Above Photo: Edwardsville celebrates their win at the Granite City Invitational on April 14 (Edwardsville Track photo)

By Michael Newman, ILXCTF.com Editor

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The 25-mph plus winds that most athletes had to encounter in meets on Saturday was something that I hated when I was competing. It is no like indoors where you have no weather to deal with. Of course, you have to run more laps, but you do not have to deal with the weather. There is no avoiding it when you get outdoors.

I love watching races in adverse conditions watching how he strategy in the races plays out. The 1600 Meter Run in the Minooka #SmithStrong Invitational at Joliet’s AVI Memorial Stadium is such an example. No one wanted to take the lead the first two laps as the pace dragged through a five-minute pace. It is a matter of how much energy you want to exert into the wind and when to make your move. In this case, Minooka’s Soren Knudsen made a move with the wind at his back the final lap to take the win.

Performances do not mean a thing when you have winds as strong as that. Waubonsie Valley’s Tre'von Petty had just won the 100 Meter Dash and he went back o he scoreboard to look at the time. His coach Kevin Rafferty told him that it did not matter. He was running into the wind. The times would not make the top of the rankings. It comes down strategy. What do you learn about yourself in the event and how do you use it in future meets is the lesson of the day.

No meets were cancelled but the weather was a difference maker on Saturday. There were a ton of meets from Thursday to Saturday. Here are some of the highlights from those three days. You can read and watch videos from:

Bruce Ritter Invitational

#SmithStrong Invitational

Capital City Classic @ Springfield Lanphier

With all the sprint times across the state slowed down by the strong wind storm, Springfield Lanphier Coach Mike Garcia made the choice to change the sprint races around so that runners would have the wind to their backs. It paid off with some fast times. Cary Lockhart of Bloomington ran 10.77 (IL #5 tie) to win the 100 Meter Dash just ahead of Tony Rolfe of Chatham-Glenwood (10.80, IL #8) and Mundelein’s Bobby Nuzzio (10.86). Lockhart came back to run 22.03 (IL #8) to win the 200 Meter Dash with Evanston Township’s Brad Garron finishing second (22.43)

The 400 Meter Dash produced three runners under 50-seconds. Henoc Mondika of Champaign Centennial ran 49.20 (IL #3) to win that fast event ahead of Bloomington’s Avery Lyons (49.61, IL #9) and Mahomet-Seymour’s Brandon Bretz (49.62, IL #10).  Stephon King of Peoria Manual was a double winner in the hurdles running 14.96 to win the 110 High Hurdles and 39.91 (IL #7) to win the 300 Hurdles.

The jumps had a cross wind hitting the runners but still provided some great performances. Tony Rolfe of Chatham-Glenwood jumped a season’s best 22-1.5 to win the Long Jump just a half inch ahead of Myles Aldridge of Normal University. The order was switched in the Triple Jump where Aldridge jumped 47-6.5 (IL #2) to win the event with Rolfe jumping 46-11.5 (IL #4) to finish second.

Josh Cable of Rochester pulled away down the final stretch to win the 800 Meter Run (1:57.88, IL #10) ahead of Normal University’s Jared Shuckman (1:58.27) and Zion-Benton’s Thomas Mosley (1:58.65). Cable finished second in the 1600 Meter Run (4:30.90) behind the 4:26.31 winning time from Mahomet-Seymour’s Gabe Pommier.

Bud Mohns Invitational @ Downers Grove South

Charlie Kern of York ran the fastest time in the state in the 800 Meter run even though he ran into a 25-mph wind on the home stretch. Kern already had a three second lead on the pack when he went through the first 400-meters in 54 seconds. Kern cruised home in 1:53.03 winning by six seconds ahead of Lake Park’s Andrew Caines. Kern was back on the track 24 minutes later to compete in the 400 Meter Dash. Sam Fathizadeh of Hinsdale Central ran 51.28 to win the race ahead of Downers Grove South’s Brandon Biedermann (51.48) and Kern (52.31). Kern was also a part of York’s winning 1600 Meter Relay (3:27.65, IL #12).

The story of the meet could have come from Plainfield Central’s Geremiah Lawson. This is the first year that the sophomore has competed in Track & Field. That inexperience did not show in the Long Jump where Lawson jumped 23-8.5 (IL #2) for the win. Lawson also jumped a personal best 43-10 to finish second in the Triple Jump behind Diamond Anderson of Hinsdale South who jumped 46-2 (IL#7) to win the event.

Lake Park’s Chago Basso was a double winner in the weight events. Basso threw a season’s best 173-0 (IL #5) to win the Discus. He had a 55-7.50 put to win the Shot Put ahead of York’s Cal Widener who achieved a new personal best of 55-0.5 (IL #11). Hinsdale Central ran the state’s best time in the 3200 Meter Relay 8:01.49 winning by 15-seconds ahead of York (8:16.87).

Midwest Prep Invitational (IN)

Bloom Township’s Jelena Rowe started her outdoor season at Huntley a week before clearing 5-10 in the High Jump. She bettered that Saturday in Indiana clearing 6-0 (US #1 tie) to win the event. Jaimie Robinson of Homewood-Flossmoor had another great meet winning three individual events. She jumped an outdoor season best of 18-8.5 (IL #6) to win the Long Jump. She was successful on the track running 12.24 to win the 100 Meter Dash and then coming back to achieve a new personal best when she ran 24.72 (IL #4) to win the 200 Meter Dash. Robinson was also a part of Homewood-Flossmoor’s 400 Meter Relay that ran 48.51 to finish second behind Indiana’s Bowman Academy (48.31). Homewood-Flossmoor also ran a season’s best of 4:04.10 (IL #4) to win the 1600 Meter Relay.

Bloom Township had a good meet on the Boys’ side. Frank Massey jumped an outdoor season’s best of 6-8 (IL #1 tie) to finish second in the High Jump behind the 7-2 US #2 clearance by Nate Patterson of Plymouth (IN). Massey also jumped 22-7.75 (IL #9) to finish second in the Long Jump. Bloom also showed what kind of 1600 Meter Relay team they could have at the end of the season as they had two runners under 50 seconds in the 400 Meter Dash. Mikael Boyd ran 49.43 (IL #5) to finish second followed by teammates Antonio Davis (49.47, IL #7) and Amitai Wheat (50.59). Davis also ran 1:59.67 to win the 800 Meter Run.

Granite City Invitational

AJ Epenesa of Edwardsville threw his first 200+ foot throw in the Discus to easily win the Discus. His state best throw of 204-1 (US #7) won the event by 40-feet. He doubled up by winning the Shot Put (53-8). Edwardsville had a big day at this meet proving that they are one of the top teams in the state. The Tigers scored 138 points to win the team championship ahead of Cahokia (99 points), Mascoutah (97 points), and Marion (88 points).

Edwardsville put up some top times with their relays. The Tigers ran 42.36 (IL #2) to win the 400 Meter Relay ahead of Cahokia (42.70, IL #6). Edwardsville came back to run the state’s fastest time in the 800 Meter Relay (1:28.69) two seconds ahead of Alton (1:30.77). Edwardsville also picked up a win in the 3200 Meter Relay (8:03.28, IL #4) again finishing ahead of Cahokia (8:06.06, IL #6).

Granite City’s Torrey Deal was a double winner clearing 6-6 (IL #6 tie) to win the High Jump as well as jumping 44-9.5 to win the Triple Jump. Andrew O’Keefe of Granite City came back from running 9:28 the week before at Belleville West. The sophomore came back to run the state’s fastest time 4:22.75 to win the 1600 Meter Run. Belleville West’s Ricky Berry was a double winner in the hurdles running 15.28 to win the 110 Hurdles to win by just one hundredth of a second ahead of Edwardsville’s Matt Griebe. Berry came back to run a personal best of 39.59 (IL #4) to win the 300 Hurdles.

O’Fallon Girls Invitational

O’Fallon showed some of their sprint strength on their home track. They ran the state’s fastest time (47.45) to win the 400 Meter Relay. They came back to run 1:41.67 (IL #3) to win the 800 Meter Relay. Tamaya Houston, who was a part of both relays, ran 12.32 (IL #12) to win the 100 Meter Dash. Mya Watson-Blake won the 200 Meter Dash (26.00) as well as clearing 5-2 to win the High Jump.

Streak ABC Invitational @ Galesburg

There were some great performances last Thursday at this meet where the weather cooperated with almost perfect conditions. Jean-Luc Soglohun of East Moline United stole the show with some great performances in the horizontal jumps. He achieved a personal best and the best jump this season in the Long Jump (23-9.25) to win the event. Soglohun also jumped a state best 47-10.5 to win the Triple Jump.

Reed Vanderheyden of Geneseo ran the fastest time in the state (37.94) to win the 300 Meter Hurdles. It was a close race in the 110 High Hurdles as Garrett Kern of Morton ran 14.90 to win the event by one hundredth of a second ahead of Vanderheyden.

Wheaton North Blue & Gold Invitational

Nya Carr of Buffalo Grove swept the short sprints running 12.49 to win the 100 Meter Dash and 25.91 to win the 200 Meter Dash. Oswego’s quartet of Isabelle Christiansen, Caitlin Guist, Jaycie Simon, and Jenna Yakesh ran 9:37.45 (IL #4) to win the 3200 Meter Relay ahead of Wheaton-Warrenville South (9:43.02, IL #6) and Downers Grove South (9:46.72, IL #10). Christiansen came back to run 5:07.61 (IL #12) to finish second in the 1600 Meter Run. Olivia Nizolek of Maine South ran a personal best 5:03.91 (IL #5) to win that race.

John Bell Invitational @ West Aurora

The winds made a difference in this Saturday meet but there were still some notable performances. West Aurora showed their strength in their field events. Defending 3A state champion Camron Donatlan of West Aurora and Oswego’s Nick Janca both cleared 6-6 (IL #6 tie) in the High Jump with Donatlan winning on fewer misses. Davion Cross of West Aurora swept the horizontal jumps with a 21-10.25 jump to win the Long Jump and 46-10 (IL #5) to win the Triple Jump.

Joe Keys of Downers Grove North won both hurdle races starting with a personal best 14.35 (IL #4) to win the 110 High Hurdles. He came back into the wind running 41.72 to win the 300 Meter Hurdles. Downers Grove North won two of the three individual distance events with Sam McCool running 9:56.10 to win the 3200 Meter Run by a second ahead of St. Charles East’s Campbell Koch. North’s Jack Roberts was faster (9:49.75) in the Frosh/Soph race. It was close in the 1600 Meter Run as Ryan Birkmeier ran 4:33.16 to win by just six hundredths of a second ahead of Lincoln-Way West’s Evan Mitchell. St. Charles East’s JB Sandlund ran 2:01.47 to win the 800 Meter Run by four hundredths of a second ahead of Downers Grove North’s Robert Falconer.

Bloomington Girls Invitational

Storms rolled into Bloomington cancelling the final two events of the meet. Here were still some great times run headed by the ones in the 400 Meter Dash. Tina Martin of Decatur Eisenhower ran a state’s best 54.80 to win the event by just a tenth of a second ahead of Bloomington’s Kylie Welch (54.90, IL #2). Earlier in the meet, Martin (who has the fastest time in the state also in the 100 Meter Dash), ran 12.01 to finish second in the event by just five hundredths of a second behind the 11.96 (IL #4) run by Springfield’s Ozzy Erewele.

Shanice Garbutt of Danville accomplished the distance double running 11:13.63 to win the 3200 Meter Run by almost 30-seconds. Garbutt ran 5:12.60 to win the 1600 Meter Run. Serena Bolden of Springfield Southeast is having a great sophomore season. It showed in the two jumps events that she won on Friday. She jumped a personal best 18-10.5 (IL #4) to win the Long Jump. Bolden came back to jump 39-8 (IL #2) to win the Triple Jump.

Rock Island Girls Invitational

Erika Furbeck of Geneseo jumped a personal best 19-7 to win the Long Jump last week at Galesburg. She came back this week in this meet to improve on that jumping 19-9 to win the event. She also had a busy day on the track running 12.09 (IL #6) to win the 100 Meter Dash. She also finished third in the 200 Meter Dash (25.68) behind Erin Long of Sterling (25.26, IL #7) and Moline’s Megan Pittington (25.35).

Corey Siebert Invitational (MO)

Cahokia’s Mariya Hudson ran some great times at this meet at Fenton, Missouri. She ran 55.51 (IL #3) to win the 400 Meter Dash. She ran state best times in the shorter sprints. Octavia Cato of McCluer South-Berkeley ran 11.65 to win the 100 Meter Dash with Hudson second (11.74). The event times were both wind legal (+1.2 m/s). Hudson finished second in the 200 Meter Dash (24.32), again a state best, with McCluer South-Berkeley’s Raheema Westfall winning in a wind legal time of 24.25 (+1.7 m/s).

Hinsdale Central Red Devilette Invitational

Reilly Revord of Hinsdale Central ran the state’s fastest time in the 800 Meter Run as she crossed the line in 2:14.04 to win by two seconds ahead of Elk Grove’s Emily Stegmeier (2:16.22, IL #3) with Loyola Academy’s Margot Dooley finishing third (2:18.30, IL #7). Grace McCabe of Hinsdale Central ran 5:09.76 to win the 1600 Meter Run. Stegmeier came back from the 800 running 5:13.64 to finish second.

Gus Scott Co-Ed Invitational

Naperville North again showed their distance dominance this time on their home track last Thursday. The Lady Huskies record two of the top three times in the state in the 1600 Meter Run. Sarah Schmitt ran a state’s best of 4:58.00 to win her section of the event by 28-seconds. Hannah Ricci ran 5:01.14 (IL #3) to win the B section race. They completed the sweep by Alex Morris running 5:06.13 (IL #7) to win the C section of the distance.

Brooklynne Wilson of Waubonsie Valley earlier in the week had gone past 141 feet in the Discus at a small dual meet. She upped that personal best with a 148-0 throw (IL #2) to win the event. She also achieved a personal best 44-10.75 (IL #5) to win the Shot Put.

The Boys meet’s best event was the 1600 Meter Run. Jacobs High School sophomore Zach Albrecht ran 4:23.20 (IL #2) to win at that distance ahead of New Trier’s Warren Blood (4:25.67, IL #8).

Warrensburg-Latham Girls Quad

Kathleen Young of Warrensburg-Latham achieved two state bests at this small quadrangular home meet. The University of South Carolina signee started with a state best 50-2 effort (US #2) to win the Shot Put. She came back to throw 152-7 in the Discus.