2020 ILXCTF.com Illinois Track & Field Previews - 3A Boys Sprint/Hurdle Events
By Michael Newman
[email protected]
The five events in this classification are open for those that want to win a state championship this spring in 2020. We thought we would have a state champion returning for his senior season. Marcellus Moore’s lasting image of his high school career came last year in the finals of the 200 Meter Dash when he still won the state title overcoming a hamstring injury.
A month later, Moore made the decision to forgo his senior year of high school track and field to graduate early and attend Purdue University entering this school this January. Moore is already making some noise on the collegiate running the eighth fastest time ever at Purdue in the 60 Meter Dash (6.72).
The Athlete That Steps Up To Earn the Sprint Crown
The look on the face of Collinsville’s Jermarrion Stewart was hard to forget. The mix of anguish and surprise shot across his face as Marcellus Moore held him off by seven hundredths of a second for the Class 3A 200 Meter Dash final.
Good things come to those who wait. Stewart’s patience and learning through all of his competitions should pay off this spring.
The focus will be on this Collinsville senior this spring as he is the top returning all-state athletes of the four that are back. His season’s best of 10.49 is two tenths of a second faster than the pack led by Xavier Curtis of Glenbard North. AJ Henning of Lincoln-Way East and John Bickel of Andrew are the other state finalists from last year that return.
It will be interesting to see which athlete that takes the big step up this season. 16 athletes are back that have run 11-seconds or faster in the 100 Meter Dash.
Stewart should be the big favorite in the 200 Meter Dash as his best time of 21.24 is more than a half second ahead of that from Xavier Curtis. Marshall Ellis of Homewood-Flossmoor, who finished seventh in the finals last year, is the other returnee with Stewart and Curtis.
Tyrone Clark of Oak Park-River Forest, Marlon Wordlow of Thornwood, and Sacrad Michelin of Evanston are some of the athletes that I would watch for in this event.
Could Stewart go after the state title in the 400 Meter Dash?
It is a possibility. He did not run that event in his junior season in 2019. He does have a personal best of 48.84 that he achieved his freshman season. He was all-state that year (2017) when he finished fifth. This is just something to mull over this season.
There are five all-state athletes back ready to step into the state championship spot that Jason Thormo held the last two years before he graduated and moved to the University of Illinois. Three of those athletes ran under 49 seconds last year led by Khullen Jefferson of Thornton Fractional South who finished fourth last year.
The Lockport duo of Kyle Langellier and Michael Walkosz finished 5/6 in the finals and would love to sweep the first two places this year. Marlon Wordlow finished ninth last year but will be a threat in the front.
The Puzzle That is the Class 3A Hurdles
You sit at the kitchen table with pieces of a puzzle that you have to put together. That is the same feeling that I get when looking at the two Class 3A Hurdle events as we head into this 2020 season. It’s confusion trying to make sense of what could happen.
The one thing that can be determined in the shorter of the two hurdle races is that Daylin Williams of Homewood-Flossmoor should step into the top spot. Williams finished fourth in the finals last year. He improved from 14.49 at the end of the state meet to 14.26 at the end of the club season last summer.
Williams’ time is 35 hundredths ahead of that from Kalil Johnson of Evanston Township. Johnson was a sophomore that ran 14.90 to win his sectional but did not qualify for the state finals. He did drop his time down to 14.61 during the summer club season. We will see how that growth translates to this track season.
Mychah Spells of Andrew finished seventh and is the only other all-state athlete back. Eldrick Surheyao of Champaign Centennial is the only other athlete back besides the above mention that has a seasonal best under 15-seconds.
It is a clean slate in the 300 Intermediate Hurdles. No all-state athletes back. A chance for so many to claim the top prize. KeiJhuan James of O’Fallon has the fastest returning time (38.96) and the only athlete back with a time under 39-seconds.
It tightens up after that with seven more athletes under 40-seconds. Onyi Ukaobasi of Geneva leads that group.
First Look At The Relays
Crete-Monee was the team to watch last year as they set a new state record in the prelims in the 400 Meter Relay, then winning in the final. The Warriors also finished third in the 800 Meter Relay. It might be tough for CM to repeat with two athletes back. The same holds true with Homewood-Flossmoor that won the 800 and finished second in the 400. The Vikings also return two athletes.
The team that will be watched is Oak Park-River Forest that finished third in the 800 Meter Relay and was disqualified in the 400 Meter Relay on a bad final exchange. Three athletes are back ready to claim the top prize.
Bloom Township, Prospect, and Andrew are some of the team that I would keep an eye on as well in these two short relays.
Lockport Township returns three athletes from last year’s second-place 1600 Meter Relay and should be the favorite in that race. It is nice to have two sub-49 second 400 runners like Kyle Langellier and Michael Walkosz. Batavia could be a team to watch along with Bloomington. I know that there will be more teams jumping to the front.
Remember, we are only in February.
Top Returning Class 3A Boys Sprint/Hurdle Event Athletes
100 Meter Dash
1 |
Jermarrion Stewart |
|
12 |
|
Collinsville |
|
10.49 |
|
2 - 3A |
2 |
Xavier Curtis |
|
12 |
|
Carol Stream (Glenbard North) |
|
10.69 |
|
5- 3A |
3 |
Aj Henning |
|
12 |
|
Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) |
|
10.73 |
|
4 - 3A |
4 |
John Bickel |
|
12 |
|
Andrew |
|
10.76 |
|
9 - 3A |
5 |
Jovan Marsh |
|
11 |
|
Chicago (Marist) |
|
10.78 |
|
|
6 |
Antonio Passarelli |
|
12 |
|
Huntley |
|
10.86 |
|
|
7 |
Sacrad Michelin |
|
12 |
|
Evanston (Township |
|
10.88 |
|
|
8 |
Kaden Turner |
|
12 |
|
Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp.) |
|
10.89 |
|
|
9 |
Jaylin Johnson |
|
12 |
|
Normal Community West |
|
10.90 |
|
|
10 |
Jaheel Perrin |
|
12 |
|
Lincolnshire (Stevenson) |
|
10.91 |
|
|
11 |
Nasir Lacey |
|
11 |
|
Joliet (West) |
|
10.92 |
|
|
|
Marshall Ellis |
|
11 |
|
Homewood-Flossmoor |
|
10.92 |
|
|
13 |
Anthony Perry |
|
12 |
|
Oak Lawn (Richards) |
|
10.93 |
|
|
14 |
Jaquan Howard |
|
10 |
|
Bolingbrook |
|
10.95 |
|
|
15 |
DaQwan Davis |
|
12 |
|
Bloomington |
|
10.97 |
|
|
16 |
Jaehlen Merriweather |
|
12 |
|
Aurora (West Aurora) |
|
11.00 |
|
|
17 |
Virgil Steward |
|
12 |
|
Metea Valley |
|
11.01 |
|
|
18 |
Khullen Jefferson |
|
12 |
|
Lansing (Thornton Fractional South) |
|
11.02 |
|
|
19 |
Isaiah Tyler |
|
12 |
|
Proviso East |
|
11.03 |
|
|
|
Sebastian Renteria |
|
12 |
|
Aurora (East) |
|
11.03 |
|
|
21 |
Joshua DiNatale |
|
11 |
|
St. Charles (North) |
|
11.04 |
|
|
22 |
Jaylin Eison |
|
12 |
|
Plainfield (South) |
|
11.05 |
|
|
23 |
Kyle Langellier |
|
12 |
|
Lockport (Twp.) |
|
11.08 |
|
|
24 |
Immanuel Bailey |
|
12 |
|
Moline |
|
11.10 |
|
|
|
Kamari Rush |
|
12 |
|
Romeoville |
|
11.10 |
|
|
|
Andrew Li |
|
11 |
|
Naperville (North) |
|
11.10 |
|
|
27 |
Kejuan Stamps |
|
12 |
|
Romeoville |
|
11.11 |
|
|
|
Matt Hightower |
|
12 |
|
Shepard |
|
11.11 |
|
|
29 |
Adam Kunny |
|
12 |
|
Winnetka (New Trier) |
|
11.12 |
|
|
30 |
John Moellenkamp |
|
12 |
|
Mt. Prospect (Prospect) |
|
11.13 |
|
|
|
Chase Hall |
|
12 |
|
Chicago (Brother Rice) |
|
11.13 |
|
|
200 Meter Dash
1 |
Jermarrion Stewart |
|
12 |
|
Collinsville |
|
21.24 |
2 |
Xavier Curtis |
|
12 |
|
Carol Stream (Glenbard North) |
|
21.76 |
3 |
Marlon Wordlow Jr |
|
12 |
|
Thornwood |
|
21.78 |
4 |
Tyrone Clarke |
|
12 |
|
Oak Park-River Forest |
|
21.89 |
5 |
Sacrad Michelin |
|
12 |
|
Evanston (Township) |
|
21.95 |
|
Marshall Ellis |
|
11 |
|
Homewood-Flossmoor |
|
21.95 |
7 |
John Bickel |
|
12 |
|
Andrew |
|
21.98 |
8 |
Kavon Jones |
|
12 |
|
Crete (C.-Monee) |
|
22.01 |
9 |
Jovan Marsh |
|
11 |
|
Chicago (Marist) |
|
22.02 |
10 |
Virgil Steward |
|
12 |
|
Metea Valley |
|
22.07 |
11 |
Chase Hall |
|
12 |
|
Chicago (Brother Rice) |
|
22.12 |
12 |
Antonio Passarelli |
|
12 |
|
Huntley |
|
22.18 |
13 |
Kyle Langellier |
|
12 |
|
Lockport (Twp.) |
|
22.22 |
14 |
Khullen Jefferson |
|
12 |
|
Lansing (Thornton Fractional South) |
|
22.25 |
15 |
John Moellenkamp |
|
12 |
|
Mt. Prospect (Prospect) |
|
22.26 |
16 |
Jason Miller |
|
12 |
|
Dundee-Crown |
|
22.32 |
17 |
Paul Kerber |
|
11 |
|
Huntley |
|
22.33 |
18 |
Immanuel Bailey |
|
12 |
|
Moline |
|
22.34 |
19 |
Rafe Kloes |
|
11 |
|
Lyons Township |
|
22.45 |
20 |
Trayvon Rudolph |
|
12 |
|
Crete (C.-Monee) |
|
22.46 |
21 |
Dontavius Young |
|
12 |
|
Jefferson |
|
22.47 |
22 |
Joshua DiNatale |
|
11 |
|
St. Charles (North) |
|
22.50 |
23 |
Tyler Colwell |
|
10 |
|
Minooka |
|
22.51 |
|
Michael Walkosz |
|
12 |
|
Lockport (Twp.) |
|
22.51 |
25 |
David Smolensky |
|
11 |
|
Lincolnshire (Stevenson) |
|
22.52 |
26 |
Eldrick Surheyao |
|
12 |
|
Centennial |
|
22.56 |
27 |
Jaheel Perrin |
|
12 |
|
Lincolnshire (Stevenson) |
|
22.57 |
28 |
Christopher Radcliff |
|
11 |
|
Elmhurst (York) |
|
22.58 |
29 |
Deabolik Horton |
|
11 |
|
Rockford (East) |
|
22.59 |
30 |
Kendi Young |
|
12 |
|
Calumet City (Thornton Fractional North) |
|
22.60 |
400 Meter Dash
1 |
Khullen Jefferson |
|
12 |
|
Lansing (Thornton Fractional South) |
|
48.34 |
|
4 - 3A |
2 |
Michael Walkosz |
|
12 |
|
Lockport (Twp.) |
|
48.66 |
|
6 - 3A |
3 |
Kyle Langellier |
|
12 |
|
Lockport (Twp.) |
|
48.68 |
|
5 - 3A |
4 |
Tuwayne Gunn |
|
12 |
|
Maine East |
|
49.35 |
|
7 - 3A |
5 |
Marlon Wordlow Jr |
|
12 |
|
Thornwood |
|
49.36 |
|
9 - 3A |
6 |
Brandon Battle |
|
11 |
|
Edwardsville |
|
49.54 |
|
|
7 |
Katrell Askins |
|
12 |
|
Proviso West |
|
49.58 |
|
|
8 |
Hector Ramos Jr |
|
12 |
|
Minooka |
|
49.81 |
|
|
|
Caleb Lenoir |
|
12 |
|
Homewood-Flossmoor |
|
49.81 |
|
|
10 |
Brian Ferguson |
|
12 |
|
Chicago (Marist) |
|
49.82 |
|
|
11 |
Niko Schultz |
|
11 |
|
Plainfield (South) |
|
49.94 |
|
|
12 |
Tyrone Clarke |
|
12 |
|
Oak Park-River Forest |
|
50.04 |
|
|
13 |
Jeremy Schooler |
|
11 |
|
Belleville (East) |
|
50.28 |
|
|
14 |
Eric Sylvester |
|
12 |
|
Elmhurst (York) |
|
50.36 |
|
|
15 |
Elijah Patrick |
|
11 |
|
South Elgin |
|
50.37 |
|
|
16 |
Matthew Abe-Bell |
|
12 |
|
Springfield |
|
50.39 |
|
|
17 |
JaMari Newell |
|
11 |
|
DeKalb |
|
50.50 |
|
|
18 |
Marc Michelotti |
|
11 |
|
Libertyville |
|
50.52 |
|
|
19 |
Jayden Arquines |
|
12 |
|
Hinsdale South |
|
50.57 |
|
|
20 |
Merdy Ilonga |
|
12 |
|
Bloomington |
|
50.60 |
|
|
21 |
David Smolensky |
|
11 |
|
Lincolnshire (Stevenson) |
|
50.61 |
|
|
22 |
Joe Franke |
|
12 |
|
Wheaton Warrenville South |
|
50.68 |
|
|
23 |
Noah Shapiro |
|
10 |
|
Glenview (Glenbrook South) |
|
50.78 |
|
|
24 |
Ben Cook |
|
12 |
|
St. Charles (North) |
|
50.81 |
|
|
25 |
Emmett Perry |
|
11 |
|
Oak Park-River Forest |
|
50.98 |
|
|
26 |
Nathan Polizzi |
|
12 |
|
Lane Tech |
|
50.99 |
|
|
27 |
Michael Martorano |
|
12 |
|
Lincoln-Way West |
|
51.03 |
|
|
|
Sam McGinnis |
|
12 |
|
Maine South |
|
51.03 |
|
|
29 |
Ryan Somraty |
|
11 |
|
O'Fallon |
|
51.08 |
|
|
30 |
Logan Costello-Southfield |
|
12 |
|
Lyons Township |
|
51.16 |
|
|
110 Meter High Hurdles
1 |
Daylin Williams |
|
12 |
|
Homewood-Flossmoor |
|
14.26 |
|
4 - 3A |
2 |
Kalil Johnson |
|
11 |
|
Evanston (Twp.) |
|
14.61 |
|
|
3 |
Mychah Spells |
|
12 |
|
Andrew |
|
14.62 |
|
7 - 3A |
4 |
Eldrick Surheyao |
|
12 |
|
Centennial |
|
14.76 |
|
|
5 |
Kwesi Caldwell |
|
12 |
|
Oswego (East) |
|
15.02 |
|
|
6 |
Cameren Stevens |
|
12 |
|
Belleville (West) |
|
15.08 |
|
|
7 |
Onyi Ukaobasi |
|
12 |
|
Geneva |
|
15.10 |
|
|
8 |
Aaron Kiela |
|
11 |
|
Lockport (Twp.) |
|
15.18 |
|
|
|
Max Santiago |
|
12 |
|
Elmhurst (York) |
|
15.18 |
|
|
10 |
Logan Buck |
|
11 |
|
Pekin |
|
15.22 |
|
|
11 |
Jaylon Smith |
|
11 |
|
Hinsdale South |
|
15.26 |
|
|
12 |
KeiJhuan James |
|
12 |
|
O'Fallon |
|
15.27 |
|
|
13 |
Brian Dickerson |
|
12 |
|
Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp.) |
|
15.30 |
|
|
14 |
Sebastian Cheeks |
|
10 |
|
Evanston (Twp.) |
|
15.32 |
|
|
15 |
Anthony Perry |
|
12 |
|
Oak Lawn (Richards) |
|
15.35 |
|
|
|
Spencer Tonks |
|
12 |
|
Aurora (Waubonsie Valley) |
|
15.35 |
|
|
17 |
Mike Eschweiler |
|
12 |
|
Prairie Ridge |
|
15.37 |
|
|
18 |
Taylor Lehman |
|
11 |
|
O'Fallon |
|
15.41 |
|
|
19 |
Gabe Czako |
|
10 |
|
Lockport (Twp.) |
|
15.44 |
|
|
20 |
Henry Woods |
|
11 |
|
Lincoln-Way Central |
|
15.47 |
|
|
21 |
Darian Waits |
|
12 |
|
Hoffman Estates |
|
15.48 |
|
|
22 |
David Green |
|
12 |
|
Calumet City (Thornton Fractional North) |
|
15.52 |
|
|
23 |
Corey Dishmon |
|
12 |
|
Riverside (R.-Brookfield) |
|
15.57 |
|
|
|
Andrew Novatney |
|
12 |
|
Hinsdale (Central) |
|
15.57 |
|
|
25 |
Brendon Carter |
|
12 |
|
Benet Academy |
|
15.60 |
|
|
26 |
logan Costello-Southfield |
|
12 |
|
Lyons Township |
|
15.62 |
|
|
27 |
Aaron Hutchins |
|
11 |
|
Evanston (Twp.) |
|
15.63 |
|
|
28 |
Henry Plante |
|
12 |
|
Winnetka (New Trier) |
|
15.64 |
|
|
29 |
Athan Kaliakmanis |
|
11 |
|
Antioch |
|
15.66 |
|
|
|
Chris Chi |
|
12 |
|
Collinsville |
|
15.66 |
|
|
300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles
1 |
KeiJhuan James |
|
12 |
|
O'Fallon |
|
38.96 |
|
|
2 |
Onyi Ukaobasi |
|
12 |
|
Geneva |
|
39.18 |
|
|
3 |
Zach Olejniczak |
|
12 |
|
Oak Lawn (Community) |
|
39.25 |
|
|
4 |
Cydney Dixon |
|
12 |
|
Lansing (Thornton Fractional South) |
|
39.61 |
|
|
5 |
Nathan Batres |
|
12 |
|
Yorkville |
|
39.65 |
|
|
6 |
Brendon Carter |
|
12 |
|
Benet Academy |
|
39.74 |
|
|
7 |
Nathan Shapiro |
|
10 |
|
Glenview (Glenbrook South) |
|
39.88 |
|
|
8 |
Taylor Lehman |
|
11 |
|
O'Fallon |
|
39.95 |
|
|
9 |
Helmut Soglohun |
|
12 |
|
East Moline (United) |
|
40.03 |
|
|
10 |
Kalil Johnson |
|
11 |
|
Evanston (Twp.) |
|
40.12 |
|
|
11 |
Gabe Czako |
|
10 |
|
Lockport (Twp.) |
|
40.24 |
|
|
12 |
Mike Eschweiler |
|
12 |
|
Prairie Ridge |
|
40.29 |
|
|
13 |
Kavontay Samelton-Danser |
|
11 |
|
Alton |
|
40.37 |
|
|
14 |
Kendi Young |
|
12 |
|
Calumet City (Thornton Fractional North) |
|
40.48 |
|
|
15 |
Andrew Novatney |
|
12 |
|
Hinsdale (Central) |
|
40.53 |
|
|
16 |
Eldrick Surheyao |
|
12 |
|
Centennial |
|
40.64 |
|
|
17 |
Henry Plante |
|
12 |
|
Winnetka (New Trier) |
|
40.66 |
|
|
|
Logan Buck |
|
11 |
|
Pekin |
|
40.66 |
|
|
19 |
Aiden Tonarelli |
|
12 |
|
Plainfield (East) |
|
40.74 |
|
|
20 |
Michael Campbell |
|
10 |
|
Rolling Meadows |
|
40.88 |
|
|
21 |
Jonas Sales |
|
12 |
|
Palatine (Fremd) |
|
40.96 |
|
|
22 |
Jalyn Givan |
|
11 |
|
Plainfield (North) |
|
41.02 |
|
|
23 |
Kamil Bartoszek |
|
12 |
|
Amos Alonzo Stagg |
|
41.08 |
|
|
24 |
Eric Turner |
|
11 |
|
Danville |
|
41.20 |
|
|
25 |
Austin Turi |
|
12 |
|
Plainfield (East) |
|
41.31 |
|
|
26 |
Johnnie Teague |
|
11 |
|
Rock Island |
|
41.33 |
|
|
27 |
Jaylon Smith |
|
11 |
|
Hinsdale South |
|
41.36 |
|
|
|
Oneil Isaac |
|
12 |
|
Maine East |
|
41.36 |
|
|
29 |
Aaron Hutchins |
|
11 |
|
Evanston (Twp.) |
|
41.36 |
|
|
30 |
Logan Costello-Southfield |
|
12 |
|
Lyons Township |
|
41.37 |
|
|