By Mike Clark

CHARLESTON — South Shore sophomore Jordan Hamb and Young junior Angelena Bullocks had their teams in uncharted and familiar territory, respectively, Saturday at the IHSA girls track and field finals.

Hamb won two titles and three medals at O’Brien Field as the Tars finished second in Class 2A with 46 points, 17.5 behind winner Normal U-High. It was the first state trophy in any sport for what is formally known as South Shore International, though predecessor school South Shore won five girls track trophies in the 1980s.

Bullocks earned four medals to lead Young to third place in Class 3A with 49 points, just behind winner Prospect (53) and runner-up Huntley (50). It’s the third state trophy for the Dolphins, all since 2021.

The team trophy is particularly meaningful for Hamb, who won the 2A triple jump at 37-3.25 and the 100 hurdles in 14.27 while taking third in the 200 with a PR of 24.71.

“For people to be able to say I put South Shore on the map — and it’s other girls too, it’s not just me — it’s a booster,” Hamb said. “I didn’t know how South Shore used to be. Now I’m (helping to) bring South Shore back on the map and bringing them back up step by step. It’s like, wow. This is how much potential our team had and we never used it.”

Junior Leah Smith also had a big day for the Tars, winning two medals and setting two PRs in the finals. She was runner-up in the 400 at 56.18 and sixth in the 200 at 24.99. Fellow junior Kylee Gardner joined Hamb in medaling in the triple jump, taking third at 36-11.

Bullocks was runner-up in both the 3A 200 (23.98) and 100 (11.76). She also joined fellow juniors Simone Bernard, Mia Seaton and Ella Sweatt on the runner-up 400 relay team (46.67). And Bullocks helped the Dolphins to fifth place in the 800 relay (1:39.60), joining Sweatt, Seaton and sophomore Kayla Riepe.

Bernard also was eighth in the 100 hurdles (14.54). Also contributing points for the Dolphins were triple jumpers Courtney Burt, a sophomore who took third in 38-8.75, and Layla Bonilla, a junior who was sixth in 38-1.5.

“I feel pretty good,” Bullocks said. “I came a long way from my freshman year and sophomore year. I can really say I did this with blood, sweat and tears.”
She was speaking literally too, having been spiked in her foot.

“I did get hurt, but I pushed through it,” Bullocks said. 

“I think she’s just really scratching the surface of her ability,” Young coach Philip Wallace said of Bullocks. “She’s really good at receiving technical (tips) and feedback so I just think she’s going to get better and better.”

The Dolphins didn’t have any seniors competing on Saturday, which bodes well for the future.

“We’re a young team,” Wallace said. “We’re really excited about the prospects for next year.”

Like Hamb, Bullocks was glad to see her and her teammates’ effort rewarded with the team hardware.

“It means a lot,” she said. “We all worked hard throughout the season. … I think we all deserved it.”

Bullocks embraced the challenge of competing against elite competition in the sprints, including Simeon’s Mariyah Robinson.

“I’m actually cool with all the girls, they’re all nice,” Bullocks said. “It gets me excited, we’re all so close to each other. They’re all amazing people to run with. Especially Mariyah, she’s amazing as a sophomore.”

Robinson scored all 22 points for Simeon, which finished 11th in 3A.

She was runner-up in the 400 (55.88) and third in both the 100 (11.97, after a PR of 11.70 in the prelims) and the 200 (a PR of 24.10).

“I felt good,” Robinson said. “I got pushed in the finals so it made me even better. … You never know what your opponent will bring the next day … so you’ve got to prepare mentally for that and know how to put up a fight.”

Kenwood tied for 16th in 3A with 14 points. Junior Kee’Lani Whitlock took fifth in the 100 (12.14, after a PR of 11.80 in the prelims) and seventh in the 200 (24.75). She also ran on the ninth-place 400 relay team (47.93), following Terrayn Robertson, Harmony Brown and Ariel Haynes. Brown added a fifth in the 400 (57.23).

Other local placers in Class 2A were Speer senior Brianna Stark (eighth, 400, 58.93), Payton freshman Kate Murray (ninth, 800, PR of 2:18.15), Hyde Park freshman Kenya Johnson (ninth, 100, 12.53, after a PR of 12.39 in the prelims) and Prosser junior Kiemaria Jones (tied for ninth, high jump, 4-11).