200m Dash
2019 State Champion: Taylor Gilling (Highland Park) 23.10 [+5.6]
Key Athletes: Janea Gardner (Sr., Chicago Heights [Bloom Township]), Akela White (Sr., Homewood-Flossmoor), Sydney Robinson (So., Chicago Whitney Young), Kayla Bell (Sr., Lansing [TF South]), Ayanna Tommy (Sr., Antioch), Allysa Fryer (Sr., Chicago Heights [Bloom Township]), Jessica Coughlin (Sr., Belleville West), Leeya Zander (Sr., Wheaton North), India Holmes (Sr., South Holland [Thornwood]), Alex Edison (So., Homewood-Flossmoor), Asia Thomas (Fr., Chicago Kenwood), Sydney Weaver (So., Chicago Kenwood), Ta'Jae Jackson (Sr., Bolingbrook)
Breakdown: It is highly doubtful that we will see another state final as blazing as 2019. That's because only two return from the historic race.
Some will say that this event is wide open, Janea Gardner and Akela White is not trying to hear any of that. Gardner the returning list leader in this event progression from Sophomore year to her Junior year is quite impressive, she will be looking to drop blazing times this season and perhaps sprint away with the event title before she heads to Marshall University.
White may not be a household name to many, which is likely due to her focusing on anchoring top-rated relays for the Lady Vikings. This could be the event where she earns a spot atop the podium for all to see.
Her teammate Ashanti Denton could be the wildcard in this event, the predominant 400m/4x4 participant workload may include this even come May. Denton has already dropped major fire this preseason (24.69 at press release), add her name to the title mix.
Sydney Robinson comes from an Olympic bloodline (father Albert Robinson- Seoul, S. Korea 1988), but she wants to make a name for herself. Perhaps the next star of a possibly loaded Chicago Public League, the state's top returning underclassman sprinter will definitely be battle-tested. All-State bids are on the line, there are a host of young ladies who are capable of making a name for themselves. We urge you to pay attention indoors, which may give you a better idea of who the real threats may be.