Homewood-Flossmoor hurdler Matthew Lewis-Banks is always striving for that perfect race.
But he also is preparing for all scenarios.
“Normally, I have a pretty clean race, I might hit a few hurdles,” Lewis-Banks said. “That might throw off my rhythm. But this week I’ve been watching some videos of top hurdlers like Grant Holloway (Florida’s NCAA champion) to see how they power through even if they flip a hurdle.”
Lewis-Banks ran a personal-best 14.22 seconds in winning in the 110-meter highs at the Class 3A Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional. It’s the second-fastest Class 3A time behind Neuqua Valley’s Donovan Turner (14.08).
“I felt pretty good about my race,” Lewis-Banks said. “I clipped two or three but I just powered through it.”
Lewis-Banks won more comfortably in the 300 hurdles even though his 38.9 is only good for the ninth seed. But a tightly clustered pack — top-seeded Joe Zubak of Wheaton Warrenville South clocked 38.4 — gives Lewis-Banks a good chance of climbing high on the award stand come Saturday.
“I’m feeling great,” he said. “I’m just looking to clean it up a little bit and I’m more than ready for state.”
Lewis-Banks is ready and will also be busy. He’s also an integral member of the Vikings’ defending 3A champ 400 relay team, which enters the meet as the top seed at 41.62.
If Lewis-Banks comes through on his pile of potential points, the Vikings should be in great shape to make a run at the team title. Neuqua Valley, Downers Grove North, Danville, Hoffman Estates and Plainfield North also could be in the trophy mix.
Lockport’s John Meyer will also be chasing some history as the top seed in the discus at 68 feet, 1 inch. Already a two-time champion in the shot put, Meyer has his eyes on the state meet record of 66-5.75 set by Jermaine Kline of Lake Park. Meyer threw a personal-best 70-6.5 at the conference meet on May 10. He also has a realistic shot at sweeping the weight events as he enters the discus competition as the third seed at 181-0.
Eisenhower’s Joshua English will be trying to become the first state champion for the Cardinals since the 800 relay in 1986. English enters the meet as the second seed after clocking 1:54.41 at sectional.
In the Class 2A meet, Rich Central looks to be a major threat for the team title. The Olympians own the top seed time in the 400 relay (42.08) and the second seed in the 800 relay (1:29.85).
Those relays are anchored by speedsters Sean Tyler, second seed in the 100 (10.70) and VanHarvey Vance, top seed in the 400 (48.97) and 200 (21.59) and third seed in the 100 (10.76).
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Steve Soucie is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.