ILXCTF.com 2022 IHSA Girls Track & Field Previews - 3A Sprints/Hurdles

By Michael Newman [email protected]

The five events in the 3A sprints and hurdles are talented to say the least. There will be one new champion in one of those event. Four athletes are back to defend their state championships. Sydney Robinson of Whitney Young is the defending state champion in the 200 Meter Dash. She could pick up the double and win the 100 Meter Dash. Mariam Azeez of Lincoln-Way East won the 100 Meter Dash at last year’s State Finals. I am sure she would like to double back to win the 200 Meter Dash.

And on it goes.

The sprint events, the sprint relays, and hurdle events most likely again will decide which team wins the 3A State title. It was the same last year as Southwest Suburban Blue Conference powers Homewood-Flossmoor and Lincoln-Way East had the depth and speed to challenge for the title. Lincoln-Way East won by six points ahead of Homewood-Flossmoor. We could see the same two teams looking for the team title based on the depth that they have in these five events.

Here is a look at the three sprint events and two hurdle events that are on the IHSA schedule for Class 3A.

100 Meter Dash

Notes – The 3A sprints are deep in talent starting in this event. We have to remember that we return to the old schedule where prelims will happen Friday afternoon and come back and run the finals on Saturday. Mariam Azeez of Lincoln-Way East was undefeated in the six races that she ran in this distance including winning the state championship in June. Her 11.95 time right at a 2.0 wind legal measurement at the beginning of the year is the second fastest returning time. Sydney Robinson of Whitney Young was thought to be the favorite heading into state but ended up finishing fifth at Charleston. Robinson could driven to do some big things this spring. She ran under 12-seconds five times including a best of 11.83 at an AAU Meet in July.

There are four all-state athletes that are also back. Alexandra Johnson of Huntley finished sixth to lead that group followed by Daria Tersina of Prospect, Rachel Robinson of Whitney Young, and Ana-Liese Torian of Homewood-Flossmoor. All four runners had bests under 12.40. Asia Thomas of Kenwood and Renee Raglin of Alton both ran under 12.1 last spring. They could have the speed to capture the championship.

This is a deep event. Lindsey Miller of Simeon, Sydney Weaver of Kenwood, Alexandria Edison of Homewood-Flossmoor, and Jazmin West of Normal Community all have times under 12.45. It will not be a surprise if any of these four earn all-state honors.

400 Meter Dash

Notes – This event is loaded with four of last year’s top five finishers all returning. Rylee Lydon of Prairie Ridge stepped into the spotlight as a sophomore last spring running a personal best of 56.25 to win the state title by more than a second ahead of Homewood-Flossmoor’s Alexandria Edison. Both athletes will be the ones chased for the title when we get to May.

Angela Alozie of Homewood-Flossmoor and Dakota Lyons of Libertyville both ran under 58 seconds at state and will also challenge for the state title. Kyrah Maas of Glenbard West finished sixth while Madison Hardamon of Lincoln Park finished eighth. I would not even count these two runners out. Ashley Oliver of Hoffman Estates could be a surprise in this race this season. She only finished 11th at the State Meet last June. Oliver does have the second fastest returning time (56.86) that she ran at the AAU Nationals at the beginning of August.

24 runners in Class 3A are back that ran under 60 seconds outdoors last spring. We should see a number of surprises that get into the blocks for the Saturday finals. Kathleen Baker of Barrington, Jordynn Griffin of Normal Community, Jessie Ozzauto of Huntley, and Katie Burns of Lane Tech are some of that group that will challenge for top spots at the end of May.

200 Meter Dash

Notes – This is another loaded sprint event with last year’s top three finishers all coming back. Sydney Robinson of Whitney Young returns as the defending state champion and also the fastest returning time (24.25) performed at an AAU Regional meet. Ana-Liese Torian of Homewood-Flossmoor ran 24.59 to finish second behind Robinson at state. Mariam Azeez of Lincoln-Way East was less than a tenth of a second behind Torian in that race. Any of these three sprinters could win the state title in May.

Alexandria Edison of Homewood-Flossmoor, Kali Waller of West Chicago, and Janiya Bowman of Plainfield South finished seventh, eighth, and ninth under the lights at Charleston last June. I would not count out any of these three athletes. Rachel Robinson of Whitney Young, Rylee Lydon of Prairie Ridge, Rikki Gray of Evanston, and Zoe Littlejohn of West Aurora are part of a strong group to watch for when we get to the state series.

100 Meter Hurdles

Notes – When you see a sophomore run under 14 seconds in this event, it is wise to watch their progress over the next two years. If she continues to run the way she did last year, Ana-Liese Torian of Homewood-Flossmoor could have the all-time state record by the time she concludes her high school career. Torian ran a personal best of 13.87 to win her first state championship in Charleston.

She is not a lock to win again in 2022. Macee Rivers of Belleville West also ran a personal best of 14.06 to finish second behind Torian in that state race. Both athletes should be under 14-seconds this year. They could push each other to some fast times when all is said and done.

Three other athletes that were at 14.9 or over are Torian’s and Rivers closest competition. Shawon Lawler of Stagg, Inara Ukawuba of Neuqua Valley, and Sophia Barnard of Lincoln-Way East were all-state and look to finish in this year’s top five. Janaysia Byrd of Belleville West pushed Rivers last year which included running 14.61 achieving a personal best. Byrd did not have her best race at the state meet. I would watch for her to bounce back to become of the elite athletes in this event.

Some of the athletes to keep an eye on as this season progresses includes Mia Morello of Grayslake Central, Corynn Holmes of Moline, Jacklynn Okereke of Evanston, and Paulina Lucer of Lake Park.

300 Meter Hurdles

Notes – This is the open of the five events in this category. Last year’s top three finishers have graduated. The next three athletes from that state meet are back led by Sophia Barnard of Lincoln-Way East. Barnard was a key to her team’s success in the state meet last year finishing fourth. Another athlete to watch is Madeine Andelbradt of Naperville North who has a time less than a tenth behind Barnard and finished fifth in Charleston. Breanne Dunn of Barrington finished sixth and is within each of the two athletes ahead of her.

Rylee Lydon of Prairie Ridge has the fifth fastest returning time. The junior did not race in this event at state. It could be something we see her compete in more in 2022. Mia Morello of Grayslake Central is finding her stride in the hurdle events. She could be a force this spring. Corynn Holmes of Moline, Janaysia Byrd of Belleville West, Shannon Lawler of Stagg, and Shannon Jorash of Loyola Academy are some of a group of athletes to watch for this season.