The two-time IHSA Class AA state champion Cahokia Comanches are loaded for bear once again in their quest for a “three-peat” state title. The battle will be on again as the Comanches and Metro East power East St. Louis will do battle once again to see who is the best boys’ track team in the state of Illinois.
The Comanches looked dominant last week in winning the Granite City Invitational. East Side was not competing at Granite City. Cahokia got first place finishes from senior Earnest Winters (100- and 200-meter dashes), junior Darien Donald (400) senior London Davis (shot put and discus), freshman Laderick Ward (long jump) as well as all three of the sprint relays. Ward also finished second in the high jump with a clearance of 6 feet 6 inches, trailing only Alton’s all-state performer Charlie Thomas’ winning height of 6-8. Ward appears to be the next great field event standout at Cahokia in the mode of former Cahokia star Kali Jackson, who was one of the top combination jumpers that the St. Louis area has ever produced. He is now competing at Johnson County Community College.
Cahokia and East St. Louis will meet up again on Friday at the Al Joyner Classic at Jordan Stadium in East St. Louis. That’s one that you don’t want to miss.
Festus on the run
The Henle Holmes Invitational featured many of the area’s top girls’ standouts at Parkway Central and they performed quite well, despite the cold and windy weather conditions. Festus standout Allyson Allison won the 800- and 1,600-meter runs in impressive times of 2 minutes 13.4 seconds in the 800 and 4:59.7 in the 1,600. Her teammate Brittany Borman finished first in the discus with a throw of 144-1. She finished second in the shot put with a heave of 40 feet 10 ½, trailing first place Jasmine Boyer (Fort Zumwalt South), who won the event with an impressive throw of 43-2 ½. Ladue’s Denisha Bennett won the 300-meter low hurdles while Eureka won the 4×800-meter relay in 9:57.4.
Siebert standouts
The individual standouts of the Connie Siebert Invitational at Rockwood Summit in the boys division were James Coleman of Marquette and Darwin Price of Normandy. These two state champions won two events with Coleman winning the shot put and discus and Price winning the 800 and 1,600.
In the girls division, the Cardinal Ritter youngsters put on a impressive display in finishing second with 92 points behind first-place Summit. The Lions are loaded with talented freshmen and sophomores and they performed well last weekend. Sophomore Hazaria Washington won the 400, freshman Antania McAllister won the 200 and freshman Ayeshia Ewing was second in the 100. Junior Lacee Scott won the triple jump while junior Alexys Plummer was second in the 300-meter low hurdles. The Lions also swept the 4×100, 4×200, and 4×400-meter relays. These young Lions bear watching as we get closer to the postseason meets next month.
Track meets
There are a host of excellent track meets on tap for the next few days and into the weekend. The Al Joyner Classic will be held on Friday at East St. Louis, beginning at 4 p.m. Metro-east powers East St. Louis and Cahokia will highlight the all-boys field. The Fred Lyon Invitational all boys meet will be held today at Parkway North, beginning at 4 p.m. The Alton Invitational will take place this afternoon at 4 p.m. The all-girls meet will feature the likes of East St. Louis, Edwardsville and the host Redbirds. The Connie Strobach Invitational, an all-girls meet hosted by Ladue, will be held at CBC today and Friday, beginning at 4 p.m. The Parkway West Invitational, an all girls meet, will be held on Friday (beginning at 4 p.m.) and Saturday (beginning at 10 a.m.). On Saturday, Kirkwood High will host the Dale Collier Invitational, which begins at 9 a.m. The meet features both boys and girls.