Runaway victory
Crete-Monee’s Cameron makes ‘bigger statement’ at Illinois Top Times indoor meet
Victor Cameron knew what was at stake last weekend at Illinois Wesleyan’s Shirk Center.
The Crete-Monee senior is still looking for college offers after finishing third in Class 3A last season in the 110-meter high hurdles. The Illinois Top Times Indoor Championship offered another chance to prove he’s capable of competing at the next level.
“It’s a big meet — a lot of schools are here,” Cameron said. “I was saying to my teammates, ‘This is a shot to get exposure.’”
Neither Cameron nor theWarriors wasted the chance to impress the college coachesonhand.
Crete-Monee won four events in 3A, setting three meet records. Cameron had one individual record and anchored one of the Warriors’ two record-setting relays.
Itwas all part of the plan. “Coming into the meet, I wanted to know what the record was,” Cameron said. “I don’twant to go just for first place. … I want to make a bigger statement.”
He did that, starting out by winning the 60 hurdles in 7.82 seconds. Then he teamed with Jamal Safo, Ricky Johnson and Kevon Jones to win the 800 relay in 1:29.13.
Johnson, Sammy Assil, Elantae Humphrey and Safo wrapped up the record-setting day by running 3:21.06 in the 1,600 relay. Safo had three wins, taking first in the long jump at 23 feet, 1 inch.
Cameron has been a versatile performer for the Warriors, also competing in the horizontal
jumps and open sprints. But his heart is with the 110 hurdles.
“It's more technical, and I've been told I'm a perfectionist,” he said. “So the 110s (are) something youhave tohavedownpat the shorter you are so you don't mess up.”
Another broken record:
Homewood- Flossmoor dominated the 3A girls events, winning five titles.
Leading the way was junior KaylahMcCall, the defending 3A champ in the 100 hurdles. She won the 60 hurdles in a meetrecord 8.47 and joined Alicia Adams, Trelyn Newkirk and Akela White on the winning 800 relay team.
The hurdles recordwas just a bonus for McCall, whose goal “was just to beat my PR (8.61), go out and do what I know how to do.
“I was very nervous, but I tried to stay relaxed and runmy race.”
Next on her to-do list is improving on her winning time of 14.06 at outdoor state.
“I feel confident that I can go sub-14,” McCall said.
Ashanti Denton (400), Madison Myrick (long jump) and the 1,600 relay team also took firsts for H-F, which was runnerup last season to NapervilleNorth.
This year, the goal is higher, McCall said: “We want to win the state title.”
Change of plans:
Lincoln-Way Central junior Jared Kreis had to alter his strategy on the fly for the 3A 3,200 when Bolingbrook's Tyler Cushing was a late scratch.
“I know he likes to run from the front, so I planned to just sit with him and see what I could do,” Kreis said. “But I ended up having to take his role. I ended up winning, so I can't complain.”
Kreis took first in 9:10.59, a big drop fromhis seed time of 9:21.60 and his outdoor goal of 9:15.
“I wanted to do something like this at Batavia Distance Madness a coupleweeks ago,” Kreis said. “But I got sick with theflu. That setmy training back, so I didn't know what to expect coming into this.”