The main event is going to be must see track and field on several fronts. The first defense is the race to the top of the podium by several team competitors. Belleville West, Naperville North, and Homewood-Flossmoor are all expected to battle for a championship. Individually or collectively, Katelynne Hart, Enyaeva Michelin, and Dajour Miles will be the superstars here. The relays always make or break the state championship. Homewood-Flossmoor, Belleville, Kenwood, and Dekalb have high hopes. Regardless of the outcome, it should be a great time on the "big blue track."
You don't want to miss any of the track events-
The field events inside the stadium are going to play itself out to form. We all know that the high jumpers and pole vaulters work themselves into the qualifying heights. With that being said the fans in the seats will be waging on some intense track action.
Hannah Morris (Bloom Twp.) is ready to jump 20-feet again in the Long Jump... Jalah Morris (Zion-Benton) and Jasmine Mitchell (Thornwood) are the two favorites in the Discus Throw. Morris leads the way with a 157-1 state leading effort; Mitchell is almost as good with a 149-footer to her resume. The same two will go at it in the Shot Put.
The house money says the 4x800m is going to be deep and fast like it was in yesteryear. There are three teams in the US top 25: #16 Downers Grove South (9:12.63), #19 Hinsdale Central (9:14.53), Schaumburg (9:17.76). It is going to take a sub 9:10 to win it all. The Mustangs have the unit to run 9:05-07 as does 2016 state champions Hinsdale Central. The Devilettes have three girls who ran under 2:18 in the open 800m. That will play out big on Saturday. Schaumburg will have to make a decision on what they are going to do with their star Maddie Marasco. She is one of the leading candidates in the open race. Barrington and Naperville North could play into the final sweepstakes. North actually has a team that could run close to 9:00 if not for a chase at the team title.
The 4x100s are going to have coaches on pins and needles because of the margin of error. A dropped baton in the prelim cost Homewood-Flossmoor a state title last year. Running fast times with fast personnel is hard to pass up. Kenwood and Dekalb come in with the hottest times in the state at 47.27 and 47.28 respectively. They have souped-up squads along with Homewood-Flossmoor at 47.43. West Aurora and possibly Bloom Twp will play into the sweepstakes.
Dekalb surprised many 4x200m observers when they blazed 1:40.31 at their sectional meet. That is nearly a second better than Homewood-Flossmoor. The Barbs camp stated that one of their key personnel Sierra Long is not going to be pulled off of the 400m to run the relay. Long has the potential to really score well and possibly challenge for a top 3 spot. Dajour Miles of West Aurora is the favorite despite having a sore hammy. If she is at 90% she should be better than anyone in the field including Taylor Tilmon (Lakes) and Janii Jenkins (Warren).
Halle Bieber (Naperville North) appears to be the favorite in the 300H. The defending champion is the sectional leader and ready run away from her competition on Friday and Saturday.
The 200m is all Wilson or Young.... or you can pencil a number of girls that you want.
The 100m will be one to watch with over a half-dozen girls breaking 12.00 in less than ideal weather season. Ameia Wilson of Danville has been lights out ever since she placed second at the prestigious Texas Relays. She will be the one to beat along with the two-time defending state champion Amira Young of Chicago Whitney Young. The emerging Brimonet Buggs of Dekalb is a force to watch as well. Watch out for Ozzy Erewele of Springfield who has turned it on during the outdoor season.
Who is going to conserve or go full throttle in the 800m? Enyaeva Michelin of Evanston and Marasco are two of best middle-distance runners in the state if not the country. Michelin rates US #3 at 2:09.16 and she is not done. A prediction earlier in the week says she is capable of going 2:06 by the end of the state meet. Marasco is sub 2:10 without a hard effort in the 4x8.
The 100HH state runner-up Kayla Walters (Bolingbrook) is just now beginning to hit her stride. She had slipped off the radar during the indoor, but after clocking 14.23 at sectionals, it gives her a new lease on the gold medal. Cahokia transfer Laqwasia Stephney is now at Belleville West. She clocked IL #2 14.13 in mid-April. Kaylah McCall (Homewood-Flossmoor) has come out of nowhere this season. She may surprise a few folks.
Katelynne Hart could walk out of O'Brien Stadium as an immortal-
Just a sophomore is Katelynne Hart of Glenbard West who has terrified her opponents each time she has laced up her racing flats. The all-time record holder in the 3200m really has nothing to prove. Hart's 9:52.02 is so good that it took another all-time great to break it in Katelyn Tuohy of New York. Getting it back may be the only motivation for KK. If not, she may toy with the field that includes standouts Sarah Schmitt and Alex Morris of Naperville North. Add in Jocelyn Long of Barrington for good measure. They have run great 10:20s and 10:30s. Usually, those marks challenge for the state title. Not in 2018.
The race to watch is going to be the 1600m. Hart and Michelin are on a crash course to see who is the best miler. Hart has the upper hand after winning the NBIN title in March, but Michelin has been as good as Hart depth wise this season. The feeling is that it is going to take a sub 4:50 to win it all.