Ja’Mari Ward wins four titles at Illinois Top Times Indoor Championships

Competing in the Illinois Top Times Indoor Track and Field Championships for the final time, Cahokia senior Ja’Mari Ward put on a performance for the ages on Saturday at the Sherk Center in Bloomington.

Reaffirming his position as the premier track and field athlete in the state and one of the best in the nation, Ward won four individual events for the first time in his career as he led another strong showing by the Comanches in the elite event, which is hosted by Illinois Wesleyan University

A two-time Class 2A state champion in both the long jump and triple jump, Ward coasted to wins in those events — jumping 25 feet, 3  1/2 inches in the long jump and 48 feet, 11 inches in the triple jump. Ward also won the 60 meter dash, finishing with a time of 6.81 seconds as he nipped Triad senior Adam Nelson (6.87 seconds) for the championship. Ward, who is headed to the University of Missouri in the fall, also won the 200 meters with a time of 22.37 seconds.

Ward’s memorable performance was just part of an outstanding day by the Comanches, who will attempt to win their sixth straight Class 2A state team title later this spring in Charleston. The Comanches also won the 800 meter relay in a time of 1 minute, 31.73 seconds and the 1,600 meter relay in 3 minutes, 24.61 seconds. Waterloo was third and Mascoutah was fifth in the event.

Cahokia also got a second place finish in the 3,200 meter relay, a second place finish from senior Tyran Lyons in the 400 meters and a third place finish from Anthony McRoberts in the high jump.

Nelson, who is headed to DePaul University in the fall, was third in the long jump with an effort of 21 feet, 7  3/4 inches, while Waterloo’s Greysan Moehrs was fourth in the 60 meter hurdles and Jerseyville junior Ben Flowers placed fourth in the 1,600 meters.

Session, Franklin win titles

Another one of the premier track and field athletes in the state — Belleville East senior William Session — showed off his immense speed and improved strength as he won the Class 3A 60 meter hurdles title.

An Indiana University recruit and the 2015 state champion in the 110 meter hurdles, Session had the top qualifying time of 8.08 seconds. But the Lancers standout won the final with a time of 7.89 seconds.

Another Belleville East athlete — senior Amani Franklin — also won a state championship, taking the Class 3A triple jump crown with a leap of 47 feet,  1/4 inch. Belleville West junior Ian Parker placed fourth with a jump of 44 feet, 5  3/4 inches.

Belleville West senior DeShon Buchanan placed fourth in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.08 seconds.

Burmester, Schwartz, Allison Richter shine

Red Bud senior Keri Burmester enjoyed an excellent day in Bloomington on Saturday as she placed second in the Class 1A 3,200 meters. A two-time Belleville News-Democrat Class 1A cross country athlete of the year, Burmester finished with a time of 11 minutes 47.30 seconds.

Also placing second in her event was Triad senior Allison Richter. Headed to Western Illinois University along with her twin sister Abigail where they will compete for the Leathernecks, Allison Richter had a throw of 42 feet, 7 inches in the shot put.

Waterloo freshman Jenna Schwartz placed fifth in the Class 2A 3,200 meters in a time of 11 minutes 39.62 seconds. Granite City’s 4x200 meter relay team was fifth in the Class 3A event.

This story was originally published March 27, 2016 at 7:49 PM with the headline "Ja’Mari Ward wins four titles at Illinois Top Times Indoor Championships."