ILXCTF.com Illinois HS Track & Field 2021 Season Awards - Girls Sprints/Hurdles

By Michael Newman

[email protected]

There was no one dominant Girls Athlete in the Sprints and Hurdles for the 2021 season. The one sprinter that came close to that was Lauren Doerr of Morton who was our choice for the ILXCTF.com Girls Sprints / Hurdles Athlete of the Year for the 2021 season.

Doerr ended  her high school career at the IHSA State Meet in June where she peaked at the right time. Doerr ran a personal best of 11.88 to win the 100 Meter Dash in the Class 2A Meet on June 11. Doerr came back to run 24.59, another personal best, to win the 200 Meter Dash.

Those state times for the senior are currently ranked second in the state for 2021. She went undefeated for the two events making it hard to ignore her accomplishments. She will attend Butler University where she will play soccer and may not compete in track. If her state meet was her final track meet of her career, what a way to go out.

Sydney Robinson of Whitney Young was the Class 3A Girls Sprint / Hurdles Athlete of the Year but by the slightest of margins. Mariam Azeez of Lincoln-Way East and Ana-Liese Torian of Homewood-Flossmoor were also in consideration.

The Chicago junior currently has the top times in the state currently in the 100 and 200 (11.83 / 24.25) run at an AAU qualifier meet on July 18. Robinson at state finished fifth in the 100 Meter Dash and won the 200 Meter Dash. She anchored Whitney Young to a win in the 4x100m Relay and third in the 4x200 Meter Relay.

Azeez, also a junior, helped Lincoln-Way East win the Class 3A State Championship by winning the 100 Meter Dash, finishing third in both the Long Jump and 200 Meter Dash. Azeez also helped her team to a third-place finish in the 4x100m Relay.

Torian, a sophomore and a newcomer in the Illinois track scene, had a breakout season earning all-state honors in four events. She finished ninth in the 100 Meter Dash after winning the 100 Meter Hurdles (13.87) with the fastest time in the state for 2021. Torian was part of Homewood-Flossmoor’s second-place team in the 4x100 Meter Relay and finished second in the 200 Meter Dash.

Alyssa Williams of Tuscola was our clear choice as the Class 1A Girls Sprint / Hurdles Athlete of the Year. The junior had a fantastic state meet winning the 100 Meter Dash (12.10) and the 200 Meter Dash (25.32) both her best times of the year. Williams also won her third state championship in the Long Jump.