The Morolake Akinosun Elite Invitational will be the first big all-around match of high school and middle school talent this year
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MEET INFORMATION I MEET PROGRAM IFIELD EVENT PROGRAM
The Fifth Annual Morolake Akinosun Elite Invitational is ready to stake its claim again as one of the best track and field meets on the indoor slate. The namesake started this event because she wanted to give back to the community that provided her with so much as a student and athlete.
The facility is in conjunction with the Akinosun Invite. Formerly known as the Gately Park Track & Field Center, it was officially dedicated as the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center. The late Dr. Worrill was a local college professor and civil rights leader. In his prime athletic days, he ran track and field. He dearly loved this sport and vowed to bring a state-of-the-art facility to Chicago.
The running events/streaming start at 10am!
Girls-
The red-hot Sundara Weber (Jr., Sandwich), nicknamed "Sunny," will highlight the distance field. Last month, she destroyed the 3000- and 1500-meter fields. Weber is entered in the 1600-meter race and is the heavy favorite. She will run 4:38 for the metric race, which translates to about a 4:58 mile.
The most competitive race on the docket appears to be the 800m. The championship race will be loaded. Freshman Janae Coleman from the Detroit Motor City Track Club is already an accomplished performer. She won last year's Brooks PR middle-school title in 2:09.02. In addition, she sharpened her blades during the summer AAU circuit with a blistering 54.53 400m. As great as she is, there will be company named Annika Swan. The Chicago St. Ignatius junior is just as talented. Swan busted a 2:11.36 last season. She may not have the same wheels as Coleman, but her strength and endurance engine is off the chain, clocking 4:46.81 for the 1600m. Add in Annie Miller (Sr., Indian Trail, NC) and Mia Forystek (So., Lincoln-Way Central), who have 2:12 credentials.
The next fire item on the track is the 60m dash. There are 21 athletes entered who clocked 8.00. Kamryn Tatum (Jr., West Bloomfield, MI) leads the way and represents the Michigan Mustangs TC during the indoor season. Tatum has run 7.54 in her only competition thus far. Her best is a swift 7.46 that won the Wolverine state championship a year ago. Clubmate Taryn Henderson has been on Tatum's heels over the past year, including a runner-up finish at the MITS Championship, clocking 7.62. Their heated battle will certainly invite Illinois native Courtney McDonald of My Best Track Club. She is a senior at Plainfield East and appears to be healthy. McDonald's season best is 7.71, but her PB is 7.62. She will be up for Sunday's best challenge!
You cannot forget about the phenom Nevaeh Burns of Motor City/Oak Park, MI. It's hard to believe she is just a sophomore and accomplished in this game. She snatched three coveted medals here in the lower levels as an eighth grader. Her times then were good enough to challenge the high school ranks. The 400m All-American Burns is entered in her signature event and will be ready for a serious time.
Boys-
The 60m will kick off the action on the track, which could be a toss-up for who will be victorious. The upstart junior Daniel Robinson from Naperville Neuqua Valley wears the Zephyrs Track Club club singlet during the pre-season. He has run well, pushing under seven seconds at 6.98. Sean O'Byrne of the Milwaukee Speed Academy has a 6.95 best. He will be a threat, as well as several other sub-7.00 performers.
There are seven starters under 22.50 for the 200m, led by Jason Hamilton II of Michigan. He has a best of 22.00. Fellow Michigan foe Rondre Austion is close. He has run 22.19. Braylen Anderson of the Aurora Flyers Track Club has clocked 22.18. Zion Morrison is just a sophomore but appears to be in prime form, running 22.30 a few weeks ago. The Gately Park TC is his preseason affiliate.
Austion will be the one to watch in the 400m. He is the only performer that has run under 49 seconds in the field. His teammate Demari Caldwell has clocked 49.78. It may take a 50.7 to get a top-six finish. The field is very strong.
Arion Hill of Centralia, IL is the one to beat in the 60HH. He has run a solid 8.22 thus far this winter.
In the 800, there are seven sub-2:00 performers and two more at the watershed mark. Didie Drogba of Kentucky and Mason Brosious of Wisconsin come in with 1:57 PBs. Can they get to 1:56 or 1:55?
Check for Daniel Robinson in the long jump as he looks to clear 23 feet for the first time indoors.
The Morolake Akinosun Elite Invitational will be the first big all-around match of high school and middle school talent this year