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2019 ILXCTF IHSA Track & Field Previews - Boys Teams

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ILXCTF - Mike Newman   Feb 12th 2019, 9:11pm
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By Michael Newman

[email protected]

 

There are not that many certainties among the Boys teams entering the 2019 Track & Field season in Illinois. Perhaps the one certainty is in Class 1A where Colfax-Ridgeview has the talent to repeat with Mason Barr and Tate Walcott leading the way.

Class 2A is up for grabs with as many as five teams capable of winning a state team title. Could it be East St. Louis-Senior who has a chip on their shoulder after missing last year’s state meet. It could even be Rockford Christian that finished second in Class 1A in 2018 and now has a new home in this classification.

Could Marcellus Moore drive Plainfield North to a team championship in 2019 after finishing third a year ago? Defending 3A champion Neuqua Valley along with Homewood-Flossmoor may have a say about that.

Here are summaries of what we see as the top ten teams to watch for at the beginning of this season. We might update this list as the season progresses. At this point, not much will appear to change.

 

1A Boys

 

1 – Colfax-Ridgeview

Team Notes – The odds-on favorite to repeat as the 1A team champion. They have the returning talent to make that repeat a reality. Mason Barr is the only finalist returning in the 110 Hurdles and should be the favorite. He will make it to the finals of the 300 Hurdles. He should also be among the favorites in the 200 Meter Dash. Tate Walcott is the defending champion in the Long Jump and a good bet to defend that title. Walcott was third in the 200 Meter Dash and failed to make the finals in the 100 Meter Dash. He could score in both. Barr and Walcott were members of the quartet that won the 800 Meter Relay. They could find two runners to replace the graduated seniors in that quartet.

 

2 – Pleasant Plains

Team Notes – Chase Schmitt is the top returning athlete in the Discus and will be the favorite. He should also score points in the Shot Put. Tristen Tewes has been all-state in the High Jump three times. He should be one of the favorites in the event. He could also get points in the Long Jump. Otis Sanders and Steven Melin are athletes that cold score in the distance events. Pleasant Plains returns two from their state championship 1600 Meter Relay team. They also return two runners from their 3200 Meter Relay squad that finished second. Both squads could again place in 2019.

 

3 – Robinson

Team Notes – The Maroons will get a boost with the addition of Negus Bogard who transferred from Palestine last summer. He finished third last November in the 1A State XC Finals. He should be one of the top 1A distance runners this spring. Robinson finished ninth in the 3200 Meter Relay and returns two from that squad. Grayson Wolf is one of the top athletes back in the 110 Hurdles. He could be among the top five in that event. Alex Weber could be a surprise and get points this Maty in the Discus.

 

4 – Madison

Team Notes – Madison finished in a tie for ninth last year at state. They could improve on that finish this spring. Kendall Kennedy is one of the top returning athletes in the 110 Hurdles. He could place in that event, the 300 Hurdles and maybe the Long Jump. Alphonso Rice III earned all-state honors in the Long Jump. He could finish among the first three. Rice will lead both the 400 Meter Relay and 800 Meter Relay teams. Three runners are back from those squads that finished seventh in the 800 Meter Relay. Chances are good that the Trojans finish in the top four in those events.

 

5 – Caitlin Salt Fork

Team Notes – A team that could themselves in state meet trophy discussion by the time we get to the state series. Dawson Rogers finished fifth in the 800 Meter Run and is the second returning athlete from last year’s finals. He will be one of the favorites in that event.  Max Branigan did make it to state last year in the 100 Meter Dash but failed to make it to the finals. Branigan returns with the fourth fastest time at that distance. He could be an athlete to keep an eye on. Caine Wilson finished third last year in the 300-meter Intermediate Hurdles and will be one of the top athletes in this event in 2019. Payton Taylor made it Charleston in both the Shot Put and Discus. With both events wide-open this spring, Taylor could be an athlete to watch in both events.

 

6 – Williamsville

Team Notes – It could be their athletes in the field events that could get the Bullets to a top three finish. Cameron Watts won the 1A Pole Vault as a sophomore in 2017 and finished sixth last year. The senior will be looking for his second state title this May. Brad Olyslav finished fourth in the Discus and made state in the Shot Put. He should be one of the top 1A athletes in both events this spring and will provide big points for Williamsville. The Bullets return all of their quartet that finished seventh in the 3200 Meter Relay. Evan Horn leads that group. They could be one of the favorites when we get to the state series. Horn could also make some noise in the 1600 Meter Run.

 

7 – Rushville-Industry

Team Notes – The Rockets made the podium last year with a third-place finish. Their points this year should come from one athlete. Charly Tshibuabua was all state in the three sprint events. He is the defending champion at 400 Meters and should be the favorite in all three races. Tshibuabua was part of Rushville’s 400 Meter Relay squad that finished fourth. Tshibuabua and Kreeden Allen are the only two back from that team. Harley Street could be an athlete to keep an eye on in the 800 Meter Run.

 

8 – El Paso-Gridley

Team Notes – It could be the distance events that could push the Titans into the top five at state. Noah Smith had a great fall season culminating with a 10th place finish in the 1A State finals. Smith finished sixth last spring in the 3200 Meter Run. He has the second fastest times at 3200-meters and 1600-meters. He could be a factor in both events. Their 3200 Meter Relay did not make it to state last year. Their core of 800-meters is young but have the potential to make some noise in that event. Sophomore Kollin Schlipf could be an athlete to keep an eye on in both hurdle events. Anthony Hornsby could be a surprise state-wide in the Shot Put.

 

9 – Morrison

Team Notes – It could be a group of four runners that could get this team into a top three position. The all-sophomore quartet of Jacob Schlegel, Nathan Mickley, Keegan Anderson, and Koby Blackemeyer won the 3200 Meter Relay by six seconds. All are back and will be the big favorite to repeat. Brackemeyer finished 10th in the 800 Meter Run. He is back with one of the top three times and could challenge for the win. Anderson finished fifth in the 400 Meter Dash and will contend for the state title. Mickley, Brackemeyer and Anderson along with sophomore John Winkleman finished seventh in the finals in the 1600 Meter Relay. Watch for a higher finish from that group in 2019.

 

10 – Forreston

Team Notes – The Cardinals finished seventh in 2018 and should be among the top ten teams this season. Brady Webb could be the key athlete on this team. He’s back with a sixth-place finish in the Long Jump and could contend for a top three finish in that event. Webb could also be a factor in the 100 Meter Dash. He was also part of the 1600 Meter Relay quartet that finished ninth in the finals. Three runners are back from that team. The same trio also was part of the 400 Meter relay team that false-started in the prelims. Keep an eye on that relay. Jace Coffey could also get his team points in the Discus. Dom Christensen could be a surprise in the Pole Vault.

 

2A Boys

 

1 – Marion

Team Notes – Class 2A will be wide-open this spring and Marion could be the team with the athletes to take home a trophy. Part of their strength could come in the weight events. Josh Schmid finished seventh in the Discus finals in 2018. He is the third placing athlete back in that event and could contend for the state championship. Schmid and James Gunn are two of the top returning athletes in the Shot Put. Both athletes could get points in that event. Stuart Adkinson could be one of the elite athletes in the hurdle events. The senior finished sixth in the 300 Hurdles and could contend for a top three finish. His time of 14.48 in last year’s South Seven Conference Meet is the third fastest returning time in the 110 High Hurdles. He did not make it to state but should rebound at that distance in 2019. Their 3200 Meter Relay team finished second last year with Timothy Surburg and John Bruce returning from that quartet. Bruce missed cross-country season due to an injury. Bruce finished 10th in the 1600 Meter Run and could surprise some this May in that event and perhaps the 3200 Meter Run.

 

2 – Cahokia

Team Notes – We could see the Comanches back on the podium in 2019 after finishing in a tie for 18th last year. Cahokia had one six 2A state titles in a row with their last coming in 2016. Andra Ward finished second in last year’s Triple Jump and will be the favorite this spring. Ward will also be among the top athletes in the Long Jump. Darreon West finished eighth in the 200 Meter Dash. West has the returning times to contend for both the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash. He could be part of strong relays in the 400 Meter Relay and 800 Meter Relay along with Damonta Taylor that could contend for top finishes in both events. Taylor has one of the top six returning times for 400-meters and should be a factor in that event. Steven and Lenard Harris have two of the top returning times in the 300 Hurdles and will be among the leaders this spring. Both will contribute in the sprint relays. Steven Harris should also get his team points in the 110 High Hurdles.

 

3 – Rockford Christian

Team Notes – The Royal Lions left Charleston last spring with the 1A second-place trophy. The IHSA used their “success factor” to move Rockford Christian to 2A for the 2019 season. Still, this program could finish among the top teams this spring. Riley Wells, the two-time 1A champion for 800-meters, should be the big favorite in 2A. Their 3200 Meter Relay quartet of Brent Brunner, Stephen Thomas, Nicolas Capriola, and Cal Granite finished fourth in the 1A finals. If Wells is part of that quartet, they could come away with the state title in that event. Brunner and Thomas could get their team points in the 1600 Meter Run. Their 1600 Meter Relay finished second in 1A. Up on the upper level, that team with Wells in it could contend for the relay title. Noah Fulcomer earned 1A all-state honors for 110 Hurdles and could be a factor this spring in that event. Elijah Nitz will also be among the point scorers in Charleston in both the Shot Put and Discus.

 

4 – Mahomet-Seymour

Team Notes – It might just take two athletes for the Bulldogs to move into the top three teams. Mahomet-Seymour missed the state title by just four points. Hunter Hendershot is one of the state’s elite athletes in the weight events. He could win both the 2A Shot Put and Discus this spring. 2018 2A State Cross-Country champion Mathias Powell showed immense improvement last fall which should carrier over to this spring. Powell finished second in 2018 for 3200-meters and will be among the favorites again this spring. Powell also has one of the top five returning times at 1600-meters and could also be a factor in that event. Corey Cebulski could be a surprise in the Pole Vault as well as Adam Van Holten in the 300 Hurdles.

 

5 – East St. Louis-Senior

Team Notes – The Flyers did not get a chance to compete at last year’s state meet due to the IHSA prohibiting them to compete following the incident at their conference meet. Eastside should be focused to be among the top 2A teams in 2019. Willie Johnson has the fastest time returning at 400-meters. He should be the favorite in that event. He will also be a part of a strong 1600 Meter Relay team. Andrew Johnson could provide the Flyers big points in both the 110 High Hurdles and 300 Intermediate Hurdles. Marcus Lampley will lead their strong sprint group. He could be one of the favorites in the 200 Meter Dash as well as their anchor in both the 400 Meter Relay and 800 Meter Relay. Russhyd Hollis could be a surprise state-wide in the High Jump.

 

6 – Marengo

Team Notes – Marengo finished ninth last fall based off the efforts from Finnigan Schirmer and Aaron Shepard. Both athletes are back with hopes of getting their team into the top five at state. Schirmer had a breakout sophomore season ending with all state finishes in the 110 High Hurdles and 100 Meter Dash (fourth-place) as well as third in the 200 Meter Dash. He is the top returnee in the 110 Highs and 200 Meter Dash and will be one of the favorites at 100 Meters. He should provide his team big points. Shepard finished fifth in the High Jump. He will be one of the favorites in that event.

 

7 – Metamora

Team Notes – The Redbird finished eighth in 2018 and could repeat a top ten finish this season. Adam Gilbreath-Glaub is the 2A defending champion in the 3200 Meter Run. Despite an injury plagued fall, the junior still finished 22nd in the 2A State Meet. He should be among the favorites in the event. Hunter Roedell did not make it to state last year in the 1600 Meter Run. The sophomore still has one of the top returning times in the event and could surprise some. The 2A 800 Meter Run is wide open. We could see Jacob Gray among the top five runners in that event. Both Gray and Roedell were part of their 3200 Meter Relay that finished ninth in the finals. Mitchell McKelvey could be an athlete to watch in the Pole Vault. Joe Burch could contend for an all-state position in the Shot Put.

 

8 – Freeburg

Team Notes – The strength in the field events could push the Midgets into a top ten spot in 2019. Freeburg finished in a tie for 21st last year. Zach Pluff finished fourth in the High Jump last year. The senior should be one of the favorites in the event in 2019. Brendan Meng could step into the spotlight in both of the horizontal jump events this spring as he has one of the top returning marks in the Long Jump. McKallen Smith could also surprise some in the High Jump. Noah Williams finished seventh last year in the 300 Hurdles. Williams is one of the top six returning athletes and should be a factor in that event. Graduated Charlie Parrish has moved on to Kansas State University. Corbin Schwable should step in as the leader of the distance group and could be among the top runners at 1600-meters.

 

9 – Dolton Thornridge

Team Notes – The Falcons have a strong sprint group that could push their team into the top five this spring. Davon Bolden and Leondre Pollard lead that group. Pollard finished fourth last year at 200-meters and is the second state meet returning athlete. Bolden finished seventh in the 400 Meter Dash finals and will be among the favorites in that event. Both were part of a 400 Meter Relay quartet that just missed the finals. That squad could take the next step in 2019. Their 1600 Meter Relay team has the fastest time in the state early in this indoor season. Keep an eye on that group. Pollard could also be among the top athletes in the Long Jump.

 

10 – Burlington Central

Team Notes – A team to keep an eye on as this season progresses. The Rockets finished sixth last year in the 3200 Meter Relay and return three from that group led by all-state cross-country runner Anthony Farmer. Central could be one of the favorites in that event. We could see Farmer among the top runners in the 1600 Meter Run. Connor Wagner has the top time back (39.53) for the 300 Hurdles and could be one of the favorites in this wide-open event. Wagner did qualify for state last year but did not make the finals. He was also a part of the 1600 Meter Relay quartet that finished second. Two runners are back from that team. Patrick Mayfield made all-state honors in the High Jump and should be a presence this year at state. Davis Dunham could be a surprise in the Shot Put.

 

3A Boys

 

1 – Homewood-Flossmoor

Team Notes – The Vikings finished second in last year’s 3A State Meet four points behind champion Neuqua Valley. The sprint events and the horizontal jumps could propel this team one spot higher on the state meet podium. Joshua Bridges and Jesuseun Adeyiga lead a young but talented sprint group. Adeyiga made the 100 Meter Dash finals finishing eighth. Bridges just missed the finals in the 100 Meter Dash. It would not be a surprise if both athletes qualify for the finals at both 100-meters and 200-meters. The quartet in the 400 Meter Relay finished second as well as finishing third in the 800 Meter Relay. The improvement of sophomores Marshall Elis and Ugo Anidobu will be something to watch as the season progresses. Quinton Stringfellow finished fourth in the Triple Jump finals and should be one of the favorites in 2019. Jalen Hunter earned all-state honors in the Long Jump placing ninth. He could be among the top five athletes in that event this spring.

 

2 – Crete-Monee

Team NotesJamal Safo and Victor Cameron will be two reasons why the Warriors could contend for a top three finish. Cameron had a strong junior season finishing third at state in the 110 High Hurdles and qualifying for state in the 300 Intermediate Hurdles. He should be one of the favorites in the shorter of the two races and could get points for his team in the other hurdle event. Jamal Safo will step into the spotlight in 2019. He finished fifth at state in the Long Jump and is the top returning placing athlete back. Stefan Baldwin missed last year’s finals in he Long Jump but does have a 23-6 performance on his resume. Jalen Echols could be a surprise in the 100 Meter Dash and could help their 400 Meter Relay and 1600 Meter Relay make the finals along with Sammy Assil. Elante Humphrey could be a surprise in the 800 Meter Run. Assil could surprise some in the 400 Meter Dash.

 

3 – Naperville Neuqua Valley

Team Notes – The defending 3A team champions will be back again contending for a state trophy. Donovan Turner will be one of the favorites in both hurdle races this spring. Turner finished second in the 110 High Hurdles and sixth in the 300 Intermediate Hurdles. Their quartet in the 1600 Meter Relay returns three including Turner from last year’s third-place finish. Kel Foley was part of that quartet and could be a surprise in the 400 Meter Dash. Matthew Appel is in position to have a strong junior season. He some of the top returning marks in both the Shot Put and Discus and could score in both events. Their distance team came on strong last fall finishing third in the 3A State Cross Country Meet. The good group led Chris Keeley, Michael Madiol, and Nicolas Dovalovsky, all finishing in the top 30 last fall, could all qualify in May and get the Wildcats some points. Alexander Kiefer could get his team points in the Pole Vault.

 

4 – Plainfield North

Team Notes – The same scenario should occur in this year’s state finals like we saw last May. Marcellus Moore was a part of 40 of the team’s 43 third-place points. The junior has developed into one of the top sprinters in the nation. He currently has the second fastest time nationally for 60-meters. He is ready to defend his titles at the 100 Meter Dash and the 200 Meter Dash. Moore was part of the Tigers state winning 400 Meter Relay and 800 Meter Relay. Their sprint group will be something to watch for this season to see the improvement by the time they get to the state series. The possibility of Moore opting out of the 800 Meter Relay to run the 400 Meter Dash is a possibility. He has the second fastest returning time at that distance. Kyle Burke has the potential to make the finals for the 110 High Hurdles. Nolan Anderson could be a surprise in either of the horizontal jumps.

 

5 – Oak Park-River Forest

Team Notes – The Huskies could be one of the top teams in the state by the time we get to the state series. Their strength lies in the hurdle events. JT Lowder finished fifth in the 110 High Hurdles and Koren Leonard finished fifth in the 300 Intermediate Hurdles. Both return with some of the top times in both events. The two seniors could place in both events. OPRF could score in both the 400 Meter Relay and 1600 Meter Relay with Tyrone Clarke leading this young but talented sprint squad. Josh Cotter could be among the top athletes in the Pole Vault. Kwesi Yeboah is an athlete to watch near the front of the Triple Jump. Keon Gilbert and Mykolas Saloninas could surprise in the Shot Put.

 

6 – Wheaton-Warrenville South

Team Notes – A combination of a strong sprinter and a deep distance group could vault the Tigers to one of the top three teams in the state. Cedric Rowzee finished seventh in both the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash. He will be one of the top sprinters in the state and will provide his team big points. Their distance squad climbed to the top of the mountain last fall winning the 3A State Cross Country team championship. Sean Maison finished seventh in the 1600 Meter Run and should be one of the top runners in that event. His brother Scott ran 9:27 last spring for 3200-meters and could be among the top 10 runners in the state at that distance. Juniors William Hauenstein and Jacob Kluckhohn should also make it to Charleston in distance events. Jacob MacConnachie finished ninth in the Pole Vault and will be one of the top athletes in 3A in that event in 2019.

 

7 – Deerfield

Team Notes – It may just take two events for the Warriors to be among the top 3A teams when we get to the state meet. The two weight events are their strength. Sam Liokumovich finished sixth in the Shot Put and is the returning athlete in that event. His 63-0.25 effort at Rockford at the beginning of February. Henry Boudreau was just two feet behind Liokumovich last season. Boudreau could also be among the top five in that event. Both athletes are among the top five returnees in the Discus with Boudreau having a better personal best.

 

8 – Edwardsville

Team Notes – The Tigers should be among the top ten teams by the time we get to May. Kenyon Johnson made the finals in the Long Jump where he finished 12th. This junior has among the top returning marks in the Long Jump and could contend for a top three finish. We should also see him get points in the Triple Jump. Amari Brooks was all-state in the Discus placing sixth. He will challenge for a top three finish in that event as well as the Shot Put. Dan Powell could surprise some in the 300 Intermediate Hurdles. Roland Prenzler, Max Hartmann, and Jack Pifer are possibility for qualifying in distance events.

 

9 – Downers Grove South

Team Notes – The Mustangs are a good possibility to finish among the top ten teams at the end of May. Jayden Lambert finished third in the Triple Jump and will be among the favorites in that event. Lambert could also get his team points in the Long Jump. Shawn Lee could be among the top athletes in the Shot Put. Just a junior, this season could be a stepping stone for something big. Lee and Kendall Burrow could be surprises in the Discus. Eddie Siuda ran 4:18 for 1600-meters and 9:26 for 3200-meters last year. He should be a qualifier in one of those events when we get to May.

 

10 – Fox Lake Grant

Team Notes – The Bulldogs are led by defending state champion in the 400 Meter Dash Jason Thormo. His 47.84 time is the best among the returning athletes. Two in a row for Thormo is a possibility. Bobby Cayet did make the 300 Meter Hurdles finals finishing ninth. He does have the second fastest returning time in the event. He could get Grant some big points. The combination of Thormo and Cayet helped in getting the 400 Meter Relay and 1600 Meter Relay to the state meet last year. Both quartets lead all four runners. They could be a threat in both by the time they get to Charleston.

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