Homewood Flossmoor's ABC Showcase lived up to the "Power Weekend" hype with multiple IL top ten times and rowdy races.
RESULTS I PHOTOS I VIDEOS
Field events kicked off the day with Christine Nosike of Thornwood High School winning the shot put by over a foot with an IL #4 42-06.25. In the high jump, Aria Mallare (Jr., Whitney Young), Alexas Hall (Sr., Bloom Twp.), and Brianna Barwick (Sr., Dekalb) all jumped 5-01.75, allowing Mallare and Barwick to crack into the state top 15 and gave Barwick a nice comeback to the high jump world after a two-year hiatus.
Heading over to the jumping pit, Lovie Annafi (Sr., Whitney Young) took the long jump title (18-04.75), the fifth farthest jump this year. Shortly thereafter, Annafi completed the sweep, taking the triple jump with a and narrow decision over Bria Armstrong (Jr., Bloom Twp.) with a 37-06.75.
On the track, Ana-Liese Torian (Fr., Homewood-Flossmoor) captured the "B" 60HH title running 9.06, while Kaylah McCall (Sr., Homewood-Flossmoor) ran off with an 8.73 in "A." McCall also won the 60m title clocking IL#2/7.72, followed close behind by Sydney Robinson (So., Whitney Young) with an IL#3 7.75.
Robinson came back in the 200m to win in 25.50. Akela White (Sr., Homewood-Flossmoor) came in second with an IL #5 26.10.
The 400m was won by Alexandria Edison (So., Homewood-Flossmoor) (1:01.28) but it guest-starred middle-distance specialist Marianne Mihas (Jr., Chicago Latin) who took runner-up in a personal best 1:01.73.
The 800m saw an emerging Arianna Burkes (Jr., Plainfield East) come in and win by almost eight seconds despite being very sore from training. Burkes was still able to polish off the field in a personal best 2:23.93.
The top distance performance of the day has to go to Josephine Welin (So., Oak Park-River Forest) who took the reins of the race and ran a solo 10:54.99 3200m- IL#2 and winning by almost a minute.
The relays were exhilarating in this outstanding meet. The 4x200 contained a host of talented teams such as Thornwood, East Saint Louis, Homewood-Flossmoor, and Whitney Young. In the end, the host Lady Vikings ran away and hid with a blistering state leading 1:43.11. Still, the chase pack was able to come through with the second through fifth marks- all gaining top ten marks.
The 4x800 ended a race to the line between Edwardsville and Oswego East. Edwardsville's anchor was able to fight the Wolves for the tight win 10:13.27-10:14.83.
The last event of the day the 4x400 was definitely the rowdiest. DeKalb held a commanding lead up until the final leg where hosts relied on Alexandria Edison to bring them back to life. Edison used a 57.xx carry to mow down the field and ultimately cruising past Whitney Young and the Barbs for the big win in 4:06.96.
The ABC Showcase concluded with over twenty IL top tens and multiple lip-biting races and events. This competitive and electric atmosphere is what truly makes this meet a highlight of the track season.