It was an exciting season for the Homewood-Flossmoor High School boys track and field team that culminated in a second place finish in the 3A division at the IHSA track and field state championship meet May 26.
the 4×200 relay at the IHSA state track and field
competition. (Provided photos)
It was an exciting season for the Homewood-Flossmoor High School boys track and field team that culminated in a second place finish in the 3A division at the IHSA track and field state championship meet May 26.
“They’ve done a phenomenal job all year long,” said head coach Nate Beebe. “We knew we had a chance to be a special team and they rose to the occasion.”
This team recorded a score of 48 points, more than any H-F track and field team in the school’s history. It lost the first-place trophy by four points. The previous H-F record of 28 points was set in 2017, Beebe said.
H-F got to the state meet after winning in various events at an IHSA sectionals meet May 17 that was hosted by H-F.
At the preliminary state meet on Friday, May 25, H-F students qualified for 13 of 18 events. The preliminary races take all students who qualified at sectionals and have them compete against each. The best of nine in each category advanced to the final round. Beebe said H-F had 13 competitors advance.
“It was very impressive,” Beebe said. “We did have the most events qualify for the state finals out of 80 schools.”
“It’s tough because you only get one shot to qualify and it’s individual qualifications. They have to hit a mark or be in the top two in that event,” the coach explained. “It’s a very pressure packed meet because they have to get it done that day, regardless of how well they’ve done all season.”
To get the winning 48 points, H-F students were outstanding in their events.
The 4X100 relay team took second place. Team members are seniors Matthew Lewis-Banks and Marcell Ellis and juniors Josh Bridges and Seun Adeyiga.
The other second place winner was Matthew Lewis-Banks in the 300-meter hurdles.
The 4X200 relay team took third place. Team members are seniors Grant Floyd and Marcell Ellis, junior Josh Bridges and freshman Marshall Ellis.
Senior E.J. Burruss took third place in long jump.
Senior Matthew Lewis-Banks took fourth place in the 110-high hurdles and junior Quinton Stringfellow placed fourth in the triple jump.
Junior Seun Adeyiga placed eighth in the 100-meter dash, and senior Christian Reed placed eighth in the 400-meter dash.
Senior Grant Floyd took ninth placed in the 200-meter dash and senior Jalen Hunter placed ninth in the long jump.
Teammates also representing H-F in the preliminary round were 4X800 relay members Stewart Keene, Jazz Jabulani, Jalen Robinson and Davell Clemon who placed 16th overall; 4X400 relay members Tyler Roberson, Christian Reed, Jalen Hunter and Davell Clemon; Stewart Keene in the 800-meters and Josh Bridges in the 100-meter.
This was Beebe’s 17th season as head coach. He lauded Rob Assise, Kevin Coy and Jim Schmidt, the team’s assistant coaches, who have worked with the team members.
“We all have a belief in emphasizing the holistic student-athlete. We all have the same vision on that,” he stressed.
H-F’s 2017 boys track and field team took fifth place in the 3A division as a combined team that allowed H-F to have a wheelchair competitor.
hurdles at the IHSA track and field meet.