Cahokia, East St. Louis enjoying solid indoor track and field seasons

The dominant outdoor boys track and field program in the state for the past five years, the Cahokia Comanches are proving to be just as efficient during the 2016 indoor season.

Led by University of Missouri recruit Ja’Mari Ward, Cahokia athletes have posted the top performances in five Class 2A events thus far during the indoor season which concludes March 25-26 at the Illinois Top Times Indoor Track and Field Championships at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.

According to the most recent results posted by Illinois Top Times, Ward has the top Class 2A indoor performances in the long jump (24 feet 11 inches) and triple jump (48 feet 5 inches). The Comanches,, who won all four relays in taking its fifth straight Class 2A state crown last May, also have the top time in the 800 meter relay (1:31.5), 1,600 relay (3:23) and 3200 relay (8:03).

Ward also has the second best time in the 60 meter dash at 6.93 seconds, just behind Triad senior and DePaul University recruit Adam Nelson’s time of 6.91 seconds. Ward is second in the 200 meters at 22.23 seconds

Two other Cahokia athletes are also ranked in the top three their respective divisions. Senior Tyran Lyons has the third best time in the 400 meters (51.53 seconds) while senior Anthony McRoberts has the second best high jump in the state at 6 feet 10 inches.

Class 2A Girls

Headed to Western Illinois University next year, Triad senior Allison Richter has the best effort by any Class 2A athlete in the shot put with a throw of 42.2 inches. The throw came on Feb. 20 at the Triad Knight Invitational.

Cahokia, which has also won back-to-back state championships in the Class 2A girls division, has the top time in the 800 meter relay (1:46.1), while senior Raynesha Lewis has the third best time in the 60 meter hurdles at 9.25 seconds and the third best jump in the triple jump at 36 feet 5 inches.

Cahokia standout junior Mariya Hudson has the second best long jump effort with a leap of 17 feet, 6  1/2 inches.

Class 3A Boys

A state champion last year, Belleville East senior William Session leads a large group of Class 3A athletes from the metro east with excellent indoor efforts. Session, one of the top ranked combination hurdlers in the nation, has the best time in the 60 meter hurdles at 7.96 seconds. Lancers teammate Amani Franklin is also at the top of his individual event with an effort of 46 feet 2  1/4 inches in the triple jump.

Also enjoying a solid indoor season is Belleville West senior DeShon Buchanan who has the second fastest time in the 400 meters at 49.5 seconds and the third fastest time in the 200 meters at 22.27 seconds.

East St. Louis, led by standout Roosevelt Davis, has the best time in the state in the 1,600 meter relay at 3 minutes 23.1 seconds and is ranked third in the 800 meter relay (1:32.3). Granite City junior Will O’Keefe’s time of 1:56.6 in the 800 meters ranks him third.

Class 3A Girls

Alton senior and Texas A @ M University recruit LaJarvia Brown will attempt to win both the state long jump and triple jump titles for the third straight year this May, but the Redbirds senior is wasting little time in getting started indoors as well. Brown has the top jumps in the long jump (19 feet 4 inches) and triple jump (40 feet 7  1/4 inch).

Belleville East senior Tamar Mosby has the third best effort in the high jump at 5 feet 6 inches, while the O’Fallon Panthers 800 meter relay team has the third best time at 1 minute, 45.1 seconds.

Class 1A Boys and Girls

Althoff junior Jaylon Bester has shown off his versatility in the early part of the season. Bester has the best time in the 60 meter dash at 7.02 seconds and also has the best leap in the long jump among Class 1A athletes at 22 feet, 3 inches.

Dupo senior Antonio Cozart has the third best time in the 60 meter hurdles at 8.92 seconds while Red Bud senior Keri Burmester is the lone Class 1A girl ranked. A two-time Class 1A News-Democrat Cross Country Runner of the Year, Burmester is currently ranked third in the 3,200 meters with a time of 12 minutes 15. 1 seconds.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Cahokia, East St. Louis enjoying solid indoor track and field seasons."