Stay locked in for intense and highly tilted track and field action at the 5th Annual Dr. Conrad Worrill Invitational
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WATCH TOEING THE LINE
Date: Saturday, February 14
Location: Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center (Gately); Chicago, IL
Time: Field events- 9:30a, track- 10a
Quick synapsis: For the first time in meet history, the Dr. Conrad Worrill Invitational will play as a full regular season invitational. In the past, it was offered as a preason club meet. Co-meet managers Jason Cooper and Pierre Nealon has done a magnificant job in attracting some of the best talent in the state, especially this early in the indoor season.
For the girls, this could wound up being the best invite team meet of the year. That is high praise, especially since we are only two weeks into the fray.
All eyes will be on #1 Homewood-Flossmoor who is expected to unload a boatload of talent, led by everyone's preseason darling Mariyah Robinson. The uber talented senior will be a U of Florida gator next year at this time. She is slated to make her season debut in the 60m. If that is her only event, it will be a great one with the emerging Rayna Raglin (Sr., Alton) lurking close behind. No time prediction here, but expect to see something in the sub 7.60 terrritory.
Chicago South Shore senior Jordan Hamb had an outstanding preseason and she will be in full flight in several events on Saturday. Watch for her to shine brightly in the triple jump, 60HH, and 60m. Standout junior Sophia Shapiro of Edwardsville will be making her Gately track debut in the 60HH against Hamb.
The field events are no slouch. The main event to watch will be the shot put with high all-staters Jaloni Wiley (Sr., Homewood-Flossmoor), Joi Story (Sr., Edwardsville), and Isabella Thurston (Jr., Normal University) vying for the 40 foot barrier and more!
Taya Rice (Sr., Chicago Ag) is a state champion in the triple jump at the 2A level. She will battle CPL foes Jordan Hamb and Courtney Burt (Sr., Chicago Whitney Young).
The distance running slate is lean but at a premium. The 800m will feature the state's #1 returner Emily Stecky (Jr., Chicago Depaul College Prep), Erin Hinsdale (Jr., Wheaton St. Francis), and Margaret Andrzejewski (Sr., Wheaton St. Francis) could challenge Annika Swan's state leading 2:16.26. The St. Ignatius senior star will be away for a school sponsored retreet. Her teammate sophomore Allison Shutler is expected to make her season debut in the 1600m. If so, she will be a big favorite and possibly surpassing the state lead by Sunny Weber of Sandwich ran 4:55.07+.
The boys field is not as strong, respectively speaking, but it is more than of a quality nature. Powerhouse programs E. St. Louis Sr and Cahokia will bring their long standing rivalry to Chicago. Former Flyers coach Barry Malloyd is now the head coach of the Camanches. Go figure.
The first race to watch will be the 60HH, led by Ben Schoettle (Jr., Glenbard West) who won the CYUP Misfits Invite title a few weeks ago in a stunning 8.06. Standout junior Daylin Donaldson of Belleville East is expected to attend pending his participation in a local meet in his area.
The last two sections of the 60m is filled with outstanding talent, so dont be surprised if senior Nasir Robinson of Plainfield East challenges for the win out of the penultimate #11 section. His teammate senior Joe Owusu and senior Brady Anderson of Morrison are among the favorites in the final section.
There are 12 sections of the 200m and you better keep your eyes on 9-12 because the winner could emerge from one of those heats. More that likely we will see a victor from #12 that features the state leader Nasir Robinson who has run 21.88. But watch for Morquez Bulliner of Belleville West and 1A star Levi Milder of Morrison.