Outside of IHSA state meet, Norm Armstrong/Belleville West Invitational may be Illinois’ best

The 2016 edition of the Norm Armstrong/Belleville West Boys Track and Field Invitational will be a little like the Friday night buffet at Shoney’s. For the true track and field connoisseur there will indeed be something for everyone.

Three of the top athletes in the Midwest in their respective events — seniors Ja’Mari Ward of Cahokia and William Session of Belleville East along with Edwardsville junior A.J. Epenesa — will lead the way for local competitors as they battle other top athletes from throughout the St. Louis area and Illinois in what has become one of the top regular season track and field meets each year.

“This is easily the best meet in the state,’’ West coach Patton Segraves said. “Great athletes make a great meet and we have the best track athletes in the state participating. Our facility is top notch and our meet workers are excellent. We should have multiple state leading marks and times coming from our meet and as the meet host that’s what you want to see.’’

Saturday beginning at 11 a.m., that’s what is expected to be a large crowd should see as many of the state’s top individuals and teams compete.

Edwardsville, led by Epenesa in the discus, is the defending Class 3A state champions, while Cahokia, led by one of the nation’s top combination high school athletes in the long jump and triple jump in senior Ja’Mari Ward, will go for a sixth straight Class 2A state title later this Spring in Charleston, are both in the field along with other local powers such as Belleville East, Belleville West, O’Fallon and Triad. The local teams figure to have their hands full wish other top state hopefuls such as Minooka, Marion, Thornton, Lockport, Matea Valley, Plainfield North and Homewood-Flossmoor.

And as far as individual standouts, the field is absolutely one of the best ever.

In the field events

Ward, headed to the University of Missouri next year, is the top local name along with Epenesa. A two-time Class 2A state champion in the long jump and triple jump, Ward will be pushed in the log jump where Marion senior Darryl Sullivan has already gone 23 feet 11 inches this season. Sullivan is clearly one of the best in the Midwest in the high jump where he has already cleared 7 feet 3 inches (indoors) this season.

Epenesa, who will be limited to just competing in the discus because he is taking the ACT test, has already had several throws over 185 feet this season and broke the O’Fallon Relays record last week with an effort of 190 feet 11 inches. Lockport senior John Meyer is the top seed in the shot with a throw of 54 feet.

Normal West has two athletes in the pole vault — Ryan Ashembremer and Hunter Whitwood — who have cleared 15 this season.

On the track

Ward headlines a large group of top sprinters who will compete in the 100 and 200 meters. Also in the 100 meter field are Adam Nelson of Triad and Derrius Rogers of Lockport. Three of the top ranked sprinters in the state, those three athletes will be joined by Belleville West senior Deshon Buchanan, as favorites in the 200 meters as well.

The sprint relays will feature a showdown between Cahokia, which won the 400, 800 and 1,600 meter relays a year ago on its way to winning a record fifth straight state team championship, and Minooka.

Segraves said Minooka is a team which could contend for all three relay titles on Saturday. Granite City junior Will O’Keefe is the top hope in the 1,600 meters and has run a time of 4 minutes 20 seconds already this season

Session, the defending Class 3A state champion in the 110 meter hurdles and a medal winner in the 300 meter hurdles a year ago, will be pushed by Justin Wolz of Minooka.

Tickets will be available at the gate and are priced at $5 for adults and $3 for students.

Dean Criddle: 618-239-2661, @CriddleDean

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Outside of IHSA state meet, Norm Armstrong/Belleville West Invitational may be Illinois’ best."