On an 80 degree day and favorable winds at Lane Stadium on Chicago's north side, we saw some Dolphins fly. Coming in as the seventh-ranked team in Week 4's Milesplit Illinois Power Rankings, the crew from Whitney Young were expected to be in a tight battle with the fourth-ranked team in Kenwood. The team battle did not materialize as the Dolphins scored 152 points. Kenwood took second with 92.5 points.
Whitney Young got things started in a big way, setting a school and meet record in the 4x100m relay with a time of 46.96 (US#28). That performance is the current state leading time and also happens to be the seventh fastest time run in Illinois history. The quartet of Jayden Eickhoff-Brown, Rachel Robinson, Madison Saunders, and Sydney Robinson put the field away by almost three seconds in only their second time running together as a unit.
The much anticipated 100m showdown had the crowd on edge. Finally some good weather, favorable winds, and all the major players at the starting line. Once the gun went off the field was even before Kenwood standout Asia Thomas began to creep ahead with about fifty meters to go. Thomas pulled up during the race as the other girls sped to season personal bests led by winner Sydney Robinson (11.99; +1.4).
The 4x200m relay is often known as a secondary race produced an IL#3 time of 1:44.75 by Whitney Young's "B Team." The Dolphins put the field away by over four seconds. Claudia Ouimet stepped in and held it down.
The 200m featured some of the main players from the 100m dash. In the end, it was Sydney Robinson producing the fastest time in the state thus far (25.09; -1.0). Kenwood's Sydney Weaver (25.56) and Simeon's Lindsey Miller (25.57) also produced top ten performances in the state rankings.
Other highlights-
Jordan Marshall of South Shore International won the hurdle double-taking the 100H (15.54) and 300H (48.29) while teammate Kaylen Pryor won the 400m (59.94)
Northside's Elia Ton That beat the field by over fifteen seconds to win the 800m title (2:16.37)
Symone Frison of Lindblom produced the fasted 100m time (12.33; +1.2) in the state for the freshman class during the Fr/Soph meet.