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Asia Thomas and Will Kozlowski silenced their competitors in one of the most intense meets of the season
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PHOTOS I VIDEOS I RESULTS
Chicago-
The CPS championships are one of the leagues where indoor championships are taken very seriously. Sometimes you can feel the tension as well as the excitement before you enter the venue. So it's not ironic that one of Dr. Conrad Worrill's dreams was to unite the very best talent that the city has to offer. The Gately Track & Field Stadium once again has done that.
Girls-
The pre-meet data strongly suggested Kenwood and Whitney Young as the heavy favorites to go 1-2. As it turned out the Broncos easily upended the Dolphins 107-88. It was a strong balance on the track and well as in the field that propelled one of the state's elite teams to victory. Junior Asia Thomas came out of a near season-long hiding fully masked up and ready to go to work. She won the 400m in a blistering 56.77- the third-best time in the state. She added a strong third leg on the squad's victorious 4x400 relay that clocked the fifth-best time in Illinois at 4:07.56. The Bronchos also blazed a state-leading 4x200m in 1:42.74.
There were many notable performances that will gain respect statewide such as Northside Prep's big win in the 4x800. Sisters Elia Ton-That (Sr) and Lucia Ton-That (Fr) turned a deficit into victory with their strong third and fourth legs that registered 9:51.58 (IL#15). Elia Ton-That got the individual win in the 800m by almost matching her season-best with a time of 2:17.78.
Senior Lindsey Miller of Simeon had been another athlete relatively quiet this indoor season until Saturday. Miller started the morning by winning the long jump with a mark of 18-3. In her first race of the day, Miller got a great start in the 60m that propelled her past the deepest field in the state as she clocked 7.66. It is currently the second-fastest time in the state followed by junior Jaliyah Shepherd of Kenwood's 7.68, good for IL#3. Miller closed out her day with a win in the 200m over senior London Gibson-Purcell of Whitney Young 25.41-25.61.
Boys-
The bulk of the weight of heavy scoring would go to Lane Tech and Kenwood. Lane Tech has a knack for scoring in many ways and they are especially underrated in the sprints. Kenwood is an upstart bunch with talent and the thirst of winning a team title. However, it was Lane that rolled 112-74.
The Indians and Broncos traded blows in the field events where things pretty much evened out. The first event on the track was the 4x800 relay and Lane Tech figured they would place second or third with a secondary unit. However, it was a big lead with courtesy of the first two legs that enabled the northsiders to cruise to a victory in 8:16.03. Kenwood did not score.
Kenwood was mainly hurt by its inability to manufacture points in the distance area. They did not score a single point in the area which accounts for 40% of the scoring grid. Meanwhile, Lane scored two in the 3200, two in the 800 (winner Jack Klein 1:59.05), and won the 1600 on the strength of sophomore Will Kozlowski's personal best race in 4:24.55.
The Broncos did their best with winning track efforts by junior Elijah Easley in the 60H, the 4x200 (1:32.03), and 4x400 (3:31.33).
Other notable performances were by junior Evan Rainville of Payton in the 400 (51.00) and senior John Green Jr of Chicago Ag Science in the 200 (22.60).
Kendall Houston (Jr., Kenwood) took the gold medal in the long jump with a leap of 21-4.