KD Young is expected to lead the field events charge with her amazing shot put exploits
Early Storylines-
Kathleen "KD" Young (Sr., Warrensburg-Latham) will be the first feature of the indoor championships. It will also be her last as she sets sail for the University of South Carolina in the fall. There is no doubt that Young is the all-time best shot putter in the state of Illinois. The three-time TT winner has never lost an indoor match to a state foe. Moreover, she has had a fantastic season thus far busting out an out of body 52'4" toss that ranks #1 all-time indoors or outside. Young recently finished second at New Balance Indoor Nationals against the best thrower in the history of shot putting known as Alyssa Wilson of New Jersey. The only goal left for Young is to finish with four titles and drop another 50-foot bomb for the faithful.
The 60m defending champion is Courtney Sockwell. The senior from Rockford Lutheran used this platform last year to make a name for herself, which also led to her becoming one of the top overall sprinters in the state. The results so far this season have been lukewarm partially because the body of work has been light. The tide may now be swinging in Sockwell's favor. Last weekend at the Gene Armer Invite, arguably against the state's deepest 60m field, Sockwell finished 4th in 7.80- #1 in Class A with something left to prove on the track. The opportunity to run another fast time may come against an unknown Mya Tinsley (So., Ridgeview). Tinsley has only competed in one race and it was a 7.81. Hopefully, we will get an opportunity to see if Ms. Tinsley is for real. Tarynn Mays (Sr., DuQuoin) checks in with the third best time at 7.89 and she would be a key figure here in the finals.
A pair of evenly matched high jumpers should keep the collectives attention at ease before the track events get underway. The classification's top leaper is Daelin Switzer (So., Decatur St. Teresa) whose 5'7" effort happens to be the second best mark in the state. Switzer has emerged out of the pre-season rankings as the one to beat in this indoor finale. Lucy Lulon (Jr., Champaign St. Thomas More) comes in a personal best 5'6" and fresh off a competition against the nation's top high jumper Jelena Rowe of Bloom Twp. The nerves and excitement of that affair should provide Lulon with some poise when things get tense Friday night.
The pole vault field should be full as virtually every eligible girl declared their provisional invite. Defending state champion Kristin Slaughter (Sr., Effingham St. Anthony) leads the charge with a classification best/IL #4 12-feet effort. As with top talent in place breeds competition, expect there there to be a new class or state best. This meet has shown in the past that big things are possible on a national scale. Last year's winner Hanna Atwood (Sr., St. Joe Ogden) is entered and waiting to get untracked. She has only jumped 10'6" thus far this season.
There is a strong bet that the long jump will be a close affair. Lucy Lulon will switch back from the high jump to another event where is rated #1 in the class. There is one girl capable of defeating Lucy Lulon; Pat Hanson has stretched 16-11 in the pit... Tarynn Mays leads the triple jump field by over two feet with a solid 37-2.