The 2025 track & field season will be in full swing this weekend with the Morolake Akinosun Elite Invitational kicking off. This is now the 5th year of hosting for the legendary sprinter Morolake Akinosun who won a gold medal in the 4x100m in the 2016 Rio Olympics! She is now the Head of Athlete Relations at Grand Slam Track! Many athletes will be looking to perform at their best this weekend and showcase themselves at this great spectacle.
Boys -
1. Rondre Austion (Jr., Oak Park [MI])
Events: 60m (6.96), 200 (21.87), 400m (47.52)
Much of Motor City Track Club will be making their way down to Illinois as they compete once again at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center. Austion is only a junior, but has a great resume. Last year he was 9th at AAU Junior Olympics in the 400m for the 17-18 with a time of 47.52 which is one of the best returning marks in the nation. His 4x400m was 5th at AAU Junior Olympics. He will be the top dog to watch this weekend on the boys side as he takes it to the track for a total of three events.
2. Sean O'Byrne (Sr., Homestead [WI])
Events: 60m (6.96), 200m (21.73)
The 100m and 200m All-Stater for Wisconsin last year will be looking to run in his 2nd meet of the year after not racing since the Gately Park Open. He is one of the top returning sprinters in the midwest. He will look to knock off a bit of rust here, but could do something very special in the process.
3. Jason Hamilton (Sr., Troy [MI])
Events: 60m (7.02), 200m (21.71), 400m (50.67)
Another Michigan standout is making his way down to Illinois as he looks make an impact. He has had a great start to his indoor season as he ran 7.02 in the 60m and 22.20 in the 200m! He was an all-stater last year at the Michigan State Meet in the the 100m last year. He has definitely had a great start to 2025.
4. Lucas Mersky (Sr., Homestead [WI])
Events: 200m (21.77), 400m (49.52)
Hailing from Wisconsin, Mersky returns to the same track that he won the 200m and 400m at AAU Northern Indoor Nationals. The All-Stater from Homestead looks like he had a great summer and fall as he has really improved since he took to the track last season. Could we see him break 22 and 50 this weekend in the 200m and 400m?
5. Arion Hill (Sr., Centralia [IL])
Events: 60H (8.04), 200m (23.46)
Hill is seeking revenge this year after an injury kept him from contesting at the Illinois State Meet last year. He started this year with a time of 8.25 in the 60H and will be looking to improve on that this weekend. He really broke out at this meet last year when he won the 60H and will be looking to defend his crown.
6. Andrew Cartier (Sr., De Pere [WI])
Events: Triple Jump (48'5.25), Long Jump (21'8.25), 60m (7.71)
The Wisconsin State Champion in the Triple Jump, will grace the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center's pits as he makes his season debut. He was very consistent last year with him going over 47 feet at 3 different meets. How long will he be able to go this year?
7. Daniel Robinson (Jr., Naperville [Neuqua Valley] [IL])
Events: 60m (6.93), 200m (22.29), Long Jump (23-3.5)
Robinson has kicked off his indoor campaign thus far undefeated in all of his competitions up to this point. He will take to the track on two occasions at this meet and to the field for an event as well. His main event has seemed to be the Long Jump where he eclipsed the 23 foot barrier last year. Can he come close here?
8. Braylen Anderson (Jr., DeKalb [IL])
Events: 60m (7.07), 200m (22.03)
Anderson is running great up to this point in the season where he has ran 22.18 already in the 200m. Last year he also had a great indoor track campaign where he was undefeated and ended with him winning the Illinois Top Times crown in the 200m. He will take on a very talented field this weekend.
9. Zion Morrison (So., Homewood-Flossmoor [IL])
Events: 60m (7.04), 200m (22.31), 60H (8.39)
The general theme among this list has been athletes who have had great starts to their indoor season and its not different here with Morrison. At one time he was viewed as the next big thing in track, but an injury riddled freshman campaign didn't allow people to see the upside on this amazing talented athlete. He has returned to being know as the next big thing this early track & field season. He has once again picked up hurdling and has excelled running 8.39 and has ran great in the 60m and 200m which has caused him to be undefeated up until this point in the year.
10. Demari Caldwell (Sr., Oak Park [MI])
Events: 400m (49.07), 800m (1:59.12)
Caldwell transferred to Oak Park for his senior year and has already gotten off to a great start for the 2025 season with marks of 49.61 in the 400m and 1:59.12 in the 800m. He will be looking to continue his fantastic season here at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center and turn some heads.
Girls -
1. Kamryn Tatum (Jr., West Bloomfield [MI])
Events: 60m (7.46), 200m (23.87), 400m (54.96)
2024 was a great year for the West Bloomfield standout, but was probably also frustrating as she did not run any PR's. She still took home a 200m State Championship and all-american honors in the 100m, but you can tell from her debut a few weeks ago at the LAB Indoor Meet #2 a few weeks ago that she is ready to return to her 2023 form.
2. Nevaeh Burns (So., Oak Park [MI])
Events: 60m (7.91), 200m (24.67), 400m (54.89)
Burns is making her first appearance at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center since 2022. The sophomore phenom proved to be one of the top frosh in the country last year with her blazing times. She was a State Champion in the 4x200m, 4x400m, and 400m at the Michigan State Meet last year and 5th at AAU Junior Olympics in the 400m while her 4x400m was runner-ups. She has a lengthy list of accolades for only entering her 2nd high school campaign.
3. Taryn Henderson (Sr., Farmington Hills [Mercy] [MI])
Events: 60m (7.61), 200m (24.52), 400m (55.10)
Henderson had an amazing sophomore campaign in 2023, but injuries derailed her 2024 junior season. A change in clubs seems to have set her on the right path again after joining the Michigan Mustangs. She has ran 7.62 in the 60m, 25.18 in the 200m, and 56.76 in the 400m already this year. All were a few weeks ago so we could see a big breakout performance here from her.
4. Janae Coleman (Fr., Oak Park [MI])
Events: 200m (24.97), 400m (54.53), 800m (2:09.02)
Coleman is an extremely talented freshman as she was the top middle distance junior high runner last year. She sports some insane PRs while in middle school and has runner-up performances at AAU Junior Olympics in both the 400m and 800m while a national championship in 4x400m. She will take part in three events this week and will be a key name to watch in all three.
5. Sunny Weber (Jr., Sandwich [IL])
Events: 1600m (4:59.18)
Weber kicked off her season two weeks ago as she won both the 1500m and 3000m at AAU Northern Indoor Nationals. She ran a very impressive 4:36 in the 1500m which converts to about 4:56 in the 1600m. This will be her first opportunity to run the full distance and in a much better field. The 2A XC State Champion will surely excite in this race.
6. Annika Swan (Jr., Chicago [St. Ignatius] [IL])
Events: 800m (2:11.36)
Swan is an obviously extremely talented runner and has been on the unfortunate end of some great state meets where she is a 3x State Runner-Up. With this being her season debut, expect something special from the Wolfpack runner as she has the motivation of those three runner-ups. She is the defending meet champion in the 800m.
7. Kyenret Rinkam (So., Brookfield Central [WI])
Events: 60m (7.64), 200m (24.53), 400m (58.92)
Rinkam has garnered a few all-american honors over the last few years. She won the 60m at the AAU Northern Indoor National meet with a time of 7.64. She returns to the very place that she won that meet and will be looking to improve on her effort. She will be a name to watch in the 200m and 400m as well.
8. Madalyn Marx (Jr., Mahomet-Seymour [IL])
Events: 60m (8.02), 200m (25.13), 400m (56.11)
Marx is once again having a great start to her year with her most notable meet being the AAU Northern Indoor National meet. She sports seasons best of 25.35 in the 200m and 58.40 in the 400m. The IHSA 2A State Champion will be looking to break the 58 second barrier this week.
9. Carrie Vannoy (Sr., Oak Park [MI])
Events: 60m (7.78), 200m (25.39), 60H (8.69)
Vannoy enters this meet undefeated in the 60H this year and will look to try and continue that streak. The multi time all-american will also be contesting the 60m and 200m as she has a full event load. She is one of the most elite hurdlers in the country.
10. Mia Forsytek (So., New Lenox [Lincoln-Way Central] [IL])
Events: 800m (2:12.24)
The Knights 800m standout didn't have the cross country season that many people had expected her to have as she placed 102nd at the IHSA State Meet. Injuries are the main reason behind this setback that caused her to nearly miss her entire summer. The 800m State Runner-Up has had a full offseason of training and will look to pop off a great mark here.
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