Prairie State Athletes AAU JO Nationals First Report Rundown

Imani Carothers takes flight in her one of her signature events earlier this season (Milesplit IL/Mark Capapas file photo)

Humble, TX-

The final mass assault of track and field athletes actually began on 7/31 with the multi-events which happened to overlap with the USATF Junior Olympic Nationals which were held in Sacramento, California. Just like in California, the heat index played an important role in determining performances.

Key Illinois performances:

  • Savannah Long (Dekalb) advanced to the final of the girls 17-18 400 Intermediate Hurdles. The 3A state champion at 300IH won heat #4 with a personal best 1:01.80. Long has the second fastest qualifying mark among the 66 finishers.
  • Katelynne Hart, the freshman to be at Glenbard West, won her 800m prelim heat in 2:15.00.
  • Sanchez Rhodes (E, St. Louis Sr.) got the final spot to the 17-18 boys 800m when he ran 1:58.95
  • Plainfield North incoming freshman Marcellus Moore won his 14 year old session in the 100m clocking 11.33 (-2.1)
  • Seun Adeyiga (Homewood-Flossmoor) advanced to the boys 100m semi-final in 11.12 (-0.3)
  • Imani Carothers (Chicago Brooks Prep) earned a bronze All-American medal in arguably her best event- the long jump. Carothers leaped 19-4 in the 17-18 age group
  • Sarah Flight completed a solid first freshman year for Charleston in the high jump. The 14 year old placed 7th among her peers with a height of 5-3 and earned all-american honors