Illinois High School Track & Field Weekend Highlights - April 15, 2024

By Michael Newman

Here is a look at a few of the meets that took place over the weekend.

Illinois Boys Top 10 Rankings | Illinois Girls Top 10 Rankings

Minooka Smith Strong Invitational – SEE RECAP

Bud Mohns/Bob Cohoon Invitational at Downers Grove South

It was close for the team title at this meet on Saturday. York edged Bolingbrook 108-103 for the Varsity title. Lake Park scored 86 points to finish third. Terrence Jackson Jr. of Bolingbrook was the lone double individual winner in this meet. Jackson ran the state’s fastest time in his win in a highly competitive 400 Meter Dash. His time of 48.71 took the win with Aden Bandukwala of Hinsdale Central running 49.06 (IL #4) to finish second. Jackson came back to run 22.51 to win the 200 Meter Dash. He was also part of Bolingbrook’s quartet that ran 3:24.93 (IL #6) to win the 4x400 Meter Relay with Sterling their closest competition with their 3:29.97 time. York turned heads in a big way in the 4x100 Meter Relay running 42.33 (IL #2) for the win with Downers Grove South (43.38) and Plainfield Central (43.47) more than a second behind. Cash Langley of York ran a season’s best of 10.94 to win the 100 Meter Dash edging Amari Alexander of Hinsdale South by five hundredth of a second (10.99).

Sterling made noise in the 4x800 Meter Relay running 8:02.54 (IL #8) for the win by 15 seconds ahead of Niles West (8:17.60). Dale Johnson, who ran on Sterling’s quartet in the 4x8, ran 4:22.66 for the win in the 1600 Meter Run. Emmett Bradford of York ran 4:26.80 to finish second. Joshua Stewart of Bolingbrook ran 1:57.34 to win the 800 Meter Run with teammate Vincent DeFarno finishing second (1:58.14). In the Frosh/Soph race, TraMonti Williams of Payton Prep ran 1:57.65 to win that race by more than six seconds. Alexander Rodriguez of BC Morton ran 9:36.55 to win the 3200 Meter Run with Zach Saltiel of York running 9:41.90 to finish second.

Metea Valley Boys Invitational

The sprint relays were one of the stories in this meet. Dundee-Crown ran 42.42 (IL #5) to win the 4x100 Meter Relay ahead of Plainfield North (42.60, IL #9) and Metea Valley (43.47). Downers Grove North ran 1:28.41 (IL #2) for the win in the 4x200 Meter Relay ahead of Dundee-Crown (1:28.67, IL #3) and Plainfield North (1:29.68). Plainfield North freight-trained the field in the 4x400 Meter Relay running 3:23.57 (IL #2) winning by seven seconds ahead of Naperville Central (3:30.89). Vince Davero of Downers Grove North jumped 47-5 (IL #2) to win the Triple Jump. Davero also jumped 22-5.75 in winning the Long Jump. Quinn Davis of Plainfield North ran 4:23.60 to win the 1600 Meter Run with teammate Thomas Czerwinski running 4:25.34 in finishing second.

Urbana Boys Track Open at Urbana High School

Youth took over the sprints in this meet with sophomore Melvin Jenkins of Peoria running 10.98 to win the 100 Meter Dash. Freshman D’Mario Jackson of Danville ran 10.99 to finish second. Jackson came back to run 22.43 to win the 200 Meter Dash with Jenkins finishing second (22.75). Caleb Mathias of Champaign Central blew away the field in the 3200 Meter Run. Mathias ran 9:36.24 for the win by 74 seconds. William Hardy of Champaign was a double winner running 15.24 to win the 110 Meter Hurdles and 42.25 to win the 300 Meter Hurdles.

Bartlett/Elgin Boys Invitational at Elgin Memorial Stadium

Nicholas Arogundale of Loyola Academy swept both hurdle races. His time of 15.07 was good enough for the win in the 110 Meter Hurdles. Arogundale came back to run 39.34 (IL #4) to win the 300 Meter Hurdles edging Daniel Lupa of Addison Trail by nine hundredth of a second (39.34, IL #5). John Ihrke of Glenbrook North won the 1600 Meter Run (4:23.78) finishing ahead of Gerrit Dam of Prairie Ridge (4:29.16) and Cole Tupper of Elgin (4:31.99). Dam earlier ran 9:41.54 to win the 3200 Meter Run. Enoch Appiah-Kubi of Loyola Academy jumped 47-0.25 (IL #4) to win the Triple Jump.

Capitol City Classic at Springfield Memorial Stadium

Taylorville ran an electrifying 8:02.32 (IL #6) to win the 3200 Meter Relay just ahead of Pleasant Plains (8:05.50, IL #10). Owen Morgan played a part in that winning relay. He came back to run 1:55.87 (IL #5) to win the 800 Meter Run with Jack Arends of Rochester running 1:58.86 to finish second. Elijah Teefey was part of Pleasant Plains’ relay. He ran 4:29.44 to win the 1600 Meter Run. Five runners ran under 4:40 led by the second-place finish from Jonah Kaeb of Normal University (4:30.64). Heath Hawkins of Pekin cleared 14-6 in his Pole Vault win.

Mascoutah Military Classic

There  were some great performances in this Friday evening meet. There were two athletes that won multiple events in this competition. Arion Hill of Centralia ran a state leading 14.32 to win the 110 Meter Hurdles with a +2.7 m/s tailwind. Hill also ran 39.63 (IL #7) in winning the 300 Meter Hurdles. Caleb Smith of Salem had a season’s best of 58-11 (IL #3) to win the Shot Put. Andrew Kinsman of Benton a best of 57-9.75 (IL #5) to finish second. Salem in the Discus threw 172-6.5 to win the event with Iose Epenesa of Edwardsville throwing 165-10.5 to finish second. Jaylen Pennington of Cahokia ran 50.60 to win the 400 Meter Dash. His teammate Corrion Raiford ran 50.94 to finish second. Benton loaded their quartet including Gavin Genisio and Gabe McLain in the 4x800 Meter Relay. The Rangers ran 8:12.64 for the win less than a second ahead of Bethalto Civic Memorial (8:13.22) and Mascoutah (8:13.36). Mekye Lomax of Marion ran 4:20.82 (IL #6) to win the 1600 Meter Run by 10 seconds ahead of Van Schneider of Chatham-Glenwood (4:30.15) and Kyle Kern of Waterloo (4:30.99). The tp three finishers in the 3200 Meter Run were all freshmen. Raphael Greer of Marion ran 10:00.99 to win the 3200 Meter Run ahead of Tyler DeVilder of Waterloo (10:09.50) and Gabriel Greer of Marion (10:10.63). Trey Mygatt of Mt Vernon won the 800 Meter Run (1:57.46) just ahead of Cayton Cratch of Steeleville (1:58.91). Tashon Crockarell of Troy Triad won the 100 Meter Dash with a wind-legal 2.0 m/s at his back. Mascoutah ran 43.01 to win a close 4x100 Meter Relay ahead of Belleville East (43.14) and Troy Triad (43.23).

Granite City Boys Invitational

Samuel Elliott-Barnes of Alton had a big evening in this meet with three wins. Elliott-Barnes ran 10.78 (IL #7) to win the 100 Meter Dash and 50.31 to win the 400 Meter Dash. He was also a part of Alton’s quartet that ran 43.23 to win the 4x100 Meter Relay ahead of Collinsville (43.52) and Belleville West (43.56). Troy McLean of Belleville West ran 21.98 (IL #9) to win the 200 Meter Dash. Carey Borkowski of Jersey ran 22.62 to finish second with Elliott-Barnes finishing third (22.82). Drew Habermehl of Collinsville ruled the weight events. The junior had a 54-3.5 put to win the Shot Put and threw 158-2.5 to win the Discus.

Bruce Ritter Girls Invitational – SEE RECAP

Jody Gitelis Invitational at Barrington HS

Barrington was in control of this invitational held on their home track. The Fillies scored 144 points in winning the team title by almost 50 points ahead of Lake Zurich (95 points) and New Trier (94 points). Two state leading performances happened in this meet. Barrington ran a state leading 9:33.90 to win the 4x800 Meter Relay. Plainfield North ran 9:36.58 (IL #3) to finish second. Scout Storms anchored the quartet for Barrington. The defending state cross-country champion ran 5:03.66 (IL #9) to win the 1600 Meter Run by 17 seconds ahead of Madison Twarling of Lakes Community (5:20.17). Mia Sirios of Barrington ran a state leading and personal best of 10:28.51 to win the 3200 Meter Run. Josie Cahill of New Trier finished second with a 10:54.40 time (IL #7) followed by Kaleigh Burns of Barrington (11:00.12, IL #10).

Taylor McClain of Plainfield North won the 100 Meter Dash timed at 12.13 (IL #9). Riley Betz of Lake Zurich finished second (12.20) ahead of Katie Jewell of Prairie Ridge (12.28). Betz came back to run 25.78 to win the 200 Meter Dash ahead of CiCi Stennett of Barrington (26.00). Betz was also a part of the Lake Zurich quartet that ran 48.75 to win the 4x100 Meter Relay ahead of Plainfield North (48.95) and Barrington (48.97). Barrington also ran 1:44.83 to win the 4x200 Meter Relay.

Gabriela Manzano of New Trier was an individual winner in two events. Manzano jumped 19-0.25 (IL #2) to win the Long Jump ahead of teammate Makenzie Gable (17-2.75). Manzano came back to run 58.57 in winning the 400 Meter Dash with Carolina Martinez of Warren Township close at 58.71. New Trier, with Manzano anchoring, ran 4:01.76 (IL #4) to win the 4x400 Meter Relay. Conant ran 4:05.99 to finish second. Sofiabella Amirante of Barrington won both weight events. The senior had a 38-8.5 put to win the Shot Put. Amirante came back to throw 127-0.5 to win the Discus.

Bloomington Girls Invitational

A good team battle on Friday evening as Normal University scored 78 points to win the team title. Danville (70 points) and Chatham-Glenwood (68 points) finished second and third. The top four runners in the 100 Meter Dash were all under 12.2 seconds. Reese Mitchell of Normal University ran 12.03 (IL #4) to edge Lena Jackson of Peoria Richwoods (12.06, IL #5) for the win. Isabella Roundtree of Champaign Central (12.14) and Ranaisha Howard-Dunigan of Limestone (12.15) finished third and fourth. Howard-Dunigan came back to run 24.96 (IL #7) to win the 200 Meter Dash finishing ahead of Mitchell (25.28) and Roundtree (25.58). Nickiya Shields of Danville won the 100 Meter Hurdles (14.75, IL #8) winning by more than one seconds. Shields came back to run 46.40 (IL #8) to win the 300 Meter Hurdles. Shields’ third win came when she jumped 38-7 (IL #2) to win the Triple Jump.

Zoe Carter of Normal University was in complete control in winning the 3200 Meter Run. Carter’s time of 10:52.58 (IL #5) was 40 seconds ahead of Sophie Krueger of Morton (11:32.83) and Abby Tudeen of Dunlap (11:42.31). Taygen Beyer of Morton won the 1600 Meter Run (5:14.17) finishing ahead of Julie Bach of Normal West (5:17.62) and Natalie Bierbaum of Normal University (5:23.58). Katelyn Lehnen, who is one of the top sprinters in the state, stepped up her distance a little as part of Glenwood’s quartet in the 4x800 Meter Relay. The Titans ran 10:02.60 to win the event by 20 seconds ahead of Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (10:22.30). Lehnen also played a part in the team’s 4x400 Meter Relay that ran 4:02.36 (IL #5) for the win just ahead of Eureka (4:06.52) and Sacred Heart-Griffin (4:06.55). Ali Londrigan of Glenwood, who was part of the 4x4, ran 2:19.90 in the 800 Meter Run win with Marley Yau of Urbana running 2:23.87 placing second.

Danville freshman Jada Bell won both weight events with a best of 36-1.75 in the Shot Put and a 113-0 throw in the Discus. Chelsea Wetzel of Dunlap cleared 12-10.25 (IL #2) to win the Pole Vault with Reese Wolfe of Chatham-Glenwood clearing 11-10.5 (IL #6) to place second.

Sam Bennett Girls Invitational at Robinson

Father McGivney showed why they will be one of the Class 1A team favorites this May in Charleston. The Griffins scored 100 points to win the team title finishing ahead of Robinson (86 points) and Newton (78 points). Lily Gilbertson had a big day leading Father McGivney with three individual wins. Gilbertson won a tight 100 Meter Dash with a 12.51 time to win by five hundredth of a second ahead of Kaitlyn Vahling of Teutopolis (12.56). Gilbertson won the 400 Meter Dash by more than three seconds running a fast 57.68 (IL #10)  and finishing ahead of Kylee Weber of Robinson (1:01.42) and Vahling (1:02.03). The third win for Gilbertson came when she ran 25.65 for the title ahead of Vahling (26.10).

Elena Rybak ran on two of Father McGivney’s relay quartets. Her individual race came as a win with a 4:57.05 (IL #3) to win the 1600 Meter Run. Molly Farrell of Marshall ran 5:03.07 (IL #7) to finish second. Lily Woolery of Shelbyville won the 800 Meter Run by almost eight seconds with a 2:19.42 time. Shelbyville ran 4:14.85 to win the 4x400 Meter Relay with Father McGivney running 4:15.89 to place second. Shelbyville also ran 10:00.80 to win the 4x800 Meter Relay with Father McGivney again finishing second (10:15.06).

Hinsdale Central Devilette Invitational

Lake Park edged Oak Park-River Forest 139-136 for the team title with host Hinsdale Central scoring 115 points to finish third. Wheaton St. Francis looked great for their win in the 4x800 Meter Relay. The Spartans ran 9:44.95 (IL #9) to win by 27 seconds ahead of Marist (10:11.40). Alexis Henderson of Oak Park-River Forest cleared 5-3.75 to win the High Jump. Gianna Goldsmith of Lake Park cleared 5-2.25 to finish second. Alanah Smith of Lincoln-Way West was a double winner in the sprints. Smith ran 12.73 to win the 100 Meter Dash. She came back to run 26.22 to win by almost one second.

Wheaton North Blue and Gold Invitational

Neuqua Valley scoring 139.5 points won the team title ahead of Lockport (106.5 points) and Batavia (91 points). The story of this meet as well as all meets that Neuqua Valley is in was the four wins from Zawadi Brown. The senior started her day by jumping 17-10.25 to win the Long Jump. The rest of her work was done on the track starting with Brown anchoring the Wildcats to the win in the 4x100 Meter Relay (48.67, IL #9) ahead of Batavia (49.32). Brown dominated her race in the 100 Meter Dash running 12.17 for the win ahead of Batavia’s Isabelle Taylor (12.55) and Elizabeth Wende (12.66). It was the same story in the 200 Meter Dash as Brown ran 24.71 (IL #4) for the win by one second ahead of Kristyn Johnson from  Bolingbrook (25.71).

Katie Roche of Sandburg won the 800 Meter Run (2:18.51) ahead of Elizabeth Hall of Neuqua Valley (2:21.17). Sofia Arcuri of Maine South ran 5:12.68 to win by less than a second ahead of Elizabeth Hall who ran a great double with a 5:13.61 to finish second.

Kankakee Kays Invitational at Kankakee High School

This high powered Co-Ed meet produced great performances both for the Boys and Girls athletes. Whitney Young scored 117 points for the girls team win finishing ahead of Normal Community (110 points) and Kankakee (100 points). Perhaps the top race of the day came in the 400 Meter Dash where five runners ran under 60 seconds. Mariyah Robinson of Simeon ran the fastest time this year in the state winning with a 55.23 time. Naomi Bey-Osborne of Kankakee ran 55.63 (IL #2) to finish second ahead of defending 3A champion Ali Ince of Normal Community (56.18, IL #4). Kayla Riepe of Whitney Young (57.71) and Abigail Ziemer of Normal Community (59.72) finished fourth and fifth. Robinson earlier ran 11.75 into a -1.3 m/s headwind (IL #2) to win the 100 Meter Dash ahead of Angelena Bullocks of Whitney Young (12.00), Bey-Osbourne (12.13) and Jazmin West of Normal Community (12.35). Kankakee finished 1-2 in the 200 Meter Dash led by Bey-Osborne winning in 25.22 with her teammate Trinity Noble running 25.91 to finish second.

Whitney Young won three of the four relays contested in this meet. The Dolphins ran a state leading 47.63 to win the 4x100 Meter Relay with Kankakee finishing second (47.77, IL #2) with Simeon finishing third (49.38). Whitney Young ran 1:43.19 (IL #5) for the win in the 4x200 Meter Relay with Kankakee (1:44.52) and Normal Community (1:45.38) finishing second and third. The Dolphins completed the trifecta running a state leading 3:57.03 to win the 4x400 Meter Relay with Normal Community at 4:00.40 (IL #4) their closest competition. Ince, who anchored Normal in the 4x4, easily won the 1600 Meter Run (5:00.45, IL #4) by more than a 37 second margin.

Sophie Bernard of Whitney Young ran 14.52 (IL #3) to win the 100 Meter Hurdles. Nikkel Johnson of Kankakee was victorious in the two weight events. Johnson had a 40-5 put (IL #3) to win the Shot Put ahead of Marco Reynolds of Normal Community (39-2), Victoria Collins of Thornwood (38-9, IL #9), and Tytiana Sutton of Kankakee (38-8.5, IL #10 tie). Johnson came back to throw 130-7.25 (IL #5) to win the Discus. Na’Kyrah Cooks of Kankakee jumped 18-6.75 (IL #4) in winning the Long Jump.

Lincoln-Way East easily win the Boys team title in this meet scoring 150 points. Normal Community was the closest team scoring 111 points to finish second. Jayon Morrow of Kankakee was in the spotlight for the Boys Meet being a part of three wins including two individual titles. Morrow anchored the Kankakee quartet that ran 42.38 (IL #4) to win the 4x100 Meter Relay with Lincoln-Way East finishing second (43.28). Morrow was the only runner under 11-seconds as he ran 10.72 (IL #3) to win the 100 Meter Dash. Morrow came back to run 22.10 in winning the 200 Meter Dash.

Dedrick Richardson Jr. of Lincoln-Way East jumped 23-7.75 (IL #2) in winning the Long Jump. Richardson’s teammate Roosevelt Walker jumped 42-9.5 to win the Triple Jump.

JJK / Al Joyner Classic at East St. Louis Senior

East St. Louis-Senior won both the Boys and the Girls team titles in their home meet. The Flyers scored 168 points to win the Boys title ahead of Belleville West (148 points). In the Girls Meet, East St. Louis-Senior scored 176 points with Kenwood at 150 points their closest competition.

Three runners were under 50 seconds in the Boys 400 Meter Dash. Troy McLean of Belleville West ran 49.19 (IL #6) to win ahead of Deontae Anthony of Hazelwood Central (49.31) and Darius Ivy of East St. Louis (49.64, IL #7). Kenwood ran 42.56 to win the 4x100 Meter Relay ahead of Hazelwood Central (43.00) and Belleville West (43.06). Kenwood came back to run 1:28.90 (IL #6) to win the 4x200 Meter Relay. Their third relay win came when they ran 3:25.57 to win the 4x400 Meter Relay. Kenneth Buchanon of East St. Louis was a double winner jumping 22-9.25 to win the Long Jump and running 22.28 to win the 200 Meter Dash.

Kee’Lani Whitlock of Kenwood was a double winner running 12.45 to win the 100 Meter Dash ahead of Alaina Lester of Belleville Althoff Catholic (12.60). It was closer in the 200 Meter Dash as Whitlock ran 25.12 for the win ahead of Lester’s 25.17 time. Kenwood sept the first two places in the 400 Meter Dash. Harmony Brown ran 57.13 (IL #5) to win with Stephy Venuti finishing second (58.78). East St. Louis-Senior ran the state’s fastest time when they ran 1:41.93 to win the 4x200 Meter Relay winning by almost six seconds. Kenwood in the 4x400 Meter Relay ran 3:59.93 (IL #2) for the win ahead of East St. Louis (4:05.28).