Track and Field

April 2, 2007

We Are For Real!

Lane Tech boys and girls individuals excel at Illinois Prep Top Times Classic vs top state competition

(Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL)   The Illinois Prep Top Times Classic meet marks the end of the Indoor track season.   The IHSA does not hold an official Indoor Track championship so this meet is generally viewed as the unofficial Indoor state track championship. The last few years, the Lane Tech track team has not had too many individuals invited to this prestigious meet. For example, last year, Lane Tech had 3 entries: the boys 4x400 meter relay, 4x800 meter relay, and the distance medley. However, this year was a completely different scenario as Lane Tech got an incredible 5 individuals and 1 relay for the girls and 3 individuals and 1 relay for the boys. That means this year we had a total of 10 total entries to the meet whereas last year we had only 3.

Here is Lane Tech's results for the meet:

Lane Tech Boys Results

Lane Tech Girls Results

Complete Illinois Prep Top Times Classic results

Lane Tech girls Performance

Margie Zimoch continued to show her long jump abilities with a 12th place finish in long jump (16'-01.25"). Zimoch is a versatile athlete and also runs on Lane's 4x400 meter relay.

Idia Omigate finished in 4th place in the 55 meter dash (7.21 seconds). Omiagate, who scored points for Lane's tennis team last fall, is an amazing success story. She has emerged this year as one of the states top sprinters and she is only a sophomore.

"Idia has dramatically increased her strength this year through tennis and weight training. She is also working hard to stay healthy," said Lane Tech head track coach Kris Roof.

Morgan Monroe, who normally runs hurdles event had a 5th place finish in the 800 meter run. Monroe, is generally known as a hurdler. At last years state meet she barely missed qualifying for the final day of the state meet. She is no doubt one of Lane's best all time hurdler to come out of Lane Tech. But Monroe's performance at this meet displayed how much of an overall great athlete she is. Monroe, who also qualified for state last year on Lane's swimming team, ran a blazing time of 2:21.37 in the 800 meter dash. Not only is that time one of the state fastest 800 meter indoor times this year. It is also very close to the last known Lane Tech school record in the 800 meter run of 2:19.56 ran by Whitney Beals in 2004.

Nia Muhammed finished in 14th place in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 8.95 seconds.

Distance runner Stephanie Hughes showed that Lane is much more than sprints with a 4th place finish in the 3200 meter run (11:29.98).

The girls 4x400 meter relay team (4th, 4:01.88) ran their fastest time of the year. It also eclipsed the automatic state qualifying time by over 6 seconds.

Lane Tech boys Performance

Fuad Salami finished in 11th place in the 55 meter dash. His time of 6.60 was just .01 second slower than his first place finish at the Proviso East Invitational last week.

Gerald Turner further solidified his status as one of the top hurdlers in the state with a 4th place finish in the 55 meter hurdles. his time of 7.62 ranks as one of the top 8 times run in the state this year. If he keep running hte way he's been running, he will be serious contendor to score for Lane in the outdoor state track championship in May. Turner and Jay Jordan (17th, 8.22 in the 55 meter hurdles) form a solid 1-2 punch for Lane in the hurdles.

The boys 4x200 relay team also did very well with a 5th place finish. They beat the 4x200 relay teams from Thornwood, Homewood Flossmoor, and Palatine. Those are school with traditionally very strong relay teams. In fact, Thornwood finished 6th in the state last year and came into this meet with the 2nd fastest 4x200 meter relay time in the state according to the Illinois Prep Top Times.

State Points

Lane Tech's performance solidifies Lane's standing as strong favorites to win the city championships. However, this year Lane is looking beyond city.

"Our main goal and our cheer at every meet is 'state points,' " Roof said. "Last year we got a bunch of kids Downstate but we didn't get them to Saturday."

Blazing fast Fuad Salami (sr) is just one member of a very talented Lane Tech track team.  www.LaneTechFan.com