Prospect is a team to watch for in the 4x8 relay; many other squads are ready to blaze in Charleston
E. St. Louis Sr. plans on burning up the track-
4x800-
If the regular season was any accurate indication, we could be in for a race to remember in the 3A 4x800 (and Jacobs better hold tight to their 4x800 state record of 7:40 flat). Oak Park-River Forest, Lyons Township, and York all broke 7:47 in a fantastic Western Suburban Conference Silver race... but Sandburg turned in a US #4 at the Downers Grove North sectional with a 7:42.70. Their quartet will attempt to defend their title from last year, but have plenty of fast competition to push them along. Each of the aforementioned WSC Silver teams will be at Charleston. They will be joined by Loyola sectional qualifiers Prospect (7:47.69), New Trier (7:52.44), and Hersey (7:53.72). Hinsdale South won their sectional in 7:51.19, as did Huntley in 7:54.40. Some of the past years in Illinois have yielded few fast 4x800 times before the state meet. Not so much this year, as 27 teams broke 8:00 in qualifying, as well as 11 7:55 or under. Depending on the weather 7:50 may only be barely good enough for all-state, and the champion will get mighty close to 7:40... as usual, keep an eye on the yellow and blue singlets and headbands of the Eagles of Sandburg. This will be the finale for their amazing class of 2016.
4x100-
There is no doubt the team to beat is E. St. Louis Sr. The Flyers came out of the gate fast running some blazing times in Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri, and of course here in Illinois. The 41.37 head nod is only the beginning of what is to come some say. The ESL camp is not worried about the competition when they are focused on records. If the weather conditions stay somewhat neutral we are all going to be in for a treat. It has been a very long time since Illinois has had a short relay team ranked inside the top 10. It would take 40.70 to get into elite company. The trailing company is as fast as it has ever been with six other teams cracking 42.00. For the first time in IHSA history we could see 42.0 as the break point in making the final. Minooka 41.68, Plainfield North 41.72, Edwardsville 41.76, South Elgin 41.82, and several more have to be monitored closely.
4x200-
The top four fastest times and 8 of 10 hail from the state of Texas. IL has been respectable in this event over the years. This weekend may prove to be one of its best in state meet history. ESL leads the way with an all-time record 1:25.64 at the Collinsville Invitational a few weeks ago. Now that 400m ace Roosevelt has turned his attention away from individual exploits watch out. "I want to help my team try and break some records," he said of running on the relays instead of shooting for an open title. The belief is the Flyers express could dip as low as 1:24.9 if all goes well. All facets will have to be executed well though. Lockport is going after a sub 1:27 time according to leader Derrius Rogers. "We decided to concentrate on the 4x2 as opposed to the 4x1 because we are stronger there," he said. Minooka will get a chance to improve on its fast school record 1:26.58 with Justin Wolz on the 3rd or 4th leg. A slew of teams in the 1:27s will get their chance to run real fast on Friday and Saturday.
4x400-
It has sounded like a broken record in describing the Flyers. By now everyone knows the damage they are capable of doing. The 3:15.97 is just a tease according to the ESL camp. "We are breaking the record," said ace Roosevelt Davis firmly during an interview at EIU. One thing is for certain is he is correct in they will have an opportunity to go after the all-time and school record 3:13.66. Marks across the board are beginning to drop with Minooka, Neuqua Valley, Evanston, and Bloom Twp. all under 3:20.