The Alley Cats Show Up and Show Out at the CPC Outdoor Championship Meet

written by Coach Gladden

Collecting a record 14 All-Conference designations at the 2025 CPC Outdoor Conference meet, the Tigers put together some of their best performances of the season. Six members of the team produced new personal records in their preferred events.

Working against a strong headwind, Jilene Velazquez collected her first All-Conference designation of the day, winning the long jump with a leap of 4.37m on her final attempt. Arielle Asberry-Baker pushed the shot out 6.11 meters to finish seventh. In a controversial 400 meter relay race, the team
of Michelle Robinson, Emaly Lopez, Sunita Pate, and Jilene Velazquez appeared to be a victim
of lane interference during one of the baton exchanges. Head coach Stephen Gladden filed a
protest, but it was overruled and the ladies finished third, still achieving All-Conference status. Running the century sprint, Jilene Velazquez (13.32 seconds, All-Conference) and Michelle
Robinson (14.01 seconds) finished third and seventh respectively. Michelle would add her name to
the All-Conference list with a third place finish at 200 meters in a time of 29.34 seconds. Michelle
closed out her day with a 400 meter sixth place finish. Emaly Lopez stepped outside of her usual
competitive distance and took on the challenge of 800 meters. She finished fourth, adding key
points to the girls team total. First year runner Sunita Pate became a two time All-Conference
performer with a second place finish and PR (20.84 seconds) in the 100 meter hurdles and a third
place medal in the challenging 300 meter hurdle event. This was her first race at this distance.

In the field events, Leonte Curington-Harris took home hardware and an All-Conference title
finishing third in the shot put. Teammate Patrick Ezeanyim finished seventh. Pitias Merach
contributed to the boys point total by taking the fifth spot in the long jump.

Led by Jaden Hamilton’s first place sweep of the sprint events, first in school history, the boys
team attacked their events with increased energy. Viktor Markovych added valuable points in the 100 and 200 meter sprints setting personal records in both events. Manasseh Boahene put his
name on the All-Conference list with a third place finish in the one lap sprint. Pitias Merach
notched an All-Conference designation with a personal record (2:17.30) in the 800 meter run. While
it may not show up in the medal count, first year runner Claude Bickel ran possibly the toughest
double the meet (800 meters and 3200 meters), scoring in both events.

In the boys team standings, Holy Trinity and Walther Christian were separated by one half point,
with Holy Trinity holding the lead. The battle for third place would be decided by the final event of
the day, the 4 x 400 meter relay. HT had to finish ahead of Walther to hold on to third place. The
relay squad of Alex Cruz, Pitias Merach, Claude Bickel, and Manasseh Boahene, From the
initial gun to the bell lap, the Alley Cats were aggressive and determined. They finished with a
personal record for the group, taking the number three spot and holding off the challenge from
Walther Christian, finishing third overall. A fitting end to a long and exhausting competition.

Special shout out to Dianne Kenny, Fr. Tom, Eli Schwadron, the parents, classmates and friends
who came out today to support our Seniors and the team in general.

We love it!

The girls are in action next Thursday competing in the IHSA Track Girls Sectional Meet for a chance
to qualify for the State Finals in Charleston at Eastern Illinois University, May 22-24, 2025.

Check out some photos below taken by HT photographer Ivan Solis!