Hinsdale South’s Okoro adds to medal collection

Updated: May 24, 2011 6:50PM

At this rate, Uzo Okoro will probably finish sixth in the Class 3A state meet again next year, but she could set a school record if that happens.

Okoro finished sixth in the triple jump for the second consecutive year Saturday in Charleston. Her distance was 37-feet, 5 1/4 inches this year, a little short of last year’s 38-0 1/4.

Okoro, a junior, could become the first Hinsdale South girls athlete to medal three consecutive years in the triple jump if she is able to finish in the top eight next year. It would be even better if Okoro could place higher than sixth. Three of the top four finishers in this year’s triple jump were seniors, led by champion Abie Ehimwenman (40-4) of Homewood-Flossmoor.

The two finishers ahead of Okoro were juniors: Allie Virgilo (third, 37-10 1/2) of Jacobs and Anne Yahiro (fifth, 37-6) of Benet.

If Okoro, a starting forward from the basketball team, could place again in the triple jump again, her third medal would pass the school’s two triple jump medals won by Nicole Whitman and Bianca Taylor.

Last year’s triple jump mark remains Okoro’s personal-best. She also finished sixth in the long jump Saturday with a personal record of 17-11 3/4. She didn’t advance to the finals of last year’s long jump, leaping 15-11 1/4 in last year’s preliminaries. Ehimwenman also won the long jump in 19-2 3/4.

Okoro became the first Hornets long jumper to place since Jamie Morris, who finished third in Class AA in 1989.

Whitman and Taylor earned two triple jump medals in the late 1990s. Whitman was second in 1997 and fifth in 1998. Taylor was eighth in 1998 and sixth in 1999.

Okoro will attend Hinsdale South’s summer basketball camps, but will also compete in her third season with the Hinsdale-based Zephyrs track and field club. Okoro plans on traveling with the team for meets in Kansas and Myrtle Beach, S.C., this summer. The club also includes athletes from Hinsdale Central and Lyons.

“I think I’ve improved a lot this year,” Okoro said. “I think in the summer, when it gets warmer, I’ll do better. In the summer, I have better marks.”

As she enters her senior season, Okoro will concentrate more on looking at colleges this summer. She has not decided whether to pursue track or basketball in college.

At last year’s state meet, Okoro traveled alone. This year, Okoro had a teammate as freshman Sarah Warren qualified and placed fourth in her heat in the 400 (58.34). Warren was unable to reach Saturday’s finals. The final qualifier in the event advanced with a 58.15 preliminary time.

“I think this year was a lot more fun,” Okoro said. “Sarah Warren qualified with me so I had someone else there besides the coaches.”

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