Homewood-Flossmoor girls track isn’t sneaking up on anybody this year.

The Vikings won a state title last year despite going into the final meet as a bit of an underdog. Now, the target is firmly on their back – to the point that athletes from other schools are making H-F the subject of trash-talking TikToks.

“We let them know that last year was last year. Now that you’re a champion, you’ll always have a target on your back – especially a team like us that everybody just doesn’t like because we’re just so good,”  coach Tywon Green said. “We told them ‘You guys have to be a family, hold each other down and protect each other because the world gets very small when you’re a champion.’” 

The Vikings opened the season ranked No. 1 in the state by Milesplit. State placers return throughout the roster, most notably in the sprints. Aniya Mullins, Mariyah Robinson, London Willingham and London Jarrett of the state championship 400- and 800-meter relay teams are back. 

“I like the narrative that we have a target on our back because it helps push us even harder,” Willingham said. “I like the competition.” 

Willingham’s personal goals include an 11.4 second 100-meter dash and a 23.6 second 200. Both would be big jumps in her personal bests. 

“I used to always doubt myself but now that I’ve seen that we won state, we can do it again for the next two years,” she said. “I feel like if I work a little bit harder I can achieve the dreams that I have for this year. So, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.” 

Robinson, a Florida commit, won the 200 and 400 last May and was named Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association sprinter of the year. She hopes to win the 100, too, for a triple crown as a senior. 

H-F has throwers and jumpers among the state’s best, too. 

The team is still relatively young, with much of the core outside of Robinson still just juniors and even sophomores. So far in the indoor season, most of the times are even better than they were a year ago. 

“With a team with this much talent, you’ve actually got to up the standards a little higher to make it more competitive for them,” Green said. “There’s a possibility of seven or eight Division I girls going against each other every day in practice so I try to spice it up a little bit.” 

That spice comes in different ways. Green has a roster of 135 girls and he said, to some extent, he and his assistants need to learn how to coach and motivate each of them individually. His degree in psychology comes in handy, he said. 

“They’re all different. They all respond to different types of coaching. I could have a different coach on staff who has a good relationship with that athlete,” Green said. “I’m always aware of what’s going on but my coaching staff does a great job of being involved in their everyday stuff.” 

Winning tends to heal all wounds, too. By all accounts, the team is cohesive. Chemistry is good, between both athletes and coaches and among the kids themselves.

“There’s no beef whatsoever. We all get along,” Willingham said. “This team, this year, it gives a good vibe. It’s like a sisterhood this year.” 

The team is physically healthier, too. Willingham says everyone is doing a better job of eating healthy and taking care of their bodies. Everybody feels like something special is happening. 

“The ultimate goal is a state championship and at this point, anything less than that is a disappointment for us,” Green said. “We’re ahead of the pace we were last year, which is scary.”