Sizzling relays, Montgomery double electrify crowd; 6 teams vying for team title

By Michael Newman

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Charleston, Ill --- The officials may have to bring a contractor in overnight to fix some of the buckling that occurred on the O’Brien Stadium track Friday afternoon during the 3A preliminaries. It was one of the fastest preliminary days for sprint events in recent history as some eye-boggling times took place.

It started in the 4 x 100 Meter Relay. Seven teams ran under 42 seconds setting up what should be a great final. Edwardsville recorded the event’s fastest time (41.52) holding an equally fast York squad (41.52). The closest team is only five hundredths back. Bloomington, who only has one senior in its quartet, ran a seasonal best 41.57 to win Heat 1.

There was problems in this event as four teams were disqualified. It started when Bloom Township false started in Heat 1. Lake Forest and Schaumburg made exchanges outside of the zone and were disqualified. Both teams had times that would have advanced to the finals.

The disqualification of Schaumburg made their squad just a little more hungry in the 4 x 200 Meter Relay. The Saxons ran the fastest time in the state (1:26.08 to win Heat 4 of the event. Thornton (1:26.65) and York (1:26.67) have the next two fastest times. Thornton relays could take a hit after Cavion Clanton aggravated a hamstring injury that he got a week ago at sectionals in a heat of the 100 Meter Dash.

Nine squads ran under 3:20 to qualify for Saturday’s final of the 4 x 400 Meter Relay. Sectional leader East St. Louis-Senior opened up close to a 60 meter lead heading into the final exchange. They passed the line in an incredible 2:25 putting them on pace to run possibly under 3:15. The Flyers’ Herbert Molton shut it down cruising across the line in 3:17.01. They will save the chance of getting the state record until Saturday’s finals.

The individual performance in the 3A meet on this day belonged to Kahmari Montgomery (Plainfield Central HS). It looked like the junior was in a jog the last 50 meters in his heat of the 400. In fact, he ran the state’s fastest time (47.37) easily winning. The chances are good that he could possibly go under 47 seconds in Saturday’s finals. Montgomery came back in the first heat in the 200 and made a proclamation that no one was going to beat him in that event either. He ran the 21.29 to run the fastest time in 3A this year. The 200 field was also extremely fast. John Hader (Maine South HS, Park Ridge was the last runner to advance to the finals (21.76). Treston Forbes (St. Rita HS, Chicago) missed qualifying by one hundredth of a second.

The team title is up for grabs with four time defending champion Lake Park along with York, Edwardsville, and Neuqua Valley all advancing eight to Saturday’s final. Downers Grove North and Thornton are next with seven.

Other highlights

Marcus Jegede (Lake Park HS, Roselle) scratched out of the Long Jump to concentrate on the triple Jump. That move paid off as he has the lead after the prelims of the Triple Jump. His jump of 48-4 ¾ is more than two feet ahead of Chris Ehimwenman (Rock Island HS). Elijah Douglas (Crete-Monee HS) was the surprise leader after the prelims of the Long Jump. His jump of 23- ¼ is only two inches ahead of second place Jonathan Wells (Grant HS, Fox Lake). Defending champion Cole Henderson currently stands in fifth place.

Henderson got off to a trademark fast start in winning his heat of the 100 Meter Dash. His time of 10.64 is only two hundredths ahead of Scotty Miller (Barrington HS).

The distance prelims set up what will be an exciting day on Saturday. Patrick Perrier (O’Fallon HS) ran a controlled 4:14.11 to have the fastest prelim time in the event. He led six runners to times 4:17 or under. He will be challenged by Jesse Reiser (McHenry HS), who won his heat (4:16.60) just ahead of Zach Dale (Conant HS, Hoffman Estates). Alex Bashqawai (York HS, Elmhurst) sprinted past Peter Cotsirilos (New Trier HS) to win his heat (4:15.67).

Matt Anyiwo (Homewood-Flossmoor HS) looked around at the finish line of his heat in the 800 Meter Run. His preliminary time (1:54.85) was the fastest in the event. Anyiwo also qualified in the 400 Meter Dash less than 30 minutes later. Five teams ran under 7:50 to set up a great final in the 4 x 800 Meter Relay. Sandburg won heat 2 with the state’s fastest time (7:46.53).

The Shot Put will be hotly contested. Martinus Mitchell (Collinsville HS) set a personal best with a 61- ¾ put in the prelims. He has over a six inch lead ahead of second place Kyrin Tucker (Normal West HS). Stephen Hubona (Benet Academy, Lisle) let loose a 185-1 on his second attempt to take a commanding lead in the Discus. His lead is close to 16 feet ahead of second place Ricky Hurley (Cary-Grove HS). All of his throws were over 175 feet.

The hurdles should be hotly contested. Craig James (Edwardsville HS) ran the fastest prelim time (14.16) in the 110 Meter High Hurdles. Antonio Sheanult (Lake Park HS, Roselle) and Ti’fonte Hunt (Thornton HS, Harvey) are within a tenth of a second of James. Imani Payton (North Lawndale Prep, Chicago) was the only athlete under 38 seconds in the 300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles. His time (37.82) is 27 hundredths ahead of Conor Dunham (St. Ignatius Prep, Chicago).