Full of Jumps: Abie's Road to a Pair of State Track Titles and a Fourth-Place Finish for the Vikings

Abie Ehimwenman.

People who don't know her often bumble the pronunciation of her name.

Not anymore.

Now, she will be called simply, "State Champ."

Ehimwenman, a Homewood-Flossmoor senior and Ohio State recruit, won both the the long jump and triple jump events in the Class 3A girls state track and field meet on Saturday at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston.

She had a winning leap of 19-2 3/4 in the long jump and finished nearly half a foot in front of second-place finisher Kathryn Pickett of Glenbard West. Pickett's best jump was 18-9 1/4.

Then, in the triple jump, Ehimwenman came back to take her second individual title with a mark of 40-4. She bested second-place finisher Tori Franklin of Downers Grove South (39-9) by more than half a foot.

Ehimwenman tacked on a fourth-place finish in the 200-meter dash. She was clocked in 24.89 seconds. Her work helped the Vikings place fourth in the team standings with 35 points. East St. Louis won the 3A title with 46 points. Lincoln-Way East placed second with 37 and Hoffman Estates was third with 36.

For more on Ehimwenman and the Vikings' performance in the state meet, check back on Homewood-Flossmoor.Patch.com later today and tonight.