2020 ILXCTF.com Illinois Track & Field Previews - 3A Boys Teams

By Michael Newman

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The 2019 team chase was punctuated by two dominating teams in Crete-Monee and Homewood-Flossmoor ahead of the rest of this classification.

A year later, that focus has turned completely around. Both of those schools do have talent returning but were hit hard with graduation. It makes 2020 fascinating to watch as any of 15 teams could leave Charleston with the 3A Team State Championship.

Here is a look of some of the teams to keep an eye on in 2020.

Teams are listed in alphabetical order.

Elmhurst (York)

Preview – We saw the progress of the Dukes’ distance squad last fall in comparison to their junior season as they finished third in the state meet as well as qualifying for the Nike Cross Nationals. We should see the same progress from their track team this spring. They do have the athletes that could challenge for a trophy.

The distance events will be the strength for York this spring. York returns their quartet that finished fifth in the 3200 Meter Relay. The team is deep in 800 meter depth. We might not see the 2019 lineup. Ethan Kern, who was slowed by injuries last spring, could focus his attention on the either the 3200 Meter Run or 1600 Meter Run. Michael Moriarty and Daniel Klysh both ran under 4:20 for 1600-meters at the end of last season. Both could be difference makers in that event or even the 800 Meter Run.

Eric Sylvester qualified for state last year in the 400 Meter Dash just missing going under 50-seconds. He should go past that barrier this spring. York should have good relay teams led by Christopher Radcliff, Jimmy Hoffman, and Inemesit Akpakpan. Radcliff could be someone to watch in the 200 Meter Dash. He did run 22.58 as a sophomore last spring. Max Santiago is an athlete that should watch for in the 110 High Hurdles.

Richard Buehling and Kameron Stearns should make some noise in the horizontal jumps. Buehling made it to state last year in the Triple Jump. He could be a surprise in Charleston. Jack Wall is an athlete to keep an eye on in the Shot Put.

Evanston (Township)

Preview – The Wildkits are a team that I would keep an eye on this season. The talent is there to make a run at a state trophy.

Sacrad Michelin should be ready to make a step up in the sprints. He returns with top 10 performances in the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash. He should be a factor in both state-wide. Kalil Johnson had a strong sophomore season in the hurdle events. Johnson has the second fastest returning time in the 110-Highs looking for a top five finish in that event. Both Johnson and Michelin could help the Wildkits in the sprint relays.

Max Peterson did not have his best cross-country season not making it to the state meet. The senior could be someone to keep an eye on in either the 800 Meter Run or 1600 Meter Run.

Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)

Preview – The Griffins could rely on three athletes to push them into trophy contention in 2020. AJ Henning was healthy last year which resulted for him a fourth-place finish in the 100 Meter Dash. Henning should be one of the favorites in that event. Henning could be part of a strong 400 Meter Relay including Brandon Hudson and Anthony Bianchini that could push East to one of the state’s best.

Brett Gardner was among one of the state’s best distance runners last fall until an injury forced him out of last November’s state meet. A fully recovered Garner will have a chip on his shoulder and should be one of the individual favorites in either the 1600 Meter Run or 3200 Meter Run. Nolan Rogers, a sophomore, could be a surprise in the distance events.

John Kruzel was all-state in the Discus last year placing sixth. He should be one of the top athletes in the event. Teammate Tyler Marchert could be a surprise in either of the weight events.

Homewood-Flossmoor

Preview – The Vikings will reload after graduation hit this team after finishing second last year inn Charleston. Homewood-Flossmoor does have the athletes that could challenge for one of the three trophies.

Daylin Williams finished fourth in the finals last year of the 110 High Hurdles. He enters this season with the top returning time in the event and will be the athlete to watch in the event. Williams could be all-state in what looks to be a wide-open 300 Meter Hurdles event.

Marshall Ellis leads a talented sprint group that lost three of their top athletes to graduation. Ellis finished seventh in the 200 Meter Dash last year in Charleston. He will challenge for one of the top spots in that event and possibly the 100 Meter Dash. Ugo Anidobu and Jalen Brown are two other athletes that will make their presence known in the sprints. Both their 400 and 800 Meter Relays should be difference makers on the state level.

Caleb Lenoir is an athlete that could dip under 50-seconds this spring in the 400 Meter Dash. Abdul-Karin Toheeb-Lawal is an athlete to keep an eye on in both the High Jump and Triple Jump. Sterling Shumpert just missed going past 21-feet in the Long Jump last year as a freshman. He is another athlete that could be a surprise in that discipline.

Huntley

Preview – The Red Raiders do have the athletes that could surprise in the top five this May at Charleston. Ian Geisler finished fourth last November at Detweiller Park in the 3A State Meet. That momentum of success should follow him to the track this spring where he could earn all-state honors in either the 1600 Meter Run or 3200 Meter Run.

Anthony Passarelli made it to state last year in both sprint events but did not advance to the finals. He showed improvement in the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash in last summer’s club season. He should be a factor in both of those events when we get to Charleston. Paul Kerber will give a boost to their sprint squad.

Brad Walker could be at state in his junior season for the Shot Put. He had a 50-5 best last spring. Zach Fitzgerald and Josh Guyer will be athletes to watch in the horizontal jumps.

Lockport (Township)

Preview – It was a tie for 12th place finish that Lockport left with after last year’s state meet. The finish should be higher in 2020 as the Porters chase after a trophy. It is nice to have two runners on your team that can run under 49 seconds for 400-meters. Kyle Langellier and Michael Walkosz finished fifth and sixth in last year’s finals. They have the second and third fastest times returning and will challenge for the state title. Three runners are back from their 1600 Meter Relay team that finished second last year at state. Lockport will challenge for the state title in that event as well.

Gabe Czako was a member of the 4x4 as a freshman. He will be an asset in that event as well as the 300 Intermediate Hurdles. Aaron Kiela could be a factor in the 110 High Hurdles.

Joe Edwards should be someone to watch in the Shot Put. Michael Gradle could be a factor in the Long Jump.

Maple Park (Kaneland)

Preview – The Knights were a perennial powerhouse in Class 2A before being moved into this classification a year ago. The formula and talent is there for Kaneland to possibly make a run towards a trophy.

Austin Adams had a great cross country season in helping his team win the 2A State title. He finished eighth in that state race. He finished fourth in last May’s 3A State race in the 800 Meter Run. He will be one of the favorites in that event. Daniel Occhipinti was all-state in the 1600 Meter Run finishing ninth last year and will be among the front runners in 2020.

Porter Conroy cleared 6-5 in the High Jump last year and is tied in having the top returning performance. He could be a factor in that event. Nate Bermes made the finals of the Pole Vault and should challenge for a top five finish. Teammate Ted Allen is also a possibility of making it to state in that event. Colton Doll made it to state last year in the Long Jump. Watch for him in Charleston in that event.

Mt. Prospect (Prospect)

Preview – This Mid-Suburban League perennial power does have the talent that could challenge for a top five finish in the state meet. John Moellenkamp is perhaps the top all around athlete in the state this year and could earn all-state honors in multiple events. Moellenkamp finished third last year in the Long Jump and should be one of the favorites in that event. You could also see him score at state in the 200 Meter Dash and could give this team a boost in the sprint relays.

Erik Snell should be the front man on the team’s 3200 Meter Relay that is usually a strong team in the event. Snell could also be among the top runners in the 1600 Meter Run.

Andrew Diversey went over 14-feet last year as a junior in the Pole Vault. Expectations could be high in his senior campaign. Sebastian Swistak has the fourth best returning performance in what should be a wide-open Shot Put. Eric Malinowski could be a surprise in the Discus.

O’Fallon

Preview – One of the top teams coming out of the St. Louis Metro area. A team that has the talent to finish in the top five and maybe challenge for a trophy. KeiJhuan James has the top returning time in the 300 Intermediate Hurdles. With no all-state athletes back from last year in that race, James should be one of the favorites in the event. Teammate Taylor Lehman could also get close to all-state honors in that event. Both athletes could be surprises in the 110 High Hurdles.

Roderick Williams is an athlete to keep an eye on in the Long Jump. Nicholas Farmer could be among the top nine athletes in the Shot Put. Alex Tillock could be a surprise in the 800 Meter Run. Keep an eye on the sprint relays for the Panthers this season led by Williams and Tamarion Bivines. They could be a surprise by the time they get to the state series.

Tinley Park (Andrew)

Preview – Andrew is one of those teams that at the beginning of the year we call them “sneaky good”. At the end of the year, we could be calling them great. The Thunderbolts finished tied for 21st last year. This season, the expectations are higher.

You start with this team looking at a talented sprint squad. John Bickel made the finals in the 100 Meter Dash last year finishing ninth. He has the fourth fastest returning time in the event. Bickel could also make the finals this year in the 200 Meter Dash. Andrew finished fourth in the finals of the 400 Meter Relay with three runners returning. They could also be a force in the 800 Meter Relay.

Mychah Spells is one of two athletes back from last year’s 110 High Hurdles finals where he finished seventh. He has the third fastest returning time in that event. Mychah and his twin brother Malachi will be a big help in the sprint relays.

Dillon Peters just missed the podium last year in the Triple Jump placing tenth. It could be different for him in 2020. Peters returns with the second best mark in the event. Jordan Vela is tied with the sixth best returning mark in the Triple Jump and will also be a threat. Vela was all-state in the High Jump and could be a favorite in that wide-open event.