2022 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championships - Class 3A Teams Preview

By Michael Newman [email protected]

The beginning of the season it was Minooka and Batavia that stood ahead of the rest of the Class 3A teams. As we approach the Boys State Meet weekend, the same two teams stand alone challenging for the 3A State Championships unless something disastrous happens during the 3A prelims beginning Friday afternoon.

There are a number of quality teams behind them that could potentially fighting for the final trophy if all goes as planned for the Indians and the Bulldogs.

Here is a look at some of the teams to keep an eye on this weekend.

Minooka

Qualifiers – Total = 13 (10I, 3R) 11 Events

Preview – Minooka finished second in the 2021 finals missing the state title by two points. Their motto all year has been “unfinished business”. They will get to finish that business on Friday and Saturday. They will need to capitalize on their chances to get multiple points in the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash. Tyler Colwell (3A #4) and Cael Hiser (3A IL #7) are in position to finish in the top five in the 100 Meter Dash. Colwell false started in last year’s state meet. He has a chip on his shoulder entering this meet. Colwell and Hiser are among the top six sectional seeds in the 200 Meter Dash where they both will need to get to the finals and then get big points. Minooka is #3 in the 4x100m Relay and will challenge for the win in that relay. A bad handoff in the sectionals did not let them advance to state. That could hurt if this meet gets close.

Collin Forrest is having a fantastic senior season and could be the surprise of the meet in hurdle races if you looked at where he was at the beginning of the year. He ran the fastest time in the state last week in the 110 Highs and the 300 Intermediates. We could see big points from him on Saturday. Minooka could also score points in multiple distance events. The Indians have the third fastest time in the 4x800m Relay and wil challenge for a top finish in that race. Zachary Balzer is in a loaded 1600 Meter Run that will need to run a fast time to make it to Saturday’s finals. Emerson Fayman is has a sixth seeded sectional time in the 800 Meter Run. He could finish in the top five in that race. Minooka is seeded tenth in the 4x400m Relay and will need a strong race to advance to Saturday.

Batavia

Qualifiers – Total = 12 (9I, 3R) 10 Events

Preview – The Bulldogs did not have their best meet last year finishing seventh. Results should be better this weekend as Batavia advanced 12 to the Big Blue Oval. Their relays have always been strong in this meet. This year will be no exception. Batavia is #6 in the 4x100m Relay and could challenge for the win. Batavia is #4 in the 4x200m Relay and again will be in the hunt for the win. Their quartet ran the second fastest state time last week in the 4x400m Relay. Scott Parker will be part of those relays. He also has the second fastest sectional time in the 200 Meter Dash and could challenge for the win. Jonah Fallon has the third fastest time in 3A and the second fastest sectional time in the 400 Meter Dash. Jacob Hohmann (3A #9) also qualified to give the Bulldogs a chance to get multiple points. Quintin Lowe will be in the first section of the 3200 Meter Run. He will need a big time to get himself into one of the all-state places. Jalen Buckley (3A #3) is within a foot of the leaders in the Triple Jump and will challenge for big points and maybe a win. Nicholas Fortino achieved a personal best (3A #4) in the Pole Vault and could also challenge for a top three finish.

Prospect

Qualifiers – Total = 9 (6I, 3R) 9 Events

Preview – The Knights have the athletes to finish in the top three but will need to ne nearly perfect on Friday to get to that point. Prospect lost a possible qualifier in their sectional when their #2 ranked 4x1 team did not finish the race. Their team in the 4x200m Relay does have the fastest time in the state and will be the favorite in that event. Prospect qualified in both the 4x400m Relay and 4x800m Relay. They will need seasonal bests to advance to Saturday. Dominik Balenda will be among the favorites in what could be a close 400 Meter Dash. Sean Beihoffer has the third fastest sectional time in the 200 Meter Dash and could get big points in that event. Clayton Kamp will need a big prelim round to get to Saturday’s finals in the Shot Put.

Edwardsville

Qualifiers – Total = 10 (8I, 2R) 8 Events

Preview – The Tigers had Brandon Battle score all of their points in last year’s state meet for the team to finish fourth. They will have more athletes able to contribute to the point total as they try for a top three finish. Ryan Watts has the second fastest state time in the 3200 Meter Run. He will be one of the favorites in that Saturday race. Watts and teammate Geordan Patrylak will double back in he loaded 1600 Meter Run where both have a chance to qualify. Patrylak will be part of their 4x800m Relay that is #10 in 3A. They will be in a mix for an all-state position. Edwardsville is #11 in the 4x200m Relay and will need an error free prelim to advance to Saturday. The Tigers also qualified in the 4x100m Relay. This team could have big success in the horizontal jumps. Aaron Jackson is #3 in the 3A Long Jump and could contend for the win. Jordan Brooks (3A #4) and Malik Allen (3A #6) could score big multiple points in the Triple Jump. Iose Epenesa is 3A #9 in the Discus but has the sixth longest sectional throw. This freshman could score points for his team in his first state meet.

Glenbrook South

Qualifiers – Total = 9 (7I, 2R) 7 Events

Preview – The Titans have not gotten the recognition that they have deserved this season whether by design or by some that do not know how good this team is. They will get to showcase themselves this weekend. There are a number of athletes that will score points in Charleston. Nathan Shapiro achieved a state best in his sectional Long Jump and will be the favorite in that event. He also has run the #3 time in the 300 Meter Hurdles and could contend for the win. Ryan Schaefer is also in the Long Jump and could get into the top nine. Schaefer also is among the top 10 in the 300 Meter Hurdles and should push for points. Shapiro also has the #3 time in the 100 Meter Dash and could contend for the win. His brother Noah Shapiro is among the top 15 in the 200 Meter Dash and will get points if he advances through Friday’s prelims. Both Shapiros are on the quartet for the 4x100m Relay that has hopes of advancing to Saturday. They are currently #11 tie in Class 3A. They are also #7 in the 4x400m Relay and will look to score in that event. Brian Hiltebrand was all-state last year in the 800 Meter Run. He has the seventh fastest sectional time in the event and could be among the top four runners in the finals on Saturday.

Homewood-Flossmoor

Qualifiers – Total = 10 (7I, 3R) 10 Events

Preview – It was hit and miss for the Vikings last week in their sectional meet. They still have 10 qualifiers that could put Homewood-Flossmoor in the hunt for a top three finish. Taji Mathis-Akinremi has been among the top 10 in the 100 Meter Dash all season and could be a good bet to make it to the finals. The same holds true for Robert Scott III in the 200 Meter Dash. Jerry Hester III is among the top 20 in the 110 Meter Hurdles. He will look to surprise some this weekend in this event. The Vikings strength is in their sprint relays. They ran the fastest time in the state in winning the 4x100m Relay in their conference meet. HF should be the favorite in that race. They also have the second fastest sectional time in the 4x200m Relay and will also be one of the co-favorites in that event. Sterling Shumpert has jumped past 23-feet this year in the Long Jump and should be watched for this weekend. The High Jump is wide-open. Shumpert is also in that event and could score also in that field event.

Hinsdale Central

Qualifiers – Total = 6 (4I, 2R) 6 Events

Preview – The strength in the distance events could carry the Red Devils into the top five teams in this meet and perhaps leaving Charleston with a trophy. Daniel Watcke is undefeated the last two years in the 800 Meter Run and is the defending state champion in the event. He does have the fastest time in the state at that distance and again will be the favorite in that event. Watcke did not run on the team’s quartet in the 4x800m Relay when Hinsdale Central ran the US #2 time in winning their sectional. We may not see the junior in the prelims on Friday. Putting him in that group on Saturday could have the team chasing after a state record. Their 4x400m Relay quartet, with Watcke anchoring, has the state’s fastest time is the defending state champion along with the state’s fastest time. Colby Revord will be part of the 4x8 and also is #9 in 3A with the second fastest sectional time in the 1600 Meter Run. He will be a factor in that race. Michael Prieto in the High Jump and Jack Sauder in the Pole Vault could surprise some in their respective events.

Lake Park

Qualifiers – Total = 7 (7I, 0R) 6 Events

Preview – The bulk of the Lancers points again will come from their strength in the field events. Lucah Jones has the longest throw in the state this year in the Discus and should be one of the state favorites. Cooper Cerese and Tyler Michelini are among the top five athletes in the Shot Put and should score multiple points in that event. Desmond Horton should score big points in both horizontal events. Horton has the second longest jump in the state last week in his sectional Triple Jump. He finished second last year at state. He would like to improve that placing on Saturday. Horton is 3A #6 in what will be a tough Long Jump but should score big points. Aidan Kilmer is 3A #9 in the 300 Meter Hurdles and could get his team points in that event. He could also be a surprise in the 110 High Hurdles.

Oak Park-River Forest

Qualifiers – Total 12 (8I, 4R) 12 Events

Preview – This is a young team that has developed from an invitational type of team to a state team that could make some noise this weekend in Charleston. Ian Kelley could score in both hurdle races. Kelley is 3A #9 in the 110 Meter Hurdles and could be in the top five n the finals. His best hurdle event is the 300 Meter Hurdles where he is 3A #2 in the state and will contend for the state title. The Huskies are one of the top 12 teams in what will be a tough 4x800m Relay where they could come away with points. Lou Delano also qualified in the 800 Meter Run where he could also be in the finals. Oak Park also qualified in all of the other three relays. Their quartet in the 4x200m Relay could be their best bet to make the finals. Oak Park qualified athletes in five of the six field events. Patrick Diakite could score in the High Jump. Josh Meister is among the top 10 in the Pole Vault and could get points there. Kaden Garland qualified in both weight events. He could be a surprise in the Shot Put this weekend.

Waubonsie Valley

Qualifiers – Total = 8 (7I, 1R) 6 Events

Preview – The Warriors are a team that has flown under the radar most of this season and are peaking just at the right time. This is more of a “field and track” team where they could score the bulk of their points in those field events. A good weekend with no mistakes could see this team finish among the top five. Brody Squires is currently 3A #7 in the Long Jump and could be among the top five athletes in that event. Sam Mika qualified in both weight events. He is 3A #8 in the Discus and 3A #11 in the Shot Put. He could be all-state in both events. Angel Solis seems to be running personal bests in every respective race that he is in. Solis has the fifth fastest sectional time in the 1600 Meter Run and could score points if he advances out of crazy tough prelim races. Solis also will anchor his team’s 4x800m Relay that was a surprise advancing out of their sectional. They will not be a surprise if they advance to Saturday’s finals.

Moline

Qualifiers – Total = 5 (5I, 0R) 5 Events

Preview – I put the Maroons in this preview is that they could get big points in each of the five events that they compete in this weekend. Rob Pulliam peaked at the right time last year in winning the state title in the High Jump. He is currently 3A #6 in the event but ready to defend the title. Pulliam is currently 3A #2 in the Long Jump and will be among the favorites in that event. Saiheed Jah is 3A #6 in the 110 Hurdles and 3A #7 in the 300 Hurdles. He could finish in the top five in both events. The 800 Meter Run is wide-open with many athletes opting for either the 4x8 or other events. Jaeger Norton is 3A #42 at that distance, but also is #11 in sectional times. Anything could happen for Norton where he could earn an all-state spot.