Editor’s note: This is an updated version of a story published May 21. This version includes information about the Vikings varsity girls track team winning state on Saturday.

Mariyah Robinson came through.

Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s junior sprinter won the 200-meter dash, the 400-meter dash and ran the anchor leg of a blazing 400-meter relay team to help the Vikings win the girls track program’s second state title.

“We knew we that we could come out here and work and by the time state comes, we’re going to be ready as a team,” Robinson said. “We never doubted it.”

Robinson tallied a 23.7-second 200 and a 54.17 400 on May 24 at Eastern Illinois University. She came just short of the sprint triple crown, finishing second in the 100 at 11.56. Whitney Young’s Angelena Bullocks won the 100 at 11.35, a new state record.

“I wanted to go for the triple crown, which no one has done in quite a few years,” Robinson said. “I wanted to bring it back because I know I’m capable of doing it.”

Glenwood’s Katelyn Lehnen won the 100 and 400 and finished fourth in the 200 last year. The last sprinter to win all three was Brittny Ellis from Warren in 2015.

“We knew if we get (Robinson) in the weight room, get her stronger, lessen her reps and save her body for right now, we figured she’ll go fast this time of the year,” Vikings coach Tywon Green said. “She’s been running her butt off. She locked in, primed and ready to win some state championships.”

The Vikings were ranked No. 1 early in the season and finished the regular season at No. 2 behind Mt. Prospect. Robinson needed to have a big day for Homewood-Flossmoor to finish at the top.

The Vikings were loaded in the sprints. Robinson was pushed all spring by teammates like Aniya Mullins, London Willingham and London Jarrett. The four combined to take the 400-meter relay 3A title with a time of 45.55, another state record.

“I just go out there and perform and whatever happens, happens and I’m going to be happy about it,” Robinson said before the state meet. “I don’t want to feel pressure and have to meet those standards. I don’t like doing that to myself.”

H-F also got big contributions from thrower Jaloni Wiley, who finished third in the shot put and fifth in the discus. Mullins finished seventh in the 100 and Kaiya Collier was seventh in the 100-meter hurdles.

The Vikings only other girls track state title came in 2019. Green said before the meet that adding another would be a highlight of his 15-year coaching career.

“We have to go out there and compete and I don’t want to say be mistake-free, but be mistake-free,” Green said. “I’ve been close but no cigar. It’s the dream.”

A state title would be “the start of something special,” Green said before his team left for Charleston. He expects to have every athlete who scored team points at state to return next season.

“I think with this group of girls we have moving forward I think we can set the tone (for the future),” he said.