Girls Track: Lindblom’s Shamier Little dominates Public League finals, eyes state
Updated: May 5, 2012 9:48PM
As a defending state champ in two events, Shamier Little had good reason to be looking past Saturday’s Public League finals at Hanson Stadium.
The Lindblom junior won her three specialties, breaking her own meet record in one, but remains focused on the bigger prizes at stake in two weeks at the state finals in Charleston.
“I’m really happy,” Little said. “I just wish I could have had more recovery time.”
She won the 100-meter hurdles in 14.05 seconds (.23 better than her year-old mark), took the 400 in 55.72 and wrapped up her day with a first in the 200 (24.71). Little’s the reigning Class 2A champ in the 100 hurdles and 400; she was third in the 200 last year.
“The 100 hurdle time, I’m happy, I’m getting closer to 13,” she said. “My 400, I still want to work on being consistent with my times. The 200, I think I need to work on getting out, but I think I’m doing (well).”
The key remains her ferocious kick, which no rival can match. “That’s what everyone says, (that) I don’t start running till the last minute,” Little said.
No other athlete was first in more than one individual event in a meet won 129-108 by Young over runner-up Lane. Morgan Park and Brooks tied for third with 59 points and Dunbar (57) took fifth.
Young won thanks to its depth, taking first in three relays (400, 800, 3,200) and getting a victory from Shianne Baggett in the 1,600 (5:31.95). Claire Kieger was on both sprint relays and was runner-up to Little in the 200 (25.15), while Baggett took second in the 800.
Morgan Park’s Ashley Johnson won the 300 hurdles (46.20) by more than 3.6 seconds and was second to Little in the 100 hurdles (14.81).
Kenwood’s Dhiaa Dean was a comfortable winner in the 800 at 2:18.53. “I wish I had a better time,” Dean said. “It was so windy and everyone was on my shoulder and I was taking all the wind. I wanted to fall back, but I was (thinking), ‘Don’t break your lead.’
“At first I wanted to break the (meet) record. But then I was getting all nervous and riled up, so I was like, ‘Just win the race and get our points. You can do it at state’ ’’
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