Whitaker captures National Pole Vault title at New Balance Nationals Indoor

 

Meyer ties for National title in Girls High Jump at NBNI; Sirois 2nd in 2 Mile in New York, Payton Prep, Bullocks, Brauc capture All-American honors in Boston

 

By Michael Newman

 

Isaiah Whitaker (Bloomington Central Catholic) has taken himself to another level in the Pole Vault becoming one of the elite athletes in the discipline. He cleared 18-1 a week ago at the Windy City Pole Vault outside of Chicago. On Saturday at the New Balance Nationals Indoor, Whitaker claimed his first national title clearing a new meet record of 17-10.5 (5.45m).

 

Results NBNI | Results NIN | Meet Videos NBNI | Meet Videos NIN

 

Whitaker waited to come into the competition when the field narrowed down to 10 competitors. He cleared 16-4.75 on his first attempt and needed a second attempt to clear at 16-10.75 and 17-2.75. The bar was raised to 17-6.50 with Whittaker and Sam Novak (Phoenix Country Day AZ) left. Whitaker cleared on his first attempt. Novak cleared on his second attempt. Whittaker won the event on his second try on the winning height while Novak missed on all three attempts.

 

“Last week’s meet gave me new confidence knowing I could clear 18-feet,” Whitaker said after the conclusion of the competition. “I am finding new consistency over that height. Hopefully, I can reach 18-6 outdoors.”

 

Lucas Brauc (Oak Park-River Forest) and Kyle Quaid-Bowman (Glenbard South) both were in the hunt for a top six All-American spot in the competition. Both athletes cleared 15-11 with Brauc getting sixth on fewer misses.

 

One of the big surprises in the two national meets was the performance of Kaylee Meyer (Schaumburg). The senior entered New Balance Nationals Indoor on a hot streak having cleared 5-8 or higher three times. Meyer showed her strength coming into the competition at 5-2.25 where she cleared that height on her opening attempt. She cleared the next three attempts on her first attempt along with Ella Michelitch (Minisink Valley NY) who shared the lead with Meyer on fewer misses. Four other athletes had also cleared that height. Six athletes went to the next height of 5-8.50, in which all six athletes missed all three attempts. Michelitch and Meyer, because their only misses were at that closing height, ended up sharing the national title.

 

Mia Sirois (Barrington) had the top Illinois performance at Nike Indoor National in New York City looking splined in the two races she competed in. The sophomore was not afraid to lead the championship in the 2 Mile Run. She has been through situations in high class meets this winter where it has challenged her to compete. The race on Friday afternoon was no exception.

 

Sirois was part of a pack that passed through the first half of the race in 5:04 that included Sophia Rodriguez (Mercer Island WA), Addison Ritzenhein (Niwot CO), and Lily Adler (Timpview UT). Sirois had the lead for half a lap before Ritzenhein took the lead for good. Sirois tried to stay close by the 2024 NXN National champion. Ritzenhein ran 10:0011 ran the fastest time in the United States and the race win. The Barrington sophomore closed in 72 seconds on the final two laps to run 10:04.02 (US #3) to finish second earning All-American honors.

 

“I just wanted to stay with the pack in the front for the first mile of the race. I knew that this would be a talented field,” Sirois said after her race. “The pace went out slow, but I just waited. I know the race starts in the second mile. I just did not want to be the one to take over the lead that early.”

 

The now two-time All-American came back on Sunday to run the first of two sections in the Girls 1 Mile Run. She stayed with the pack before Sophia Rodriguez and Tsadia Bercuvitz (Ithaca NY) increased the pace and their lead. Sirois hung tough staying with the two where she ran a new personal best of 4:47.46 and a new state leading time to finish second in that section and eighth overall.

 

Payton Prep had a chip on their shoulder when they arrived at the New Balance Nationals Indoor. The Grizzlies last graced the national stage last June at the Nike Outdoor Nationals finishing fifth earning All-American honors returning their entire quartet from that race. They were placed in the fourth of six section of the relay. That was one of the reasons why this team ran this well besides being that good.

 

Vaughn Collier led off for Payton running 1:59.56. The section race broke wide open as Declan Slavin ran 1:53.74 to take the lead. Their lead grew larger as Tra’Monti Williams took the baton and ran 1:54.26. Preston Ellis anchored the team with a 1:55.93 and running 7:43.52 (IL #2) to win the fourth section and a three second win. Then the team had to wait to see what happened in the final two section. Payton ended up again finishing fifth earning a second All-American spot for the group and #6 in the United States.

 

Payton ran in Section 3 of 4 of the Distance Medley Relay. The Grizzlies ran 10:27.95 to finish eighth in their section and 20th place overall. Williams led off running the 1200m leg running 3:10.06. Collier ran 51.68 in the 400m leg. Ellis ran the 800 and had a 1:56.14 split. Slavin anchored their team with a 4:29.85 in the 1600m leg.

 

Angelena Bullocks (Whitney Young) did advance to the finals on Sunday in the 200 Meter Dash. There were 38 heats in the 200 Meter Dash where only eight runners advanced to the finals. Bullocks came out and ran 23.97 to win Heat 33 advanced to the finals where she had the fifth fastest time. Bullocks in the second section of the finals ran 24.03 to finish fifth overall and becoming an All-American in the event.

 

Bullocks advanced in the 60 Meter Dash to the semifinal heats as she won Heat 8 in 7.50. She ran 7.45 in her semifinal heat where at first she tied for eighth. Officials reviewed the results and had to go to the thousandths of a second where Bullocks missed making the finals by four thousandths of a second.

 

Illinois Highlights from New Balance Nationals Indoor

 

Two-time Cross Country All-American and IHSA Class 3A State Champion Ben Crane (New Trier) ran another personal best in the Boys 2 Mile Run on Friday. Crane ran a new school record of 8:51.32 to finish seventh overall. He now holds the fastest times in Illinois this indoor season in the 3200 Meter Run, 2 Mile Run, and the 1 Mile Run. Crane ran the race smartly. While the leaders in the race went out in 4:18, Crane passed the first eight laps in 4:28.23 in the back of the pack and ran a second mile negative split of 4:23.

 

Carne came back with his teammates on Saturday in the 4x1 Mile Relay. The Trevians ran 17:44.2 to finish second in their section, ninth overall. Joey Papanicholas led off for the Trevians with a 4:21.8 opening split followed by Jordan Kreiner (4:26.24), Walter Garrett (4:35.34), and Crane (4:20.48).

 

Sundara Weber (Sandwich) said in a social media post after her race that it did not ran as planned in the Girls 2 Mile Run. Weber still ran 10:26.70 to finish 11th in her section, 15th overall. Weber stayed in her race plan passing through the first mile of the rave in 5:08.35. Izzy Bing (Carmel Catholic) started this event running a personal best of 10:53.37 (IL #5) in winning the opening section. Zoe Carter (Normal University) concentrated on the Girls 5000 Meter Run in this meet. The senior ended up running 17:11.97 to finish 13th overall.

 

Nicholai Martino (Winnebago) and Gabe McLain (Benton had some great performances in the Boys 1 Mile Run both in the sixth of 12 sections that were run. Martino ran a huge personal best of 4:14.89 (IL #2) to finish fourth in that section. McLain followed with a personal best of 4:16.86 (IL #3) to place seventh. Gavin O’Connor (Brother Rice) was also in the event as he ran 4:20.47 IL #8) running that time in Section 5.

 

Annika Swan (St. Ignatius Prep) ran in the 12th of 13 section of the Girls 1 Mile Run on Sunday. The junior ran even paced throughout her ace as she ran a personal best of 4:47.85 (IL #2) to finish third in her section, 14th overall. Emma Berres (Naperville North) ran Friday night in Batavia Madness and then flew out Saturday to Boston to run in this event. Berres ended up running 5:07.23 (IL #10) in Section 9. Scout Storms (Barrington) followed running 5:07.33). Emily Stecky (DePaul Prep), in Section 7, ran 5:03.85 (IL #7). Her teammate Abigail Radsch ran 5:11.94 (IL #11) to finish 17th in the Freshman Division.

 

The top two times in the state so far this season came in the 800 Meter Run in this meet with 18 sections and 184 runners finishing. Owen Horeni (Yorkville) stepped up in his Section 11 race. Horeni finished second in his race and 22nd overall in the event running the fastest time in the state of 1:53.60. Horeni was patient in his race taking out his 400 in 55.48, passing 600-meters in 1:24.43, and storming across the line in a final lap of 29.17.

 

Payton’s Tra’Monti Williams and Preston Ellis were busy this weekend running in the 4x800 Meter Relay and the Distance Medley Relay. Both runners were in Section 7 of the event. Williams achieved a personal best of 1:55.68 (IL #2) to finish third in the section. Ellis ran 1:56.77 to finish in the top 100 in the event.

 

Francesca Mora (Latin School) ran 5:16.89 in the Girls Freshman Mile. Mora also competed in the Freshman 800 Meter Run with a 2:20.77 time.

 

Luke Leverett (Providence Catholic) was the only Illinois athletes to advance to the 60 Meter Dash, Leverett ran 6.88 to win Heat 13 in the prelims and was one of the 24 runners to advance to the semifinal heats. Leverett ran in the first of the three semifinal heats finishing sixth again running 6.88 and did not advance to the finals.

 

Other Illinois athletes that ran in the Boys 60 Meter Dash included Joe Owusu (Plainfield East) who ran 7.04 in the first of 25 heats. Harley Rizzs (St. Laurence) ran 7.00 in Heat #4, Parrish Harley Jr. (Kenwood) ran 7.03 in Heat #6. Monroe Thompson Jr. (St. Laurence) ran 6.96 to win the 23rd heat (6.96) but did not advance to the semis.

 

In the Girls 60 Meter Dash, Kee’Lani Whitlock (Kenwood) just made it to the semis winning Heat 7.60 (IL #5) finishing 23rd overall. Whitlock ran 7.69 in her semifinal heat, not advancing to the finals. Ella Sweatt (Whitney Young) ran 8.06 in Heat 6. Katherine Navarre (Southland College Prep) ran 7.96 in Heat 23.

 

The Girls 400 Meter Dash with 25 heats in this meet produced the top two times in the state. Julia Brown (Oak Park-River Forest) in Heat 19 ran the fastest time in the state of 56.63 to finish second in her race. Madalyn Marx (Mahomet-Seymour) followed that in Heat 21 running 56.98 (IL #2) finishing third in her race. Neither runner advanced to the finals. Marx did run in the 200 Meter Dash running 25.10 (IL #6) in her heat,

 

There were no Illinois Boys athletes that advanced to the semifinal heats of the 60 Meter Hurdles. There were 25 heats in the event. Thomas Simmons (Stevenson ran 8.50 in Heat 12. Louis Yohannes of Triad did not get off to a good start in his heat running 10.42 in Heat 10.

 

Amy Carhee (Schaumburg) was the only Illinois athlete to advance to the semifinal heats of the Girls 60 Meter Hurdles. Carhee ran 8.77 to finish second in Heat 3 and then had to wait 21 more heats to see if she would advance. She finished 21st overall in the prelims. She ran a personal best of 8.74 (IL #2 tie) to finish 19th overall.

 

Andrew Kinsman (Benton) had a best of 53-0 then fouled in his next two attempts as he was unable to advance out of his preliminary flight.

 

Illinois had a good meet in the Boys Pole Vault with Whitaker winning and Brauc an All-American placing sixth, Will Viken of Rolling Meadows cleared 15-5 to finish in a tie for 14th. Ryan Stiglic (Lincoln-Way West) also cleared 15-5 to place a tie for 18th. Jacob Soderstrom (Lockport) and Cooper Bowman (Minooka) both cleared 13-11.5. In the Girls competition, Reese Wolfe (Chatham-Glenwood) cleared a seasonal best of 11-5.75 (3.50m). Eva Bach (Lake Park) missed on all three attempts of 10-11.5.

 

Parris Hartley Jr. (Kenwood) had a best of 21-8.25 in the Long Jump. Alex Austin (Normal West) jumped 20-8.

 

In the Girls Triple Jump, Jordan Hamb (South Shore International) had a jump of 38-10.25 (IL #4) to finish 17th overall. Courtney Burt (Whitney Young) jumped 38-9.5 (IL #5) and tied for 18th place.

 

Illinois Highlights from Nike Indoor Nationals

 

Defending Class 3A State Champion Troy McLean (Belleville West) held his own in the Boys 400 Meter Dash. His time of 49.39 (IL #2) finished second in Heat 2 in the event. Mclean finished 17th overall in the preliminary heats.

 

Arion Hill (Centralia) just missed making the finals of the 60 Meter Hurdles. Hill ran 8.09 to finish second in Heat 3 to advance to the semis. Hill ran 7.96 finishing fifth in his semifinal heat and 12th overall. Jayln Cole (Belleville West) also advanced to the semis running 8.18 (IL #5) in his heat then 8.31 in the semis.

 

Kaneland’s Carson Kaiser had a great weekend in his first national high school national meet. Illinois runners finished third and fourth in the Freshman 1 Mile Run. Micah Weiss (Latin School) and Kaiser were within a second of winning their section. Weiss ended up running 4:23.18) to edge Kaiser and his 4:2320 time. Kaiser came back the next day to compete in the Emerging Elites 2 Mile Run. He finished ninth overall in the race timed at 9:20.38 (IL #4).

 

Brandon Missey (Belleville West) jumped 21-10.75 to finish 12th in the Boys Championship Long Jump. Shamond McLain (East St. Louis) had a 46-1.50 best to finish 12th in the Boys Championship Triple Jump.

 

Olivia Dalson (Neuqua Valley) had a good meet competing in both the Girls Championship and Emerging Elites Divisions. Dalson jumped 18-3.75 in the Girls Championship Long Jump. She came back to jump 37-5 (IL #8) to finish second in the Girls Emerging Elites Triple Jump.

 

Symone Holman (Joliet Catholic) ran well in both sprint events she competed in. Holman made it to the finals of the Emerging Elites 60 Meter Dash running 7.73 to place fourth overall in the preliminary heats, 5.50 to advance to the finals in the semis, and then ran 7.64 to finish third in the finals. Holman did run in the Emerging Elites 200 Meter Dash running 25;34 in her heat.

 

Jane Lynch (Loyola Academy) doubled in two Emerging Elites distance events. Lynch ran 11:00.94 (IL #6) to finish fourth in the 2 Mile Run. She came back to run 5:00.38 (IL #5) to finish fifth in the 1 Mile Run. Abby Lewis (Barrington) ran 2:18.00 to finish fifth in the final section of the Emerging Elites 800 Meter Run. Lewis finished 13th overall.

 

Zion Young (Maroa-Forsyth) had a great competition in the Emerging Elites Shot Put. She unleashed a 40-5.50 mark (IL #2) to place third overall. Young after that had three more marks over 39 feet. Noelle Hunt (Champaign Centennial) had a 17-0 jump to finish 18th in the Emerging Elites Long Jump.Katie Kostro (Rosary) cleared 5-3 in the Girls Championship High Jump.