Compact Illinois Contingent Compete Well Out Of State



Charlie Parrish (Sr., Freeburg), Ameia Wilson (Jr., Danville), and Zach Bradford (Sr., Bloomington) made up the central figures down at the Texas Relays.

Parrish was the first one up Friday night in the steeple chase. Amid nice mid-60s climes which made the splashing of the water jumps a delight instead of cringing. Parrish may have a future in this event as he is expecting to contest it during the post-season and possibly in college. Parrish ran well enough to place third in a fantastic time of 6:09.74. His time should give him extreme confidence moving forward in the flat events. 

Wilson did not bring all of the contents of her lunch pail. The "workhorse" contested just two events while in Texas: the long jump and the 100m. The first event served as a warm up as Wilson only leaped 17-3 for 14th place. It was the Century that made the trip worthwhile. After a 11.84 prelim run, the final was better. Despite a wind blown over the allowable +2.5, it was Wilson who snapped and beat some major Texas speedsters. Wilson placed second in her all-conditions personal best US#5 11.59. This is an event that Wilson appears to have shown the most improvement in. Let's include the 60m to that. She has gotten better with block starting in that regard. 

There is a difference between sitting in a car and driving 13+ hours to a track meet vs. flying 2hrs. This is what Bradford had to endure with his family enroute to the competition he was about to face. Not make any excuses for Bradford because he is an elite pole vaulter and can handle what the average athlete cannot. He still placed 2nd in the elite high school field with a 17-2 effort.