Oak Park and River Forest senior Chisom Nwoko won all four of her events and was part of two track records at Friday’s West Suburban Conference Silver Division Indoor Meet at Proviso West.
What she remembered, however, was that her 400-meter dash time missed the meet record by .30 of a second.
“I was really upset that I forgot to cut in and lost .20 of a second,” Nwoko said. “It’s OK, though. We’ve got next time.”
After tying for fourth in Class 3A in 2015, the Huskies showed their greater potential by winning their first indoor Silver title since 1998 with 133 points – 34 ahead of co-second-place Downers Grove North and Glenbard West.
“Since last year I think we’ve improved mentally, just being more present in practices and being willing to push ourselves harder,” Nwoko said. “I think that’ll translate to the state meet, hopefully.”
The 1,600 relay of Nwoko, sophomores Destiny White and Katie Lingen and senior Norma Abdur-Rafia won in 4:03.49 to break the meet record of 4:04.99.
Nwoko (40.83) and Abdur-Rafia (40.84) finished 1-2 in the 300 and surpassed the 40.99 record. Nwoko also won the 400 (59.03) and pole vault (11 feet) with senior Chena Underhill second (10-6).
Abdur-Rafia also won the 200 (25.45) and 55 (7.38). Other champions were senior Chardae Bennett in shot put (37-3 1/4) and junior Ella Rossa in the 55 hurdles (8.82) with Underhill second (8.97). Underhill (34-11) and Rossa (16-10) were second in triple and long jump, respectively.
“I’m just really proud of the girls and really glad all of my (assistant) coaches are seeing success. They’ve just done an amazing job changing the whole attitude of the team,” said OPRF coach Tom Tarrant.
Friday was the first time Nwoko competed in four events since the state finals, including the state championship 800 relay with Abdur-Rafia.
Abdur-Rafia won the 55 by thousandths of a second and became the first three-time 200 indoor Silver champion since 2003 OPRF graduate Liz Wechter.
“The 200. It’s my favorite (event), my baby,” Abdur-Rafia said.
OPRF boys track
Last boys indoor track and field season, Oak Park and River Forest junior Brandon Gage watched his varsity teammates celebrate the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet title.
On Friday, several graduates returned to motivate the Huskies.
“The momentum factor was there – the alumni, the love,” Gage said. “Chris Wright-Madison kind of told me, ‘You’ve got to do this, do this.’ I’m like, ‘Chris, I know.’ It was great to see him.”
The Huskies easily defended the title at York. Their 118 points were 37 ahead of Lyons Township.
Gage won the 400-meter dash (52.16 seconds) and senior Luke Nelson (14 feet-6 inches in pole vault) and junior Irwin Loud (3,200 in 9:20.65) also were individual champions. The 1,600 relay of seniors Austin Gravely, Sean Lonergan and Kimathi Johnson and Gage (3:31.93) won by 1.22 seconds.
Gage competed on the sophomore level indoors last year before contributing to the eighth-place, all-state 1,600 relay with Johnson and Wright-Madison.
“I feel like being back as conference champions has raised the morale for outdoor season. We’ll be furious outdoors,” Gage said.
This is the first time OPRF has won consecutive indoor or outdoor Silver titles under coach Tim Hasso and a staff that’s been together for 12 years.
“We’re doing a lot of things well,” Hasso said. “The coaches are doing a great job with workouts. The athletes are listening really well and believing in what we’re doing.”
Loud’s late surge won the 3,200 by .06 over Hinsdale Central’s Blake Evertsen. Loud later was fourth in the 1,600 (4:24.34), .87 from first.
Senior Tyron Jones was second in the 200 (23.06) and third in the 55 (6.56).
In the 800, senior Jack Monaghan (1:57.83) and Lonergan (1:57.85) were second and third. Monaghan struck his head after leaning at the finish and missed the 600, where Lonergan (1:25.73) was second.
Despite a strained hamstring, senior hurdler Kabi Mwakyoma was third in the 55 highs (8.16) and 55 lows (7.69). Junior Noah Coplan (52-2) and senior Jahmari Moore (47-5) were 2-3 in shot put, and junior Kristian Zadlo was third in pole vault (13-0).