Sam Sikon is a beast among boys in the shot put (Mark Capapas photo)
It was a dreary and cool afternoon if you were in the elements down in Champaign. However, if you were inside the University of Illinois Armory you were nice and cozy. For most of the 30-something teams competing in the 38th Annual Gene Armer Invitational it was a good time for track and field.
Upstart programs Oswego and Chicago Morgan Park dueled back and forth in the field events and then later on the track. Ultimately it came down to the last few events as to who wanted the first place trophy more. Finally, Oswego put the final nails in the coffin by winning the Showstopper in 3:30.40. The margin of victory was five points 61-56 over the valiant Mustangs.
The girls side of the ledger was just as drama filled with Danville needing only to tread water over the final three track and field events to hold back Bloom Township 45-42. Not to throw shade on the Vikings victory parade, but one wonders how things would have transpired had the state's #1 high jumper junior Jelena Rowe not missed the team bus.
- Sam Sikon (Jr., Carbondale) put himself back in the national limelight with a new personal best indoors or outside and meet record 61-6. Sikon is now US #9/IL #1. Sikon enjoyed a great series in which he had three throws over 60-feet.
- Adam Nelson (Sr., Triad) swept the short dashes first winning the 60m by a millimeter over fellow senior Jaleen Jones of Urbana 6.98-6.99. Nelson back several hours later between the 4x2 relay to polish off the 200m amid a weird lane assignment. Nelson was in lane six because several over ambitious coaches inflated their athletes times. It did not matter though. Nelson smoked the entire field with a personal best 22.44. "I could not see anyone from way out there [in lane 6]," said Nelson.
- Steve Strange (Sr., Oswego) was no stranger to tight and timely racing on Saturday afternoon. Strange held strong coming down the homestretch of the 400m in edging Antonio Davis (Sr., Bloom Twp.) 50.50-50.54. It took the scoreboard operators several minutes to officially sort things out. At one point, the times read 50.50 for both athletes... Strange returned later in the 4x4 to bring his team back from a deficit to down TF North.
- Crete-Monee held on to their IL #2 ranking in the 4x2 relay by blitzing the competition running 1:31.77. The Warriors put to rest any thought of Morgan Park or Urban Prep being competitive. The margin of victory was over two seconds.
- The high jump battle was a sight to see with 60HH winner Avery Taylor (Sr., TF North) and 1A defending state champion Noah Adams (Sr., Meridian) going at it. Both leapers made their way to 6-2 without any issue. Adams starved off elimination at 6-4 and 6-6 to put pressure on Taylor. Both athletes attempted 6-7 and though Adams came up short with a great third attempt that was almost true, Taylor won on less misses.
Gabby from Lawndale prep was the sprint queen in Champaign
- Gabrelle Desrosiers (Sr., Lawndale Charter) equaled Adam Nelson in the sprint sweeps category. Desrosiers turned back the newly minted upstart Courtney Sockwell (Jr., Rockford Lutheran) in the 60m running IL #2 7.68. Desrosiers did not have a great prelim because of a terrible block start which only turned 7.88. It now appears as thought Desrosiers will be a force in the 100m this season.
- Imani Davis (Sr., Chicago Lane Tech) went out in a super serious 62.9 for the first 400 and won the 800m easily in 2:16.84.
- Anna Sophia Keller (Jr., Effingham St. Anthony) did not run for three days leading up to this race. It did not matter. Keller sat back on a 75 second opening quarter mile and ran negative splits thereafter. Keller ran her second fastest time this year with a meet record 4:53.10.
- Caitlin Shepard (Sr., Lake Zurich) won the 3200m in 10:48.91. Shepard lapped the entire field and walked away with a personal best effort.
- Nikki Ogorek (Normal West) and Kristin Slaughter (Jr., St. Anthony's) dueled in the PV with matching 11-6 efforts. Ogorek won with a unique circumstance of a higher height entrance.
- Hannah Morris (So.) is a key member of the upstart Bloom team that is looking for their lane in the track and field world. Morris popped a 17-11 to win a very competitive field.