There is some pretty hot track and field action going on in the Metro East this season, with Edwardsville, Cahokia and East St. Louis leading the way.
Edwardsville and Cahokia highlighted last weekend’s Winston Brown Invitational at Edwardsville. The host Tigers won the meet with 175 points, followed by Cahokia’s 128. It was a battle of Illinois state champions from last season.
Edwardsville junior A.J. Epenesa continued his brilliance in the discus by uncorking a throw of 206 feet 5 inches, which is now the best throw in the country this spring. It was also the second best throw in the history of the state of Illinois. The Tigers also got a big day from junior Travis Anderson, who swept the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter low hurdles. He also ran a leg on the Tigers’ first-place 4×100-meter relay. Edwardsville also won the 4×200-meter relay.
Cahokia was led by star jumper Ja’Mari Ward, who won the long jump with an effort of 24 feet 4 ¾ inches and the triple jump with an effort of 47-9. Ward also won the 200-meter dash and finished second in the 100. The Comanches also won the 4×400 and 4×800-meter relays.
Meanwhile, East St. Louis displayed some firepower at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence over the weekend. The Flyers swept the 4×100-, 4×200 and 4×400-meter relays in dominating fashion. East Side put down a time of 41.7 seconds in the 4×100 and 1:26.9 in the 4×200. They ran a 3:20.49 in the finals of the 4×400, but posted a time of 3:18.1 in the prelims.
Hazelwood Central girls dominate at Ladue
Hazelwood Central’s girls put on a show in winning the team championship at the Phil Brusca/Connie Strobach Invitational at Ladue. The Hawks were especially dominant in the sprints and hurdles. Defending state champion Destiny Nash won the 400-meter dash. Senior Symiah Fulton won the 100-meter high hurdles while senior Devyn Torbert won the 300-meter low hurdles. Deja Ingram finished first in the 200 and the Hawks also swept the 4×100- and 4×200-meter relays. The Hawks will be a force to be reckoned with come postseason time.
On the boys side, senior Lawan Alade-Fa of Hazelwood Central was an individual standout at Ladue, winning the 100 and 400. Alade-Fa turned in a winning time of 48.7 seconds in the 400. Chris Cleghorn of Pattonville won the long jump with a personal best of 23 feet 8 inches. Alvin Thompson of Cardinal Ritter won the triple jump with an effort of 46-1.
The Lafayette Lancers controlled all of the distance events. They won the 4×800-meter relay with an impressive time of 7 minutes 55.87 seconds. Standout Dylan Quisenberry won the 1,600-meter run with a 4:17.17, edging teammate Devin Meyer, who posted a time of 4:18.6. Adam Haines won the 3,200 in a time of 9:24.96 while teammate Nassim Oufattole was second.
Fred Lyon Invitational
It was a good day for the host Parkway North Vikings at the Fred Lyon Invitational. Sprinter Jermaine Holt was the 200 in 22.12 while freshman David Buckner won the 300-meter intermediate high hurdles. Freshman Jalani Williams was second in the 110-meter high hurdles while the Vikings were first in the 4×200 and 4×400 and second in the 4×100.
Senior Daniel Morris of Fort Zumwalt East was a double-winner in the 100 and 110-meter high hurdles. Derick Clemons of Eureka took home a first-place medal in the 400.
What’s on tap
The Marion-Freeman Clayton Invitational will be held on Saturday at Gay Field, beginning at 10 a.m. The Victoria Reaves Invitational will be held on Saturday at Parkway South. It is one of the top all-girls’ meets in the area. The Kimball-Wintermeyer Invitational will be held at Eureka on Thursday and Friday.
