Akinosun, Rakosnik make big impression
BLOOMINGTON — She runs with such ease and grace that it almost looks as if Waubonsie Valley senior Morolake Akinosun isn’t running that fast at all. The next sounds you hear are the ooohs and ahhhs of the crowd when her mind-blowing times pop up on the scoreboard.
Such was the performance of the Illinois-bound Akinosun at the Illinois Prep Top Times meet at the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday.
During the prelims of the 55-meter dash, Akinosun blazed to a meet record and tied for the fastest indoor time in the country after clocking a modest 6.81. Then, in the finals, she popped off a stunning 6.76 to tell the rest of the country what Illinois already knows — she’s pretty good.
“I felt like it was a good race for me,” said Akinosun with what is quickly becoming a signature smile. “I wanted to come down here and run fast times and get the records and I am so happy I could do that today.”
Akinosun was far from finished. In the 200, Akinosun made quick work of the field winning in a staggering 23.91 — that time would have put her eighth in the Class AAA boys 200.
Akinosun earned female athlete of the meet honors. But as improbable of a performance as Akinosun had, she was nearly outdone by Glenbard East senior Lindsey Rakosnik, who shared the award with Akinosun.
Akinosun dominated the sprints and Rakosnik did her part to dominate the distance events. In the 800, Rakosnik took over early in the race and never looked back winning in a very impressive time of 2:12.38 — nearly an 8-second drop from her seed time.
Then, in the 1,600, Rakosnik showed no ill effects of running a fast 800 as she tamed a star-studded field, winning in another personal-best 4:56.86, just ahead of Hoffman Estates senior Haley Goers.
“I could feel the burn a little in the mile, but I knew I had to fight through it so it wasn’t too bad,” Rakosnik said. “I am happy with my times and am very excited to start running outdoors.”
Another record-setting performance came from the Glenbard West 3,200-relay. The team of Emma Reifel, Maddie Nagle, Katie Born and freshman Julia Sakach blazed to a state-best 9:18.77, just ahead of Downers Grove South (9:23.10) and Downers Grove North (9:25.10).
“I just wanted to do my part to help my teammates,” Sakach said. “Everyone ran their best and I wanted to go out and run the best I could to get the win.”
Not many people at the Shirk Center may have known who Warren freshman Brittny Ellis was before the Class AAA 400. But afterward, now the whole state does. Ellis wasted little time in her first performance on the big stage as she raced right to the front. As she passed the field to the front she proceeded to hang on and win in a personal-best 55.72.
Another stellar performance came in the shot put from Conant senior Jennifer Donnell. After not having thrown over 40 feet before, Donnell turned her midweek throwing success into a near state title. Her school- record mark of 41 feet, 4 inches was good enough for a second-place finish to Batavia’s Haleigh Theurekauuf (41-8).
“Up until a week ago I didn’t think I had a throw like that in me,” Donnell said. “I had just changed things in my technique and I threw 40 this week but didn’t think I could do it again today.”
A converted 400 meter runner, Kayla Wolf of Burlington Central may have found a new calling. Wolf ran the AA girls 800 as a grizzled veteran. She took the lead early then never looked back, winning in a personal-best 2:18.84.
“I know my coach would love me to run the 800,” Wolf said. “I use this to get ready for the 400 so we will see what happens.”
If she does move to the 400, Wolf would have to deal with Carmel senior and Arkansas-bound Megan Paul. Paul helped the Carmel 3,200-relay team move up six spots to second with a sizzling 2:16 anchor leg. She then battled Lindblom senior Shamier Little before settling for second in 57.29.
Other top girls performances included another Class AAA win in the 3,200 from Lake Park junior Kaylee Flanagan (10:29.02), Uzo Okoro of Hinsdale South earning the win in the triple jump (36-11.25), Emma Spagnola of West Aurora earning the 55 hurdles title (8.65) and Downers Grove South taking the Class AAA 1,600 relay in a season-best 4:03.70.