By Michael Newman

In the 3A sprints, we go from certainty to uncertainty. The one to watch in 3A Hurdles is very certain.

Galesburg’s Josh Eiker was the athlete to watch in the sprints in 2016. Yes, he was pushed indoors by Lockport’s Derrius Rodgers but Eiker was untouchable outdoors capturing both the 100 and 200 titles at Charleston. With most athletes in last year’s finals graduated, who will step into the top spot by the time we get to Charleston at the end of May. The one athlete could be Hoffman Estates junior Declan Rustay who placed in both sprint events one year ago. The 400 Meter Dash is in the same situation with no clear favorite.

Travis Anderson of Edwardsville is the one clear favorite in both hurdle races. His specialty is the short hurdles where he was well under 14 seconds (with the help of a little wind) in both the prelims in the finals. He is the defending champion in that event. Anderson finished third in the 300 Hurdles looking for the top prize in this event as well.

East St. Louis-Senior had a lock on the sprint relays winning two and getting second in another. Those points helped them capture the 3A state team championship. There are several teams that are ready to move up to the top of the podium in each of the three relays for 2017.

100 Meter Dash

Top 25 Returnees

Outlook – An answer to who would be the athlete to watch in 2017 may have come in the 3A prelims of last year’s state meet. Declan Rustay shocked some by winning the third heat of the 100 Meter Dash in a wind-aided 10.46. He finished third in the final behind of Josh Eiker and Derrius Rodgers. It signified we could see some special things ahead from this athlete for the next two years.

It seems like Cary Lockhart (Bloomington, senior) has been competing on the high school level forever. This is his senior year. He has been all-state four times in the 100 and 200. It was not his best ending of last year. He did run 10.53 in the prelims behind Rustay and finished ninth in the finals. He is a gutty sprinter that could step to the center stage his senior season.

Camron Harrell (Bradley-Bourbonnais, senior) finished fourth and Ayo Abiona (Sandburg, senior) finished seventh in last year’s finals. Both all-state athletes could come away with the state title. There is a strong group of sprinters led by Antwan Thigpen (Lyons Township, senior), Carlos Baggett (Plainfield North, senior), and Tariun Triplett (Downers Grove North, senior) that could be difference makers in this event. Let’s keep an eye on the indoor season. We could have a sprinter that dominates the short sprints that could become difference makers when we get outdoors.

200 Meter Dash

Top 25 Returnees

Outlook – Declan Rustay is the lone finalist back in this event. He finished ninth. The one runner to watch could be Cary Lockhart who has the fastest returning time (21.62). Lockhart has a 21.24 personal best from his sophomore season that puts him a step ahead of the rest of this field.

There are four other athletes that ran under 22 seconds last year with Ayo Abiona, Brad Garron (Evanston, senior), Camron Harrell, and Devonte Weathersby (Oswego East, senior) in that group. Brandon Adams (Minooka, junior) ran 22.01 during the summer and could be a presence in this event. He could be a bigger factor in the Minooka relay teams. Shawn Showalter (Bolingbrook, junior) and Damone Garrison (Thornwood, senior) are athletes that could also excel at this distance.

400 Meter Dash

Top 25 Returnees

Outlook – Brad Garron shocked some of the crowd at O’Brien Stadium during the 3A prelims when he ran 47.72 in his heat. Garron did not have his best race the next day when he finished eighth in the finals. He does have the fastest returning time making him one of the athletes to watch in this one lap race.

There are three other finalists back led by Deonte Anderson (East St. Louis-Senior, junior) who finished third. Cameron Ruiz (Lakes Community, senior) finished sixth last year and could be a favorite as well as well as Avery Lyons (Bloomington, senior). The season best times of all three athletes were only separated by eight hundredths of a second.

Nick Miranda (Lincoln-Way East, senior) made state last year at Lincoln-Way North running 48.85 in the prelims. He is another runner to watch for. Keep an eye also on Brandon Davis, Antwan Thigpen, Isaiah Robinson and JaQuere Williams (Neuqua Valley), Brandon Gage (Oak Park-River Forest, senior), Antonio Davis (Bloom Township, senior) and Kevin Sherwood (Prospect, senior).

110 Hurdles

Top 25 Returnees

Outlook – We found out how great Travis Anderson is in this event last year when he ran 13.59 in the prelims and 13.71 in the finals edging William Session by one hundredth of a second for the state championship. Forget the fact that both times were wind-aided. This Edwardsville senior is fast. Anderson ran under 14 seconds three other times during the year including a 13.90 wind legal time at the Collinsville Sectional. It is tough to see anyone getting close to him this season. He has the fastest returning time by almost a second.

This event is wide open with Jordyn Carr-Jones (Addison Trail, senior) the only finalist back. He finished seventh in the finals. There are three other athletes that ran seasonal bests between 14.70 to 14.76 last season. Landon Keefover (Antioch, senior) ran 14.70 during the regular season and finished seventh in the 2A finals. Jace Jones (Glenbard North, senior) ran 14.71 and Jayvious Johnson (Machesney Park Harlem, senior) ran 14.76 and should push for a finish in the top three. Dan Spejcher (Lake Park, junior), James Young (East St. Louis-Senior, junior), Matt Grebe (Edwardsville, senior), Paris Miller (Glenbard North, senior), and Albert Yen (New Trier, junior) are some of the athletes to watch in this upcoming season.

300 Hurdles

Top 25 Returnees

Outlook – The focus in this event starts in the Southwest Conference with Travis Anderson and Delano Anderson (East St. Louis-Senior, senior). The two were only separated by 14 hundredths of a second with their seasonal bests. The two met at the Collinsville Invitational that was decided by a photo finish. It was Eastside’s Anderson that won in that race. When it came to the state finals. Edwardsville’s Anderson had the edge with a third-place finish ahead of a seventh-place finish.

Jaden Jackson (Fremd, junior) finished sixth in the finals race and is the only other all-state athlete coming back. Jace James made it out of the prelims but false stared in the finals. James did run 38.86 in winning his sectional race and should be a threat to be on top in this event this season. Joe Zubak (Wheaton-Warrenville South, junior), Vince Divenere (Glenbard West, senior), and Zurek Day (DeKalb, senior) are the next three returnees that could be difference makers this season in this longer hurdle even.

Relays

East St. Louis-Senior and Minooka were the top two teams in the 400 Relay last year and could be floating again near the top. The Flyers only return Jarrell Anderson from their championship squad while Minooka returns two athletes. Both teams have great depth in the sprints. That is why I think we will see them challenging again for this relay title. Every other team that made the finals returns two or less runners from their quartets. Huntley, Metea Valley, Edwardsville, and South Elgin could be teams that we could see in the front. Plainfield North ran 41.72 to win the Neuqua Valley Sectional and have a good sprint group back led by Carlos Baggett. Keep an eye on the Tigers again in 2017.

The 800 Relay is the same story. All the teams that made the finals have two or less runners coming back. Southwest Prairie rivals Minooka and Plainfield North could be the teams to watch in this even. Huntley and Rock Island could be the next in the chase with Plainfield East and Hoffman Estates possibly close behind.

East St. Louis-Senior is the defending champion in the 1600 Relay. Even though all last year’s quartet has graduated, I would never count out his team. Neuqua Valley and Minooka both return two runners and could be in the mix. Evanston might be the team to watch as they return three of their four from last year’s seventh place team led by Brad Garron. Bloom Township finished fourth and returns three. Keep an eye on them.