100m Champ Sydney Weaver was relieved in getting her first major title
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The build-up to one of the summer's biggest track and field meets was perhaps a little stressful for meet officials. Despite just two events, there were some nerve-wracking glitches in the beginning. In the day's first race, the 100m was inadvertently started ahead of the timer's recognizance. The second prelim heat was run at the boys 110HH line- the confusion that left some athletes and coaches dazed and confused. Fortunately, the final results were sufficient enough to turn scorn into smiles.
A late no-show by Indianapolis North Central superstar Ramiah Elliott could not deter a collision course meeting between Asia Thomas and Sydney Weaver. Both girls, who are supremely talented, are high school classmates/teammates at Chicago Kenwood, but compete for opposite track clubs during the summer.
Thomas and Weaver were among the sprinters that had to run a make-up round in order to advance to the final. Thomas fired off first with a pristine 11.95 [+2.1] and Weaver countered by dropping a nice 12.09 [+1.1]- both personal bests.
There would be no glitches between Weaver and Thomas as they quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field. Weaver blitzed ahead in front with a step on Thomas but it was closed down in the final meters of the race. However, Weaver was able to prevail with a lifetime performance on the strength of a gale force tailwind (+5.7) that netted 11.88. Thomas was second in 11.91. The future is certainly bright for the Lady Broncos in 2021.
The 800m field was hyped as a national affair with the likes of Maddie Russin of Crown Point HS IN, Emily Sonderman of Indy Roncalli HS IN, Amaya Turner of Wheeler HS IN, Lucy Petee of Mason MI HS, and Marianne Mihas of Chicago Latin. Scratches by Sonderman and Russin left Turner to fend for herself. However, not completely alone as has ties to the area via the legendary coach Thomas Boatright of the Aurora Flyers Track Club. Turner got out fast with an opening 29-second 200m which turned into 62.1 through the 400m. Petee put up a late challenge inside the final 250m but Turner would not be denied in getting the big win in 2:11.66. Petee held on to second ahead of Mihas 2:12.86-2:16.83.