Trinity’s Anna Sloan was blazing fast at the Class 2A Glenbard South Sectional, winning both the 100-meter dash in 12.15 seconds and the 200 in 25.12.
When the meet was done, the Forest Park resident kept on running.
This time, she sprinted to the parking lot in a dress, trying to get to a prom that had started earlier on Friday, May 15 in Rosemont.
Sloan got to spend only a brief time at the dance, but it was a whirlwind night she won’t forget any time soon.
“I knew I was going to make it, I just didn’t know if I would be on time,” Sloan said. “I was only there for the last hour of it and I didn’t have a date because I didn’t want to keep him waiting, but it was still worth it to go.”
Now Sloan can turn her full attention to her No. 1 goal this spring: bring home a state championship when she competes in the Class 2A meet this weekend at Eastern Illinois in Charleston.
At state last year, Sloan was third in the 100 (12.2) and fourth in the 200 (25.0).
“I think I’ll be pretty upset if I don’t get first,” Sloan said. “I really want to get first place.”
Sloan has the second fastest qualifying time in the 100 in Class 2A, behind Champaign Centennial’s Dominique Lewis (12.12).
She has the third fastest time in the 200 behind Kankakee’s Tyjuana Eason (24.55) and Decatur Eisenhower’s Tina Martin (24.71).
“My thoughts are to just worry about me,” Sloan said. “I’m going to worry about my race instead of getting freaked out about other people’s times.”
This will be the third year Sloan has competed at state, and she knows exactly what to expect.
“I do get really nervous, but I’ve learned you just have to stay confident or you won’t perform your best,” Sloan said. “You can’t let other people intimidate you. You just have to do the best you can do. I’ll make sure to get lots of sleep, drink a lot of water and eat healthy.”
Sloan will also compete in the 400 relay after teaming up with Alexis Gay, Sierra Brown and Kenzie Hunt to finish first in 49.12. It was the third fastest qualifying time in Class 2A.
“[Sloan] is the most phenomenal athlete that I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching,” Trinity coach Renee Koziol said. “She’s so positive and determined and it’s been a pleasure to watch her grow over the last four years. I’m excited to see what she can do at state.”
Track notes
* The Blazers finished second at the sectional with 114 points, eight behind Glenbard South.
* Trinity also will be represented at state by Brown in triple jump (1st, 36-feet-8) and the 100 high hurdles (1st, 16.35); Emily Doyle in the 3,200 (2nd, 12:04.72); Hailey Hansen in the 1,600 (2nd, 5:30.94); Gay in the 200 (2nd, 26.36); and Tatiana Nieves in the 400 (2nd, 1:01.6).
“My goal was to beat everyone by the 200,” Nieves said. “I knew if I got to the 200 before anyone else I would have an easier time qualifying. I expected to break a certain time (low-59s), but I plan on doing that next week.”
* Brown has the second longest qualifying distance in the triple jump. De La Salle sophomore Jaime Robinson jumped 39-8 at the Class 2A North Lawndale Sectional.
Valentin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
