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Posted on Sun, May. 25, 2008

Flyers refuse to be denied; East Side claims Class AA crown
Clean sweep: East St. Louis boys win title one week after girls take top prize
BY DEAN CRIDDLE
News-Democrat

CHARLESTON --The East St. Louis Flyers weren't about to finish second again.

Kraig Appleton successfully defended his 300-meter intermediate hurdles state title and the Flyers' depth proved to be the difference as East St. Louis regained the Class AA State Track and Field Meet championship Saturday at O'Brien Stadium.

Competing without sprinter Javaughn Tabbs, who suffered an injured right hamstring in Friday's preliminaries, the Flyers used the brilliance of Appleton and nine other medal-winning efforts to finish with 57 points, 11 more than Elmhurst York, to win their first state championship since 2005.

The title also is the second in two weeks for East St. Louis High, which won the girls Class AA state championship on the same O'Brien Stadium track on May 17. The double championship is the first for any Class AA school in track and field since East St. Louis Lincoln pulled it off in 1984.

In a tough four-team battle with York, Springfield Lanphier and two-time defending champion Cahokia, the Flyers put the title away when Appleton won the 300 hurdles and teammate Ryan Miller finished third.

Appleton finished the race in 37.99 seconds, with Miller clocking in at 38.42

Flyers refuse to be denied; East Side claims Class AA crown