Belleville News-Democrat Logo

Cahokia, Edwardsville begin defense of state track titles | Belleville News-Democrat

×
  • E-edition
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Archives
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • All News
    • Metro-east News
    • MetroLink crime database
    • Business
    • Congressional shooter
    • Crime
    • Belleville News
    • Education News
    • Violation of Trust
    • Sometime in the Night
    • Then I Knew
    • O'Fallon Progress
    • Highland News Leader
    • State|Region News
    • Nation|World News
    • Politics and Government
    • Scott Air Force Base
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Public Salaries
    • Send Us Your Photographs
    • All Sports
    • Cardinals
    • Cheap Seats Blog
    • Blues
    • Colleges
    • High Schools
    • Recruiting
    • Chiefs
    • High School Football
    • High School Baseball/Softball
    • High School Basketball
    • Send Us Your Photographs
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • All Living
    • Metro-east Living
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Horoscopes
    • Health Sections
    • Ask Heidi
    • Special Sections
    • Records
    • Contests
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Celebrations
    • Send Us Your Photographs
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Glenn McCoy
    • Letters/Sound-off
    • Submit a Letter
  • Obituaries

    • Today's Hot Deal
    • Today's Circulars
    • Service Directory
  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
    • Homes
    • Local Homes for Sale
  • Legals
  • Place Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

High School Sports

Cahokia, Edwardsville begin defense of state track titles

By Dean Criddle

dcriddle@bnd.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

May 18, 2016 08:01 PM

CAHOKIA

The journey to perhaps a sixth straight Class 2A state track and field title is about to begin for the Cahokia Comanches. But probably without Ja’Mari Ward competing.

One of the top high school track and field athletes in the nation and a two-time state champion in both the triple jump and long jump, Ward will not jump at the Carterville Sectional on Friday but may run in a relay event, Comanches coach Leroy Millsap said late Tuesday night.

Ward, who owns both the state records in the triple jump and long jump, suffered a dislocated left kneecap at the Collinsville Invitational 10 days ago and in the best interest of his athletic future, may be limited to running in a relay event, when action begins at Carterville High School on FRiday at 4 p.m.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to Belleville News-Democrat

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

But even without Ward, who was also a favorite in the 100 and 200 meters, in the lineup, Cahokia coach Leroy Millsap still thinks his team will be one of the favorties at the state finals, May 26-28 at O’Brien Stadium in Charleston.

“If Ja’Mari competes it will only be in a relay. And that is a maybe,’’ Millsap said on Tuesday. “But the way I have it figured out, with Ja’Mari we could score 113 points at the state meet. You take away 40 that he would get and we still have 73. The second place team usually scores in the 50’s. All we have to do is have the kids do what they’ve been doing all year and we’ll be fine. I don’t care if we win by one point, as long as we win it..’’

That journey begins on Friday at Carterville High School and is one of four sectional events begine hosted involving metro east area schools. Defending Class 3A state chamion Edwardsville, led by the top high school athlete in the nation in the discus in AJ Epenesa along with Travis Anderson in the hurdles, will battle East St. Louis and many other top teams at the Collinsville Sectional on Friday at Collinsville High School.

The field events begin at 2 p.m. followed by the running events at 3:30 p.m. The Class A Nashville Sectional, originally scheduled for Friday, has been moved up to Thursday beginning at 4 p.m. Highland and Civic Memorial are among the teams competing at the Springfield Lanphier Sectional on Friday.

The top two individuals and any others meeting state requirements in each event, advance to the IHSA State Track Meet, May 26-28 at O’Brien Stadium in Charleston.

With Ward out of the lineup, Cahokia will rely heavily on senior Anthony McRoberts in the long junp, triple jump and high jump along with Chris Stanley in the 800 meters. Cahokia, which won all four relays in taking the state title a year ago, is also ranked high in all of those this year.

Among the other op local individuals to watch at Carterville include Adam Nelson of Triad in the 100 meters and Charlie Parrish of FReeburg in the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meter events.

At the Collinsville Sectional

Edwardsville will be pushed by East St. Louis in a battle of two Southwestern Conference powers which have split a pair of decisions in the past two weeks and which will be in the heat of the battle at the Class 3A State Track Meet next weekend in Charleston.

East St. Louis, led by a large group of sprinters and strnegth in the relays and hurdles, edged EDwardsville at the Collinsville Invitational 10 days ago. Edwardsville, which is led by the raw athletic ability of junior AJ Epenesa in the discus and shot put along with a now healthy Travis Anderson, nipped the Flyers at the Southwestern Conference Meet.

Round three this week should be just as entertaining as the two perennial powers headline the 16-team field.

“This is what we’ve been working towards all year. Now its time to decide where we feel our strengths are heading into the postseason,’’ Edwardsville coach Chad Lakatos said following the SWC title win. “This is what its all about is these next two weeks.’’

Anderson, who missed several weeks early in the season with an injury, looks to be in top formin the 110 and 300 meter hurdles. The Tigers senior

Dean Criddle: 618-239-2661, @CriddleDean

  Comments  

Videos

Here’s who is going to the state wrestling tournament

Hargrove free throws lift Flyers past West

View More Video

Trending Stories

Pritzker’s budget depends on new revenue from legalizing marijuana in Illinois

February 22, 2019 05:00 AM

Second Illinois location for Lion’s Choice will be another ‘prototype’ for the company

February 22, 2019 03:48 PM

East St. Louis family will appear on Family Feud. Here’s when you can catch the show.

February 22, 2019 05:06 PM

Metro-east school districts brace for the effect of rising minimum wage

February 23, 2019 05:00 AM

How Illinois bet on video gambling and lost

February 22, 2019 05:00 AM

Read Next

Junker, Nelson shine at IHSA State Swimming and Diving Championships

High School Sports

Junker, Nelson shine at IHSA State Swimming and Diving Championships

By Dean Criddle

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 23, 2019 07:59 PM

Cole Junker, a member of the Mascoutah, Illinois High School Indians swimming team and Carter Nelson of Columbia, IL. High School competed at the IHSA State Swimming and Diving Championships at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to Belleville News-Democrat

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

Payback is sweet as Collinsville rallies past East St. Louis

Boys Basketball

Payback is sweet as Collinsville rallies past East St. Louis

February 22, 2019 11:01 PM
Regional Roundup: Regional champions crowned

Sports

Regional Roundup: Regional champions crowned

February 22, 2019 09:33 PM
EJ Liddell chosen to compete in Allen Iverson Roundball Classic

Boys Basketball

EJ Liddell chosen to compete in Allen Iverson Roundball Classic

February 22, 2019 02:53 PM
Fearday helps Effingham rally past Mater Dei at Salem Sectional

Girls Basketball

Fearday helps Effingham rally past Mater Dei at Salem Sectional

February 21, 2019 10:45 PM
Postseason Roundup: Sectional championships rough for local teams

Sports

Postseason Roundup: Sectional championships rough for local teams

February 21, 2019 09:00 PM
Illinois high school boys basketball polls

Boys Basketball

Illinois high school boys basketball polls

February 21, 2019 11:12 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Place a Classified Ad
  • Advertise With Us
  • Shopping
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story