Gene Armer Invitational Preview
The 31st Annual Gene Armer Invite is going to play out on several fronts at the University of Illinois-Champaign’s Armory. From a team perspective, on the girls side there will be a showdown between Chicago Public League powers Lane Tech, Morgan Park, and Whitney Young. Whitney Young has already established themselves as a team on the verge of being dominant once the outdoor season commences. The Dolphins have dominated their competition much of the undercover season. Morgan Park is the pre-eminent program of Illinois and certainly of Chicago. The Mustangs have stumbled upon hard times recently, but have appeared to have come out of their slumber after posting some incredible returns this season. Add Bolingbrook, Rolling Meadows, and Chicago Heights Bloom Township to the team mix. On the boys side, Rolling Meadows will look to defend their Gene Armer Championship from 2008, while Waubonsie Valley will look to avenge its one point loss to the Mustangs. Add into the mix a Jeff Thode lead Conant team, as well as the Public Leagues most dominant boys team, Lane Tech.
The Gene Armer Invitational will be critical for some teams and individuals trying to qualify for next week’s Illinois Prep Top Times championship. Invites will go out to provisional qualifiers if fields are not full.
BOYS PREVIEW
GIRLS PREVIEW
Running events-
55HH-
Bloom sophomore Angela Negrete has quietly moved herself among the elite hurdlers this season. She won the title at Charleston EIU Invite last weekend over a solid field that featured E. St. Louis’ Timeka Watkins and Cahokia’s Lequitsha Bejoile. Expect Negrete to have an easier time this time over a much less than impressive field.
55m-
Idia Omogiate (Lane Tech) has been extremely quiet this indoor season. After posting some of the fastest marks in ’08, she has yet to surface and show why she is supposed to be one of top sprinters this season. This is possibly her final chance to do just that. Morgan Park’s Tiffany Edwards on the other hand has put up impressive marks all season long and that trend should continue. Ashley Roche of Triad will be among the favorites as will Mercedes Griffin of Bolingbrook. Lakendra Howse of Chicago Vocational makes her big meet debut for 2009.
200m-
The one-lapper will feature strong short sprinters Ashley Roche (Triad), Jenna Loynachan (St. Charles North), Lakendra Howse (Chicago Vocational), and Samantha Horton (Bolingbrook). Horton and Roche are the favorites here.
400m-
Whitney Young’s Raena Rhone has enjoyed a solid season with several great marks. Rhone currently has the 4th fastest time this season (59.14). She will be opposed by Danville’s Destiny Carter, who is one of the top long sprinters Carter in Class AA. Carter has clocked 1:01.01 this season. Relay specialist Breonna Green of Morgan Park gets a crack to compete in the open event.
800m-
Amanda Whowell (Rolling Meadows) and Devyn Thompson (Whitney Young) come with equal marks of 2:23.34. Whowell is a miler and Thompson a half-miler, so it will be interesting to see how things will play out. But don’t forgot about Bolingbrook’s Jahnell Horton. The freshman standout will make her high school debut in this event. She posted an eye-popping 2:15 in the junior high ranks.
1600m-
Whowell is not entered here but the field will be strong. Marie O’Leary (Normal Community), Christina Gastfield (Rolling Meadows), and Whitney Young’s Lavinia Jurkiewicz are strong milers. O’Leary is just short of the AAA IPTT qualifying mark of 5:21.84. She has run an oh-so close 5:22.07. Gastfield is a two-miler but will step down in an attempt to improve on her shorter distance prowess.
4x200m relay-
Bolingbrook has the top mark this season after posting a swift 1:46.74 at Downers Grove South Relays earlier in the month. The Raiders appear to have all of their top personnel back now that basketball season is over. Bloom Twp is capable of running faster than the 1:50.50 from last week. Add in Whitney Young, Morgan Park, Danville, and perhaps Springfield Southeast, this event has the potential to produce some real fast marks.
4x400m relay-
Will Morgan Park and Whitney Young stack this event? They are among the fastest in the state. Young’s Rhone will most likely be on duty as will Thompson. Morgan Park could counter with Cianna Tabb and Tiffany Edwards somewhere among the quartet. Bloom is expected to line up a solid foursome.
4x800m relay-
Whitney Young is the team to beat here, but they may not even line up their A-team because they have one of the fastest times in the state- and an IPTT qualifying mark. Bloom, St. Charles North and Lane Tech could duke it out for top honors. Bloom would be the choice should Young waver.
Field Events-
High Jump-
Pick your poison here. The field isn’t spectacular but there are a few consistent five-foot jumpers among the bunch. Lane Tech’s Brittany Jones fits the bill and if she can ward off the stress once she clears 5-0, the opportunity of a lifetime awaits her. Imy Bullock of Champaign Centennial awaits the challenge though.
Pole Vault-
Shelby Stevenson (Urbana) appears to be the favorite here with a best of 9-6.
Long Jump-
Elisabeth Forte (Whitney Young) has the top mark of 17-9. However, she hasn’t been jumping well of late. Forte hasn’t been near her season best in a while. Hopefully, she can get un-tracked in the spacious Armory.
Triple Jump-
Not a stellar field here. Tricia Gall (Triad) is the favorite.
Shot Put-
Jasmine Jefferson (Kankakee) and Samantha Owens (Decatur Eisenhower) will battle it out for top honors.
BOYS PREVIEW
Running Events-
55HH- Conant's Kyle Reid comes into the meet with the top seed time. Reid, who will also score points in the pole vault, won the York Invitational two weeks ago and is looking to solidify his entry for the Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Classic. Reid will be pushed by Waubonsie Valley's Mike Schmelzel and Bradley Bourbonais' Phillip Caddell. Bryan Mills from St. Charles North could sneak in for a top three finish.
 55 Dash- Bobby Collins from Waubonsie Valley stands out in this field, but not by much. Look for Class A sprinter David Thomas of North Shore Country Day to challenge for the title. Thomas has been unchallenged this season and will fair well against the bigger schools. Chris Kyles of Lane Tech is a returning all-stater who has been quiet early this indoor season. Look for him to break out in Urbana. Jon Stoesser of Rolling Meadows and Marcus Harris of Normal will also be in the mix.
200- Corey Hammon of Illini Bluffs is a top Class A sprinter and has proven himself in the past. He'll be challenged by Mike Wright of Kankakee and Jade Ackerman of St. Thomas Moore. Clemente's Cornelius Vardaman has the top seed time with a 22.70, but that has yet to be proven to be legitimate.
400- Hammon will face off against Reid in the 400. Both will be outside their comfort zone as Hammon, the 200 runner, steps up while Reid, a 300 Hurdler, will challenge. Donald Carson of Kankakee and Steven Begando of Sacred Heart Griffin will be there if the two fade down the homestretch.
800- Max Clink of St. Charles North has the leading time of 1:58 and could run away with it. A challenge could come from Rolling Meadows Junior Angelos Karkalis. Karkalis ran 2:02 in the RM fieldhouse earlier this season, and will look to better that time in the Armory. Jersey's Ryan Todd also has posted a 2:02. If you're looking for a darkhourse in this race, keep your eye on Whitney Young Sophomore Julian Deville. Deville has been concentrating on the shorter races this indoor season and will be running the 800 for the first time this season. If he can control his pace early in the race, the City indoor champ in the 400 will be in the mix at the end.
 1600- This race will feature defending chmpions from each class. Jeff Thode, the AA champ in 2008, will face off against Peter Callahan, the Class A champ. Thode ran 4:14 two weeks ago at York and will use this meet as a tune up for the Indoor Classic while Callahan will use it as a culmination of his indoor season. Todd VanKerkhoff of St. Charles North will look to improve on his 4:28.
4 x 200 Relay-
Kankakee comes in with the top seed time with a 1:28, while the rest of the field is close. 1.2 seconds seperates the 2nd through 6th seeded teams, including Lane Tech, Champaign Central, Triad, Urbana, and Normal. That quintet could push themselves towards the Kays, so long as there are clean exchanges.
4 x 400 Relay-
Once again , Kankakees' seed time stands out with a 3:21. Waubonsie Valley and Rolling Meadows will face off here in the final event, most likely with the team title on the line. Lane Tech and Urbana could disrupt that meeting.
4 x 800 Relay-
The initial race of the meet could be one of the better ones as St. Charles North looks to go sub 8:00, while Conant at 8:13, Waubonsie Valley at 8:15, and Lane Tech at 8:20 will be right behind them.
Field Events
Long Jump-
Central A & M's Bryce Hogan is a proven jumper and his leading seed jump of 21'-2.5" proves it. Lane Techs Demetrius Williams is only 4 inches behind Hogan and will challenge for the title. Also look for Ricky Walls to gain valuable team points for Waubonsie Valley.
Triple Jump-
JJ Jones of Triad has the only plus 45 foot jump in Champiagn this weekend, and will be challenged by Whitney Young's Jon Gardner. Long Jump favorite Hogan will attempt to challenge for the TJ title as well.
 Pole Vault-
The question here is how high can Mick Viken go? After vaulting 16' + early in February, Viken suffered a mild ankle sprain and was forced out of competition. The result of this injury was a 16'-7.5" vault to win the Windy City Pole Vault Summit. That is a true testment to Viken's work ethic. Conant's Kyle Reid has vaulted 15 feet and will try to come closer to Viken at this meet. Notably absent from this meet is Olympia's Alex Freshour.
High Jump-
Brandon Phillips of Matoon is the favorite as he comes in with a jump of 6'-6". He will be challenged by St. Charles North's Andrew Carlson and Central A & M jumping specialist Bryce Hogan.
Shot Put-
This could be an interesting competition, as four throwers here are over the 51 foot mark. Chris Dubree of Olympia has the leading seed mark with a toss of 52'-0". Rolling Meadows' Erick Louis-Charles and Waubonsie's Andrew Szott both are vying for team points, while Brandon Noe of St. Thomas Moore will be seeking to gain respect against larger school teams.
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