2020 Class 2A Girls Pre-Season Relays Preview


4x200m-
2019 State Champion: East St. Louis (Veronica Sherrod, Markia Lampley, Faith Mitchell, Brionna Graham) 1:40.50
Key Teams: East St Louis (Senior), Carbondale, Kankakee, Monticello, Peoria Richwoods, Chicago Lindblom, Springfield Lanphier, Richton Park (Rich South), New Lenox (Providence Catholic), Urbana, Peoria (Notre Dame), Chicago Morgan Park, Troy (Triad)
Breakdown: Likely the deepest field of the sprint relays as seven finalists return at least three members from last year's squad. Additionally, there are six other state qualifying teams returning at least three members and running sub 1:46.

Let's make this easy for everyone--the Flyerettes of East St. Louis appears to be the team to beat in this relay as they return all four members from a sub 1:41 state champion unit. The Eastside rolled the field by nearly four seconds in the state final producing one of the top times in Illinois regardless of classification. We can't predict lineups four months before state, but if East St Louis decides to load this relay, the 2A state record (1:39.38) could be challenged.

Experience matters in relays, so teams looking to overtake the defending champions typically have at least three key members returning. This chase field is led by runner-up Monticello (1:41.84 prelim) who return four members--the Sages will have had a whole year to get back to the drawing board and track in hopes to improve their time.

Carbondale came into the state meet with one of the top times, but a DQ in the prelims did them in.

Rich South tends to be a team that flies under the radar all season long, they won't be able to hide this year as all four members return from an All-State until.

Rounding out the challengers with three or more experienced athletes are Peoria Notre Dame, Urbana, Providence Catholic, and Lindblom. Of the non-finalist from last year, Peoria Richwoods is quite intriguing as they return four members, their ace Seven Hicks was not on that unit. Chicago Morgan Park is another team to be on the lookout for as they ran a solid in-season time and return three.