Above Photo: Lincoln-Way East celebrates their win at the Southwest Suburban Conference Meet Friday night at Bolingbrook High School (Photo Credit: Brian Evans)

By Michael Newman, ILXCTF.com Editor

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Action picked up across the state as Girls teams geared up for this week’s sectional qualifying meets with some great conference meet performances. Jaimie Robinson had a great night at the Southwest Suburban Blue Championships with four individual wins including state bests in the jumps. Katelynne Hart’s distance double win helped Glenbard West win the WSC-Silver Championships for the first time since 2011.

Here are some highlights of conference meets across the state. You can also read about the DuPage Valley Conference Girls Championships and the WSC-Silver Girls Championships.

Southwest Suburban Girls Conference Championships @ Bolingbrook

The pressure cooker finish of the night happened at this meet. The 1600 Meter Relay provided excitement as Homewood-Flossmoor won the race (4:04.26) ahead of Lincoln-Way East (4:07.07). The Vikings needed that win (they thought) to capture a tie for the conference title. It was announced that the two teams tied with 131 points. In the first resus that were published, it stated such. There was discrepancy in the High Jump that changed things around. In the original results, it showed that Zi’Onay Walker of Homewood-Flossmoor and Jillian Gosney had both cleared 4-7 with Walker in fifth and Gosney in sixth. Upon further review, it showed that hose places should be reversed since Gosney had fewer misses than Walker. With the reversal of those places, it gave Lincoln-Way East the conference title with 132 points. Homewood-Flossmoor corrected total was 130 points.

The story of the night was the incredible four individual wins by Homewood-Flossmoor’s Jaimie Robinson. It wasn’t the four wins that were incredible but how good the performances were. There was no question that she would win the horizontal jumps. The wind that whipped around Bolingbrook High School benefitted Robinson in the jumps and the sprints. She started jumping a personal best 20-0 (US #6) to win the Long Jump more than two feet ahead of Lincoln-Way East’s Ololade Ayoola (17-10.25). She followed that up in the Triple Jump with another personal best. Her 42-8 effort (US #2) was six feet ahead of her closest competition.

Robinson achieved two more personal bests in the sprints. Her ll.95 (IL #6) time in the 100 Meter Dash was three tenths of a second faster than second place finisher Claire Young of Bolingbrook. Her 200 Meter Dash race was just as dominating as she ran 24.33 (IL #3) to win the event by almost a second ahead of Lockport’s Jaclyn Greci (25.29). This meet puts her as the favorite possibly in four events as her team battles for a 3A team championship.

Even without Robinson in their 800 Meter Relay lineup, the Vikings prevailed in that event (1:41.65) winning by four seconds. They currently have the second fastest time in the state in that event (1:41.32) and the fastest in Class 3A.

It was the depth of Lincoln-Way East that was the difference in this meet as they won only two individual titles. Lauren LaDere won the Shot Put (38-2) almost three feet ahead of Homewood-Flossmoor’s Tiara Simms. Ololade Ayoola, who placed second in the Long Jump and third in the 400 Meter Dash, picked up the other individual win clearing a season’s best of 5-6.

Chicago Public League Championships @ Hanson Stadium (Co-Ed)

Morgan Park won the Boys City championship while Whitney Young repeated in the Girls City Championships where winds hampered some of the performances at Hanson Stadium.

Amira Young led the Dolphins to the team win again with three individual wins sweeping the sprints. The defending 3A 100 & 200 champion dominated in both of those events. Her 11.73 win in the 100 is a sate best this season and was more than half a second ahead of Kenwood’s Yahzuri Zebulun. It was much of the same in the 200 Meter Dash as she ran 24.88 (IL #10) to win ahead of Morgan Park’s Carinne Parker (25.47). She went out of her sprint comfort zone to run in the 400 Meter Dash. She was successful in that race also as she ran 59.13 for the win just ahead of Kenwood’s Zakiya Johnson. Young also anchored Whitney Young’s 400 Meter Relay that was surprised by Kenwood who ran 49.96 ahead of Whitney Young’s 50.20 time.

Imani Carothers of Brooks College Prep tuned up for the state series also with three individual wins. She was in control in the Long Jump with a 18-7.75 effort winning by more than two feet ahead of Lane Tech’s Amira Hardman. Carothers jumped a seasonal outdoor best of 39-8.75 (IL #2) to win the Triple Jump again by more than two feet ahead of Hardman. Carothers third win came in the 100 Meter Hurdles where she ran the best time this year in the event (14.12). Her time was more than a second faster than second place Jade Mayes of Westinghouse Prep (15.23). Maggie Scholle of Lane Tech was also a multiple event winner as she ran 11:30.26 to win the 3200 Meter Run and crossed the line first in the 1600 Meter Run (5:18.48). Alana Chandler of Payton Prep finished second in both of those races.

Juwan Denton’s three individual wins led Morgan Park’s small but mighty team to the Boys City championship. Denton swept both hurdle races running 14.70 to win the 110 Highs and then a season’s best of 39.52 to win the 300 Intermediates. He saved the best for his last race as he ran 21.52 (IL #2) for the win ahead of Payton Prep’s Myles Davis (21.90). Earlier in the meet, Davis ran 10.89 to win the 100 Meter Dash just five hundredths of a second ahead of Morgan Park’s Malik Adams.

Clayton Mendez did not have to exert a lot of energy in anchoring Whitney Young to a win in the 3200 Meter Relay (8:36.97) ahead of Lane Tech (8:43.34). Mendez also won two individual events. He won a tactical 800 Meter Run (1:59.15) just ahead of Jones Prep’s Arthur Santoro (1:59.49). Mendez came back in the 1600 Meter Run with a strong final 400 to take the win (4:22.92) ahead of Von Steuben’s Jaimie Marcos (4:25.52). Santor, after his second in the 800, came back to run 51.01 to win the 400 Meter Dash by more than a second. Marcos earlier in the meet won the 3200 Meter Run (9:43.10) five seconds ahead of Northside Prep’s Kyle Friedler (9:48.08).

Mid Suburban League Girls Championships @ Conant

Prospect’s depth was the difference as they won only one event on the track and three overall as they scored 145 points for the league championship. Wheeling had 110 points to finish second ahead of Barrington (81 points) and Palatine (73.5 points). The Lady Knights only win on the track came in the 400 Meter Relay as they ran 49.21 for the win ahead of Wheeling (49.21). Prospect picked up a win in the Shot Put as Jillian Hennig threw 39-6 for a personal best and the win. Prospect freshman Ellen Sherwood was the team’s other winner as she cleared 5-1 to win the High Jump.

Brooke Wilson also helped Prospect with a pair of second place finishes in the distance events. Jocelyn Long of Barrington ran 10:42.51 (IL #7) to win the 3200 Meter Run 10 seconds ahead of Wilson (10:52.47). It was Hersey’s Sarah Harden that had they edge in the 1600 Meter Run as she ran 5:00.49 (IL #12) to win the race with Wilson less than two seconds behind (5:02.22). Schaumburg’s Madison Marasco won the 800 Meter Run (2:17.93) just edging Elk Grove’s Emily Stegmeier (2:18.42). Marasco was also a part of Schaumburg’s winning 3200 Meter Relay. The Lady Saxons ran 9:27.88 (IL #5) to finish ahead of Hoffman Estates (9:35.20, IL #10) and Hersey (9:26.23).

Buffalo Grove’s Nya Carr was the meet’s only multiple event winner. The junior ran 12.18 to win the 100 Meter Dash ahead of Prospect’s Annie Walsh (12.57). Carr’s race in the 200 Meter Dash was closer as she ran 25.56 for the win edging Barrington’s Kelsey McLaurin (25.69).

Corn Belt Championships @ Pontiac (Co-Ed)

This meet was pushed back from Thursday to Friday due to strong storms that hit the area. Friday’s conditions were favorable which helped in some favorable performances. Normal University rolled to the Girls team title with 171 points more than doubling second place Stanford Olympia’s total of 82 points. It was closer in the boys meet as Mahomet-Seymour edged Normal University 125-123 for the title.

There were four double winners in the Boys side of the meet. Normal University’s Myles Aldridge was victorious in the Long Jump (21-4.25) as well as the Triple Jump (43-3.50). Aidan Krieger of Prairie Central was a double winner in the hurdle events. Krieger ran 15.69 to win the 110 Highs by just two hundredths of a second ahead of Dalton Spencer of Olympia (15.71). It was close again between the two athletes in the 300 Intermediates with Krieger again prevailing (42.28) ahead of Spencer’s 42.28). Olympia’s James Palodichuk handled the sprints winning the 100 Meter Dash (11.02) and then the 200 Meter Dash (22.66).

The best double of the night belonged to Normal University’s Jared Schuckman. He started with a five second win in the 800 Meter Run (1:58.08). Shuckman came back to run a personal best 4:17.80 (IL #13) to win the 1600 Meter Run ahead of Mahomet-Seymour’s Gabe Pommier (4:23.47).

Double winners in the Girls meet included Jessica McDowell of Normal University winning the 100 Meter Dash (12.90) and the 200 Meter Dash (26.75), Jordan Jumper of Olympia winning the 100 Hurdles (15.56) and the 300 Hurdles (50.87), Kodie Roper of Bloomington Central Catholic winning the Discus (109-2) and the Shot Put (31-10), and Abby Camp of Illinois Valley Central winning the Long Jump (16-6.25) and the Triple Jump (34-7).

CSL-North Girls @ Maine West

Vernon Hills, in their first year in the league, captured the team championship 134.5 to 127.5 ahead of Highland Park. The Cougars were led by a double win in the hurdles by Jordan Bunting as she ran 15.62 to win the 100 Hurdles by more than a second. She came back to run 46.50 to win the 300 Hurdles by almost a second ahead of Deerfield’s Zoie Richardson (47.49).

It was a family affair as Highland Park swept all three distance races. Freshman Stephanie Kriss won the 800 Meter Run (2:14.01) five-seconds head of Vernon Hills’ Lauren Katz (2:19.70). Veronica Kriss picked up a pair of wins running 11:21.17 to win the 3200 Meter Run and 5:28.22 to win the 1600 Meter Run.

Glenbrook North’s Hannah Wilson was the meet’s other double winner as she ran 12.41 to win the 100 Meter Dash and 25.40 to win the 200 Meter Dash.

CSL-South Girls @ Niles North

New Trier dominated on a cool night in Skokie as they won the divisional championship with 180.5 points. Glenbrook South had 112 points to finish second. The Lady Trevians had three double winners to lead the way. Kate Holly ran 12.52 to win the 100 Meter Dash and then came back to run 26.03 to win the 200 Meter Dash by more than a second. Marnie Sullivan ran 59.50 to win the 400 Meter Dash. That was after she ran 2:21.18 to win the 800 Meer Run ahead of Glenbrook South’s Lauren Hayes (2:21.80).

New Trier also ran a great 3200 Meter Relay as they ran a season’s best 9:29.16 (IL #6) to win the event.

Big 12 Girls Conference @ Danville

Urbana showed they will be a contender for a 2A trophy winning this conference title with 97 points. The story of the night was the triple win by Danville’s Ameia Wilson on her home track. The sophomore started by jumping 17-9.75 to win the Long Jump. She was spectacular on the track running 11.80 to win the 100 Meter Dash ahead of Bloomington’s Kylie Welch (12.17). Wilson came back to run 25.01 to win the 200 Meter Dash ahead of Urbana’s Jyana Anderson (25.57) and Welch 26.00). Welch was on top in the 400 Meter Dash (56.56) winning by more than three seconds.

Fox Valley Girls Conference @ Jacobs

Huntley scored 128 points to win the Girls conference title only six points ahead of Cary-Grove. Crystal Lake South’s Caitlin Bruzzini ran two personal bests on her way to two distance wins. Bruzzini ran under 11-minutes for the first time in the 3200 Meter Run as she won in 10:58.76. She was 37 seconds ahead of second place Janine Orvis of Crystal Lake Central. Bruzzini was just as dominating in the 1600 Meter Run (5:08.58) winning by 12-seconds.

Prairie Ridge’s Natasha Schaffer picked up two wins jumping 17-4.75 to win the Long Jump and 37-4.75 to win the Triple Jump. Tabor Gleason of Cary-Grove cleared a personal best of 5-6 to win the High Jump.

Metro Suburban Conference Blue Div @ Fenton

Karyn Best of Wheaton Academy had a great meet at Fenton winning three individual events. She started by running 12.80 to win the 100 Meter Dash, then 1:00.31 to win the 400 Meter Dash by more than two seconds, and 26.45 to win the 200 Meter Dash.

Abby Fioresi of Aurora Central Catholic won a close 800 Meter Run (2:17.61) just ahead of Illiana Christian’s Gillian Fiene (2:18.57. Fioresi came back later in the meet to win the 1600 Meer Run (5:37.97) four seconds ahead of Riverside-Brookfield’s Tara Janney.

NIB-12 Girls Conference @ Rochelle

Yorkville only had two individual event wins but their depth kicked in to help the Lady Foxes win the conference title with 116 points just ahead of DeKalb’s 111 points. Sydney Anderson was one of the two winners jumping 35-2 to win the Triple Jump. Freshman Rachel Hunter ran 45.47 to win the 300 Intermediate Hurdles for the other Yorkville individual win. They also did win the 3200 Meter Relay (10:00.87) 27 seconds ahead of second-place Sterling (10:27.03).

DeKalb had a pair of double event winners. Brimone Buggs had a big night winning a hotly contested 100 Meter Dash (12.03) by just six hundredths of a second ahead of Geneseo’s Erika Furbeck (12.09). The two athletes were on top of the 200 Meter Dash with Buggs winning (25.34) ahead of Furbeck (25.59).

Katherine Olsen captured two distance races for DeKalb as she ran 11:17.82 to win the 3200 Meter Run by seven seconds ahead of Yorkville’s Maddie Dearborn. Olsen came back to run 5:10.08 to win the 1600 Meter Run ahead of Yorkville’s Emily Eberhart (5:12.55) and LaSalle-Peru’s Rachel Hickey (5:16.26). Earlier in the meet, Hickey ran 2:18.03 to win the 800 Meter Run.

Western Big 6 Girls Conference @ East Moline

A pair of three individual wins by Quincy’s Maggie Schutte and Moline’s Megan Pittington were the spotlight performances in this meet. Moline’s sophomore ran a personal best in winning the 400 Meter Dash (57.84). She also was on top in the 100 Meter Dash (12.43) and the 200 Meter Dash (26.16). Schutte showed her range of talents in her three wins. The Quincy junior ran 45.81 to win the 300 Hurdles by more than two seconds ahead of Rock Island’s Dianthia Kelly. Schutte again bested Kelly in the Triple Jump as she jumped 36-10.5 for the win ahead of Kelly’s 36-05. Schutte ended her night by clearing a personal best of 11-3 to win the Pole Vault.

Rock Island won the team title (181.5 points) with Quincy finishing second (144 points).

WSC-Gold Girls Conference @ Morton

Downers Grove South used 1-2 finishes in the distance races as well as a double win in the hurdles by Soren Umali to give the team the conference title with 191 points. Host Morton was next (124 points) followed by Hinsdale South (111 points).

Lauren Kroll of Addison Trail had the top performance of the meet with a pair of wins in the sprints. Kroll ran a personal best of 11.99 (IL #7) to win the 100 Meter Dash ahead of Downers South’s Nicole Muccianti (12.14) who also ran a personal best. The two athletes took the top two spots in the 200 Meter Dash with Kroll running 25.23 ahead of Muccianti’s 25.43 second-place finish.

Southwest Prairie Girls Conference @ Joliet Memorial Stadium

Minnoka’s strength in the distance events was the difference as they scored 122 points to win the conference title last Wednesday. Emily Shelton ran a seasonal best of 10:44.66 (IL #9) to win the 3200 Meter Run ahead of Plainfield North’s Juliana Stogsdill (11:11.08). Mackenzie Callahan had a good double winning the 800 Meter Run and 1600 Meter Run. Callahan’s time of 2:19.75 was two seconds ahead of teammate Ashley Tutt (2:21.37). Callahan came back to run 5:05.33 to win the 1600 Meter Run ahead of Minooka’s Shelton (5:08.35) and Oswego’s Isabelle Christiansen (5:11.26). Christiansen was also a part of Oswego’s winning 3200 Meter Relay that ran a state top ten time (9:32.01, IL #8).

Jahnetta Jones of Romeoville was the best in the sprints. The junior ran 12.42 to win the 100 Meter Dash ahead of Joliet West’s Melzina Johnson (12.59). Jones ran 25.18 to lead a Romeoville 1-2 finish with teammate Kaniyah Rush running 25.40. Both athletes were part of Romeoville’s two winning sprint relays. They ran 48.61 to win the 400 Meter Relay and then came back to run a season’s best 1:42.11 (IL #5) to win the 800 Meter Relay.

Southwestern Conference @ East St. Louis

It was close in this meet as O’Fallon edged East St. Louis-Senior 156-155 for the conference title. Tamya Houston led O’Fallon with two individual wins. Houston ran 12.05 to win the 100 Meter Dash followed by 25.12 to win the 200 Meter Dash. Houston was also a part of O’Fallon’s winning 400 Meter Relay (47.87) that finished ahead of East St. Louis-Senior (48.29). The margin was two seconds between these two teams in the 800 Relay with O’Fallon (1:42.08) ahead of the Lady Flyers (1:44.09). East St. Louis-Senior ended the meet running the best time in the state in winning the 1600 Meter Relay (3:54.59).

Rokelle Stanley of East St. Louis-Senior captured both hurdle races. She ran 14.47 to win the 100 Hurdles ahead of Granite City’s TyKiaza Jones (14.72). Stanley and teammate Veronica Sherrod took the top two spots in the 300 Hurdles with Stanley’s 44.50 taking the win.

Central State Eight Girls Conference @ Chatham-Glenwood

Springfield won the Girls conference title with 144 points ahead of crosstown rival Springfield Southeast (129 points) and Chatham-Glenwood (118.5 points).

The Martin sisters (Tina and Katina) had a great nigh for Decatur Eisenhower sweeping all three sprint races. Katina won the 100 Meter Dash (11.73) ahead of Springfield’s Ozzy Erewele (11.87, IL #5). Katina won the 200 Meter Dash (with a state best of 24.23 to finish ahead of twin sister Tina (24.71) and Erewele (24.72). Tina Martin ran 56.62 to win the 400 Meter Dash ahead of Springfield Southeast’s Raven Moore (58.54).

Mid-Illini Conference @ East Peoria

Dunlap won 15 out of the 18 scheduled events to easily win the conference championship with 230 points. Washington was a distant second with 81 points.

Kiari Pauli paced Dunlap with two individual wins as well as a part of two of Dunlap’s winning relays. Pauli ran 12.18 to win the 100 Meter Dash and 25.74 to easily win the 200 Meter Dash. Pauli also anchored Dunlap’s winning 400 Meter Relay (48.96) and 800 Meter Relay (1:44.95). Franny Verville completed the distance double for the Eagles as she ran 11:09.37 to win the 3200 Meter Run just ahead of teammate Alah Aldadah (11:12.57). Both runners came back to take the top two spots in the 1600 Meter Run with Verville’s 5:10.77 taking the win.

Aanise Sajna helped Dunlap with her two wins in the horizontal jumps. Sajna jumped 18-1.5 to win the Long Jump ahead of teammate Savannah Sullivan (17-8.75). Sajna came back to jump a personal best of 38-4.25 (IL #7) to win the Triple Jump.