Milesplit videographer Thaliya Martinez captured the essence of the Moraloka Akinosun Elite Invitational.
RESULTS I VIDEOS I PHOTOS
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Last year's fourth installment of the Akinosun Elite Invitational put many smiles on the athletes' faces. The fifth installment was just as fruitful, if not more!
Out-of-towners showed and proved at the AEI-
The Dr. Conrad Worrill Indoor Track & Field Center may as well be a second home to many athletes from the state of Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Speed Academy Track Club has competed in the cozy confines several times this winter. So, it made sense for them to jump in the pit.
Kyenret Rinkam (So., Brookfield Central, WI) has been the team's superstar during the undercover season. She had been undefeated in the 60-meter dash. She lost her first race on Sunday by less than an eyelash in 7.53. It looked more like a photo finish. Near the end of the meet, Rinkam competed in the 200m and set a personal best of 25.14.
Maxwell St. Clair (Sr., West Alles, WI) just missed the top 50 nationally in the 60HH. He clocked 8.19 and finished second to Evan Williams of ATA TC and his blazing 8.09.
Lucas Mersky (Sr., Homestead, WI) ran 50.00 to place second in the 400m. It is also a new lifetime best indoors.
Mason Brosious (Sr., Madison West, WI) made the most of a fast opening 400 (55.6) en route to the 800m. He held a tough challenger to win a PB 1:56.77. Three others broke 2:00.
Sunny Weber stole the distance show-
There were only two events of the distance runner variety. One was the highly anticipated 800m featuring Annika Swan (Jr., Chicago St. Ignatius) and Janae Coleman (Fr., Motor City TC). Swan held on for the tight win in 2:18.97. Coleman did not compete.
Enter Sundara Weber of Sandwich, IL. The junior, known as "Sunny," produced another outstanding performance. Her terrific performances set up the AEI in late December; the 3000m at the AAU Northern National Invite captured the audience's attention. Weber ran a blistering 10:01.60.
Now, back on the track for the Invite section of the 1600m Weber suffocated field. She opened the first 400 in 67.4.
At the first half in 2:20, it was all but over. The only question was how far under 5:00 would Weber go.
She hit the bell at 4:14, and the legs continued to look strong. She hit the tape in 4:50.09. It was a new meet record and one of the fastest January performances for an Illinois runner.
Some of the best of the rest-
Illinois native junior Daniel Robinson of the Zephyrs Track Club/Naperville Neuqua Valley HS continued his hot streak in the 60m dash. He blew open the race midway and won in a PB and state-leading 6.91.
The athlete of the meet performances came from sophomore Kamryn Tatum of Michigan. She narrowly won a fast 60 in 7.52. But the crowd standing effort was in the 200; she ran a torching facility record 24.10! Tatum's time had the crowd buzzing for quite a while; it is currently the seventh-best time in the country.
Brandon Giles, the Motor City Track Club head coach, said prior to the meet: "Watch out for Rondre Austion. He is the dude you all need to watch for." Jiles was on point regarding his senior pupil easily winning the 400m in 49.42.
Giles' charges were not done. The senior standout Carrie Vannoy completed a strong workload, taking first in the 60HH (8.75), fifth in the 60 (7.80), and eighth in the 200 (25.62).
Devin James took second in the 200 out of section 18 of 19 with a time of 22.09.
Super sophomore Nevaeh Burns returned to Chicago for the first time since she was in eighth grade. She took the victory in the 400 over teammate Coleman 57.08-57.16. Burns led the team in the 200 with a fifth-place finish in 25.30.
It was worth the wait for senior Jason Hamilton II of the Michigan Mustangs TC, who was in the 200 from the final section- #19 with a time of 22.02.
Layla Bonilla of Chicago Whitney Young won the triple jump in a state leading and US#18 39'1.75."