Sprint-oriented events are the bread and butter of track and field whether you like it or not.  There are a lot of coaches that will build their teams around just a handful of talent because points can be racked up very quickly in a state final setting.  This year’s crop of talent will be wide spread forcing the power broker leaders to rethink plans of over-taxing their star athletes.  We didn’t even factor in the play of relays to the mix.   It will be quite interesting to see how the season will transpire in April and May.

Events: 100m, 400m, 200m, 100H, 300H

100m-
2012 State Champion: Erica Dynes (Kewanee [Weathersfield]) 12.10 [+3.6]
Key returners: Danielle Crawley (Jr., Sherrard), Jessica Jump (Sr., Edwardsville [Metro-East Lutheran]), Amelia Glueck (Jr., Tremont), Ariel Gibbs (Jr., Momence).
Outlook: the versatile Crawley placed second in last year’s final to Dynes by an eyelash 12.10-12.15; Dynes has graduated which leaves a clear path to the top of the podium for Crawley if no one steps up. Jump will have an opportunity to test Crawley on the runway in May after placing 5th.  Also, watch for defending long jump champion Glueck to improve her standing (8th).  Let’s add 400m specialist Mykel Adams from South Holland Seton Academy to mix.  She was a mainstay for the Sting all-state scoring 4×100 relay corps last year.

400m-
’12 State Champion: Rayanne Wright (Sr., Clifton [Central]) 56.94
Key returners: Wright, Amanda McClain (So., Sullivan), Jump, Sophie Fairman (Sr., Staunton), Mykel Adams (Sr., South Holland [Seton Academy]), Megan Weichman (So., Teutopolis), Lindsey Hoffert (So., Manlius [Bureau Valley]).
Outlook: this deep returning field (7 all-staters) led by Wright, who produced the league’s only sub-57.00 effort, will be the one to chase. McClain wasn’t too far behind, though, and will be a tremendous threat to the crown. Add in the short sprinter Jump as well as Adams.  Adams will probably carry a full workload to secure team points, making her task here somewhat arduous.  Fairman (left, photo) is the fourth-fastest returner and will be a key cog in May.

200m-
’12 State Champion: Jessica Jump 25.43 [-1.9]
Key returners: Jump, Danielle Crawley, Briyanna Derosiers (So., Chicago [CICS/Longwood]), Chelsea Miller (Jr., Sessar Valier).
Outlook: Jump and Crawley will resume their battle this spring.  Of course there will be others to spoil the party.  Derosiers, an unknown coming out of the Chicago Public League, stunned the field to earn a 4th place finish. She should be in line to challenge for a top three spot this spring.

100HH-
’12 State Champion: Madison Renfro (Moweaqua [Central A&M]) 14.55 [+1.4]
Key returners: Miranda Meyer (Jr., Carterville), Devin Hasson (Jr., Rockridge), Olivia Ness (So., Monticello), Sara Fisher (Sr., Kewanee [Weathersfield]), Kailyn Corzine (Sr., Moweaqua [Central A&M]), Aubrie Carlisle (So., Carthage [Illini West]).
Outlook: Meyer returns after losing a very close battle to Renfro.  Hasson who placed 5th at state last year will be a worthy foe in a field not as deep as in past years.

300IH-
’12 State Champion: Taylor Adcock (Sr., Moweaqua [Central A&M]) 44.46
Key returners: Adcock, Devon Hasson, Molly Smith (Sr., Cambridge), Sara Fisher, Kailyn Corzine, Megan Craven (Jr., Pleasant Plains), Tauteum Rosentreter (Jr., Gillespie), Amelia Glueck.
Outlook: this event will be as loaded as a powder ked as 7 of 9 state finalists return including the champion Adcock.  There is a chance of Adcock clocking sub- 44.00 this season leading the charge in what could be the fastest ever Class A field.