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Tony Jones- Dyestat Illinois/ESPN RiSE
Class AAA Girls IPTT Meet Preview
The final indoor meet of 2009 is expected to be a good one. No, make it a barn burner from the sprints to the distances and on to the field. Apparently, the addition of another class did little to harm the overall talent stores or quality of Class 3A. If anything, it has tightened up from the bottom to the top. The IPTT Indoor Classic will have a ton of quality starpower: Lindsay Flanagan, Shakeia Pinnick, McKinzie Schulz, Natalie Tartar, and Jeronda Womack to name a few.
55m-
The field: Cessily Jones (Plainfield North), Jeronda Womack (Homewood-Flossmoor), Olivia Allen (Lake Zurich), Kellion Gordon (Chicago Mather), Natalie Tartar (Batavia).
Last year’s winner: Toni Graham (Hoffman Estates Conant) 7.00
All-time record: Shakedia Jones (Waukegan) 6.97- 1995 & 1997
Outlook: a good field here. Jones is just a freshman but had the past backing from pre-high school guru coach Tom Boatright. She is for real after posting some top marks this season. She has already tested herself against the best at Nike Indoor and took a few licks... but she is ready to tick again. But the story of the undercover season is Womack. The Knoxville, Tennessee transfer by the way of Kansas City, Missouri, has taken the Illinois circuit by storm with impressive runs from Day one. She is currently undefeated and has passed all tests from nearly all challengers. Still, she has to prove it one more time. Some stiff competition awaits from Allen, Gordon, and the always dangerous Tartar. Allen is just now getting her track legs back after a lengthy and successful basketball season. The senior has signed with Bradley University. Tartar is a hurdler by nature but can sprint with the best of them. Saturday will prove once and for all who is the queen of the short sprint.
55HH-
The field: Shanice Andrews (West Aurora), Shakeia Pinnick (Aurora Waubonsie Valley), Natalie Tartar (Batavia), Angela Negrete (Chicago Heights Bloom Twp.).
Last year’s winner: Shakeia Pinnick (Waubonsie Valley) 8.13
All-time record: Shalina Clarke (Evanston) 7.96- 2006
Outlook: will it be Pinnick or Tartar? Pinnick is defending champ with the top mark in the state. Tartar has the confidence knowing that she defeated Pinnick the last time they hooked in a major meet. This encounter will be billed the Third round. Negrete is an up and coming face on the scene after posting some impressive victories. She won the Charleston and Gene Armer Invites in successive weeks. Andrew has put up great times as well.
200m-
The field: Shakeia Pinnick (Waubonsie Valley), Cessily Jones (Plainfield North), Kellion Gordon (Mather), Raena Rhone (Chicago Whitney Young), Jeronda Womack (Homewood-Flossmoor).
Last year’s winner: Toni Graham (Hoffman Estates Conant) 24.94.
All-time record: Shakadia Jones (Wauconda) 24.57- 1997
Outlook: Pinnick has opted for the 200m instead of the 800m and it may prove costly. She will be coming back from the 400m on extremely tired legs. Secondly, the field is strong. Jones has the second fastest mark in the state and Gordon is just finding herself in a super sophomore year. The one-lapper isn't Womack's best event but she has room for improvement.
400m-
The field: Raena Rhone (Whitney Young), Shakeia Pinnick (Waubonsie Valley), Erica Miller (Geneva), Lena Busch (Loyola Academy), Iesha Newell (Thornton).
Last year’s winner: Shakeia Pinnick (Waubonsie Valley) 56.35
All-time record: Adia McKinnon (Homewood-Flossmoor) 55.09- 2000.
Outlook: Not a huge field in terms of numbers, but the overall times could be very fast. Pinnick has been the state's top long sprinter despite just dabbling in the event. She will have her hands full with Rhone. Rhone has run solid all season long and will look to dethrone the defending champ.
800m-
The field: McKinzie Schulz (Lisle Benet Academy), Lizzy Hynes (St. Charles East), Juliet Vogel (Lake Park), Alexis Sampson (Batavia).
Last year’s winner: Toni Ogundare (Aurora Waubonsie Valley) 2:14.04
All-time record: Stephanie Brown (Tri-Valley) 2:13.23- 2008
Outlook: The all- class record could be his history if the conditions are right. Schulz is the class of the field and has run 2:13 already (twice). Her dominance this season should continue. It isn't certain if Hynes will run the event. Vogel may get to the runner up spot.
1600m-
The field: Lizzy Hynes (St. Charles East), Elaine Kuckertz (Hinsdale Central), Amanda Whowell (Rolling Meadows), Hannah Worman (Hoffman Estates), Melissa Schmidt (Hoffman Estates), Olivia Jones (Buffalo Grove).
Last year’s winner: Ashley Verplank (Bloomington) 4:55.45
All-time record: Tera Moody (St. Charles) 4:54.0- 1998.
Outlook: Hynes, Kuckertz, and Whowell are the top three here. Assuming Hynes just runs the 4x8, she will have enough time to put up an valiant fight against Kuckertz (who will be fresh) and Whowell. Whowell has been running well this season, going virtually injury free this season. Hoffman Estates runners Worman and Schmidt will be in the mix.
3200m-
The field: Lindsay Flanagan (Roselle Lake Park), Heather Stevens (Hinsdale Central), Meghan Frigo (Elmhurst York), Lauren Zumbach (Hinsdale Central), Mallory Abel (St. Charles East).
Last year’s winner: Lindsay Flanagan (Lake Park) 10:34.83
All-time record: Maria Cicero (Elmhurst York) 10:17.85- 2001.
Outlook: Flanagan is 30 seconds better than her nearest competitor. Perhaps her best competition will be lapped runners. She could envision approaching a lapped runner as if they are in the lead. The humble Flanagan will only admit that she is going for the victory in her last indoor championship. Several athetes will challenge for second in Stevens, and Zumbach.
4x200m relay-
The field: Bolingbrook, Batavia, Maywood (Proviso East), Homewood-Flossmoor.
Last year’s winner: Hoffman Estates Conant 1:45.80
All-time record: Evanston 1:40.83
Outlook: Bolingbrook has the top mark but Homewood has been in more than to caree
4x400m relay-
The field: Lisle (Benet Academy), Batavia, Chicago (Whitney Young), Schaumburg.
Last year’s winner: Maywood (Proviso East) 3:58.95
All-time record: Chicago Morgan Park 3:53.68- 1996
Outlook: no one is taking down Morgan Park's record but it should be a event to watch. Benet is ranked #2 in the state at 4:03 and will look to take back the #1 mark.
4x800m relay-
The field: Benet Academy, Schaumburg, Whitmey Young, Hoffman Estates, St, Charles East, Geneva
Last year’s winner: Tinley Park (Andrew) 9:32.50
All-time record: Wheaton-Warrenville South 9:26.6- 1998
Outlook: there are some notables missing but the field is still strong. Benet is a favorite only if McKinzie Schulz is running. St, Charles East will battle with Schaumburg.
-Field Events-
High Jump-
The field: Elaine Patten (O’Fallon), Amanda Rafidia (Roselle Lake Park)
Last year’s winner: Elaine Patten (O’Fallon) 5-6
All-time record: Nora Weber (Canton) 5-10 1993
Outlook: Patten has entered the field to defend her championship. She will be opposed by Rafidia. There are several others at 5-4.
Long Jump-
The field: Kaniece Pitts (Oak Park-River Forest), Ashley Stacey (Thorton), Markesha Davis (West Aurora), Emani Sims (Glenbrook South).
Last year’s winner: Malaikah Love (Carbondale) 19-1
All-time record: Jasmin Jackson (Hillside Proviso West) 19-3.75 1997
Outlook: Pitts and Stacey are over 18-0 feet. Pitts has consistently jumped over 17-6 and two meets over 18-0.
Triple Jump-
The field: Tori Franklin (Downers Grove South), Kristin Morrison (Neuqua Valley), Ashley Stacey (Thornton).
Last year’s winner: Amanda Caines (Evanston) 38-2.25
All-time record: Lyshaya Stokes (S. Holland Thornwood) 40-2 1999
Outlook: Franklin has been enjoying the change of scenery... she is enjoying the top mark all season. Morrison has been a mainstay for the past few years.
Pole Vault-
The field: Megan Weller (Lincoln Way East), Allie Pace (Geneva), and Bizzy Mellardo (Fremd).
Last year’s winner: Jenna Wexler (Lincoln-Way Central) 12-0
All-time record: Brittany Bernardoni (Batavia) 12-6 2006
Outlook: a top notch field here anchored by Weller. It just seems like the top vaulters come from south suburbs. Weller is another one from that area,
Shot Put-
The field: Brittany Smith (Oak Park-River Forest), Precious Ogunleye (Hoffman Estates), Emily Gruendel (Prospect).
Last year’s winner: Daniella Bunch (Mahomet-Seymour) 47-2
All-time record: Daniella Bunch (Mahomet-Seymour) 47-2 2008
Outlook: There is no Dani Bunch to watch. That's because she is in Class 2A. Smith is the top choice without the Palatine throwers. The field at the top is wide open. |
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