There was a lot going on at the CYUP Misfits Invitational on Saturday. Thaliya Martinez captured quite a bit
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RESULTS I VIDEOS I PHOTOS
This time of the year is typically very early in Illinois to see fast times.
Speedy times and marks that is.
However, when you are able to assemble some of the best prep in the country, it's the making of something so very special!
Girls-
The morning session kicked things off in style with a flurry of mile races ranging from middle school to high school. Annika Swan (Fr., Chicago St. Ignatius) just missed out on competing in the HOKA Mile field. Swan took it to the field in the penultimate section three. She had a five-second plus lead for much of the race before cruising to the win in 5:10.67.
The featured HOKA Mile was basically an A-list field featuring the headliner Tatum David (Sr., Olney Richland County). As promised David pushed ahead of her peers right away and hit the first half around 2:23. It would be smooth sailing for David who was not once threatened in her 4:50.14 win. Cross Country extraordinaire Grace Schager (Sr., Glenbard North IL) took second in 4:56.22.
The question was asked whether or not David could double back in the two-mile and win. After dropping a first mile in approximately 5:04, that sentiment was answered with an astounding yes! David cruised him to win a US#1 10:22.70 and over 30 seconds better than Mia Kotler (So., Chicago Latin).
Enter Emmi Scales (Sr., St. Viator) who is one of the best flat/barrier athletes to ever lace them up in this state. She did not waste much time getting out of her 60H prelim and dropping an 8.51 clocking, good for US#7. Well, Scales backed it up with an 8.50 easy winner to stay in that position. In the 60m just minutes later, she just missed the win vs. Lola Kolawole of Wisconsin 7.60-7.62. Both solid times are among the top 50 in the country right now.
Eliza Pfarr is from Clinton WI and she has been to the Dr. Worrill Center a number of times this season. Pfarr made it happen in a tight tilt 1000m cliffhanger win. She was able to push through the first 800m in 2:27 or so before withstanding a strong charge from Lucia Ton-That (So., Chicago Northside Prep) 3:02.08-3:02.15.
The nation's top freshman middle-distance runner Charlize-Trinity McKenzie is from Wisconsin and she dropped another US #1 ranking for her class, this time it was the 600m. McKenzie basically toured the lightening fast track ahead of Ton-That the entire way and won in 1:36.25.
A sore back limited Dr. Worrill's track and field center's favorite daughter Delea Martins from running more than one event. The soon-to-be UNC Tar Heel from Wisconsin competed in the event's final track event, the 300m. Martins controlled her tempo and used the bank well to slingshot home in a blistering 39.11.
There were only two competitors in the weight throw but Alice Mihas of Chicago Latin dropped a US#7 47-11.5 winner.
Boys-
By the numbers, the mile race was the largest and it didn't hurt to have so many quality individuals run well. Matteo Rosio of Indianapolis Brebeuf HS was able to keep himself among the top 15 with a 4:23.77 section eight winner.
The HOKA mile was the main event and despite a strong cast, it was all Hunter Jones of Benzie Central MI who did not give his foes a chance to even hang with him. From the opening lap, it was essentially a solo jaunt as Jones hit the first 800 in roughly 2:01. He continued his onslaught and won going away in a US#2 4:07.36. It was an early statement that Jones should be considered in that sub 4:00 later in the season.
Daniel Lacy (Sr., Champaign Centennial) has done well despite some naysayers against him in the sprints. He has run 21.87 (on an oversized track) in the 200m. He has broken seven seconds in the 60m. He has competed in state and out of Illinois. He ran a dead heat winner in the 60 in 7.00 which sometimes that athletes need luck. But the 300m is a different beast and talent and skill are a must. Lacy did as well as he could against a weakened field. The time 34.54 is very good regardless of the field. It also signals that Lacy will be ready for the major players down the road.
The two-mile was an event that many people thought was the featured event by HOKA. It was not but thanks to the featured entrant Connor Burns of Southern Boone MO. Burns was able to secure some of his friends to venture to Chicago and race with him. The pacesetter, David Timlin of Brooks TC, did the chore duties. He completed the task of hitting the benchmarks of 64-second quarters and taking Burns through the first mile around 4:16-4:17.
Burns was still on task to break the national record of 8:39.16 at 2K but he began to rig up a bit over the next quarter-mile. Finally, with less than two laps to go, the underdog challenger Jackson Heidesch of Dowling Catholic, IA came on strong and dashed to the lead, and rode off with the unassuming but incredible win in 8:42.60. Not only was it the US#1 time but it replaced itself as the #4 performance in history. Burns was disappointed in the loss but still ran 8:48.53 for US#2. The third-place finisher was Noah Breker of Minnesota was a US#3 8:57.04.
Cody Johnston traveled all the way from Hobart IN and he did not disappoint in winning the pole vault in a season best 16-5.25. He remained US#5 but almost made 17-0.50 on his second attempt. That would have been the top clearance in the country.