By Michael Newman

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Pre-meet team favorites Naperville North and Homewood-Flossmoor had their ups and downs in the 3A prelims Friday afternoon. The two schools still appear to be the teams to beat when the finals begin Saturday morning.

Both schools will have three entries in the four relays on Saturday. Hinsdale Central had the fastest qualifying time in the 3200 Meter Relay as they ran 9:16.11 to win Heat 2. Barrington won Heat 1 (9:16.91) while Downers Grove South came from way back to win the third heat (9:17.60) ahead of a surprising Glenbard East (9:18.97) that was eight seconds faster than their previous best. Naperville North finished third in that heat (9:22.47) but could have Claire Hill and Hannah Ricci in that lineup on Saturday.

Homewood-Flossmoor made a statement in winning their heat in the 400 Meter Relay with the state’s fastest time (46.71). The next closest school is Kenwood Academy that ran a season’s best of 47.21. Three teams ran under 1:41 in the 800 Meter Relay. Two of them were Homewood-Flossmoor and Naperville North. Dekalb won their heat (1:40.29) just ahead of Naperville North (1:40.84). Homewood-Flossmoor ran 1:40.33 in heat before that with both Proviso West and Wheaton North under 1:42.

Naperville North had the fastest time in the 1600 Meter Relay prelims running 3:55.26 just ahead of Homewood-Flossmoor (3:56.85). 11 teams ran under 4:00 in the event. Only nine team advanced.

The distance races in 3A look to be must watch races Saturday afternoon. Six runners qualified in each of the 1600 Meter Run heats. Katelynne Hart of Glenbard West slowly pulled away from the pack in winning her heat in 4:51.79 four seconds ahead of Barrington’s Jocelyn Long (4:55.91). Enyaeva Michelin used a strong final last 300-meters to distance herself from Naperville North’s Sarah Schmitt to win the second heat in 4:50.46. Schmitt ran a huger personal best of 4:51.82 to finish second. 7 of the 12 qualifiers ran under five-minutes. Michelin earlier qualified in the 800 Meter Run with the fastest prelim time (2:11.44). Mikenna Robinson of Neuqua Valley (2:14.07) and Madison Marasco of Schaumburg (2:15.44) were the other heat winners.

Amira Young of Whitney Young is looking for her third straight title in the 100 Meter Dash. She’s on her way after running the fastest prelim time (11.80) to lead all qualifiers. Her win in her heat was just four hundredths of a second ahead of surprising Taylor Gilling of Highland Park (11.84). Taylor Tilmon of Lakes Community, Nya Carr of Buffalo Grove, Ameia Wilson of Danville, and Ozzy Erewele of Springfield were the other heat winners. Erewele had the third fastest time (11.92). Gilling led all qualifiers in the 200 Meter Dash running a quick 24.16. Ameia Wilson ran 24.17 to win her heat. All the 200 finalists ran under 25 seconds with Mikenna Robinson, who had earlier qualified in the 800, the final runner into the finals at 24.97.

Dajour Miles of West Aurora scratched out of the 100 Meter Dash prelims to concentrate just on the 400 Meter Dash. Miles suffered an injury in her sectionals. It did not show as the junior ran 54.77 to lead all the 400 finalists. Taylor Tilmon of Lakes Community is the closest to Miles running 55.25 to win her heat.

Lauren Ferguson of Springfield was the surprise fastest qualifier in the 300 Hurdles. Her time to win Heat 1 (44.54) was ahead of Nicole Nguyen of Wheeling (44.84) and defending champion Halle Bieber of Naperville North who ran 44.93 to win her heat. Bieber also qualified in the 100 Meter Hurdles with the third fastest time. Homewood-Flossmoor’s Kaylah McCall ran 14.19 to lead all qualifiers ahead of Belleville West’s LaQwasia Stepney (14.30).

Stepney and Raelyn Robinson of Glenbrook South share the lead in the Long Jump after the prelims. Both jumped 19-4.25. Ameia Wilson’s jump of 19-00.25 is currently in third. Neuqua Valley freshman Riley Ammenhauser jumped 40-0.25 for the lead after the prelims of the Triple Jump. Isabel Maletich of Downers Grove North jumped 38-6.50 and is currently in second.

Jasmine Mitchell of Thornwood has a three-foot lead heading to Saturday’s finals of the Shot Put. Mitchell’s best was 45-10 with Bloomington’s Ellie Weltha in second (42-10.50). Mitchell also leads the Discus (147-8) by nine feet ahead of Maine West’s Alisa Fallon (138-6).

11 athletes cleared 5-4 to advance to the finals of the High Jump. 13 athletes cleared 10-9 to make it to Saturday’s finals in the Pole Vault.