2020 3A Girls Pre-Season Relays Preview


4x100-
2019 State Champion: Belleville East 47.65
Key Teams: Homewood-Flossmoor, Chicago Heights (Bloom Township), Chicago Whitney Young, Evanston, West Aurora, Alton, Harvey (Thornton), Chicago (St. Ignatius), Huntley, LaGrange (Lyons Township), Wheaton North, Chicago (Marist), Chicago Kenwood, Dekalb

Breakdown: This is the first year of the 30m exchange zone in Illinois, strategies will differ amongst teams throughout the season. The first sprint relay of the day tends to get fans excited as this race is the most unpredictable of the four relays. Over the past several seasons, one of the title favorites failed to get the stick around the track, it's a new year so everyone gets a clean slate.

Initially on paper Bloom Township was set to return all four legs from a state runner-up squad, but the transfer of Kayla Griggs (Sr.) to Chicago Butler Prep will add a speed bump to the championship plan. The Trojans have a few underclassmen vying for status, so look for a few of them ready to get in where they fit in. 

Whitney Young looks to carry the Chicago Public League flag, three underclass athletes stood atop the third-place podium, led by the dangerous twin killing act of sophomores Rachel Robinson and Sydney Robinson. Both young ladies are good enough to battle for high individual all-state honors for the Dolphins.

Fellow CPL foe Kenwood team has reloaded quickly. The Lady Broncos return four from a top-ranked unit that did not get past the sectional round (disqualification), plus they add a highly touted freshman Asia Thomas to the mix.

Evanston medaled last season and will return everyone back to mix. It's been quite a while since the Wildkits have been in the running for the top spot. Maybe this is the year.

Thornton's unit has been together for two year now, all are seasoned upperclassmen who could surprise the field if you choose to snooze on them.

Lyons Township returns three members from a squad that was one spot from finals, following them is St. Ignatius who returns their full quartet. Look for both to have extra motivation come championship season.