Wildkits Race Past Homewood-Flossmoor for Invitational Title

Evanston High School track team dominates at Minooka SmithStrong Invitational meet

Apr. 19, 2026 at 8:09pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a high school track and field competition, with overlapping planes of athletes in motion and vibrant colors representing the teams' official colors.Evanston High School's track team delivers a dominant performance, hinting at a potential state trophy run with their depth and star power.Evanston Today

The Evanston High School track team, led by standout performances from junior Jaden Jean-Paul and senior Manny Blake, defeated powerhouse Homewood-Flossmoor by a 20-point margin to win the Minooka SmithStrong Invitational meet. Jean-Paul tied the meet record in the high jump, while Blake won the 200-meter dash, and the Wildkits also claimed victories in the 400-meter and 800-meter relay races.

Why it matters

Evanston's victory over Homewood-Flossmoor, a perennial state track contender, suggests the Wildkits may be emerging as a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming state finals. The team's depth and strong showings in both individual and relay events indicate they could be a dark horse to challenge for a trophy at the state meet.

The details

Despite challenging windy and chilly conditions, the Wildkits delivered a dominant performance, winning the 16-team invitational with 109 points to Homewood-Flossmoor's 87. Jaden Jean-Paul tied the meet record in the high jump at 6 feet, 8 inches, while Manny Blake won the 200-meter dash. Evanston also claimed victories in the 400-meter and 800-meter relay races, with the 400-meter team's time already meeting the IHSA state qualifying standard.

  • The Minooka SmithStrong Invitational meet took place on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • Evanston High School last competed at this invitational six years ago, scoring only about 20 points.

The players

Jaden Jean-Paul

A junior at Evanston High School who tied the meet record in the high jump at 6 feet, 8 inches.

Manny Blake

A senior at Evanston High School who won the 200-meter dash.

Homewood-Flossmoor

A south suburban high school power that won the Illinois High School Association Class 3A state track championship in 2023 and finished second last year.

Don Michelin

The head coach of the Evanston High School track team.

Deshawn Preister

A top quarter-miler for Evanston High School who was absent from the 1600-meter relay due to a hamstring injury.

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What they’re saying

“I don't read much into because we won today. The better teams are the teams who show (rise to the occasion) in May. We just want to be one of those teams. We're still working to be one of the better teams.”

— Don Michelin, Head Coach, Evanston High School

“It was at this very meet that it happened. I had gone 6-8 indoors, but he told me I wasn't good and that he wasn't worried about beating me. Then, when I missed, he said if you're so good, how can you go out like that? I didn't say anything back to him then. I always try to have good sportsmanship. But today I wanted to make a statement and show him what I could do.”

— Jaden Jean-Paul, Junior, Evanston High School

What’s next

The Evanston High School track team will look to continue their strong performance at the upcoming Illinois High School Association state finals in May.

The takeaway

Evanston High School's track team has emerged as a potential dark horse contender for a state trophy, showcasing impressive depth and standout individual performances that could challenge the traditional powerhouses in the state.