The relay action was thrilling at times inside the Armory (Cailin Considine photo)
-The University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana's Armory was the scene of 55 combined girls and boys national elite performances. It appeared as though the quality of the peak performances were a result of the athletes putting a finishing touch on their indoor season.
-Girls-
- Brooke Catherine (Sr., Normal Community) is having a wonderful season- actually she having one of the best indoor campaigns known to a pole vaulter in state history. The reining outdoor state champion Catherine did not waste a second in getting rolling. By the time the fans got settled into their seats she was up and over 11-6. When she hit on 12-6 and then over 13-feet it was much see TV. The University of Cincinnati commit eclipsed 13-2 which set a meet record. Catherine then decided she wanted the bar moved to 13-6. Although the NBIN All-American Catherine did not make the height she was confident in that the mark will eventually become hers. At the Reno Pole Vault Summit in January she attempted 13-8.
- Dominique Lewis (Sr., Champaign Centennial) knows that the season is young but having the #1 60m in the state feels good. Lewis continued her winning by taking the short dash easily in 7.68- just off of her top mark of 7.67. Lewis has improved her block starts and technique during the winter which has led to big outcomes. Lewis returned later to win the 200m in 25.59.
Best of the rest:
- Imani Davis (Jr., Chicago Lane Tech) took the lead out fast as she always does when she contests the 800m. Davis led wire to wire in winning 2:20.03; Kierra Griggs (Jr., Chicago Heights Bloom Twp.) produced the IL#2 time in the 400m with a commanding 58.10 over a field that featured all sub 60-second performers. Griggs also brought her team back from the jaws of defeat in the 4x4 with a cro; Jamari Drake (Jr., Springfield Southeast) won the high jump with her second best mark of the season which happens to be the second best performance in the state at 5-7; Anna Sophia-Keller (So., Effingham St. Anthony) took to the track in the first race of the day and won her season debut 3200m in an IL#5 3200m (10:55.83)
-Boys-
Sam Sikon (So., Carbondale) poses after his 60-foot effort in the SP (Tony Jones photo)
- The previously little known Sam Sikon knew all along that reaching the 60-foot was an attainable goal. "I've hit 61-feet in practice several times so it feels good to finally get in a real competition. Sikon, who placed 2nd in the state last year, indicated that he would like to reach 63-feet by the end of the season.
- Pavlo Hutsalyuk (Sr., Chicago Lane Tech) knew going in that this was would be his last race of the indoor season. He had thought about the big 1600m match up loss to Jon Davis of Oakwood on the very same track several weeks before. "I won't make the same mistake twice coach," he said prior to entering the Armory. Hutsalyuk went out much more conservative than the first time in 67.4. But then Pavlo went to work against Peter Johnsrud (Sr. Oswego) and the field and turned on the gas. The remaining portion of the race was something for distance fans to watch as Hutsalyuk put together 63-64 quarter laps to run going away in a season best 4:19.11.
- Johnathan Stokes (Sr., Chicago North Lawndale) had a field day of his own in the sprints. Stokes copped the IL#1 spot in the 60m (6.93) by an eyelash over Adam Nelson (Jr., Triad) who ran 6.94. Stokes bested Nelson again in the 200m although from different sections 22.98-23.01.
- Elijah Douglas (Sr., Crete-Monee) padded his resume by winning the 60HH (8.16)- good enough for #5 in state. Douglas had took the long jump title 22-8.75 earlier in the meet.