Will Kozlowski of Lane Tech will be in the mix for Saturday's CPS Indoor Championship meet
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Date: Saturday, March 19, 2022
Location: Gately Track & Field Center; Chicago
The skinny: For the first time in quite a while, the best track and field athletes in the city of Chicago will converge on the mecca facility for some good action. Lane Tech, Whitney Young, Kenwood, and Payton on the boy's side look to tangle for the team trophy. On the girl's side, it's Whitney Young and Kenwood looking to stay ahead of Lane Tech and Payton.
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Girls-
Kenwood and Whitney Young should figure in the fight for the team trophy. For the Bronchos it will be the welcome return of junior Asia Thomas. Though she has been on the shelf most of the season, Thomas is a dangerous individual. She is slated to compete in the 400m and 4x400m. Thomas' 58.26 clocking is the best in the league. Her teammate senior Sydney Weaver is also expected to provide big dividends on the track and in the field. Weaver leads the triple jump field with a 36-4.5 PB. She is also among the leaders in the 60m and 200m dashes. She may also run a leg on the team's top-notched 4x200m.
Whitney Young could be slightly undermanned without the services of both Robinson twins working in tandem. Seniors Sydney Robinson and Rachel Robinson are not entered in any individual events. Though they are listed in the two sprint relays, it's probable they will not compete. Instead, look for seniors Jayden-Eickhoff Brown and London Gibson-Purcell to lead the charge. They are strong sprinters in the relays and 200. Also, the Dolphins distance corps led by junior Nikki Chopra and freshman Xochitl Lopez are expected to score big points. Chopra is entered in the 3200 and 1600 meter events.
Individually, look no further than senior Elia Ton-That of Northside Prep. She is the state leader in the 3200m (10:23.54) and rated #4 in the state in the 1600m (4:54.15). Instead, Ton-That will run the 800m where she is the heavy favorite. Her 2:17.71 is more than ten seconds better than junior Kate Roarty of Lane Tech.
We did not forget about... sophomore
Symone Frison and junior
Kennedy Ross of Lindblom. They are both super talented and could rack up 20 fast points in the 60m and 60H respectively. Ross rates #2 statewide in 9.01.
Boys-
The talk around town is Kenwood and Lane Tech for the battle of supremacy. The upgraded Bronchos are strong in the sprints and relays and will hope to gain some points from its star athlete junior Landan Gillespie. Gillespie will carry the load in four events: 400, 800, 1600, and 4x400. It's a matter of who will step up in the sprint game.
Lane Tech will spray its talent around the board in a variety of events. Look for the northside crew to score in all three relays, the field events, sprint game, and of course in the distance arena. It will be a matter of putting it all together when it counts.
The individual races should impress. The 800m has three runners under 2:00 in Hunter Whitney (Lane Tech), Jack Klein (Lane Tech), and Michael Polizzi (Taft). All three could be under 1:57 if the setup is correct.
Watch the 400 with Evan Rainville (Payton) leading the way. His 51.59 is among the top 15 in the state. It is plausible that he could crack the 51-second barrier with the win.
It's the sophomore power led by Sam Berlinghof (Jones College Prep) who is the top seed in the 1600m at 4:30.82. He is primed for a sub-4:30 effort. Watch for Dalton Lowery (Whitney Young) and Will Kozlowski (Lane Tech) to push the envelope.
The final race of the day that decides things could be the 4x400. Lane Tech and Kenwood will decide the winner. Both teams could near the 3:30 mark.
