Mya Robinson (in purple) is the top returner coming back this season
100HH-
2016 State Champion: Lajarvia Brown (Alton) 13.89 [+3.2]
Key returners: Mya Robinson (Sr., Thornton), Tauja Foreman (Sr., Evanston), Rokelle Stanley (Jr., E. St. Louis Sr.), Destinee Jackson (Sr., Hoffman Estates), Halle Bieber (So., Naperville North)
Outlook: With only two state finalists returning back this season, there is going to be lean times for short hurdle fans. The shortage of emerging stars followed by adequate flat sprinters is the culprit. Among the key returners are Mya Robinson and Tauja Foreman who finished 7th and 9th at state. Foreman stands a chance to improve mightily because she is a converted sprinter. She also has one of the best hurdle coaches in state history in Jesse Sibert who guided the legendary Shalina Clarke to dominance. Regardless of how bad things appear, someone is going to run at least 14.30 this season.
Halle Bieber is only a sophomore this season, but she is the top returning long hurdler
300H-
2016 State Champion: Savannah Long (Dekalb) 43.34
Key returners: Halle Bieber (So., Naperville North), Rokelle Stanley (Jr., E. St. Louis Sr), Georia Reed (Jr., Geneva). Lauren Ferguson (So., Springfield), Anna Baltudis (Sr., Chicago Lane Tech), Tauja Foreman (Sr., Evanston), Alyssa Morello (Sr., Lake Zurich)
Outlook: Initially this was thought as a bad event like the short hurdles, and especially after the top three placers in Savannah Long, Lajavia Brown, and Alexis Pierre-Antoine graduated.. They were amazing and may not be duplicated under any circumstances. Rokelle Stanley had an opportunity to break up the trio last year but faltered late in stretch of the prelims while leading. Hopefully a new year will bring more fire and determination to complete the deal. The leading returning in time and placement at state is Halle Bieber from distance rich Naperville North. Don't worry the Huskies depth will keep her out of any thoughts of running the 800 or any other distance race for that matter. It should be a great season for Bieber who navigated her freshman year well.
