Akinosun, Adewole Anchor Waubonsie Championship

Morolake Akinosun was beyond ecstatic in the aftermath of her blazing performance in the 55-meter dash.

The returning all-state sprinter dominated the two short sprints of the Upstate Eight Conference girls indoor track and field championship to lead the Warriors to the team title. The meet was held in Batavia on Thursday.

With Ayo Adewole also claiming the title in the 55 hurdles, the Warriors’ three championship efforts, augmented by Nia Williams’ runner-up efforts in the long and triple jump, Waubonsie Valley scored 74 points to defeat Lake Park by 13 points.

was third with 60 points, while East Aurora bettered only Elgin and Larkin.

Metea Valley was ninth behind its championship 800 relay quartet of Rachel Harris, Andre’z Williams, Emily Cowan and Crystal Butler.

“The 55 (time of 6.93 seconds) was the best of my life,” said Akinosun.

The Wildcats’ junior leader denied Neuqua Valley sophomore Savannah Carson in both races.

Carson appeared to be gaining on Akinosun on the final curve, but the Warriors’ speedster was brilliant down the stretch to win 25.06-25.91 seconds.

“I wasn’t sure where (Carson) was,” Akinosun said. “I just said to myself, ‘Don’t look back.’”

Adewole gave Waubonie Valley championships in back-to-back events when she claimed the 55 hurdles in 8.62 seconds.

“My form is really good in all my running events,” said Adewole, who missed the state series last year with a hamstring injury.

Akinosun and Adewole  teamed with Aja Devaney and Heather Julifs--fourth in the 55 hurdles--to finish second in the 800 relay.

But it was former teammate Butler who stole the show in the event.

“She was a Warrior if anyone can remember,” said Adewole.

Butler transferred to Metea prior to the school year, and the junior anchored the Mustangs’ crew to a victory.

“All I was thinking about was getting to state,” Butler said of the Mustangs qualifying for the Prep Top Times meet in Bloomington next week.

Neuqua Valley forged its third-place finish with depth.

The lone school in the top 10 without an individual or relay champion, the Wildcats’ Stephanie Jackson and Alyssa Weber were third and fourth, respectively, in the 400 to typify the team approach.

The Wildcats’ three relay teams, highlighted by its 1,600 runner-up, all placed as well.

The Upstate Eight Conference has produced multiple state champions in the last decade alone, and its depth and balance were clear to all.

“You don’t see that very often,” Geneva coach Peter Raak said of Waubonsie winning with 74 points.

“How many state qualifiers do you think were in the meet tonight?,” said Waubonsie coach Dave Gowing. “I couldn’t be happier with how the girls competed. We had personal records throughout the night.”

Virginia Handley was the lone athlete from East Aurora to score.