Happy Sunday everyone,

What a day we had at the track! The weather just did not want to cooperate with us. We experienced torrential rains, hail, flooding, lightning, strong wind gusts, and being at the track way too late. We lost too many team tents as well. Despite all of these challenges, we overcame them. It was fun, but most of all our athletes enjoyed spending time with each other. I appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigated through the day which was controlled by the weather. Together we made this meet happen.

I want to personally thank the Rush Athletics parents and athletes who stepped up to make this event a success. You are the heart and soul of our program and others have complimented on your dedication to our organization. To the many volunteers who gave of themselves this weekend (despite the weather), words cannot express the gratitude I have for you — you helped this meet greatly. Thank you to our head official Kerry Dean for his wisdom and input on how the meet should be officiated and to the team of officials (Steve Battle, Myles Lincoln, Barry Puckett, Harold Leonard Jr, James Conley, Lori Ming, Sherraun Mustapha, Steve Shelley, and Dom Lincoln) . Thank you Craig Collins for being such a wonderful announcer. The Rib Shack Concessions was a huge success thanks to Matt Lincoln (chef), Stacy Jackson (manager), Caleb House, Maya McCant, Skai Lincoln, and Dom Lincoln (chef). Personal thank you from the bottom of my heart goes to Cassie and Ernest Crim, Keisha and Aaron Ward, Natalie Moxley, Mrs. and Mrs. Gborigi, Baiyina House, Mrs. Shakespeare, Kara Van Meter, Matt Van Meter, Dewitt Grant, Coach Tasha Penson-Johnson, Coach LaToia Sweezer, Coach Jose U., Coach Andrew Scott, Coach Muhammed, Coach Michele Gagnard, Coach Gerald Houston, Mrs. and Mrs. Tolbert, Mr. Bennie Hooks, Vern McCant, Randall Mance, Mara Bruno, Cynthia Flores, and most importantly our starter Lesroy Tittle and Darren Howard (Athletic Director at Oswego High School). There are so many of you who helped make this event EPIC and that it was. It takes a village!

Results have been updated on the live results. Please review results for errors. We will post results to athletic.net by Tuesday. Sooooo…..the winners are….

Overall Team Awards – all teams listed below will receive a trophy
Meet Championship title goes to ELGIN ROAD WARRIORS!!!!!
1. Elgin Road Warriors (503 pts)
2. NFront Track Club (333 pts)
3. Rush Athletics USA (251 pts)
4. Tallawah Track and Field (218 pts)
5. Kroc Chicago (170.50)

Overall 12U Team – all teams listed below will receive a trophy
Meet Championship title goes to ELGIN ROAD WARRIORS!!!
1. Elgin Road Warriors (253 pts)
2. NFront Track Club (202 pts)
3. Wisconsin Panthers (88 pts)
4. Gately Park Athletic Club (81 pts)
5. University of Chicago Track Club (70 pts)

Overall 13 & Up Team – all teams listed below will receive a trophy
Meet Championship title goes to ELGIN ROAD WARRIORS!!!
1. Elgin Road Warriors (206 pts)
2. Rush Athletics USA (171 pts)
3. Kroc Chicago (148 pts)
4. Tallawah Track and Field (146 pts)
5. Stallions Track Club (123 pts)

Division Champions – only the highlighted team will receive the division champion plaque
12U Female Champ: Elgin Road Warriors (135 pts)
2. NFront Track Club (126 pts)
3. Gately Park Athletic Club (63 pts)
4. University of Chicago Track Club (61 pts)
5. My Best Track Club

12U Boys Champ: Elgin Road Warriors (118 pts)
2. NFront Track Club (76 pts)
3. Wisconsin Panthers (70pts)
4. Rush Athletics USA (50 pts)
5. Mississippi Valley Track Club (38 pts)

13 & Up Female Division Champ: Elgin Road Warriors (108 pts)
2. Kroc Chicago (99 pts)
3. Stallions Track Club (73 pts)
4. Rush Athletics USA (71 pts)
5. NFront Track Club (62 pts)

13 & Up Male Division Champ: Tallawah Track and Field (102 pts)
2. Rush Athletics USA (100 pts)
3. Elgin Road Warriors (98 pts)
4. Stallions Track Club (50 pts)
5. Kroc Chicago (49 pts)

2022 Helen Scott-Owens Invite MVP Awards – Coach Lincoln will arrange to get this award to the coach of each team.
12U Female MVP: Daphne Shields – NFront Track Club (30 pts)
12U Boy MVP: Naszir Ruckers – Mississippi Valley Track Club (28 pts)
13 & Up Female MVP: Jordn Hamb – Kroc Chicago (40 pts)
13 & Up Male MVP: Grant Van Metter – Rush Athletics USA
3. Elgin Road Warriors (98 pts)
4. Stallions Track Club (50 pts)
5. Kroc Chicago (49 pts)

2022 Helen Scott-Owens Invite MVP Awards – Coach Lincoln will arrange to get this award to the coach of each team.
12U Female MVP: Daphne Shields – NFront Track Club (30 pts)
12U Boy MVP: Naszir Ruckers – Mississippi Valley Track Club (28 pts)
13 & Up Female MVP: Jordn Hamb – Kroc Chicago (40 pts)
13 & Up Male MVP: Grant Van Meter – Rush Athletics USA (30 pts)

2022 Helen Scott-Owens Prestige Award Recipients – Coach Lincoln will arrange to get this award to the coach of each team.
Mateo Zambrano (Elgin Road Warriors)
Kelli Blissett (Rush Athletics USA)
Breanna Sanner (Open-Master Athlete)
Steve Hackle (Open-Master Athlete)

We had lots of personal records set and a few meet records were broken. I will have that list compiled by tomorrow and will send an emailed and post to our social media page.

Many people know that my heart beats for Track and Field. This sport is the ground for all sports and teaches so many life lessons. This is the one sport where we can make friends for life. I hope and pray you continue to join us in 2023. We are truly happy that you were able to experience the Track & Field Season Finale – Helen Scott-Owens Invite. My grandmother “aka Nana” continues to be a guiding light in this world through her children. We persevere and overcame a day that many decided to throw the towel in. Continue to be a positive change in the world – continue to be a guiding light as the world turns one day a at a time (pun intended those where the soap operas my grandma loved to watched).