Barrington sophomore phenom Mia Sirois trots out to the starting line after a fiery introduction (Derrick Dingle photo)
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Boston was not the only city to hold a national championship for high school track and field. The 'Big Apple' continued its run with the Nike Indoor Nationals, held at the venerable Armory, which was officially named 'The Nike Track & Field Center at The Armory.'
For four days in upper Manhattan, non-stop action took place on Thursday. Two of the state's talented youngsters, Micah Weiss of Chicago Latin and Carson Kaiser of Maple Park Kaneland, competed in the freshman boys' mile. Kaiser took the lead just before the 1000m mark and tried to overpower the field. Unfortunately, he was overtaken by Sawyer Hutton of Nevada
and two others with a quarter mile to go. Weiss moved past Kaiser on the bell lap and closed hard to take third behind Hutton and Eli Aitken of Maryland
with a time of 4:23.18. Kaiser held on for fourth in 4:23.20. On the girls' side, Elsie Colin of Libertyville placed 30th in the freshman mile with a time of 5:29.58.
Friday-
On day two,
Mia Sirois (So., Barrington) continued her quest to break 10:00 in the championship two-mile. She followed a steady pace, hitting her splits like a metronome, 37s per circuit in the early going. The first mile was negotiated in approximately 5:04. She sat on the shoulder of
Sophia Rodriguez of Washington for most of the race. Junior
Addison Ritzenhein of Colorado would come in over the final five laps, take the lead, and secure the victory with a time of 10:00.11, establishing a new US#1. Sirois earned another personal best and US#3 with a time of 10:04.02.
Jane Lynch (Sr., Loyola Academy) worked her way from 12th to leading late in the emerging two-mile race. She would eventually finish fourth in 11:00.94. Lynch doubled back in the mile and ran 5:00.38 to take fifth in the emerging elite section.
Defending 3A boys 400m champion
Troy McLean (Sr., Belleville West) got a taste of the national spotlight out of heat 1. He did not make the final but earned a consolation 49.39, good for IL#2.
Olivia Dalson (Jr., Naperville Neuqua Valley) moved from fifth to second on her final attempt in the triple jump, leaping 37'5."
Saturday-
Symone Holman (Jr., Joliet Catholic Academy) was an easy qualifier to the semis of the 60m emerging elite, winning her heat in 7.73. She also competed in the emerging elite 200m prelims but did not advance to the finals.
Sunday-
Holman returned early in the morning and qualified in the emerging elite 60 final, winning her semi-heat in 7.70. She ran a hard-fought race in the final and placed third in 7.64.
Mia Sirois returned two days later to compete in the championship mile. Sirois established a personal best and IL#1/US#17 4:47.46 to take 8th place. Sirois' teammate Abby Lewis ran in the emerging elite 800m and ran 2:18.00 to take 13th place.
Braden Missey (Jr., Belleville West) took part in the championship long jump and placed 12th with a best of 21'10.75."
A stolen shot put could not prevent Zion Young (So., Maroa-Forsyth) from achieving her goal of All-American status in the emerging elite division. Young cracked the top 100 nationally and IL#2 with a 40'5.50" personal best.
Barrington sophomore phenom Mia Sirois trots out to the starting line after a fiery introduction (Derrick Dingle photo)