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Illinois Track & Field Athletes of the Year – 3A Boys Sprints/Hurdles EventsPublished by
By Michael Newman, ILXCTF.com Editor
Travis Anderson of Edwardsville demonstrated this spring that he was one of the most dominating hurdlers in the state especially in the 110 High Hurdles. Anderson, who was the 2016 champion in the event, ran under 14-seconds three times including the 13.79 time to win his second state title. He won the 300 Intermediate Hurdles for his third state championship but two losses to East St. Louis-Senior’s Delano Anderson were blemishes on his record. The breakthrough athlete of 2017 was Plainfield North’s Marcellus Moore. It was hard to see that Moore was just a freshman. He did not race like a freshman. Moore was undefeated up to the state meet in the 200 Meter Dash. His 21.28 time was fastest in the state. He was second in one 100 Meter Dash race this season heading into the state meet. He ran 10.40 in the prelims at state and finished second in the 100 Meter Dash and then fourth in the 200 Meter Dash. His anchor leg at the Naperville North Sectional where he was in fourth when he got the baton and brought his team to victory running a 21.2 leg into a strong win was one of the most memorable of the year. Just ask anyone who witnessed that. That’s pretty good for a freshman. For most of the season, Declan Rustay of Hoffman Estates ran in the shadow of the freshman. But by the end of the year, he was the most dominating sprinter in the state. Rustay went undefeated in both the 100 and 200 Meter Dash capturing the state championships at both distances. His 10.40 time in the state prelims is the fastest time in the state along with Moore. Rustay best 200-meter time was 21.57 during the season. He did achieve a personal best of 21.12 in July at a USATF meet. Injuries played a factor to Anderson this season limiting the times that he raced. Rustay’s perfect season was the difference. It will be fun to watch Rustay and Moore race against each other in 2018. Congratulations to Declan Rustay of Hoffman Estates High School as the 2017 ILXCTF.com 3A Boys Sprints/Hurdles Athlete of the Year. More news |