By Michael Newman

Bloomington, Ill --- Shamier Little (Lindblom HS, Chicago) had just finished winning her heat in the 60 Hurdles. She kept running around the curve back into the warm up area. She had won by almost six tenths of a second.

“I had to wear my flats,” Little explained. “Right before the start, I could not find my coach who had my spikes.”

Otherwise, it was another day at the office for Little as she won all three races that she entered in the 2A Meet of the Illinois Top Times Championships at the Shirk Center. She destroyed the field in her first race the 60 Meter Hurdles winning by a half a second over Taylor McCammon (Bishop McNamara HS, Kankakee).

Her 400 was not the domination race that we are accustomed to see from her. Usually she runs away from her competition in her race. Her winning time (57.90) was close to four seconds off of her seasonal best of 54.65. Credit should be given to second place runner Brittani Griesbaum (Lakes HS, Lake Villa). The freshman stayed close the entire race finishing close to a second behind.

“I don’t know what I was thinking. I thought I was doing something, “Little continued. “My mom told me that she (Griesbaum) was coming up on me. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

The 200 was a replay of the previous two race. Little got out of the blocks strong and cruised to an easy win over Ashley Fouch (Hampshire HS, Hampshire).

While Little was dominating on the track, Sarah Bell (Bloomington Central Catholic HS, Bloomington) was in her comfort zone on the Pole Vault runway. She set her third PR as in as many meets when she cleared 13-3 to win the Pole Vault and also establishing (or raising) her indoor state record.

“I started my season in January. My goal was to get a PR in every meet,” Bell said. “Every meet I felt really well but it was like 12-12-12. It was frustrating. Now it is starting to come together which I am very happy about.”

On her first attempt at 13-3, she cleared the bar by at least four inches. Maybe a hint of what is in store for this outdoor season.  She took three good attempts at 13-5. Again, we will have to wait for the outdoor season for her to clear that.

“I made it on my first attempt which was a relief. Then I went up to 13-5. It was close. But, I felt good about it,” Bell continued. “I attempted 13-6 last week at Gene Armer. The last two meets I attempted 13-5. Hopefully I am saving it for outdoors. Hopefully I could get it then. I’m ready for it.”

The three distance races in the 3A meet established of what is to come in the outdoor season. In the 800  Meter Run, Karina Liz (Aurora Central Catholic HS, Aurora) and Kayla Wolff pushed the pace through the first 400 in 65.1 as Liz had a slight lead. Wolff opened up a three second lead at the bell lap and won by the same margin (2:17.31).  It was her second Top Times win in a row. “I had my 200 splits in my head. All I wanted to do was hit those times,” Wolff said.

The 3200 Meter Run was a battle of attrition. Maura Beattie (Woodstock HS, Woodstock) and Katie Adams (Marengo HS, Marengo) broke up an early tight pack as they passed through the 1600 together in 5:33 eight seconds ahead of freshmen Brianne Bower (Kaneland HS, Maple Park) and Maryjeanne Gilbert (Notre Dame HS, Peoria). With 4 laps to go, Beattie made a move to break Adams and it had appeared to work as she had opened up two seconds of daylight.

The fighting spirit inside of Adams would not let Beattie go. With 400 meters to go, Adams was three seconds behind Beattie but she found a little bit left inside of her. Her last 200 was 35 seconds and the championship win by over four seconds Adams became the ninth Illinois girls’ runner at the time to go under 11 minutes this season for 3200 Meters (10:58.97).

“I just started thinking to myself I want to want it and go. I’ve had it too many times in these four years where I have let things go. I told myself that this was not going to happen now,” Adams said after her race. “I was really happy with that last 400. I was really happy with what I had.”

Adams came back in the 1600 and had to take the lead duties as no one wanted to push the pace. On her shoulder was Sydney Billingsley (University HS, Normal) waiting to make some kind of move. With 400 Meter to go, Adams started to push the pace more with Billingsley and now Adrienne Brauer (PORTA HS, Petersburg). With 250 Meters to go, Billingsley charged by Adam as the two chased down the last 200 meters together. Billingsley held off Adams for the win and an indoor PR (5:07.14).

“I was not really worried about pace today. I just wanted to race,” Billingsley said. “She has phenomenal speed. I was just trying to stay in contention.”

Carbondale made some noise winning 2 of the three relays contested at the meet. The Lady Terriers had smooth exchanges and won their section running a season PR of 1:45.20, some three seconds faster than their seed. In the 4 x 400 meter relay, Carbondale and Springfield Southeast came down the final straight away dead even. The separation at the finish was only five hundredths of a second with Carbondale able to hold off Southeast. In the 4 x 800 Meter Relay, Monticello stayed near the front during the entire race as Montini, Mattoon and Troy Triad. The Lady Sages took the lead just before the final exchange and Hannah Houska did the rest. The junior’s 2:25 anchor leg was enough to hold off Montini and a charging Rochester for the win (9:50.31). Rochester’s fantastic freshman Megan McNicholas ran a 2:22 last leg to bring Rochester from fifth to third.

Ebony McClendon (Brooks College Prep) got off to a great start and raced fellow Chicago Public Leaguer Ryan Preachley (Noble Street Charter/Johnson, Chicago to win by six hundredths of a second (7.67-7.73). McClendon’s 60 time is the fourth fastest in Illinois and ranked #32 nationally.

In the field events, the exploits of Edwardsville’s Emmonnie Henderson have overshadowed in the southern part of the state what Lena Giger (Highland HS, Highland) has accomplished in the Shot Put, Giger established a new PR in winning the Shot with a winning put of 46-3 ¼”. Her achievement ranks her #11 in the country in this event.

Katie Trupp (Burlington Central HS, Burlington) finished third in the Pole Vault and tenth in the Long Jump. She cleared the same height as Gillian Urycki (Metamora HS, Metamora) did in the High Jump (5-6). Urycki won the event on fewer misses.

Brion Portis (Southeast HS, Springfield) finished her season undefeated in the Triple Jump. Her winning jump of 38-9 made her the third longest triple jumper in the state this indoor season. She has the capability of jumping over 40 feet outdoors once the weather clears up.

Brittani Griesbaum (Lakes HS, Lake Villa) complemented her second place finish in the 400 with a win in the Long Jump. Her winning jump (18-6 ½) was only an inch and a half ahead of Lauren Zick (Kaneland HS, Maple Park). Zick set a new seasonal best by over a foot jumping 18-5.