Illinois Top Times 2013

It was stated in the Boys recap opener… The 3A portion of the Illinois Top Times took awhile to get here but the wait was worth it.  The Grand daddy of all track meets lived up to its usual expectations of turning out the highest quality of performances anywhere and anytime in the state of Illinois.  ITT is also the last major indoor invitational in the country (maybe one or two exceptions) before the doors and books are closed on the undercover season.  

The 3A portion of the Illinois Top Times took awhile to get here but the wait was worth it.  The Grand daddy of all track meets lived up to its usual expectations of turning out the highest quality of performances anywhere and anytime in the state of Illinois.  ITT is also the last major indoor invitational in the country (maybe one or two exceptions) before the doors and books are closed on the undercover season.  

Don’t let the gentle smile or the gentleman demeanor of Coach Leroy Milsap get a hold of you.  The reality is he is about the business of winning championships on any stage whether it’s small or big.  He was once overheard saying, “Man look, we will travel anywhere there is competition.”  The Shirk Center on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University was the place where Milsap’s team rocked the spot.  The Comanches won the inaugural team championship scoring a massive 95 points.  Bloomington took second with 54 pts and Chicago North Lawndale Prep copped the final team plaque by tallying 33 pts. The girls team was a title tilt between team and individual.  Carbondale held off Shamier Little’s Chicago Lindblom 36-30.  Marengo took the third spot with 26 pts.  

USA men on the podium with Ethiopia and Kenya. (Photo by Michael Scott)

The opening of the “new” Illinois Top Times went off without a hitch… hats off to the staff for making things go seamless.  In addition, team trophies were handed out to the winners at the end of the affair.  

The look Illinois Top Times fields will feature a different set up with a “team title” in line for the winners.  But this is still the meet where top times matter the most and where most athletes achieve their top marks of the season.  Take a peep at the leader boards at the end of the campaign.  Now with that being said, let’s see what’s going on out there:   

The list of quality athletes that will be unleashed this Saturday is long -- even without superstar sprint star Aaliyah Brown (Sr., Lincoln-Way East) -- but pay attention to these specific athletes who have made major noise during the undercover season:  

The new look Illinois Top Times (formerly Illinois Prep Top Times) will have new handlers. Give credit to Dan Andrews, Roland Brent, and Randy Anderson and their willingness to take on such an enormous event. The trio hail from central Illinois Bloomington community and they know how things tick around there. So, they should keep the baton passage a smooth one.