HR0890 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0890 LRB102 28187 LAW 39995 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Kankakee High School girls track and field team, the Lady Kays, on the occasion of winning the IHSA Class 2A Finals; and

WHEREAS, The Lady Kays scored 74 points, earning 23 more than the runner-up, University High School; the team won six events, with seven athletes earning a combined 17 medals across seven events; and

WHEREAS, The Lady Kays are comprised of many talented kids; the breakout star was freshman Naomi Bey-Osborne, who won four titles, including individually in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.22 seconds and the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.53 and as the anchor of the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 48.35 seconds and the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3 minutes and 57.93 seconds; the team's other individual champion was sophomore long jumper Na'Kyrah Cooks, who won first place in long jump with a distance of 5.44 meters; also earning points individually was junior Nevaeh Lowe, who took third in both the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.68 seconds and the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.75 seconds, and she also anchored the winning 4x200-meter relay with a time of one minute and 41.65 seconds and ran the second leg on the first-place 4x400-meter relay; sophomore Aniya Lewis was disqualified after an apparent third-place finish in the 400-meter dash but returned to run the second leg of the 4x400-meter relay; seniors Sydney Ramsey, Saniah Stewart, and Jakia Autman also contributed to the relays; and

WHEREAS, The Lady Kays were also joined in celebrations with the Kankakee High School boys track team, the Chief Kays, as they too won the IHSA Class 2A Finals, marking the first team state championships ever won by Kankakee High School; and

WHEREAS, The Lady Kays and Chief Kays are not only special but also inspirational; the teams were sadly hit with the loss of two assistant coaches, Jemiya Bates and Chwan Wilson, with Coach Bates dying of brain cancer and Coach Wilson passing due to COVID-19 complications; these teams took their late coaches' passion and love to heart, making them both proud by working together to overcome their competition; and

WHEREAS, The Lady Kays were led by Head Coach Marques Lowe, Assistant Coaches Erica Baptist, the late Jemiya Bates, Sarah Ganster, Rich Olmstead, and the late Chwan Wilson, and Meet Director Kurt Weigt; and

WHEREAS, The Lady Kays' achievement and the memories made in the process will be celebrated for years to come; the team, together with those that love them dearly, will always cherish this moment; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Kankakee High School girls track and field team, the Lady Kays, on winning the IHSA Class 2A Finals; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Lady Kays as an expression of our esteem and respect.