IL Meet Of Champs Day 5 Recap: Sand, Shots, and Water Pits


Shot put got things going on Chicago's westside. The big fish entering the day was the National elite thrower from East Alton-Wood River, Jayden Ulrich. Ulrich had a rough day in the ring trying to keep self inside of it as she fouled a total of 4 times in 6 attempts. Afterwards she said she was definitely trying to keep herself in the ring over quarantine and was disappointed she fouled her first attempt, that from the eye test looked to break 50 feet. Kyle Clabough of Yorkville was the surprise though, dropping a 5 foot PR and claiming the #1 sophomore spot in the country with a bomb of 58-2.50. Watch out this upcoming week as Clabough is gearing up to compete at the AAU Junior Nationals.

Labeled as an exhibition event the triple jump was all but that. Twelve total athletes competed at the same time on a brisk night with the wind in their favor. Perhaps the top storyline was the final high school attempt of Lovie Annafi, the graduate from Chicago Whitney Young. Save your best for last, that is exactly what Lovie did as she tripled to an all-conditions lifetime best of 40-1.50 in what turned out was her final attempt as a prep athlete before heading north to Loyola (Chicago) University. Downers Grove North's McKenna Cinotte, was a bit off of her personal best from the previous week, but the senior to be was able to get things together on her final attempt heading home with a wind-legal 38-7 performance. She is still a name to watch for 2021. Bria Armstrong should also be on the radar, the Bloom Township senior to be hit her summer personal best on her final attempt of the day. She has been putting in work four days and week and is looking to get more competition in.

Recent Plainfield South HS graduate Myles Lincoln dropped a lifetime best last week in the south side Chicago heat. This time on the west side he was achieved an all-conditions personal best (47-7.75) en route to taking the crown back home to Plainfield. Heading off to Union (KY) College soon, he has to be excited how the final two weeks of his prep campaign went down. Consistency is key for the current state leader Malcolm Bevans of Chicago St. Ignatius, most of his jumps were over 46-0 including his second-place effort of 47-3.50. The future Princeton Tiger aims to gain speed during his upcoming offseason which will make him that much better. Jayden McCulskie-Green of Sandwich is coming off a toe injury and began training just days before the competition, this week he hit 22-1 and 46-1.50 in the sand. Those performances are an eye-opener giving the lack of practice and meet reps, look for him to be a real threat as we get into the 2021 campaign.