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2015 2A Meet Preview - Illinois Top Times Championships - DyeStat ILPublished by
How dominant will Cahokia be in this 2A Meet?
By Michael Newman
Even though the Illinois Top Times Championships 2A Meet will not be scored Saturday, you know after the meet is over that opposing 2A coaches will be looking to see where they rank against four time 2A champion Cahokia. The Comanches have loaded up having four runners in some events. Oh, they also have jumps national champion Ja’Mari Ward part of their line-up. Ward will be in both events looking for double wins.
The Girls Meet will have great competition in the sprints with Anna Sloan and Dominique Lewis. The distances, with Maryjeanne Gilbert and Karina Liz, should also provide some excitement in those races. The Boys Meet will have great sprints with Josh Eiker among the top sprinters in tough fields.
Here is a look at each of the events that will be contested in the Illinois Top Times 2A meet. Half way through the meet, the meet directors will contest a Wheelchair 60 Meter Dash for both Boys and Girls.
If you cannot make it to Illinois Wesleyan University for this meet on Saturday morning, you can watch a live webcast of the meet on RunnerSpace Plus. You can find details of the webcast here.
Long Jump – 9:05 AM
Girls 2A Meet Record – Brittani Griesbaum – Lake Villa Lakes HS – 18-6.5 – 2013 2015 2A Leader – Mariya Hudson – Cahokia HS – 18-0.5
Preview – This will be a wide open event without list leader Mariya Hudson participating. The one athlete to keep an eye on is Imani Carothers (Brooks Prep, Chicago). She is only a freshman, but jumps like senior. She jumped 17-4 at last week’s Lake Michigan Invitational. Vicky Gruszka (Notre Dame HS, Peoria) has the longest seed performance (17-6 ¾) achieved when she won the Big 12 Girls Championships. Gilian Urycki (Metamora HS) jumped 17-3 ¼ at Nationals. She will be a threat for the win.
This field is deep. Eight athletes have gone 17 feet or better. Al eight are within seven inches of each other. Allison Woerner (Glenwood HS, Chatham), Gianna Salzbrunn (Montini Catholic HS, Lombard), and Lilia Edwards (Sycamore HS) are some of the athletes that could challenge for the win.
Boys 2A Meet Record – Ja’Mari Ward – Cahokia HS – 23-4.5 – 2013 2015 2A Leader – Ja’Mari Ward – Cahokia HS – 25-7.25
Preview – Who else but Ja’Mari Ward in this event? The junior is coming off of a double national championships in the jumps two weeks ago. It would be great if he could duplicate those distances, but he should be able to surpass his meet record in this meet.
After Ward, this is a talented field with four athletes besides Ward that have gone 22 feet or better this indoor season. Michael Smith (Mattoon HS), Ben Barnes (Kaneland HS, Maple Park), Tevin Taylor (Galesburg HS), and Roman Hill (Centralia HS) are all capable of threatening the 23 foot barrier. Anything could happen in this event. It did last year when Ward suffered an injury and Barnes overtook him for the 2A state championship. It is hard to imagine that tin this meet especially the way Ward has been jumping.
Triple Jump – 11:00 AM
Girls 2A Meet Record – Brion Portis – Springfield Southeast HS – 38-9 – 2013 2015 2A Leader – Jaimie Robinson – Chicago De La Salle Institute – 37-8.75
Preview – List leader Jaimie Robinson will just be competing in this event. She will be the big favorite as she has the longest mark in the field by almost two feet. She has the ability to go past 38 feet in this meet. Hasana Huff (Carmel Catholic HS, Mundelein), Vicky Gruszka, and Dominique Anderson (IMSA, Aurora) will be fighting for the top three finishes.
Boys 2A Meet Record – Jamison Wilson – Country Club Hills Hillcrest – 47-5 – 2009 2015 2A Leader – Ja’Mari Ward – Cahokia HS – 51-7.75
Preview – It is hard to see anyone but Ja’Mari Ward win this event. He is in a class by himself in this event with no one within six feet of him. He should get the meet record. The question will be how far past it will he go?
Cahokia could place three in the top four with Anthony McRoberts and Shunn Grace capable of placing in the first three. Luther Newburn (Hillcrest HS, Country Club Hills has jumped close to 46 feet this season (45-10). If Ward is off, Newburn could be a surprise.
High Jump
Girls – 11:00 AM 2A Meet Record – Ceterina Simmons – Belvidere North HS – 5-6 – 2011 Gillian Urycki – Metamora HS – 5-6 – 2013 Katie Trupp – Burlington Central HS – 5-6 – 2013 2015 2A Leader – Jamari Drake – Springfield Southeast 5-8
Preview – We could see a new 2A meet record in this event. Jamari Drake has been hot the past two weeks clearing 5-8 two weeks ago at Proviso East and 5-7 last weekend at Champaign. There are a bunch of athletes that have cleared 5-4 this year including Drake’s teammate Lundeen Henry, Gillian Urycki, Christina MacNab (Providence Catholic HS, New Lenox), and Genna Bougeios (Waterloo HS). Urycki might be the one athlete to challenge Drake. It is tough to see records fall in this event in a big competition. Drake does have the ability to do that on Saturday morning.
Boys – 9:05 AM 2A Meet Record – Alex King – Metropolis Massac County HS – 6-10 – 2013 2015 2A Leader – Anthony McRoberts – Cahokia HS – 6-8.25
Preview – This is a wide open competition. There are six athletes competing in this meet that have cleared 6-6 or better this indoor season. Anthony McRoberts (Cahokia HS) cleared 6-8 ¼ earlier this season at a meet in Missouri. Recently, he has been clearing 6-6. Noah Agnew (Vernon Hills HS) has cleared 6-8 in his last two meets. He could be the one jumper to watch in this competition.
Will Daniels (Geneseo HS) is coming off of a NIB-12 Championship where he cleared 6-7. He is one athlete to watch. Darryl Sullivan (Marion HS) cleared 6-8 at SIU at the beginning of March, but finished third last week at Charleston clearing 6-4. Matthew Martinson (Marian Catholic, Chicago Heights) and Seande Vinson (Cahokia HS) are two other athletes that have cleared 6-6 and could come out on top in this 17 athlete field.
Pole Vault
Girls – 9:05 AM 2A Meet Record – Sarah Bell – Bloomington Central Catholic HS – 13-3 – 2013 2015 2A Leader – Kassadee Ifft – Fairbury Prairie Central HS – 12-6
Preview – Kassadee Ifft comes into this meet as the favorite. She cleared 12-6 two weeks ago at the Reed Custer Invitational. She is the only athlete in this field to go past 12-0. Betsy Lovett (Clinton HS) achieved a PR when she cleared 11-7 at Nationals two weeks ago. Claire Buck (Triad HS, Troy) has cleared 11-6 three times this season. She does have a PR of 12-6. Buck could threaten Ifft if she has a hot day.
Boys – 11:00 AM 2A Meet Record – Logan Pflibsen – Streator Township HS – 16-7 – 2010 2015 2A Leader – Joe Bevilacqua – Bloomington Central Catholic – 15-0
Preview – This meet could be a repeat of last week’s Charleston Invitational. The top three athletes from that meet are in this field. Joe Bevilacqua started off this season slow only clearing 12-6 at Normal at the end of February. Last week’s PR clearance of 15-0 showed that he can be one of the elite 2A athletes in this event. Jacob Wells (Monticello HS) achieved a 1 foot PR when he cleared 14-6 at Charleston. He would like to go higher in this meet. Logan Kulinski (Mt. Vernon HS) is only a sophomore but has huge potential. He had the meet of his live last week improving his PR from 13-0 to 14-6.
Triston Ballinger (Olympia HS, Stanford) has an outdoor PR of 14-6 but has only cleared 14-0 this season. He could be a threat for the win. Also watch for Jared Trupp (Central HS, Burlington), Arthur Atwell (Geneseo HS), and Austin Lowry (Harrisburg HS) to contend for a top three finish.
Shot Put
Girls – 9:05 AM 2A Meet Record – Lena Giger – Highland HS – 47-4 – 2014 2015 2A Leader – Cassidy Osborne-Butler – Mt. Zion HS – 45-2
Preview – Cassidy Osborne-Butler has showed great improvement from her freshman to sophomore seasons. Last year, she had a PR of 38-6 ½. She improved that at Charleston two weeks ago when she went 45-2 to win the event. She is the one athlete that I would keep an eye on in this event.
Taylor Weaver (Mattoon HS) was second to Osborne-Taylor at Charleston two weeks ago. Her best put of 41-10 ½ is almost four feet behind. Latavia Maines (Centralia HS) and Bralon Mack (Herrin HS) have gone past 40 feet this season. They will contend for a top three finish along with Sian Person (Carbondale HS) and Emily Kauffman (Mahomet-Seymour HS). If Butler has a good day, she could threaten Lena Giger’s 2A Meet record.
Boys – 11:00 AM 2A Meet Record – Kevin Farley – Springfield Lanphier HS – 59-6 – 2011 2015 2A Leader – Sam Sikon – Carbondale HS – 60-0
Preview – Sam Sikon is the athlete to watch in this event. He has the state’s best effort (60-0) in this event. He has the best put in this field by more than six feet. We will watch to see if he can go past 60 feet again this weekend and go past Kevin Farley’s 2A meet record.
Daniall Akins (Cahokia HS) has been consistent in the 53 foot range all season. He leads a group with Andrew Franklin (Mahomet-Seymour HS), Parker Evans (Centennial HS, Champaign), and Montell Haynes (Lanphier HS, Springfield) that will challenge for the second spot. We could see a put past 55-0 from one of these athletes in this meet.
3200 Meter Run
Boys – 10:15 AM 2A Meet Record – Clay Elward – Peoria Notre Dame HS – 9:13.84 – 2010 2015 2A Leader – Evan Mitchell – New Lenox Lincoln-Way West HS – 9:33.87
Preview – The top two seeds in this event have distinguished themselves this indoor season. Sal Flight (Fenwick HS, Oak Park) and Evan Mitchell are 14 seconds faster than the rest of the field. Flight showed his fitness level last weekend at the CCL Championships running 4:20 for 1600. He did run 9:34 at the beginning of the month at ICOPS. Mitchell, only a sophomore, ran a great 9:33 at the SWSC Championships finishing second. He is capable of going sub 9:30 in this meet.
This is a talented field. There are nine runners after Mitchell and Flight that are between 9:48 and 10:00. One could break through in this event. Shane Williamson (Vernon Hills HS) finished third at last fall’s 2A state cross country meet. He could be a threat towards the front. Tyler Smith (Vernon Hills HS), Brady Carius (Morton HS), Walmer Saavedra (Lindblom HS, Chicago), and Nick Monkemeyer (Rockford Christian HS) are some of the runners that could contend for the first three spots.
Girls – 10:30 AM 2A Meet Record – Maura Beattie – Woodstock HS – 10:49.44 – 2014 2015 2A Leader – Maryjeanne Gilbert – Peoria Notre Dame HS – 10:49.73
Preview – This race could be similar to all the races that we saw Maryjeanne Gilbert run this past cross country season when the clock was the only thing that pushed her besides herself. She has run only one race this year but that was a 10:49 3200 at the Big 12 Girls Conference Meet winning by almost a minute. I think we will see a 2A Meet Record from Gilbert in this race possibly going sub 10:30.
There could be some runners closer to Gilbert in this race. Caitlyn Allen (Marengo HS) ran 11:15 at Champaign last week who could go faster this weekend. Vivian Overbeck ran a season’s best 11:28 in winning the Lake Michigan Invitational. Abby Jockisch (Dunlap HS) ran 11:34 to win at Galesburg. Those three runners could push Gilbert but more likely will be battling for the second spot.
4 x 800 Meter Relay – 11:40 AM
Girls 2A Meet Record – Yorkville – 9:42.52 – 2011 2015 2A Leader – Mahomet-Seymour – 9:59.64
Preview – Eight schools within ten seconds makes this relay any team’s race. Mahomet-Seymour enters the meet as the only 2A team to run under 10 minutes. Montini Catholic has the tradition of running tough in this meet. They won the GCAC Championships last week anchored by Gianna Salzbrun. Rosary could be a threat with 1600 list leader Madison Ronzone and Emily Martin part of their quartet.
Normal University finished second behind Lane Tech last week at Champaign. They will be up front in this race. Mattoon has the tradition of being tough in this race. Megan Shaffer will be a key for the Green Wave in this race. Dunlap is young but has the talent to run under 10 minutes to win this event. Hampshire will also be a threat to win this event. It should take 9:45 to 9:50 to win this race.
Boys 2A Meet Record – Belvidere North – 7:58.68 – 2011 2015 2A Leader – Cahokia HS – 8:05.88
Preview – It is hard to pick against Cahokia in this relay. They have the fastest seed time by close to 15 seconds. They were one of the top teams last year, but a lap count mishap cost the Comanches the title. They are the favorite this season. They could go sub eight in this race.
The eleven other schools in this race are between 8:22 and 8:28. Any of these schools could challenge for the next spot. Keep an eye on Kaneland , Burlington Central, Rockford Christian, Johnsburg, and Highland all have the talent to get close to 8:10 in this race. If Cahokia does not run an “A” race, this race could be up for grabs. But the way that Cahokia, however, has run 8:10 or better three times this season.
60 Meter Hurdles – Prelims 11:00 AM / Finals 12:20 PM
Girls 2A Meet Record – Shamier Little – Chicago Lindblom HS – 8.60 – 2013 2015 2A Leader – Imani Carothers – Chicago Brooks College Prep – 9.19
Preview – The freshman phenom Imani Carothers has been the talk of this event this indoor season. She ran the fourth fastest time in the state last week when she ran 8.46 for the 55 Meter Hurdles at the CPS Group B Meet. Chante Stonewall (University HS, Normal) will be Carothers chief competition. The experienced junior has run 9.40 for this distance this season. Olivia Ness (Monticello HS) and Hanna Vanderheyden (Geneseo HS) are two other athletes that could challenge for a top spot.
Boys 2A Meet Record – Marcus Greer – East St. Louis-Senior HS – 8.16 – 2013 2015 2A Leader – Korrion Session – Cahokia HS – 8.10
Preview – Korrion Session has held his own against some of the best athletes in this event this season. Last week, he defeated Belleville East’s William Session to win at Charleston. The Cahokia senior is the favorite in this event.
Watch out for Lucas Ege (Central HS, Burlington). Ege has only run in the 55 Hurdles this season but has the second fastest 2A time in that event. He does have the big time meet experience. Reference his third place finish in the 110 Hurdles and his 300 championship at last year’s state meet as evidence. Marquis Murray (Cahokia HS), Zach Gruricza (Saint Viator HS, Arlington Heights), and Gamar Hayles (Rich Central HS, Olympia Fields) are some of the other athletes that will challenge for a top finish in this meet.
60 Meter Dash – Prelims 11:20 AM / Finals 12:35 PM
Girls 2A Meet Record – Ebony McClendon – Chicago Brooks – 7.45 – 2014 2015 2A Leader – Dominique Lewis – Champaign Centennial HS – 7.67
Preview – The final in this event should be great. Dominique Lewis has been undefeated in the 55/60 this IHSA indoor season. Her time is the fastest in the state regardless of classification. She could be tough to beat in this meet. Anna Sloan (Trinity HS, River Forest) has quietly gone undefeated as well indoors. She ran 7.73 to win the GCAC Championships last week. She will be a threat to Lewis.
Tyjuana Eason (Kankakee HS) ran 7.78 last week at Champaign behind Lewis and could challenge for the win. Also watch for Nicole Sreenan (Kaneland HS, Maple Park), Imani Carothers, and Jenniba Johnson (Triad HS, Troy) to challenge also for the front.
Boys 2A Meet Record – Jonathan Boey – Decatur MacArthur HS – 6.79 – 2013 2015 2A Leader – Johnathan Stokes – Chicago North Lawndale Prep – 6.93
Preview – Loaded would be an under estimate of how tough this field is. It could be the race of the meet. Johnathan Stokes has burst onto the scene with the state’s fastest time run at Charleston. Adam Nelson (Triad HS, Troy) ran 6.94 behind Stokes last week. Nelson has placed second in his last two meets losing by a total of two hundredths of a second. This could be a breakthrough meet for him. Josh Eiker (Galesburg HS) is the defending champion and has run 6.97 this season. A great start could give this junior the win.
Kevion Akins (Cahokia HS) continues to improve as his PR dropped down to 7.01 last week at Charleston. Tyrin Thurman (Mt. Carmel HS, Chicago) ran a personal best 7.02 last week at the CCL Championships. Dion Hooker (Sycamore HS) has been forgotten in a way but he has run 7.03. Any of these three athletes could run away with the win in this race. Also watch for Franklin Hunt (Rich Central HS, Olympia Fields), Leon Ivy (Brooks College Prep, Chicago), Marquise Peggs (Mt. Carmel HS, Chicago), and JaMari Hare (Cahokia HS) are threats to find their way into the finals.
800 Meter Run – 12:55 PM
Girls 2A Meet Record – Emma Preston – East Peoria HS – 2:16.01 – 2011 2015 2A Leader – Karina Liz – Aurora Central Catholic HS – 2:11.70
Preview – Karina Liz has the fastest seed time by 11 seconds in this race. It will be her against the clock in this race. She should shatter the 2A Meet Record in this meet. Liz has a busy meet as she will also compete in the 400 and 1600 Meter Run. Madeline Bruce (Marion HS) has run 2:15 outdoors last year but 2:23 this season. She could push Liz in this race. Twinkle Mehta (Mahomet-Seymour HS) could also push for the second spot in this race.
Boys 2A Meet Record – JD Lafayette – Normal University HS – 1:56.45 – 2014 2015 2A Leader – Connor Stine – Stanford Olympia HS – 1:58.83
Preview – After Connor Stine’s 1:58 that he ran last week at Champaign, the next eight runners are within half a second of each other with Keith Lee (Urbana HS) and Jake Vanderwell (Lincoln-Way West HS, New Lenox) leading the goup at 2:01.01. This will be a close race. Nick Wondaal (Illiana Christian HS, Lansing), Chris Stanley (Cahokia HS), and Jacob Wantland will be among the runners fighting for the front. Even though Curtis Reed (Mt. Zion HS) is the last runner in this field with a 2:03 that he has run indoors, he has a 1:57 outdoor PR. He could be a threat to win this race. Stine could threaten Lafayette’s record that was set at last year’s meet.
4 x 200 Meter Relay – 1:25 PM
Girls 2A Meet Record – Carbondale HS – 1:45.20 – 2013 2015 2A Leader – Maple Park Kaneland HS – 1:45.90
Preview – Kaneland ran 1:45.90 at the Mustang Relays and looks like they have all the pieces to win this event. It would not surprise me to see the Lady Knights go under 1:45 breaking the 2A meet record. Springfield Southeast, Kankakee with Tyjuana Eason, and Trinity with Anna Sloan also have the capability of winning this race.
Boys 2A Meet Record – Cahokia HS – 1:31.33 – 2013 2015 2A Leader – Cahokia HS – 1:31.04
Preview – Cahokia knows how to run this race on this track. The name of the game is to get the lead at the beginning and hold on. Cahokia most likely will have Ja’Mari Ward leading off. He knows how to get the lead for his team. Galesburg is loaded with talent and could be Cahokia’s biggest threat. They do have the state’s best 200 runner under roof with Josh Eiker leading them. I think these two teams will push each other to a 1:30+ time in this race setting a new meet record. Mt. Carmel, Troy Triad, and North Lawndale Prep will challenge for the top three. If there are no mishaps, Galesburg and Cahokia will challenge for the win.
400 Meter Dash – 1:55 PM
Girls 2A Meet Record – Shamier Little – Chicago Lindblom HS – 57.10 – 2012 2015 2A Leader – Mariya Hudson – Cahokia HS – 59.34
Preview – A close race with no real favorite. Chicago Public League athletes Gabriel DesRosiers (North Lawndale Prep, Chicago) and Whitney Ward (Brooks College Prep, Chicago) are the only runners going sub 60 seconds. Allie Heinzer (Kaneland HS, Maple Park) and Alexis Henry (Southeast HS, Springfield) have the talent to take the win. Karina Liz will be coming back from the 800. She does have the speed to win the race from the third section.
Boys 2A Meet Record – Mac Melto – Chicago Northside Prep – 49.25 – 2012 2015 2A Leader – Tyran Lyons – Cahokia HS – 50.45
Preview – How deep and good is Cahokia in this event? Three of the four lanes in the final section will have Cahokia athletes in there. Tyran Lyons (Cahokia HS) is the main Cahokia runner to watch in this race. Sam Blankenship (Johnsburg HS) and Michael Victoria (Harrisburg HS) are the two runners in this field that could stop a Cahokia 1-2-3 finish.
1600 Meter Run – 2:10 PM
Girls 2A Meet Record – Kayla Beattie – Woodstock HS – 4:51.06 – 2011 2015 2A Leader – Madison Ronzone – Aurora Rosary HS – 5:09.60
Preview – Madison Ronzone has the fastest time by six seconds in this field after her 5:09 win at the GCAC Championships. The Rosary junior should be the favorite in this race. Megan Shaffer (Mattoon HS), Kara Martin (Herrin HS), Emily Martin (Rosary HS), and Grace Oetting (Charleston HS) will be Ronzone’s chief competition in this race.
Boys 2A Meet Record – Michael Clevenger – Decatur MacArthur HS – 4:16.35 – 2012 2015 2A Leader – Salvatore Flight – Oak Park Fenwick HS – 4:20.26
Preview – A deep field in this race could produce a fast time. Sal Flight will be coming back from the 3200. He does have the fastest time in 2A so far this year. Mitch Feehan (Lincoln-Way West HS, New Lenox) had a great race last week at the SWSC Boys Meet running 4:23. He could go sub 4:20 in this race. Alexander Bruno (University HS, Normal) has sub 2 minute 800 speed that could play a difference if this race becomes tactical. Nick Fiene (Illiana Christian HS, Lansing), Brenner Webster (Salem HS), and Ben Flowers (Jersey HS, Jerseyville) could also challenge for the win in this race.
200 Meter Dash – 2:35 PM
Girls 2A Meet Record – Ebony McClendon – Chicago Brooks – 24.58 – 2014 2015 2A Leader – Dominique Lewis – Champaign Centennial HS – 25.59
Preview – Dominique Lewis ran an indoor PR of 25.59 to win at Champaign last week. Anna Sloan, Tina Martin (Eisenhower HS, Decatur), and Tyjuana Eason could push Lewis to a faster time.
Boys 2A Meet Record – Jonathan Boey – Decatur MacArthur HS – 22.18 – 2013 2015 2A Leader – Josh Eiker – Galesburg HS – 21.81
Preview – The best event for Josh Eiker could be the 200 Meter Dash. He is the only Illinois runner under 22 seconds this season. The IHSA 2A record holder in this event is the big favorite. His closest competition is almost a second behind. Dion Hooker, Johnathan Stokes, and Keveion Akins will challenge for the second spot in this race.
4 x 400 Meter Relay – 2:55 PM
Girls 2A Meet Record – Richton Park Rich South HS – 4:05.20 – 2012 2015 2A Leader – Burlington Central – 4:02.42
Preview – Springfield Southeast has the fastest seed time (4:07.22) by six seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Kaneland, Kankakee, and Clinton could challenge for a top three finish in this race.
Boys 2A Meet Record – Cahokia HS – 3:26.00 – 2014 2015 2A Leader – Cahokia HS – 3:21.47
Preview – How good is Cahokia in this event? They could run their “C” team and still win this race. They ran 3:21 at Arkansas in January and have been under 3:25 a numerous times this indoor season. They have the fastest seed time by close to 13 seconds ahead of the rest of the competition. I could see this team breaking last year’s meet record that they set. Pontiac and Highland will lead the group fighting for the second spot. More news |
