Prep. Lane Tech is ranked #2 in the state in the 4x4. The Indians will have the personnel for the final if needed.
Jenal Ortiz (Sr., Lane Tech) has the best marks in the shot put and discus. Ortiz has thrown over 38’ and 116’ respectively. The throws are a welcomed strong suit for the Indians who will be hurting in the jumps because of youth and quality.
Watch for Young’s India McGuffin in the triple jump. McGuffin is the league leader at 36’4”.