3A-
[Boys]
Triple Jump: Malik Allen (Jr., Edwardsville) ties his personal best 45-10 which is IL#4 and 3A's top mark.
High Jump: The unheralded Robert Wagner (Sr., Oak Lawn) beat out several higher rated suiters to achieve his goal of winning. Wagner leaped 6-6.75 which is a lifetime best.
Shot Put: In one of the greatest competitions that produced three 60-footers and the winner, Javaris Ambrose (Sr., Harvey Thornton) was sitting in three with two throws remaining. He scratched his penultimate effort and on the final attempt, he heaved the winning throw of 63-0 that propelled him into the winner's circle. The emotion brought tremendous joy to the Ambrose crew.
Long Jump: He finished as the second best performer overall in the state in terms of numbers, but Brody Squires (Sr., Waubonsie Valley) earns himself an indoor state title, hitting the winning jump on his second attempt (22-7.75).
Pole Vault: Joshua Meister (Sr., Oak Park-River Forest) did not connect on the 16-footer that he was looking for, but he got the win by over a foot in 15-9.
4x800: The slowest winning time in meet history with only two teams under 8:10 and the winning time of 8:07.28 by Fremd. The Vikings capitalized on a strong anchor by Theodore Cunningham (Sr) 1:55.16
3200: Evan Horgan (Sr., Belvidere North) pulled away in the second half after opening up in 4:42. His winning time of 9:19.31
60H: Miles Granjean (Sr., Evanston) produced the fastest prelim in 8.08 and later won in a slower time in 8.11.
60m: Austin Roswell (So., Lincoln Way-West) turned many heads in Bloomington from the prelims to the finals. He stepped to the blocks and upset Daniel Lacy (Sr., Champaign Centennial) 6.96-6.98.
800: Trey Sato (Jr., Grayslake Central) may have a new meet on hand now after his hearty winning effort over Landan Gillespie (Sr., Chicago Kenwood). Sato ran an even run that netted 1:54.73.
4x200: The top two teams coming in were run on flat tracks. Now let's add another to the list. Edwardsville easily handled Kenwood in 1:30.56- IL#3.
400: Roswell snuck into the event under the cover of night and 50.11. It was the third fastest time across three classes.
1600: Nicholas Strayer (Jr., Lyons Twp) gets his team in the winning column with a patient and tactical affair. Strayer clocked at 4:20.05 and got a personal best.
200: Lacy held off Billy Bailey (Sr., Joliet West) 22.27-22.30 for the win
4x400: Kenwood methodically controlled the race at each checkpoint. The winning time was 3:26.16
[Girls]
Triple Jump: It was a very enlightening performance of sisterhood and love between Alex Johnson (Sr) and Dominique Johnson (So). They are the ultimate competitors but at the same time, it's all about the family. Dom was leading at 40-2.25 and no more attempts left. Big sister Alex was sitting in third and on the verge of being handed the bronze medal. But hold on... Alex stormed down the runway at full speed and BOOM! She landed in the pit and the official reads "12.23 meters!" Alex collects herself and realizes that she tied her baby sister and will go home with a co-win and finish the season co-#1. There is nothing better than doing it with a sibling.
High Jump: If there was an odds maker, Bianca Colon (Jr., Rockford Guilford) would be 1000 to 1 picked as the winner. Champions are not picked on paper, it's performance-based and Colon's 5-3 winner came courtesy of a jump-off. Seven girls finished at 5-3.
Shot Put: USC-bound Reese Garland (Sr., Oak Park-River Forest) stepped and performed to her fullest ability. She had her best performance of the season and cleared 40 feet for the first time (42-9.75) and finished IL#2 for the season.
Long Jump: Alex Johnson battled Elissa Perkins (Sr., Plainfield East) toothed and nail and connected on a great performance 19-6. Perkins took second with 19-5.25.
Pole Vault: Joscelyn Dieckman (Jr., Dekalb) is one of the biggest surprises during the indoor season. She ended the campaign with a gold medal and meet record (13-1.5). It is the 18th-best performance in the country as well.
4x800: Prospect is the best middle-distance program in the state so they can afford to run a semi-second unit and perform well. The Knights fought back after trailing Loyola Academy for three legs and proved too strong as senior Cameron Kalaway rocked a 2:17.47 anchor and 9:26.15.
3200: Six girls broke 11:00 but it was Grace Schager (Sr., Glenbard North) and Rachel Soukup (Sr., Prairie Ridge) who separated from the pack and ran away from everyone- hitting the first mile in 5:12. Schager did not shake the pesky Soukup until the final half mile to win in 10:19.64. Soukup's great consolation prize was a big 10:22.92.
60H: Ana-Liese Torian always had it in her to be the best hurdler when she lines up. The Homewood-Flossmoor senior proved that one more time after collecting herself from the nerves of an apparent false start in the final. True to the immense talent that she possesses, Torian torched the field and destroyed the meet and all-time class record in 8.28!! It turns out she finishes US#3 in the process.
60m: Sometimes success comes with a price and for Katelyn Lehnen (So., Chatham-Glenwood), who was dealing with some leg soreness (not wearing team warm-ups too) could have contributed to the hamstring pull that she suffered after winning in 7.47. The win was bittersweet and hopefully one of the state's elite performers can bounce back soon.
800: Meg Peterson (Fr., Prospect) showed that she is for real beating Catie McCabe (Sr., Hinsdale Central) with a time of 2:14.47 PB.
4x200: It was a two second win by Kenwood in 1:42.35.
400: Long hurdler Abrielle Artley (Sr., Evanston) beat out the state's top quarter-miler Angela Alozie (Sr., Homewood-Flossmoor) 56.62-57.16.
1600: Schager played with fire by keeping things close for a strong field including the tough-as-nails Anna Harden (Sr., Hersey) who had a fifth gear late in the final lap to win in a PB 4:52.83.
200: There is no doubt that Zawadi Brown (Jr., Neuqua Valley) is going to be a problem during the outdoor season. We all knew she was fast but sometimes running exclusively on relays hide things. Not this time, she beat an excellent field with a personal best 24.92.
4x400: The final race of the day showed that Kenwood was not playing around. It was all but over when Asia Thomas (Sr) copped the baton. The Broncos won comfy over Plainfield North in 3:59.59.