Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Distance Bug Hits the South Side

Markel Leonard(so) of Robeson runs an unofficial 4:54 to win his heat of the 1600 meter run!

Lindblom freshman Walmer Saavedra(fr) of Lindblom looks good in qualifying in the 1600 meter run!

 About 7 years ago if a CPS runner ran in the 4:40's they were considered a distance stud. However, due to a bunch of factors the CPS has dramatically improved in distance the past few years. Lane won the 4x800 meter relay at the state meet last year. Jones won the class 2A state championship fall.


Markel Leonard(so) of Robeson begins to take charge with 200 yards to go in this heat of the 1600 meter run. Behind him is Lane's Luis Ramirez(so), Foreman's Saul Hernandez(so) and Payton's Wesley Chan(so).

The distance bug seems to be catching to a few other schools besides Lane and Jones. It officially hit the south side as Robeson sophomore Markell Leonard(so) won his heat of the 1600 meter run with an unofficial time of 4:54.

"That is his first time running under 5 minutes in his life in a race. He's been working hard and now it's starting to show," said the Robeson coach on Leonard's performance.


In a scene not from the Twilight Zone, Lindblom's Walmer Saavedra(fr) is ahead of Will Sarchet(so) of distance power Jones and Raymond Jurekiewicz(so) of Lincoln Park with 200 yards to go in their heat of the 1600 meter run.

Another south sider, Walmer Saavedra(fr), also showed some promise. I do not have his official time, but I know he broke 5 minutes in qualifying for the 1600 meter finals. That is the first time I have ever heard of a Lindblom distance runner running that fast.

 more coming soon...

Kenwood Girls Win Group A

Dhiaa Dean of Kenwood anchored the girls 4x800 (10:26.43) and also won the open girls 1600 meter run (5:46.59). -- ROBERT L.THORNTON News Photography Network.com

Girls Group A Team Results

              Women - Varsity - Team Rankings - 13 Events Scored
===============================================================================
    1) Chicago (Kenwood)           66
    2) Chicago (Brooks)           54   
    3) Chicago (North Lawndale Ch  52        
    4) Chicago (Simeon)           49   
    5) Chicago (Northside)         44        
    6) Chicago (Payton)           38   
    7) Chicago (Perspectives Char  23        
    8) Chicago (Mather)           19   
    9) Chicago (Lindblom)          18        
    9) Chicago (Morgan Park)      18   
    11) Chicago (Whitney Young)     14       
    12) Chicago (Lane)              8   

Finish line of the girls 400 meter run. Cameron Petigrew of Payton attempts to assist Shamier Little of Lindblom amid all the other exhasuted runners. The girls gave it their all in a very hot Univeristy of Chicago Field House. This was the race of the day. Petigrew edged out Little with a blazing time of 56.47.

Corey Thomas of Lindblom Verbally Comitts to NIU?

Corey Thomas(6-3, 280lbs, OT/DT, class of 2012) of Lindblom (MP photo)

I am getting unconfirmed reports that Corey Thomas, a senior defensive end from Lindblom has given a verbal comittment to play football for Northern Illinois University. When, I get official word, I'll comment.

If that is the case, this is the second Public League football prospect to verbally comitt to NIU in Dekalb, IL. Last summer defensive end Mario Jones(sr) of Hubbard verbally comitted to the Huskies.

Thomas is little talked about in these board, mainly because Thomas goes to Lindblom- a small CPS school in the Chicago Greal Lakes Conference (the Phillips and Payton conference). But at 6-3, 280lbs and good showings at combines at camps, Thomas was noticed.

Here is my take on Thomas from an eariler post:

Offensive Line
Corey Thomas(6-3, 280lbs, OT/DT, class of 2012), Lindblom
Really good broad jump (8-6") and shuttle times (4.52) for someone 6-3, 280lbs. Corey Thomas really has some potential and deserves to get more attention.

 

New ITTCA Blog

Defending class 2A state champion in the 100 meter hurdles and 400 meter (both state record times) Shamier Little(jr), picture courtesy of the new ITTCA blog. Little, by herself scored 27 points to lead Lindblon to a 6th place state finish.

A bunch of us ITCCCA coaches have started a website to help new track coaches. 

http://newtrackcoach.wordpress.com/

Good stuff on track and field coaching fundamentals.

 

Impact Prospects Football Combine at Olivet Nazarene

Dominic Masciopinto(5-3, 145lbs, RB/LB/KP, class of 2013) from Steinmetz

Impact Prospects held a high school football combine at Olivet Nazarene University - home of the Chicago Bears training site. I know it's a bit late but here are some results and my top CPS performers at the combine. Admittedly, this was not the biggest combine.

Full Stats

Neilski's top CPS standout performers by position

Quarter back
Chris Covington(6-3, 185lbs, class of 2014), Steinemtz
At 6-3, 185lbs, Covington has great height and size for a current freshman. His stats were just under but comparable to the only other CPS quarterback in this combine Chris Harris from Steinmetz.

Running back
Anthony Johnson(5-9, 195lbs, RB/CB, class of 2012), Hubbard
The strongest of all running back, benching 16 times. Also had a good shuttle time. Steinmetz's Dominic Masciopinto alos showed good promise.

Defensive back
Quincy Skanes(5-10, 180lbs, DB/QB, class of 2012), Hubbard
The 4 year starter for Hubbard is now going to be a senior. It looks as if he is going to play the next level it will be at the defensive back position instead of quarterback.

Line backer
Deshante Dunning(6-2, 220lbs, MLB/LG, class of 2012), Lindblom
Lindblom athletes typically do not get much pub. However, with marks of 4.2 hand time 40 yard dash and top linebacker marks in the broad jump, vertical, and shuttle, Dunning is making himself get noticed.

Offensive Line
Corey Thomas(6-3, 280lbs, OT/DT, class of 2012), Lindblom
Really good broad jump (8-6") and shuttle times (4.52) for someone 6-3, 280lbs. Corey Thomas really has some potential and deserves to get more attention.

 

 

Pictures Now - CPS Boys Varsity Prelims 2011

Photo Album

Davontay Kawaaning(sr) of Lindblom in the 200 meter dash.

Rashad Wahab(sr) of Lincoln Park in the 200 meter.

Whitney Young wins boys golf city championship

Teams
1. 322 - Whitney Young
2. 348 - Northside Prep

Individuals
1. 75 - Omari Whitmore (jr) - Whitney Young
2. 79 - Zach Stuart - Whitney Young
2. 79 - Jason Mathus (fr) - LindblomPublish
4. 81 - Martin Kim - Whitney Young
5. 82 - Andrew Sonata - Northside

Suntimes article

Carter - 6TD's vs Farragut; Cody Bailey of Lindblom - 280 yards vs Washington

Top CPS Running Backs

The CPS has some running backs putting up some monster stats.

Cody Bailey (5-7, 165lb, sr, RB) of Lindblom ran for 280 yards in a 72-0 dismantling of Washington. This game was not a fluke. Bailey has over 1100 yards in 6 games (184/yards per game) and is one of the state's leading rushers (max preps photo).

 

  Brian Carter (left- jr, RB)  of Kelvyn Park racked up 6 TD's in a 45-0 win over Farragut. The crazy thing is that I heard was that he could have had more but 4TD's were called back due to penalties. I'll get back to how many yards he had.

Profile: Corey Thomas of Lindblom

Corey Thomas (6-4, 290lbs, jr, DE) of Lindblom (maxpreps photo)

Lindblom is one of those CPS schools that do not get too much attention. After all it is a small school tucked away in the Englewood community of the south side. Nearby Urban Prep has gotten a lot of publicity lately due to it's academic success but Lindblom Math and Science Academy deserves it's own props. I was surprised to find out, the school has an average ACT of 21.2 - which is well above the state average of 20.7 and the city average of 17.2.

One of the Lindblom students that is starting to make a name of himself is Corey Thomas. Thomas is a really good sized (6-4, 290) defensive end. He recently caught the attention of football scout Alen Trieu of Scout.com at the recent Antwan Randle-El football camp in Thornton High School. When Trieu knows who you are, people start paying attention.

Trieu liked is size and said about Thomas:

Lindblom is not a program I've heard too many guys coming in and out of him, but they had a bunch of kids show up and have good showings. Thomas was the most impressive of all of them. He has great size already at 6'3, 290-lbs, and after earning All-City honors as a sophomore, I think colleges will begin to find out about him.

Lindblom which plays in the small Intra-city conference opens in week 1 against Brooks.