Lindblom’s Little dominates, wins 3 indoor championships
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Most athletes don’t have any margin for error at a state meet, but most athletes aren’t Shamier Little.
The Lindblom senior easily won all three of her events in Class 2A Saturday at the Illinois Top Times indoor championship — the unofficial indoor state finals — at Illinois Wesleyan’s Shirk Center. But she could have done better. “The 400 [meters] — yeah, I thought I was actually doing pretty good, but I guess not,” Little said. “I was actually kind of tired.”
Nonetheless, she still beat runner-up Brittani Griesbaum of Lakes by almost a second, finishing in 57.90 seconds. Her season best of 54.65 ranks third in the U.S., according to DyeStat.com.
Little was just off her bests in the 60 hurdles and 200, winning in 8.60 and 25.15, respectively.
Those efforts set her up for what could be a historic outdoor season.
The Texas A&M recruit already holds the Class 2A state records in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and 400. She expects to run those events again, along with the 200.
Her indoor times this season are better across the board than a year ago. But don’t ask Little about rewriting the IHSA state record book.
“No, I’m just giving it my all,” she said. “I’m not looking for any records. I don’t know any records.”
What she does acknowledge is a sense of relief now that her college plans are set.
“If I do run a bad time, it’s OK,” Little said. “I’ve already committed.”
Little’s three wins were enough to help Lindblom take second place in 2A with 30 points, six behind Carbondale. Brooks’ Ebony McClendon gave the Public League another win in 2A, taking the 60 in 7.67.
Yet another city champ was Payton’s Cameron Pettigrew, who won the 3A 400 in 56.22.
“I was really looking forward to this meet,” said Pettigrew, who has committed to USC. “I didn’t get a chance to run indoor season last year because I was playing basketball.”
The only double winner in the 3A girls meet was Warren’s Brittny Ellis, who took first in the 60 (7.70) and 200 (24.93).
This year’s meet dispensed with most preliminary heats (only the 60 dash and 60 hurdles had more than one round), but Ellis wouldn’t have minded being busier.
“I actually like the prelims and finals [format],” she said. “You get used to the track and my times usually go down.”
Led by distance ace Kaylee Flanagan and high jumper Tyshai Freeman, Lake Park edged Glenbard West 36-35 for the 3A team title.