Bloom has been a relay team program on the rise (Colin Boyle photo)
4x200m-
2015 State Champion: Oak Park-River Forest 1:30.39
Outlook: OPRF came through in a big way in winning the state title on the strength of anchor Norma Abdur-Rafia (Sr.). Adbur-Rafia is one of the premier 200m sprinters in Illinois (#2 rated for 2016), so it's only right for her to anchor a powerful quartet. With two key losses this season may see Abdur concentrate a bit more on individual events. O'Fallon placed second with three sophomores last year. The experienced Panthers are sure to move into position despite not having a knockout leg. However, they do have two solid mainstays Tayma Houston (Jr.) and Mya Watson-Blake (Jr.). Lincoln-Way did not have the best team overall a season ago but still third in the state. That will change in 2016. Just like the 4x1 the Griffins are going to be extremely loaded and deep! The fourth fastest time in 2015 was 1:36.60 by Cedar Hill, Texas. LWE will be in that class with Kayla Hylton, Asia Brown, and Ololade Ayoola. They did not run on the 1:40.79 last year.... West Aurora, Hinsdale Central, Barrington, Chicago Mother McAuley, Rock Island, and Homewood-Flossmoor will challenge for great times.
Top performances in 2015-
| RANK | TIME | TEAM | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1:39.39 | ||
| 2 | 1:40.23 | ||
| 3 | 1:40.71 | ||
| 4 | 1:40.79 | ||
| 4 | 1:40.79 | ||
| 6 | 1:41.68 | ||
| 7 | 1:41.78 | ||
| 8 | 1:41.83 | ||
| 9 | 1:41.84 | ||
| 10 | 1:42.40 |
4x400m-
2015 State Champion: Barrington 3:52.26
Outlook: The showstopper is a quality and deep event as 21 teams in this classification broke 4:00. Chicago Westinghouse returns all four legs from a 3:56.79 team but they were shipped to 2A. It will once again be a solid affair with Lincoln-Way East, Barrington, Hinsdale Central, Lane Tech, Bloom Township, and even Evanston vying for supremacy.
Barrington earned a hard fought victory last spring at EIU with a team that no one thought could win. The Fillies will be known this time around. In order to stave off the hungry hunters all four returning members will need to be at their best at the end of the season. There is a strong belief that it is going to be a handful of teams going under 3:49 this year. Barrington is the first team. Lincoln-Way has never broke 3:50 or won a state title here. Can the Griffins finally stand on the top podium and close out the season as the best overall team? It will remain a mystery until all four girls collectively get it done.
Top performances in 2015-
| RANK | TIME | TEAM | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3:52.19 | ||
| 2 | 3:52.26 | ||
| 3 | 3:52.99 | ||
| 4 | 3:53.32 | ||
| 5 | 3:56.06 | ||
| 6 | 3:56.31 | ||
| 7 | 3:56.39 | ||
| 8 | 3:56.48 | ||
| 9 | 3:56.63 | ||
| 10 | 3:57.77 |