Standout middle distance runner Charlize-Trinity McKenzie enjoys competing in the AAU Northern Indoor Nationals
VIDEOS I RESULTS
Chicago, IL-
If you recall, in the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, Proviso West HS hosted the National Indoor Invitational. Though it was held early in the undercover track and field season, it gave athletes a championship-level feeling.
Enter the middle 2000s and the emergence of the AAU Northern Indoor National Championship, a brainchild of meet director Marchan Adkins. Adkins, known for the AdkinsTrak Timing, is also an experienced coach and consultant.
Over the past 10 years, the meet has outgrown previously indoor grassroots facilities and landed itself into the venerable state-of-the-art Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center. It is estimated that over 2000 athletes competed in the two-day event!
Saturday-
It was an overflow crowd that watched athletes compete in several field events and a portion of track prelims.
Distance star "Sunny" Sundara Weber (Jr., Sandwich) came out of her training hibernation to gauge her fitness. Competing in the 3000m, Weber dashed away from the competition from the gun. She hit the first 1600m in a brisk 5:14.0. The outcome was a blistering meet record 10:01.60.
The 200m prelims dominated the scene during the lunchtime hours.
Among the talented lot and a star of tomorrow was 10-year-old Kennedi Williamson of the Legacy Runners Athletic Club. She stood out amongst all competitors through four heats, clocking a meet record of 27.77. In the process, Williamson surpassed the legendary Aaliyah Brown's mark of 29.03, which she had held since 2005.
In the 13-year-old age group, middle schooler star Camryn Cargo of the Aurora Flyers produced a fast 25.53. Fast enough to challenge most seasoned high schoolers.
The fastest time of the day on the girl's side went to Missouri native freshman Havyn Smith, who ran 24.97. Smith is 14 years old.
On the boy's side, the youth was just as potent. Incoming freshman Zaven Johnson of Legacy was the first speedster under 24 seconds, clocking 23.62. He also snapped the age group meet record.
Former middle-school star and record breaker Zion Morrison, now a sophomore at Homewood-Flossmoor, missed the 2024 outdoor season due to injury. He is back physically and mentally after cruising into the final with a solid time of 22.49 in the 15-16-year-old age group. It was the fastest time of any performer, regardless of grouping.
In between sprints, the 800m was run. Though there wasn't much resistance, Wisconsin native and Gately track regular junior Charlize Trinity-Mckenzie won the 17-18 grouping in 2:12.41. This is a meet record and the fastest time in the country.
There was some solid field action to report. Pole Vault guru junior Isaiah Whitaker of the Flying Dragons PV Club/Bloomington Central Catholic opened at 15'5" and cleared on the third attempt. He passed on the next height and went for 16'4.75." He admitted afterward that he is working on "things" in preparation for the Nevada Pole Vault Summit next month.
Anthony Edison Jr (Jr., Homewood-Flossmoor) kicks off his 2025 campaign with a nice personal best of 22'0.25" in the long jump and winning the 15-16 age group. Keep an eye on this young man this winter.
Decatur Dominator Zion Young is serious about being an elite shot putter in 2025. She may be on her way after nearly clearing 40 feet. All of her throws were over the 39-foot barrier, including a stat-leading 39'9.75."
Londyn Hendry of the Zephyrs Track Club had a performance that should have been overlooked in the high jump. The middle-schooler set a meet record that would make most experienced high school leapers envy. Hendry cleared a massive 5'5" on her final attempt. She went for 5'7" before bowing out of the competition.
Sunday-
After a flurry of qualifying 60m dashes on Saturday, it was time to dance on Sunday.
For the girls, not many people knew who was Kyenret Rinkam of the Milwaukee Speed Academy coming in. She blitzed the 15-16 girls field in a meet record 7.64. Her time was the fast of the day.
Unattached speedster Maddox Black took down the 15-16 boys; the fastest time of the day was 6.95.
In the 200m final, no disappointments were found.
Williamson reset her record with a sizzling 27.64 and won by nearly a second.
Cargo did the same as well, outperforming herself once again with a 25.37 performance, and certainly will be someone to watch against high schoolers for the rest of the indoor season. Haven closed the 14-year-old age group in 24.71.
After winning the 60HH in a personal best effort, Morrison clocked 22.31 to set his age group record. Only Lucas Mersky of the Milwaukee Speed Academy ran faster from the 17-18 division in 22.22.