One track and field state championship has come home to the metro east area over the weekend and there is a good chance that another will be coming back home after this weekend.
The East St. Louis Flyerettes won their first IHSA Class AA girls state championship last weekend in dominating fashion. Led by senior sprinting star Ronecia Nash, the Flyerettes scored 65 points and outdistanced the rest of the field at the state meet, which was held in Charleston, Ill.
It marked the 15th state championship won by legendary coach Nino Fennoy, who won the first 14 state titles at East St. Louis Lincoln.
Nash completed a stellar high school career by winning three individual state titles and anchoring the Flyerettes to a state title in the 4×100-meter relay. Nash won the 100- and 200-meter dashes as well as the 100-meter high hurdles. Nash posted winning times of 11.88 seconds in the 100, 23.86 in the 200 and 14.16 in the 100-meter high hurdles.
The UCLA-bound Nash then joined Chare’ Wilson, Chelsey Robinson and Deara McNeal to set a new state record in the 4×100 in 46.23.
The Flyerettes also received points from Robinson, who finished third in the 200, Timeka Watkins, who finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles and Brittney Brimmage, who finished sixth in the long jump. The team of Wilson, Robinson, Watkins and Philita Johnson finished second in the 4×200 while the 4×400 team finished ninth.
Belleville West junior Yolanda Suggs earned three All-State medals as she finished third in the 100, third in the 400 and fifth in the 200. Cahokia finished fifth in the 4×100 and sixth in the 4×200 while Alton’s Jessica Lenoir finished fifth in the 400. Edwardsville brought home a fifth-place medal in the 4×400.
The boys will take center stage in Charleston this weekend as the IHSA Class AA boys state championships heat up at Eastern Illinois University. Metro-east powers Cahokia and East St. Louis will battle for the state title for the fourth consecutive year.
East St. Louis won the state championship in 2005 while the Comanches responded with back-to-back state titles in 2006 and 2007. Both teams will be loading up the bus to Charleston this weekend after some dynamic performances at last week’s sectional meet at Belleville East.
Cahokia qualified individuals in seven events as well as its three sprint relays while the Flyers are taking individuals in six events as well as its three sprint relay teams. The Comanches are led by senior sprinter Earnest Winters (100, 200), junior Darien “Doc” Donald (200, 400), junior Kendrick McGrath (triple jump, high jump) and it’s brilliant 4×100 and 4×200-meter relay teams. The 4×100 team clocked a 41.1 (same as East Side) while the 4×200 unit turned in a time of 1:26.8.
East Side will be led by sprinter Javaughn Tabbs (100, 200, 400) and splendid junior hurdler Craig Appleton, the defending state champion in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Appleton turned in a sizzling time of 36.6 seconds in winning the sectional title in the event last weekend. The Flyers’ sprint relay teams are all threats to win state titles as well.
Talented athletes such as Roger Jones (Belleville East) and Mike Milton (Mascoutah) will also represent the metro east area this weekend.