Whitney Young girls took advantage of great competition and weather in California over the Easter holiday weekend (Eric Taylor photo)
Like a thief in the night a small but relatively powerful Illinois contingent traveled out of state to warmer climes. It was an excellent time to get away from the Midwest which was battered with frigid temperatures.
Chicago Whitney Young girls traveled to California to compete in a variety of events at the massive Stanford Invitational. It is an invitational known for high caliber collegiate and professional distance races, but there is also a large platter of events for high schoolers.
Amira Young is a two-time state 100m champion who would benefit from an early season stress test. The University of Minnesota bound Young advanced easily to the final with a time of 11.99. Later Young got a good start out in the far outside lane and powered her way to a victory in 11.83 [+0.3]. Chinyere Okoro of Amador Valley in Oakland had the same time but was awarded the silver medal.
Sophomore Alana Berry placed second in section three of the 400m running 58.68. Later Berry would team up with Young and two other teammates compete in two relays. The first was the 4x100 where the Dolphins took second in 48.82. They had run 48.54 during Friday's prelim.... Lovie Annafi placed 6th in the long jump with a leap of 17-9.5 (+1.7). She also competed in the triple jump where she took 11th in 35-3.5.