Zach Bradford traveled south to Texas to clear 17-2 in the Pole Vault (Laura Duffy Photo)

By Michael Newman

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I believe I missed something here. When we get to the beginning of April, it is supposed to warm up right?

Weather this past weekend across the state was runnable, throwable, jumpable. You were just getting cold doing this. The first weekend of “outdoor” track in Illinois did not put up state record performances. For the athletes that competed in state, it got them used to running four laps for a mile instead of the eight. It got them used to tactical running having to deal with the elements.

Some Illinois athletes traveled south and west and put up some good performances.

Here is a look at some of the highlights from this past weekend.

Texas Relays

Danville’s Ameia Wilson ended her indoor season winning the 60 Meter Dash at the Illinois Top Times Championships on March 24. One week later, Wilson stepped up slightly in distance to the 100 Meter Dash. If her race in this meet was any indication, good things ahead for this Danville runner.

Wilson made it to the finals of the Division II 100 Meter Dash by running a wind-aided (+2.5 mps) 11.84. It was close to the personal best of 11.80 that she ran three times in 2017. She bettered that in the finals. Again, the finals were wind-aided (+2.2 mps). She bettered her personal best by running 11.59 (US #5) to finish second overall.

Bloomington’s Zachery Bradford only had six attempts in the High School Section A Pole Vault but again went past 17-feet again. He opened at 16-8 clearing on his second attempt. That height apparently warmed him up as he cleared 17-2 on his first attempt. He missed on all three attempts at 17-8 as he tied for second with KC Lightfoot of Lee’s Summitt MO (US #4 tie). Sondre Guttornsen of Davis CA passed at the 17-8 height. He cleared 17-11 on his third event to win the event.

“This was the first outdoor “practice” I’ve had this season. Coming down to this warm weather beats the cold weather that we have right now in Illinois,” Bradford said. “I loved the competition with KC and Sondre. Jumping against competition like that always makes you jump higher. I was blowing through poles like crazy. I picked up three new poles yesterday and used one tonight.”

Charlie Parrish of Freeburg started out his outdoor season differently. He competed in the 2000 Meter Steeplechase for the first time in this meet. He finished third overall running 6:09.78 (US #5). It ended a good week where Parrish win the 3200 Meter Run at the Illinois Top Times Championships then finishing fourth in the 1600 Meter Run. Shanice Garbutt of Danville also started her outdoor season with a personal best. Garbutt ran 5:07.77 to finish 11^th overall in the 1600 Meter Run.

Stanford Invitational

Last week was spring-break for Naperville Central’s Thomas Shilgalis. He and his father decided to look at some colleges in California. While he was out there, he got the approval of his coaches and entered the 1600 Meter Run at the Stanford Invitational. He fared well running a personal best 4:18.42 to finish ninth overall on Saturday. Running a personal best early during the outdoor season could mean big things ahead for this junior over the next couple of months.

Whitney Young’s Girls team made the trip out west for spring break coming back with some good results. Amira Young ran 11.83 (IL #2) to win the finals of the 100 Meter Dash. Young was also a part of her team’s 400 Meter Relay that finished second in 48.52 (IL #2). Young and her teammates came back to run 4:06.61 (IL #2) in the 1600 Meter Relay.

Other Meet Notes across Illinois

Belleville West Girls Invitational – Homewood-Flossmoor was not at full strength in this meet, but still ran the fastest time in the state (47.92) to win the 400 Meter Relay. Edwardsville’s Laurie Cashdollar ran 2:20.67 (IL #1) in winning the 800 Meter Run.

Gene Shipley (Invitational) – Winds gusting over 25 mph helped/curtailed some performances in this meet. It helped Rock Island’s Courtney Lindsay in winning both sprint races. He ran a wind-aided 10.68 to win the 100 Meter Dash and then came back to run 21.94 to win the 200 Meter Dash. Lindsay also helped Rock Island win the 400 Meter Relay (43.92). Alleman’s Spencer Smith picked up two wins running 9:55.95 to win the 3200 Meter Run and 4:39.49 to win the 1600 Meter Run.

Mykedra Craig of Rock Island was also a double winner running 12.48 to win the Girls 100 Meter Dash and 26.15 to win the 200 Meter Dash.