Winston Brown Invite Could Be The Prized Invite In The MW

Date: April 20, 2019 

Milesplit IL Power Ranked Teams

Premium 50 Boys Individuals

How to follow: @milesplitil #wbinvite19

Over the last several days, the weather has played havoc at various sites in the Midwest and nearby southeastern part of the country. While the climes were a bit bone-chilling in the Chicagoland suburbs, it was very windy in Lawrence, Kansas, the site of the Kansas Relays. It rained all day in Louisville, Kentucky for the Eastern Relays. These are spots that teams and individuals from Illinois tried to run to for "good" weather. But even on Friday, the Edwardsville Girls Invite was canceled... Saturday looks to be much different in the same St. Louis Metro area where the boys will take part in the Winston Brown Invitational hosted by the Tigers. It is supposed to be near 60 degrees and much more enjoyable. Keep your fingers crossed.

Speed is the name of the game-

If there is anything that this meet is known for it is... SPEED! Even the meet managers thrive on it and when they sought out at-large entries, they were pleased to welcome any young man who possessed the ability to run very fast or jump high or far. 

The main man in this matrix is someone that you have heard of before. He's known as "Baby Holyfield" but his given name is Marcellus Moore. The junior superstar from Plainfield North is ready to run wild in the four events that he is entered: 100, 200, 4x100, 4x200. In the first event, it will be an opportunity for opponents Jermarrion Stewart (Jr., Collinsville) and Deonte McGoy (Sr., Alton) to get a measure of revenge. Both stallions took an "L" during the last time Moore came to the area (Belleville West Invite) several weeks ago. Moore set the track afire with a state-leading and wind-legal US#3 10.36. McGoey and Stewart ran very fine 10.61 and 10.68 respectively. 

The 200 is a similar story as the Century in that Moore is the odds on favorite and could challenge his season-best 20.89w against the same antagonists. Wind conditions could be favorable if not from the fatigue of competing in the relays in between individual bouts. The 4x100 will feature the state's #1 quartet from Crete-Monee who are fresh off of a 41.73 performance during the mid-week Dan Horyn Invite. The Warriors loaded up to work on precision and they certainly have more in the tank because the transitions were not flawless and they won by almost three seconds. Things in that relay and the 4x200 will be fast and closer with Moore lurking around on anchor.

There is no way that we can talk about speed without mentioning the hurdle races. The 110s will present state leader Victor Cameron (Sr., Crete-Monee) who is very self-confident in his abilities and ready to bust the 14.00 barrier. He sits at 14.01 and will expect a challenge from Mason Barr (Sr., Ridgeview) and Robert Williams (Sr., Springfield). In the 300s, Williams, Barr, and Mick Doyle (Sr., Chicago St. Rita) are the favorites. But depth includes Noah Williams (Sr., Freeburg) and Cameron. The winner should challenge the sub-38.00 mark.

The intangibles-

Zack Pluff (Sr., Freeburg) is ready to take a shot at the 7-foot barrier in the high jump. He sits in the catbird spot at 6-10 which is tops in the state.

Belleville East's 4x800 has an opportunity to grab the #1 spot in the state. The Lancers clocked 8:08.13 several weeks ago. The state best is 8:04.10 by Batavia.

The distance race to watch is the 1600m. Of the stream of participants listed under 4:35, senior Roland Prenzler and junior Jack Pifer of Edwardsville have seeds in the 4:26 range.

The long jump will feature two 23-foot performers in Kavon Jones (Jr., Crete-Monee) and David Emuze (Jr., Springfield Southeast.

#2 Rated 400m runner Jerry Harper (Sr., Rantoul) is ready bust into the 48-second category. He ran 49.26 at a home meet two weeks ago.