Thursday-
Upstate Eight
Gianna Huerta (Sr., Glenbard South) stars in both of the hurdles and may throw herself into the mix in the flat sprints as well, which are headed by Kali Waller (Jr., West Chicago). Waller recently put 19'2.25" on the board in the LJ, so we will see how her consistency over multiple weeks looks. Mackenzie Huber (Sr., Glenbard East) is the class of the field over mid-distance (as well as high jump), running 1:00 and 2:20 this outdoor season, and the same applies to Heather Durrant (Sr., Larkin) in distance. The best relay will be the 4x200, where West Chicago, South Elgin, and Glenbard East all have broken 1:50 this season already.
Apollo
Two athletes headline the track events. First, Becca Heitzig (Jr., Lincoln) would be the hands-on favorite in each race 800 and longer. Next, breakout frosh Madalyn Marx (Mahomet-Seymour) is the sprint favorite. A match-up between the two in the 400 would be fantastic, as both have run 57.29 this season. Mt. Zion is the deepest group in the meet, followed by Mahomet-Seymour. Mt. Zion 1-2 in the pole vault is led by Brooklyn Kondritz (So.) who vaulted 12-6 in April. Lydia Trump (Sr., Mt. Zion) is the best hurdler, and Camille Mavis (Jr.) leads a deep-distance squad. Mahomet-Seymour counters with Ava Boyd (Jr.) in the distances, jumper Meah Beacham (Jr.), and sprinter Lauren Burr (Jr.).
Big Northern
The top four teams are Winnebago, Rockford Christian, Genoa-Kingston, and Oregon. Of course, Winnebago is led by senior trio Grace Erb, Marissa Roggensack, and Kaylee Woolery in the distances. Rockford-Christian has the deepest sprint group, led by Mandy Nelson (Sr.) and Avery Demo (Sr.) but they will be chasing Ellie Logsdon (Sr., Genoa-Kingston). Winnebago is the meet favorite with the longer relays, as well as Amanda Gustafson (Sr.) in throws and Campbell Schrank (Sr.) in the hurdles.
CSL-North
An athlete to watch is Amelie Mach (Jr., Maine West) in the hurdles and long jump. She is IL #8 in the 300h with a 47.50 mark already. Her teammate Precious Akinsanya (So.) is the hands-on favorite in the sprints, particularly the 100. Anna Todd (Sr., Vernon Hills) is the favorite in the 3200/1600 double.
DuKane
Grace Schager (Sr., Glenbard North) is attempting the distance triple, with her best competition likely coming from Nicole Poglitsch (So., Wheaton Warrenville South), Marley Andelmen (Jr., St. Charles East) and Brooke Silbernagel (Sr., Batavia). Both Karmen Kurowicka (Sr., Lake Park) and Haylie Hinckley (Jr., Wheaton-Warrenville South) have cleared 5-5 in the HJ and make for a good match-up. Batavia is the class of the conference, and this will be most evident in the relays. However, Wheaton-Warrenville South will give them a strong challenge in the 4x800.
DuPage Valley
One of the strongest conferences meets of the week. Neuqua Valley has torn up the track in the sprint relays with the help of Zawadi Brown (Jr.) and Chioma Anyaegbunam (Sr.). What events will they run? Can Kyla Harris (Jr., Metea Valley) slide in and challenge for titles in the sprints? Pole Vault will feature familiar rivals/friends Kait McHale (Sr., Naperville Central) and 13-foot vaulter Joscelyn Dieckman (Jr., DeKalb). What HJ form will Annastasia Murphy (Jr., Metea Valley) be in for the conference meet? The field events and hurdles are a big reason Naperville Central won the meet indoors, but the distance is the biggest reason, led by Liv Phillips (Jr.) having her best season thus far. Lola Satre-Morales (So., Naperville Central) is a breakout athlete in the mid-distance. A loaded Naperville Central 4x800 would be one of the best in the state. Do they do it here?
Central State Eight
Normal University will flex its all-around strength as they work to hold off Rochester and Sacred-Heart Griffin team efforts for the conference title. Anna Barr (Sr., Normal University) and Reese Mitchell (Jr., Normal University) are the Pioneers' sprint and hurdle stars, and Zoe Carter (So.), Natalie Bierbaum (So.) and Reagan Bull (So.) lead them in distance and mid-distance. But the biggest story is, where will Katelyn Lehnen (So., Glenwood) be in her return from injury? The indications are that Lehnen is ready to cruise to good sprint showings. Her Titan team is bolstered by distance depth as well as vaulter Reese Wolfe (So.). Colleen Zeibert (Sr., Rochester) leads the Rockets. There may be a great 4x800 race waiting between Glenwood and Rochester.
CSL South
What cards will typically quiet Evanston (Twp.) play? Abrielle Artley (Sr.) and Stella Davis (So.) have been active in competitions but watch for Nyel Rollins (So.) and Hunter Vandergriff (Fr.) to lengthen Evanston's relay prospects. The return of Juliet Frum (So., Glenbrook North) from injury helps makes the distance scene here loaded, including Davis, Sofia Arcuri (So., Maine South), Olivia DeLuca (Jr., Maine South), Josie Cahill (So., New Trier) and a re-emergent Maria Polyakov (So., Glenbrook North). New Trier is a mild favorite in the meet, with Gabriela Manzano (Jr.) a do-it-all jumper and sprinter. How they fare in the short relays against Evanston will be a good temperature check for the Trevians.
ICE Conference
Abby Pierce (Sr., Streator) is the best overall athlete in the meet and could win four events, in the sprints and hurdles. Crystal McHugh (Jr., Lisle) is also worth watching in both jumps and could push 17'.
Little Ten Championships
Kiara Wesseh (Jr., Newark) leads the way in the sprints, hurdles, and jumps. If she could contest six events, she would do so and challenge to win them all, but alas she will have to choose four. Her teammates Brooklyn Hatteberg (Jr.) and Addison Ness (So.) make Newark the team to beat in the relays and on the short-track events. Jolee Larson (Sr.) and Caroline Bend (Sr.) of Indiana Creek will go unchallenged in the distance events.
Mississippi Valley Conference
Waterloo recently had mid-distance and HJ cross-over star Molly Grohmann (Sr.) jump 5-9.75 for her all-time best. Hannah Meiser (Sr., Civic Memorial) is the best distance runner but Waterloo duo Cameron Crump (So.) and Angelynn Kanyuck (Jr.) are not far behind this outdoor season. Mascoutah's sprints lead the way with Ellie Lowe (Jr.) and Jamison Love (So.) and they are favorites in each of the short relays.
MTC+ Conference
Ahry Comer (Jr., Pope County) begins her postseason charge. Does she try to win four events at this meet? Red Hill and Webber will be scoring most of the points in this meet.
NIC-10
The talented Rockford area all gathers for one large conference meet. Essence Horton-Graves (JR., Rockford Auburn), Jolena Sites (Sr., Rockford Guilford), and Zariah Burnett (Fr., Rockford Guilford) are sprinters to watch. Can Burnett replicate her 5-6.26 HJ from early April? Ma'Kayala Winters (Sr., Auburn) looks to re-establish herself as a jumps favorite headed into the state series. The emergent Hononegah team is distance heavy and led by Kylie Simpson (Fr.) and Allyson Niedfeldt (Jr.), but Indigo Sterud (Sr.) is Hononegah's go-to for nearly every event. Jordan Dimke (Fr.) is becoming that kind of athlete as well. Madison Harmsen (Jr., Guilford) is a rapidly improving distance runner too who can make her impact felt here.
NSC
One of the best breakout athletes this year is in this conference: Praise Oyebanji (Sr., Mundelein), headed to UIC next year. She has run 2:14 and 57.3 in the last week. Can she be challenged by long-time conference favorite Riley Franz (Sr., Zion-Benton) in these events? Mia Pasha (Sr., Warren) and Brooke Johnston (Sr., Lake Zurich) have been distance favorites for a long time, but this may be Audrey Luell's (Sr., Zion-Benton) time to shine especially as Johnston continues to work back from injury. Lake Zurich is one of the most balanced teams in the state, with major scoring potential in every event in this meet. Riley Betz (Jr.) leads the way for them in the sprints, with the help of Baelyn Zitzmann (Jr.). They have run 1:45 for 4x200. Zitzmann is also a 5-7.75 high jumper. Olivia Verden (Jr.) is a major favorite in the hurdles too. A sneaky good race may be the 4x400, especially if Zion-Benton loads up their relay. Don't forget about Lake Forest in this meet either.
NUIC
Emma Randecker (So., Savanna West Carroll) is the sprint favorite, while Galena duo Adrianna Pedrin (Sr.) and Avery Engle (Jr.) lead all the distances. Forreston brings a strong field group, led by Sydni Badertscher (Jr.) in the throws and high jumper Letrese Buisker (Jr.).
South Suburban Red
There will be close sprint races between Dior Newson (Jr., Richards), Carmela Woods (Sr., Evergreen Park), Milan Williams (So., Eisenhower), and Aniya Seeley-Williams (Sr., Oak Lawn Community). Woods, who has run 59.33, is the only athlete under 62 for the outdoor season.
SWSC
With Lincoln-Way East taking a step back, Homewood-Flossmoor is the class of the field, but Sandburg is well-rounded and could sneak some points in. Ana-Liese Torian (Sr.) and Angela Alozie (Sr.) are HF's athletes to watch, and their event loads will be interesting to watch. Torian matches with LWE duo Kendall Crossley (Sr.) and Kyra Hayden (So.) in the long hurdles. Chinenye Ifeajeksu (Sr., Bolingbrook) will give chase to Alozie in the 400. The distance races are quite wide open. Names to watch are Amanda Pocica (Jr., Stagg), Katie Roche (Jr., Sandburg), Caroline Schoen (Sr., HF), Nadia Bowen (Jr., Lincoln-Way Central), and Madeline Mellin (So., Bradley-Bourbonnais).
WSC-Gold
A recent breakout was Tori Robinson-Thomas (So., Proviso East) running under 46 in the 300h at Palatine, so what will she do at the conference meet? Also watch for Olivia Gwaltney (So., Willowbrook) and Juliyah Dailey (So., Morton) in the sprints. Downers South should be the class of the field.