By Michael Newman

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The Brooks PR Invitational will be well represented by Illinois athletes at this Saturday’s meet at Renton Memorial Stadium just south of Seattle. Seven athletes from across the state were invited to this invitational only meet with hopes of doing some great things against some of the elite athletes from across the country.

Here are some brief previews of each events that will have Illinois athletes participating in Saturday afternoon.

Boys 110 Meter High Hurdles – 4:30 PM CDT

DyeStat TFX US Rankings

William Session (Belleville East HS) currently has the 12^th fastest time regardless of condition in the United States this season. Session finished second with that time at the IHSA Boys State Track Meet at the end of May. He did come back to run 37.46 to win the IHSA 3A 300 Hurdles state championship later in the meet. The field is tough with two of the top five hurdles entered in this event led by nation time leader Marcus Krah (Durham NC) who ran 13.32 at the North Carolina 4A State Meet on May 21. Georgia 5A State Champion Matthew Moore (Union Grove HS GA) and California state champion Joseph Anderson (Upland CA) should be the top athletes to challenge Krah.

Boys 800 Meter Run – 4:55 PM CDT

DyeStat TFX US Rankings

An anticipated event for Illinois fans especially the way that Chris Torpy (Sandburg HS) and Heath Warren (Springfield HS) have been running over the past few weeks. This field is loaded with four of the top ten in the TFX listings in this event along with a couple of other runners that have had past success in this event. Michael Slagowski (Rocky Mountain HS ID) showed success this year running under 4 minutes for the 1 Mile Run in Portland at the end of April. He has the second fastest time in the nation (1:48.36) and was the Idaho 5A State Champion in both the 800 and the 1600. Bryce Hoppel (Midland TX) has run 1:49.58 (US #7) at the TTFCA Meet of Champion almost a week ago while Logan MacKay (Davis HS UT) has run 1:49.77 (US #8) this year. Both could challenge for a time in the low 1:48’s. Chris Torpy showed his fitness level running 1:49.80 (US #9) last week finishing behind his brother at the Midwest Distance Classic. Expect to see a faster time from him on Saturday.

Heath Warren finished fourth at the IHSA 3A State Meet but showed what he had at the Festival of Miles when he ran 4:11.82 in the 1 Mile Run. It would not surprise me if he runs under 1:50 in this race.  Connor Dunne (San Clemente HS) ran 1:50.41 at the CIF-SS Masters Meet three weeks ago. He does have big meet experience having won the US Youth Trials last July and then running in the World Youth Championships. Do not be surprised if he finishes in the top three in this race.

Boys 100 Meter Dash – 5:15 PM CDT

DyeStat TFX US Rankings

The last time that we saw Josh Eiker (Galesburg HS) on the track, he was winning both the 100 and 200 Meter Dash at the IHSA 3A Boys State Track Meet. He ran a personal best wind-aided 10.34 in the prelims which is currently a US #11 regardless of conditions. This is a great field led by list leader Jace Comick (Humble Atascocita HS TX) who ran a list leading wind aided 10.09 in altitude at the Great Southwest Classic two weeks ago. Comick also ran under 10.20 (10.17) win aided at his region meet at the end of April. Fellow Texan Brandon Taylor (Clear Brook TX) finished fourth behind Comack at the Texas 6A Meet but has a 10.26 personal best (US #4). Chauney Smart (Aubundale HS FL) ran a wind-aided 10.30 (US #8) at the Florida Relays and could also be a threat.

Girls 1 Mile Run – 5:25 PM CDT

DyeStat TFX US Rankings – 1 Mile

DyeStat TFX US Rankings – 1600 Meters

Kelly O’Brien (Palatine HS) has finished her season strongly winning the IHSA 3A Girls 1600 Meter Run almost a month ago. She made her presence known on the national scene when she ran 4:48.01 (US #7) at the Magis Miles in Chicago on June 3. This field is strong led by US 1600 Meter Run list leader Amanda Gehrich (Tesoro HS CA). She ran 4:41.39 at the CIF—SS Masters Meet on May 27. She won the California state championship the following week. Four other runners in this race are in the Top ten list nationally for 1600 Meters including Julia Heymach (Houston Lamar HS TX), Annie Hill (Glacier HS MT), Anna West Lafayette HS MO), and Jordan Oakes ( Holy Names Academy WA).

Boys 1 Mile Run – 5:35 PM CDT

DyeStat TFX US Rankings – 1 Mile

DyeStat TFX US Rankings – 1600 Meters

The most anticipated event among Illinois viewers as three of the top distance runners in the state will toe the line in this event. Sean Torpy (Sandburg HS) ran the fastest time in the nation (1:47.95) last week in winning the Midwest Distance Classic 800 Meter Run. The week before at the Magis Miles, Torpy ran 4:03.42 (US #1) on his way to a 4:05.10 full mile. Jon Davis (Oakwood HS) has been pointing for this meet ever since he lost to Torpy at Distance Night in Palatine at the end of April when Torpy ran 4:08 to win that race. Davis has come on strong since that point having run 4:05 for the 1600 Meter Run three weeks later solo and then winning the Festival of Miles running 4:05.29. He went through the 1600 in 4:03.97 (US #2) in that race. Both have eyes on running close to 4 minutes in this race.

Jack Aho (Grayslake Central HS IL) will enter his senior season as the top distance runner in the state. He ran 4:08.79 to finish third behind Davis at Festival of Miles. Keep an eye on him Saturday. He could surprise many in this race. Justin Janke (North Central HS WA) is one runner to keep a close eye on. The Washington 3A Champion in the 3200 and 1600 ran 3:45.96 at the Portland Track Festival last Sunday. That time converts to 4:03.97 for a full mile.  Sam Worley (Comal Canyon HS TX) and Reed Brown (Southlake Carroll HS TX) finished 1-2 in the Texas 6A 1600 Meter Run championship with Worley winning by 23 hundredths of a second (4:04.59-4:05.82). Keep an eye on Brown. The junior won the New Balance Nationals Indoor in March and could be a threat in this race.