Minooka Invitational, 4.17.15

That sound was opportunity knocking loudly.

Friday night at the Minooka Invitational, some athletes had the opportunity to compete at the varsity level for the first time. Some had the opportunity to compete in their first invitational. And all had the opportunity to compete in the nicest weather (70 degrees, no wind) ever at this invite.

When opportunity knocked, the Indians answered. As a team, Minooka won both the varsity and JV levels, and possibly more personal and season bests were set in an invitational than had ever happened before.

By my count, we had 57 personal or season bests. That’s 57 out of a possible 88 entries (including the 4 legs of the relays). In other words, 65 percent of the time when a Minooka athlete competed, they performed their best.

What’s more, the Indians did it in every single event — all 18. Whether a throw, jump, or split, Minooka achieved a personal or season best each time a new event started.

Six of those bests set JV meet records (4x100, 3200, 400, 1600, discus, and high jump). Three set varsity meet records (800, 400, and 1600).

Two of those bests set MCHS school records (400 and 1600), and two more were the second-fastest ever in school history (800 and 200).

Opportunities aren’t always there when we want them, and it was great seeing so many Indians taking advantage of the opportunities they had been given.

The other memorable sound from the evening was another example of an opportunity being taken. A senior sprinter sang the National Anthem at her home invite, the first time she’d ever performed it. And she nailed it.

Go Indians.