Graham race overshadowed by controversy in Girls 400 and Girls 1600; Statements made in Boys meet

 

By Michael Newman

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Bloomington, Ill – It may seem like a broken record but Lindsay Graham (Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn) broke away from the pack early in the 3200 Meter Run Saturday afternoon. She has been doing this all indoor season running this race by herself. Once again, she was going for a personal best competing against herself and the clock.

 

Graham started off on her pace not worrying if she was in the lead or not. Rachael Lau (North HS, Plainfield) took the pace out and had the lead for the first 350 meters of the race. Graham took over from that point just continuing on her journey for the personal best. Every lap, her coach Paul Haas yelled out her split. It was a big help to the Glenbard junior.

 

“I do not know what I would have done without him calling out the splits,” Graham said afterwards. “I would hear 80 seconds and I knew I had to pick it up.”

 

Graham was consistent in her pace once again. She went past the 1600 in 5:11. She duplicated that second mile in the same pace. Consistency at its best. She won the race in 10:22.53 lapping many runners in the field. She missed the meet record by five seconds but that did not matter. She achieved a new personal best by eight seconds as well as earning a big meet championship. Lau was next. She seemed light years behind Graham (25 seconds) but she still ran the second fastest time in the state this year as well as a personal best (10:47.81).

 

Graham’s splits – 77.0, 2:33.8 (76.8), 3:53.3 (79.5), 5:11.5 (78.0), 6:28.8 (77.8), 7:47.6 (78.8), 9:06.1 (78.5), 10:22.5 (76.4).

 

Graham’s time is the nation’s best this indoor season. It seemed to be forgotten as the meet progressed as a disqualification and near disqualification caught the attention of the packed crowd at the Shirk Center. Brittny Ellis (Warren Township HS) was going for three championships at this meet as she was one of the favorites in each of the 60 Meter Dash, 400 Meter Dash, and the 200 Meter Dash. She took care of business in the 60 Meter Dash. It was the one race she dreaded most she stated before the 3A meet began. She ran 7.65 in the preliminaries establishing a new 3A meet record. She would have company in the finals as former record holder Antoinette Broughton (Homewood-Flossmoor HS) and Natajah Simmons (Oswego HS) were within a tenth of a second with their preliminary times.

 

It was all about the record holder and former record holder in the final. Broughton got off to a good start with Ellis close behind. Ellis’ long stride took over as she edged Broughton at the line by three hundredths of a second (7.61 – 7.64) establishing a new meet record as well as the state’s best time. Simmons took third just two thousandths of a second ahead of Jessica Watkins (Bolingbrook HS). Ellis’ race that she dreaded was over with a win. The rest would be smooth sailing so she thought.

 

In the fourth section of the Girls 400 Meter Dash, Ellis had the state’s fastest time and was the favorite in the event. She was lined up in Lane 4. Her chief competition was on the outside in Lane 5 Kierra Griggs (Bloom Township HS, Chicago Heights). The starter called them to the set position and then fired his gun. All of a sudden another gun blast went off.

 

“And we are coming back,” said meet announcer Matt Piecinski. “This one could be costly.”

 

The starter and assistant starter who fired the second shot conferred. The assistant starter then walked over to Ellis and informed her she was disqualified from the race. Ellis was in disbelief as she walked away from the starting area looking at her parents.

 

“This was the first time that I have false started since I was in midget track (11 years old), said Ellis after the meet. “I watched the video (that her parents shot) several times and I could not find anything but I have to respect the decision of the official. They said they saw me move.”

 

(Editor’s note: I reviewed the start of the race a number of times. In the set position, Ellis does come down just a little. It was hard to see at first. A coach friend of mine noticed it when he was watching the start of Ellis race in the 200.)

 

The race started without the favorite and it was a close one. Griggs won the championship just edging Ashleigh Wilson (Minooka HS) by one hundredth of a second (57.56 – 57.57). Samara Miller (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville) was close behind in third place (57.85). The crowd was excited about that finished but were still buzzing about the false start.

 

The University of Miami signee did not need any motivation as she settled into the blocks for the start of the final section of the 200 Meter Dash. Ellis had determination in her eyes more so than usual. She made up the stagger on her competition at 100 meters. She had a decisive advantage coming into the homestretch. She ran a season and state best 24.75 to finish almost a half second ahead of Broughton (25.23).

 

“I always have a hard time getting myself naturally angry. This time the motivation was provided for me,” Ellis added after the race. When asked if she was thinking of the same triple outdoors, her reply was simple. “Yes. It is my senior season. Go out with a bang.”

 

~~~

 

The crowd was still talking about the false start in the 400 when the athletes stepped to the line for the Girls 1600 Meter Run. Little did they know what was about to happen.

 

Audrey Ernst (North HS, St. Charles) took the pack out fast going through the first 400 meters in 71.2 seconds. Close behind were Judy Pendergast (North HS, Naperville), Gabby Juarez (Streamwood HS), Lauren Van Vlierbergen (Jacobs HS, Algonquin HS), and Torree Scull (East HS, St. Charles). At 700 meters of the race, Van Vlierbergen took over noticing the pace was slowing down. She went by the 800 in 2:28. Ernst was the closest competitor two seconds behind. Then came Juarez leading the next pack.

 

Van Vlierbergen continued to push the pace the next 400 meters opening up a three second lead (3:43.4) as she headed into the final 2 laps. Juarez was starting to close making up ground with every stride that she took. The three second lead that the Jacobs senior had was now diminishing. At the bell lap, Juarez was right on the shoulder of Van Vlierbergen. Juarez was content to stay behind waiting for the final 50 meters to strike. Van Vlierbergen could sense that pumping her arms harder to generate more speed.

 

Van Vlierbergen came off the turn drifting into Lane 2. She kept that position all the way down the track her arms pumping harder. Juarez tried to pass on the right side in Lane 3 but could not get by as Van Vlierbergen continued to gain more speed from her arms. Her right arm moved a little outside as she came close to the finish prohibiting Juarez from getting by. Van Vlierbergen got the win (4:53.83) just missing Madeline Perez’s 3A record by tenths of a second. Juarez ran a 4 second personal best (4:54.01) to place second. Scull also ran a personal best (4:57.88) to place third.

 

The debate was on at the timer’s table about the last fifty meters of the race. Was there interference by Van Vlierbergen? Other races took place as officials crowded around the finish area for close to 20 minutes. Rule books were taken out looking for the rule on interference for this circumstance. No foul was called. The results stood. A great race was run.

 

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The 3A Boys meet was all about statements being made. Some of the top Boys athletes chose not to be at this meet. The sprints were missing Scotty Miller (Barrington HS). The distance races were missing Jesse Reiser (McHenry HS), Zach Dale (Conant HS, Hoffman Estates) and Ryan Clevenger (North HS, Downers Grove) among others. It was a chance for the athletes that were at the Shirk Center to make a statement and establish themselves in events.

 

Defending 3A 200 & 400 Meter Champion Kahmari Montgomery (Central HS, Plainfield) was at the meet but was focusing on the 60 Meter Dash and being a part of his team’s 1600 Meter Relay. That opened the door for someone to make themselves known in the 400. Steve Strange (Oswego HS) and Chris Tompkins (Lemont HS) were new names on the scene in that event ready to take the next step up. Waiting for them was Cory Hertz (Lakes HS, Lake Villa). He finished second in this event a year ago. He was looking for the win. He was looking for a sub 50 second time.

 

Hertz had the lead at the break 150 meters into the race. It was not a lead that he would surrender. Thompson and Strange would make moves down the homestretch but Hertz kept pushing. He crossed the line and looked back at the clock. It said 48.99 at first. It was then adjusted to 49.02 which was the fastest in the state.

 

Hertz was dazed at first. The accomplishment hit him where he just had to sit next to the wall to absorb the moment.

 

“I was hoping to get under 50 seconds in this meet,” Hertz said. “I did not expect this.”

 

Montgomery had his hands full in the 60 Meter Dash before Hertz’s race. He did have the fastest prelim time (6.93) ahead of sprinting unknown Jack Machometa (McHenry HS) along with expected sprinters Cory Lockhart (Bloomington HS), Shandal Thomas (Schaumburg HS), and Marcus Jones (Brother Rice HS, Chicago). Machometa has come on strongly this season after he missed all of last year due to a variety of injuries. Now he had the second prelim time heading to the finals.

 

Machometa got off to a good start at the final. He had the race won at 45 meters. It was Montgomery’s that was the difference. Montgomery got the meet record crossing in 6.84. Machometa was just three hundredths back. He showed his frustration after the race can’t believing that he was passed at the very end. Some of the best sprinters in the state have been passed by Montgomery. Machometa’s second place finish at this meet has established himself as one of the sprinters to watch in Charleston this May.

 

Montgomery still had one race to watch with his teammates in the 1600 Meter Relay. His teammates stayed close to Minooka through the first three legs. Montgomery got the baton 3 seconds behind Minooka. That lead did not last long. Montgomery ran the first 200 meters of his 400 in a quick 22.1 seconds. He held on the second lap even as Minooka tried to make one final surge. Montgomery’s 48.1 anchor split gave his team the win in the first section. It also showed that he was ready for the outdoor season.

 

“We thought we should have been in the second section,” Montgomery said about being in the first section of the relay. “We had to make a statement that we belonged there.”

 

~~~

 

Evanston made a big statement winning two of the three Boys relays. The Wildkits had two strong opening legs by Malachi Adams and Reggie Murphy to control the 800 Meter Relay ahead of favorite Plainfield East. Evanston ran 1:31.08 for the more than one second win. Evanston earned their other win in the 1600 Meter Relay. Carl Klamm, who had earlier finished fourth in the 400 Meter Dash and 800 Meter Run, took the baton equal with Homewood-Flossmoor and charged down the back straight with the lead. The race was over at that point even though the Vikings did make a final charge. Evanston’s 3:25.16 was more than one second faster than second place Homewood-Flossmoor.

 

The big surprise in the Boys relays was in the 3200 Relay. None of the top ten 3A teams were in the event making this race a mystery. Jones College Prep opened up a sizeable lead midway through the second leg. Glenbrook North came back from five seconds back in the final kilometer to win the race (8:08.93) with Loyola Academy and Jones Prep within a second of the Spartans.

 

~~~

 

Another statement was made in the Girls 800 Meter Run. Morgan Schulz (Cary-Grove HS) suffered from a stress fracture at the end of the cross country season that did not allow her to start to train until January. It was looking good for the senior especially after an 800 a week ago where she ran 2:14 in a meet in Wisconsin. She wanted to prove herself in this race but there was a problem. Her coach never entered her in the 800. She made numerous calls to the Illinois Top Times staff to see if she could get entered. They made the decision to allow her in.

 

Schulz took command of the race early going past the 200 in 30 seconds and the 400 in a fast 64.2. She built up more than a second lead on Michaela Hackbarth (South HS, Downers Grove) and Skyler Bollinger (Yorkville HS). It was Hackbarth making the moving catching Schulz as they passed the 600 in 1:39.5. On the backstretch of the final lap, Schulz made a counter move retaking the lead. Bollinger followed suit passing Hackbarth with 50 meters to go. The Cary Grove senior strength at the end was too much for the rest of the competition. Schulz just missed the record but ran an indoor best 2:13.15 for the win. Bollinger’s indoor best of 2:14.48 gave her second ahead of Hackbarth and Emma Moravec (North HS, Downers Grove).

 

Konrad Eiring (Barrington HS) was the favorite in the Boys 800 but was willing to stay off the pace for the first 400 letting John Partee (South HS, Plainfield) take care of the leading duties as the pack went through in 58 seconds. Eiring started to make his move with 300 meters to go. He has not done that this season. He has been way out in front in the 2 major 800’s not needing to kick. This was different. He led Partee and Matt Goldby (Jacobs HS, Algonquin) into the final lead establishing his presence up front. He cruised across the line in 1:56.82 for the win. Goldby had a breakout race placing second with an indoor PR 1:57.32. Heath Warren (Springfield HS) held off Carl Klamm for third.

 

Luke Hoffert (Yorkville HS) stepped out on his own in a small way in winning the 3200 Meter Run. Instead of taking out the pace fast, Hoffert was content to take it slowly at the start. When none of the other runners wanted to lead, Hoffert assumed that responsibility. He led the mile in 4:38 with Sam Oh (Stevenson HS, Lincolnshire), Dustin Macuiba (Warren Township HS, Gurnee), and Peter Johnsrud (Oswego HS) close behind. The break in the race with 800 meters to go when Hoffert slowly started to push the pace issue. He did not really speed up but neither was he slowing down. He clicked a 70 second seventh 400 to open a 4 second gap. He did not have to go into overdrive either running the last 400 in 68 seconds for a six second win (9:18.46) ahead of Johnsrud. “I am happy about the win,” Hoffert said after the race. I am also happy that I broke the indoor school record that my brother (Jake) had. This was our last indoor meet.”

 

The spotlight is starting to shine on Keagan Smith (Huntley HS). It started last fall when he finished sixth in the 3A state cross country meet. It continued on two weeks ago at the Batavia Distance Madness Meet when he beat a good field running 4:17. He was looking to continue that trend in this meet. He wasted no time taking the pack through the first 400 in 63 seconds. No one was willing to take the lead at that point willing to let the pace slow to 2:12 at the half. The pack was getting antsy at that point. First Brady Bobbitt (Marmion Academy, Aurora) took the lead. Then it was Kyle Maloney (Jones College Prep, Chicago) who was up front. Bryce Richards (Mundelein HS) took command with 450 meters left. Meanwhile, Smith was tucked in the pack waiting for the right moment. When Richards went, Smith followed closely behind. Smith retook the lead that he would not relinquish with 300 Meters to go. In the last lap he looked back at least three times to see if Richards was coming. He was, but Smith’s lead held up. The Huntley junior ran 4:16.86 for an indoor personal best and win. Richards finished second (4:17.39) showing that he is back to form after a disappointing junior season. Henry Mierzwa (Maine South HS, Park Ridge) and Eryk Yunk (North HS, Belvidere) made late moves in the last 200 to finish 3^rd and 4^th.

 

~~~

 

Eric Walker (St. Rita HS, Chicago) has showed great improvement over his last two meets dropping his personal best down to 8.04 seconds. When he ran 8.10 to have the fastest prelim time in the 60 Meter Hurdles, things looked good that Walker could go under 8 seconds in the final. He did not have the best race of his life in the finals clipping the second and third hurdles. He still had enough to win the event with the same time as his preliminary one (8.10). His margin of victory was 14 hundredth of a second ahead of Roland Amarteifio (Evanston Township HS) who finished second.

 

The story was quite different for Jayla Stewart (Homewood-Flossmoor HS) in the Girls 60 Meter Hurdles. She had the fastest prelim time (8.71) setting a new 3A Meet record. Stewart lowered the meet record down to 8.64 winning the event ahead of Maya Neal (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville) and Grace Cronin (Fenwick HS, Oak Park).

 

~~~

 

The best field event performance of the 3A meet belonged to Cierra Pulliam (Romeoville HS) in the Girls Triple Jump. She tied the meet record and established a new state best with a 40-2 fourth round attempt. Cheyenne White (Waukegan HS) on her final jump jumped a personal best 38-9 to finish second. Earlier in the meet, White won the Long Jump (18-7) by half an inch ahead of Brianna Driver (Mother McAuley HS, Chicago).

 

There were surprises in the Boys horizontal jumps. Dylan Bowe (Hinsdale South HS, Darien) won the Long Jump jumping 22- ½ for the win. Peter Andreano (Minooka HS) finished second five inches behind. It was closer in the Triple Jump as the top three finishers finished within five inches of each other. Akwasi Aikins (Central HS, Plainfield) controlled the competition taking the lead with his 45-1 ¾ first round jump. Garrett Lyle (Bloomington HS) jumped 44-10 ¾ on his final jump to finish second. Pre-meet favorite JaShaun Steward (Proviso West HS, Hillside) finished third with a 44-9 jump.

 

Anthony Colangelo (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort) cleared 6-7 on his second attempt to win the High Jump. Peter Andreano cleared 6-6 to finish second. In what could have been the last jump of the competition, Jes Skudlarek (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect) cleared 5-7 to win the Girls High Jump ahead of the 5-6 clearance of Rachel Augius (Yorkville HS).

 

The favorites in the Pole Vault both won their events. Brooke Catherine (Normal Community HS) entered the competition clearing 11-6 on her first attempt. She went on to clear 12-6 to win the Girls Meet ahead of Katherine Schroeder (Central HS, Grayslake). Andy Jatis (Providence Catholic HS, New Lenox) was looking to up his PR of 16-3. He cleared 15-6 which was enough to win the event ahead of the 15-0 clearance of Jake Larocca (Palatine HS).

 

Kyle Hedge (South HS, Crystal Lake) won the Boys Shot Put with a 56-10 ¾ effort. Daniel Jackson (East HS, Plainfield) improved his personal best by three feet with a 56-1 ¾ attempt in the second round to place second. Fiona Kanam (Niles West HS, Skokie) won the Girls Shot Put on her 42-0 final attempt. Freshman Ellie Weltha (Bloomington HS) finished second. She took the lead on her final attempt (41-2 ½) only to be passed by Kanam.