Young’s Bullocks among record-setters, state champions at IHSA girls track state finals

By Mike Clark

This year, Angelena Bullocks’ tears after the Class 3A 100 meters at state were tears of joy.

The Young senior broke one of Illinois girls track’s iconic records on May 24, running 11.35 seconds en route to winning the 3A 100 at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Field.

Bullocks was one of three Public Leaguers to win titles, joining South Shore’s Jordan Hamb in the 2A 100 hurdles and Ag. Science’s Taya Rice in the 2A triple jump.

Morgan Park legend Alexandria Anderson set the old state-meet mark in the 100 at 11.41 in 2004. She still holds the all-time Illinois best of 11.2, set at the Thornwood Sectional in 2003. But no one has run faster at state than Bullocks, who was visibly emotional after the race.

“I know last year I was a little defeated by getting second place (in the 100),” she said. “Because second place is the first loser or whatever. So I’m finally able to get my moment and like, I just left my mark. I’m not going to be here next year obviously; I’m graduating in two weeks. I don’t know what else to say.”

Bullocks ran 11.76 in the 3A 100 last season to finish behind Glenwood’s Katelyn Lehnen (11.69) and ahead of Mariyah Robinson (11.97), who was then at Simeon. Robinson, now representing Homewood-Flossmoor, again was one place behind Bullocks this year at 11.56.

The pair have had some spirited battles over the years and Bullocks appreciates the competition supplied by Robinson.

“It’s actually been really good,” Bullocks said. “… She’s always the person that really just pushed me. Whenever I run against her, I feel the need like, I have to (push harder). Because she’s just an amazing runner.”

Later, Robinson barely held off Bullocks to win the 200, running 23.70 to the latter’s 23.72. Bullocks added a fourth-place medal in the 4×200 relay, teaming with Courtney Burts, Mia Seaton and Ella Sweatt to run 1:39.50.

Bullocks, who will continue her career at Minnesota, finished her career with 10 state medals — three at Westinghouse in her first two prep seasons and seven for Young the past two years.

The Dolphins just missed out on a trophy, finishing fourth with 46 points — one behind third-place St. Ignatius.

With one year left, Hamb owns seven state medals, including three titles; she won the 2A triple jump and 100 hurdles last season. She won the 100 hurdles this year in 13.99, was runner-up in the long jump (17-11.5) and finished fifth in the triple jump (37-7.75).

“It feels really good because I came and defended my (100 hurdles) title,” Hamb said.

Being the defending champ “made me work harder because of my (hamstring, back and quad) injuries,” she added. “All those injuries set me back so far.”

Like Young, South Shore just missed a trophy. The Tars were fifth with 35, one behind co-third-place finishers North Chicago and Southland Prep.

Ag. Science had never won a medal at state before, but Rice and teammate Nora McGuire combined for three this year.

Rice’s triple jump title capped a remarkable postseason. The junior won the Public League title two weeks before with a big PR of 37 feet, 6 inches; went more than a foot and a half farther (39-0.25) to win the Hillcrest Sectional and broke that PR in winning state at 39-5.

And she did all this without having a jump pit to practice on at Ag. Science.

“We’ve seen it a few times in practice,” Cyclones coach Jeff Niemiec said of the potential to surpass 39 feet. “We definitely knew it was in her.”

“That was crazy,” Rice said. “I knew I really wanted to be a state champ. That was definitely a goal I was working for all season. … I hope it will show other athletes at our school what’s possible.”

Other Public League individual placers in 3A were Young’s Layla Bonilla, who was fifth in the triple jump (38-6.25), sixth in the high jump (5-5.25) and sixth in the long jump (18-4.25); Kenwood’s Kee’Lani Whitlock, who took fourth in the 100 (11.87) and eighth in the 200 (24.96); Young’s Courtney Burt (third in the triple jump, 39-4.5) and Jones’ Samaya Butler-Bautista (ninth in the 100, 12.30).

In the 4×400 relay, Kenwood’s Carly Wiggins, Mya Williams, Ariel Haynes and Terrayn Robertson took sixth at 3:53.59 and Young’s Sweatt, Phoenix Higginbottom, Seaton and Kayla Riepe were eighth at 3:53.98.

Lane’s Antonina Leary, Amy Herzog, Ainsley Carter and Samantha Borg-Breen finished eighth in the 4×800 relay at 9:16.57.

Also placing from the Public League in 2A were South Shore’s Leah Smith, who was eighth in the 200 (25.60) and eighth in the 400 (58.07); South Shore’s Kylee Gardner (third in the triple jump, 38-1.25); Ag. Science’s McGuire (fifth in the long jump, 17-2.75) and Payton’s Kate Murray (seventh in the 800, 2:15.44).

Photos provided by IHSA

Angelena Bullocks