CPS friendly rivals Jeffrey Allgood (left, Urban Prep) and Terry Magee (North Lawndale Prep) shake hands prior to battle
This 9th Annual CPS Co-Ed Championship was easily the best in meet history. However, on the boy's side it rivaled many of the great old battles from the 1970s when the Public League was the king of track and field in Illinois.
Key highlights (full recap coming on Sunday)-
Boys-
- Demoria Harris (Jr., Dunbar) younger brother of former superstar Darvell Harris made his name with big wins in the 100 and 200 with 10.91/21.79 marks; Terry Magee and Lane Tech senior Eric McMiller grabs 2nd and 3rd rolling 10.94, 10.99; Magee second in 200 with 22.03
- Three long sprinters break 50.00 in 400m as Brandon Riley (Sr., Morgan Park) wins photo finish against fellow southside rival Jeremiah Watson (Sr., Urban Prep) 49.34-49.36; Deondre Ward (Sr., Simeon) 49.93
- David Schmieg (Sr., Lane Tech) takes advantage of being fresh and out in 54.9 for the first 400m of the 800m and holds off a determined Kevin Ma (Jr., Whitney Young) 1:55.75-1:56.00. Both times are open personal bests for the CPS vets. Six runners break the 2:00 threshold. It's a modern day CPS record.
- Pavlo Hutsalyuk (Jr., Lane Tech) took charge of the 1600m in the second half to win easily in 4:21.42. Northside Prep sophomore Danny Rosen caught a tiring Kyle Maloney (Jr., Jones Prep) in the final lap to grab second and a school record 4:25.30.
- Imani Payton (Sr., N. Lawndale Prep) sweeps the hurdles 14.56/38.55. The latter is a new CPS meet record for the future Indiana State University Sycamore.
- North Lawndale surprises in the 4x1 relay which saw four teams break 43.00. The Phoenix blazed a school record and CPS meet record 42.06 that stood since 1986; Phillips 42.71, Dunbar 42.78, Lane 42.93 all get big props.
- Phillips breaks 4x2 record without top man Brandon Lane (Sr.) who was out with an injured leg. The Wildcats ran a smoking 1:28.98 to distance themselves from Dunbar 1:29.55.
- Matt Fleming (Jr., Simeon) kicked off the day literally by winning the long jump with a big PB 23'4.75". Fleming had two jumps over 23' as he battled Dontel Payne (Sr., Mather) who also had a career day with his school record 22-foot effort.
Girls-
It was the senior darling show led by Briyahna Desrosiers (N. Lawndale Prep), Ebony McClendon (Brooks College Prep), and Ryan Preacely (Johnson College Prep). These three young ladies absolutely dominated the CPS meet. Desrosiers took the 200 and 400 titles with 24.47/55.09 clockings. She also anchored her team to victory in the 4x4 that ran 4:09.81. The future Texas A&M Aggie also took second in the long jump (17'5.50").
McClendon was admittedly nervous after Young's Stephanie Okiro (Jr.) false started. "I was scared because I thought it was me,"she said. McClendon held longer in the blocks on the second take which may have prevented her from going faster than the solid 11.87 achieved on a perfect day. McClendon won the long jump (17'8") and grabbed second in the 200m (24.47).
Preacely is the lesser known of the superstar trio but nonetheless just as lethal. The Ivy league bound Preacely took 2nd in the 100 (11.92), 3rd in the 200 (24.65); she anchored two fast relays as well: 4x1 (48.85) and a come from behind variety in the 4x2 (1:42.77) over Whitney Young who ran a season best 1:43.17. Morgan Park also added 1:44.72 and upcoming Westinghouse 1:45.76.
Lane Tech used a variety of weapons to strut their depth. It started in the field for the Lady Indians via the arm of senior Jenal Ortiz who swept the throws (SP- 37'1.5") and DT (104'8"). Afterwards, the track stallions took over with Joanna Podosek (Sr.) who won the 800 (2:20.34) and placed second in the 1600 (5:30.25) to a surprising Jocelyne Mendoza (Jr., Taft) 5:23.73. Roisin Mulkerrins (Fr.) won her first city title with a late convincing win in the 3200m (11:51.28). Fellow freshman Maggie Schoelle took second in 11:56.41. Also, Imani Davis (So.) and Alex Martel (Sr.) showed some great range in moving down to the 400. Davis was second in 58.74 and Martel 58.83. Davis was 6th in the 200 (26.57).