The highly ranked Homewood-Flossmoor High School varsity boys track and field team was knocked out of a top slot in a June 19 state meet after several team members suffered injuries on the track.
H-F sent eight all-state athletes to the competition, but came in 11th in the IHSA meet. Head track coach Nate Beebe said, “It ended up being a little disappointing,” but he recognized the outstanding strides the team made, despite the adversity.
Senior Marshall Ellis broke a school record in the 100-meter dash and was third overall in the meet with a time of 10.63, despite his injury.
“With 10 or 15 meters left to go, he pulled his hamstring, so there was a really good chance he would have won had that not happened,” Beebe said. Runners taking first and second place were split by just 1/100th of a second.
The injury meant Ellis couldn’t compete in the 200 or join his teammates in the 4×200 relay. Beebe said Ellis will take time now to heal before he goes to Louisiana Tech University on a track scholarship.
Ugo Anidobu, the second-fastest member of the H-F squad, pulled a hamstring on the third leg of the 4X100 relay. H-F was ranked to win that race, but Anidobu’s injury meant he “limped his way to the finish” and that dropped H-F to sixth place.
Beebe was happy with the showings of thrower Isaiah Hubbard and long jumper Jamar McMillan.
“On a bright note, the 4×200 relay — a sophomore, two juniors and a senior — placed second overall and ran the fastest they’d run all season,” the coach said. The team took second place.
“It was, in a way, a fitting ending to a very bizarre past year-and-a-half. But we’re proud of the kids. They’re wonderful kids and did a great job. You just can’t predict injuries,” Beebe said.
Team members
Seniors: Zachary Agosto, Kivan Bowens, Justin Burns, Christian DeVine, Marshal Ellis, Caleb Mitchell, Dylan Offord, Abdul-Karim Toheeb-Lawal, Ugo Anidobu, Jalen Brown, Isaiah Hubbard, Adam Kramer, Jamar McMillian, Trent Pearson.
Juniors: Jaiden Allen, Allen Attakorah, Jahliel Conklin, James Hampton, Aaron Hogan, Denzel Lee, Taji Matthis Akinremi, Ahmari Meeks Miller, Anthony Mootry II, Jelani Perry, Michael Shelley, Ayomide Ajayi, Alain Cawley, Oscar De La Torre, Jeffon Dudley, Randall Gray, Jerry Hester III, Omari Mason, Brian Nwachukwu, Umar Ryan, Jaden Sharp, Carlos Tejeda.
Sophomores: Dane Ivancevic, Robert Scott III, Tyler Moore, Jeremiah Turner.
Freshmen: Damarion Best, Andrew Mitchell.
Coaches working with the track and field team are Beebe, focusing on hurdles and sprints; Rob Assise, jumps; Chris Korfist, sprints; Brian O’Donnell, distance; Lia Tulua, throws; and Matt Dreger, pole vault.