Naperville Neuqua Valley senior to be Ty Moss had a breakout summer track season that ended well in Des Moines, Iowa (Colin Boyle photo)
The AAU Junior Olympic National Championships represent the last stand for youth track and field for 2014. The famed Drake University Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa played host to several thousand tots to high schoolers. The week long celebration produced some of the best marks in the country. As well, several Illinois athletes surged to season and career bests.
Key meet hightlights from August 1-2, 2014-
Boys-
- Ty Moss (Jr., Naperville Neuqua Valley) is building himself into a superstar for 2015. Moss would have the race of his life in placing second in the 17-18 year old boys 800m final with a scorching time of 1:50.52. Moss ran the fastest by an Illinois prep this season. The mark is the 13th fastest time in the country and the 16th fastest performance ever in state history. Moss also anchored his club team the Aurora Sundowners to a second place finish in the 4x4 relay (3:13.61).
- Anthony Colangelo (Jr., Frankfort Lincoln-Way East) took third in the 17-18 boys HJ with a leap of 6'6".
- Stephen Hubona (Sr., Lisle Benet Academy) placed third in the 17-18 boys DT with a toss of 175'; Blaze Murfin (Jr., Carthage Illini West) copped 7th with a throw of 163'.
Girls-
- The University of Wisconsin bound Ebony McClendon produced one final great performance by earning two all-american honors.McClendon eaned a bronze medal in the 100m (12.00). In the prelim, McClendon ran a personal best 11.73 (1.8) and IL#2/US#36; McClendon ran to a personal best 24.26 (-1.2) in the 200m prelim; she later finished 6th in 24.61.
- Jayla Stewart (Jr., Homewood-Flossmoor) positions herself as one of the marked women for 2015 when she clocked a personal best 13.81 (1.4) in the 17-18 girls 100H during the prelim. She would go on to place 2nd in 13.85. Stewart finished with the 28th fastest time in the country; Stewart ran a pb 24.32 in the 200m prelim but later finished 4th in the final (24.50).
- Brittney Ellis (Jr., Gurnee Warren) finishes the season in fine fashion by winning the 17-18 400m in a personal best 53.49. The time establishes a new state best as well as the 8th fastest time in country.
- 17-18 year old 800m: Karina Liz (So., Aurora Central Catholic) took 5th with a time of 2:12.81; former Naperville Central standout junior Katie Sheehan did not compete for her new team Naperville Neuqua Valley during the school year. It did not stop her from performing well as she blazed 2:15.45 to place 8th; event newcomer junior Ashleigh Wilson of Minooka ran a solid 2:16.82 to place 10th. Wilson will be a person of interest in this event next season.
- 17-18 year old 1500m: Liz held off Sheehan to take third place with a big personal best 4:48.32. Sheehan ran 4:48.92.
- 17-18 year old 3000m: Huntley junior Kelly Meehleib places third in with a time of 10:58.33.
- Brooke Catherine (Jr., Normal Community) placed second in the 17-18 pole vault with a leap of 12-6.
- Kewanee-Weatersfield junior Karissa Roman equals her state best in the high jump with a clearance of 5-8. The effort was good enough for 4th place.
- Aaliah Herron (Jr., E. St. Louis Sr.) placed third in the 17-18 shot put with a heave of 41-3; Herron returned later to place 7th in the DT with a personal best 125-9.
- Morgan Schulz (Jr., Cary-Grove) placed second in the 17-18 heptathlon scoring 4728 points. Schulz produced four top event finishes.
- Rachael Lau (So., Plainfield North) enjoyed a wonderful meet first winning the 15-16 yr old 3000m in 10:13.10. Lau placed third in 1500m (4:49.55). She also placed second in the 2k steeplechase (7:21.03) behind Skyler Bollinger (So., Yorkville) who ran 7:14.91.
- Kassadee Ifft (So., Prairie Central) took second place in the 15-16yr old pole vault with a clearance of 12-0; Nicole Ogorek (Fr., Normal Community) placed 4th (11-0); Nicole Bagwell (Fr., Tolono) finished 6th in 11-0.
- Gillian Urycki (So., Metamora) placed 4th in the 15-16 yr old HJ with a leap of 5-6. Urycki hit the LJ with a 18-5 effort that took third.