CHARLESTON, Ill. • Cahokia boys track coach Leroy Millsap stressed in a meeting with his team Friday night the importance of scoring points during Saturday's finals of the Class 2A state meet at O'Brien Stadium at Eastern Illinois University.
That meeting produced results because the Comanches came out and won the team title Saturday, finishing the state championships with 62 points. The win was Cahokia's first state championship since 2007. Chatham Glenwood was second with 44 points and Glenbard South third with 40.
"This group stepped up and got it done," Millsap said. "They got the job done. We didn't do as well as we were supposed to (Friday). So I just told the kids in a meeting (Friday) night just do what you've been doing all year long. Run the times, do the jumps you've been doing all year long and we'll be fine.
"I guess that clicked in their head, and they started talking amongst themselves. We worked out whatever was going on internally between them, and it came out for the better."
Cahokia was able to capture the state championship despite winning only two events. Vernon Carter took home top honors in the triple jump (47 feet, ½ inch), and the 1,600-meter relay team shattered the state record with a time of 3 minutes, 18.20 seconds. The old mark of 3:20.51 was set by Hillcrest in 2009.
"Now that we won I feel better," Carter said. "We did it, and I brought points for our team. We had to score points everywhere with all the guys we had in the finals. We came to win, and that's what we did. This is my last year, so I didn't want to go out with another second place (the team was second in 2009)."
In addition to cashing in on wins in the triple jump and 1,600 relay, the Comanches also scored with Carter finishing second in the 300 intermediate hurdles (38.77) and third in the long jump (22-11½). LaDerrick Ward was second in the triple jump (46-4½) and fourth in the long jump (22-6½). Cahokia also got points in the 400 where freshman Marlin Brady placed fourth.
"This team had a championship mind," Millsap said. "We've been preaching it all year. These guys have been doing what we've been asking them to do. These guys held up and they did what they had to do."
