Lincoln-Way East over Homewood-Flossmoor in meet record time at the 2014 edition of the DGS Mustang Relays (Colin Boyle photo)
This is New Balance Indoors Nationals weekend in New York City. There are some new athletes and teams from Illinois attending this year. There is an eerie feeling in the air that I must pounce on…
I have to, I must speak on it! Anybody who read my blog last year regarding “Matchups" or knows me personally know I love big time match-ups between athletes and teams. It was a few hours before the start of the Downers Grove South Mustang Relays when I received a text from my guy (T Jones) that the Homewood-Flossmoor girls' team was not going to attend due to a scheduling conflict. The Vikings had pulled out of their long awaited match-up vs. the Griffins. Instead they will be going to New York this weekend for the national championship. That's like “Money" Mayweather and Pacquiao pulling out of their mega event boxing match coming up.
Apparently Homewood-Flossmoor has attended the Mustang Relays for years. And on paper this is supposed to be their time to replace the Griffins as the dominant sprint corps in Illinois. Homewood-Flossmoor is loaded! They have the super talented duo featuring Antoinette "Angel" Broughton and Jayla Stewart. There is a standout sophomore named Aliyah Mickens. They also have arguably the most heralded freshman in the state in Olivia Oliver. Still there are some out there who say they are scared to battle their new found rivals. The two-time defending 4x200 meet champions did win the event with an IL #1 1:41.90. Maybe both squads are waiting until Top Times to duel at full strength.
A renewed Alexis Pierre-Antoine all alone in the 4x4 relay at DGS Relays Monday Night
As a fan I feel a great match-up is now gone. What a springboard it would have been for Homewood-Flossmoor if they had defeated the powerful the mighty Griffins heading to the “Big Apple." It also could have been a low point had they lost. So one must wonder aloud if NOT facing them was smart.
It is
a problem all the way to the professional ranks (especially sprints) and their
lack of match-ups. I will be watching Homewood-Flossmoor time wise this weekend.
And the rest will be left up to you the fans as to who is better: LWE or H-F?
The Truth Will Come Out even if we have to wait until May!