Illinois HS Track & Field Highlights - March 10, 2025

By Michael Newman

It’s less than three weeks before athletes will converge at the Shirk Center for the Illinois Top Times Girls Classic on March 28 and 29. That means closer to conference meets and closer to indoor championships meaning top performances across the state.

We saw some top performances Thursday at the NCC Cardinal Girls Classic (RACE VIDEOS) and then Friday at York’s Stan Reddel Invitational (RACE VIDEOS). It was a history making evening Saturday at the Windy City Pole Vault Summit when Bloomington Central Catholic two-time state champion Isaiah Whitaker improved his personal best by almost a foot clearing 18-1 to claim the nation’s top mark this indoor season. (RECAP)

Here are highlights of some of the top performances that happened across Illinois this past weekend.

Illinois Meet of Champions @ Gately Park (3/8) – Top distances performances stood out Saturday in this two-day meet. Annika Swan of St. Ignatius College Prep dropped her personal best by almost 10 seconds as she ran 10:27.50 (IL #2) to win the 3200 Meter Run. Two more runners in this race ran under 11 minutes. Kyla Babb of Westmont in her first race of the season ran a huger personal best of 10:37.97 to finish second with Kate Foltz of Tuscola running 10:49.60 to finish third. The 1600 Meter Run later in the meet was more attention getting as this race produced the top three times this year in the state. Sundara Weber of Sandwich pulled away to run a four second personal best of 4:46.08 to capture the race win. Two freshman followed in this race as Klarke Goranson of Manteno (4:50.29) and Allison Shutler of St. Ignatius Prep (4:50.41) placed second and third. Emily Stucky of DePaul College Prep also ran under five minutes as she was clocked in 4:59.89 to finish fourth. Babb doubled back running 5:04.38 to place eighth. Another freshman took center stage in the 800 Meter Run. Francesca Mora of Latin ran a personal best of 2:16.43 (IL #2) to win the race. Cecilia Hilby of Aurora Central Catholic ran 2:19.08 (IL #9) to place second ahead of Ashley Gaba of Maine East (2:19.49).

The top four runners in the 1600 Meter Run finished within four seconds of each other. Simon Lane of Chicago University continued his great indoor season as he ran 4:17.91 (IL #4) to hold on in winning the race ahead of Dylan Dominguez of Highland Park (4:18.17, IL #5), Gavin O’Connor of Brother Rice (4:18.53, IL #7), and Andrew Straley of Brother Rice (4:21.00). Payton Prep teammates Preston Ellis and Tra’Monti Williams took the top two spots in the 800 Meter Run. Four runners were under two minutes in this race led by Ellis running 1:55.91 (IL #2) and Williams running 1:56.02 (IL #4). Luis Mendoza of Maine East ran 1:57.85 (IL #7) to finish third ahead of Micah Weiss of Latin finishing fourth (1:58.34).

Matthew Simon of Fenwick ran 50.09 (IL #3) to win the 400 Meter Dash. Brian E Smith of North Shore-Country Day finished second (50.20, IL #4). Anna Niebrugge of Prospect went under 25 seconds in the 200 Meter Dash winning in a 24.72 (IL #3) time finishing ahead of Symone Holman of Joliet Catholic (25.04, IL #4).

Coach DiDomenico Invitational @ Batavia (3/7) – This small eight team invitational provided some fire power as great performances occurred inside the Batavia’s “Doghouse”. Batavia ran away with the team title scoring 116 points finishing ahead of Minooka (99 points), West Aurora (96 points), and Glenbard West (95.5 points). Mason Ellens of Glenbard West produced the fastest time in the state in winning the 55 Meter Dash, The senior was timed in a quick 6.41 seconds finishing ahead of Max Smith of Minooka (6.52. IL #7) and Azurah Sylvester of West Aurora (6.59). Smith came back to run 52.95 to win the 400 Meter Dash ahead of teammate Matthew Whalen (53.20). Batavia conquered the 4x200 Meter Relay running the fastest time in the state of 1:30.51. Glenbard West ran 1:31.01 (IL #5) to place second. Tommy Nitz of Huntley stepped down a distance to run in the 800 Meter Run. Nitz responded by running a personal best of 1:55.92 (IL #3) to win the event by five seconds ahead of Nathan Gehrman of West Aurora (2:00.73). Three seconds separated the top five runners in the 1600 Meter Run. Batavia swept the top two places with Edward Polaski running 4:25.72 ahead of Francesco Benelli (4:26.82). Carson Kaiser of Kaneland (4:26.92), Matt King of Glenbard West (4:27.26), and Evan Whidlin of Kaneland (4:28.70) all finished in the top five. Graham Faris of Glenbard West ran 9:37.43 in winning the 3200 Meter Run. Wojtek Gilarski of Hinsdale South finished second (9:22.31). Gavin Pecor of Batavia achieved a personal best of 57-4 (IL #5) to win the Shot Put. Terrence Smith of West Aurora cleared 6-6 (IL #2 tie) to win the High Jump.

SIU Carbondale Invitational (3/7-8) – The Boys meet took place first on Friday evening. Tyjaire Kellum of Murphysboro ran 6.96 (IL #10 tie) to win the 60 Meter Dash edging Andrew Ellis of Roxana (6.98). Arion Hill of Centralia ran the state fastest time of 7.92 to win the 60 Meter Hurdles. Daylin Donaldson of Belleville East (8.29, IL #10) to finish second. Andrew Kinsman of Benton improved on his state lead in the Shot Put having a 59-11 put to win. Gabriel McLain ran 2:00.31 to win the 800 Meter Run edging Leo Cozzi of Mascoutah (2:00.80). Max Weber of Civic Memorial ran 4:30,63 to win the 1600 Meter Run winning by seven seconds ahead of Christian Knobloch of Highland (4:37.83). It came down to the lean at the finish line in the 3200 Meter Run. Gabriel Greer of Marion ended up winning the race (9:31.66) by just three hundredths of a second ahead of Quaid Berger of Richland County (9:31.69). Calen Lilly of Carbondale jumped 22-5.25 (IL #9) to win the Long Jump.

In the Girls Meet on Saturday, Rayna Raglin of Alton was the only double event winner in this meet. Raglin ran 7.63 (IL #6) to win the 60 Meter Dash, Raglin came back to run 26.08 to win the 200 Meter Dash ahead of Je Tira Taylor of East St. Louis (26.21). Jaydn Gerardi of Anna-Jonesboro ran 59.88 in winning the 400 Meter Dash. Jamison Love of Mascoutah ran 9.18 to edge Amyjia Robinson of Belleville West (9.23) to win the 60 Meter Hurdles. Ellie Bush of O’Fallon ran 11:33,86 to win the 3200 Meter Run by almost 20 seconds. Cameron Crump of Waterloo ran 5:21.36 to win the 1600 Meter Run. Ellery Blakey of Herrin finished second in both of those distance races running 5:35.31 and 11:52.91.

Cabin Fever Invitational @ Gately Park (3/6) – A Thursday night Co-Ed meet producing some of the top marks in the state so far this indoor season. Angelina Bullocks of Whitney Young won the Girls 200 Meter Dash (23.95) with the fastest time in the state. Courtney McDonald of Plainfield East finished second (25.12, IL #5) with Trinity Noble of Kankakee placing third (25.27, IL #8). McDonald earlier in the meet ran 7.72 to win the 60 Meter Dash with Jordan Hamb of South Shore International running 7.81 to finish second. Julia Brown of Oak Park-River Forest ran the fastest time in the state (56.75) to win the 400 Meter Dash ahead of Briyah Beatty of Plainfield East (58.16, IL #4) and Isabella Brauc of Oak Park-River Forest (58.67, IL #6). Oak Park-River Forest ran a state leading 4:02.71 to win the 4x400 Meter Relay ahead of Maine South (4:06.40, IL #3). Whitney Young ran 1:42.26 (IL #3) to win the 4x200 Meter Relay with Kankakee (1:43.14) finishing second. Emily Stecky of DePaul Prep ran a state leading 2:13.02 to win the 800 Meter Run. Sofia Arcuri of Maine South at 2:16.45 (IL #4) finished second.

Armond Boulware led a 1-2 Kenwood sweep in the 200 Meter Dash as he ran a state leading 21.63 for the win with teammate Parrish Hartley Jr. running 22.29 (IL #4) to place second. Logic West also ran a top state time in the 400 Meter Dash with a 49.36 time. Miles Lyons of Loyola Academy ran 50.69 (IL #8) in placing second. Tra’Monti Williams of Payton Prep ran 1:57.57 to win the 800 Meter Run edging Owen Lilley of Lane (1:57.74, IL #6)

First to the Finish Charger Classic @ U of I Armory (3/8) – This two-session meet displayed the Boys meet in the morning while the Girls competed after that.

Boys Meet – Darren Wilson of Edwardsville ran 6.96 (IL #10 tie) to win the 60 Meter Dash ahead of Dane Whitaker of Normal Community (7.03) and Cole Rinkenberger of Morton (7.05). Wilson came back to run 22.47 to win the 200 Meter Dash just ahead of D’Mario Jackson from Danville (22.50). Jordan Rich of Waubonsie Valley won the 400 Meter Dash (51.56) just edging Champaign Central’s William Hardy (51.58). Hardy earlier in the meet ran 8.35 to win the 60 Meter Hurdles edging Jalyn Cole of Belleville West (8.36) by one hundredth of a second. Quinn Davis of Plainfield North won the 800 Meter Run (1:58.13, IL #10) ahead of AJ Ince of Normal Community (1:59.41) and Parsa Manafi of Geneva (1:59.61). Joey Yaros of Normal Community ran 1:59.40 to win Level B in the 800 Meter Run. Thomas Czerwinski of Plainfield North won the 1600 Meter Run (4:29.65). Gavin Rodgers of Edwardsville ran 9:31.51 in winning the 3200 Meter Run. Bellville West ran 1:30.61 (IL #3) to win the 4x200 Meter Relay ahead of Cahokia (1:33.13). Belleville West came back to run 3:27.42 (IL #3) to win the 4x400 Meter Relay ahead of Cahokia (3:31.36) and Normal Community (3:32.86). Iose Epenesa of Edwardsville had a season’s best of 51-10 to win the Shot Put. Parker Owens of Edwardsville cleared 15-1 (IL #8) to win the Pole Vault. Victreze Thomas of Cahokia jumped 44-11.5 to win the Triple Jump with Gino Montgomery of Edwardsville jumping 44-11 (IL #9) to finish second.

Girls Meet – Nina Brown of Champaign Centennial won the 60 Meter Dash (7.71-7.76) ahead of Brooklyn Holmes from Marian Catholic. Brown was a part of Champaign Centennial’s quartet that ran 1:44.80 (IL #5) to win the 4x200 Meter Relay. Sophia Shapiro of Edwardsville ran 9.07 (IL #8) in winning the 60 Meter Hurdles. Autumn Price of Marian Catholic jumped 18-5.25 (IL #7) to win the Long Jump.

Rockford Auburn Girls Classic (3/8) – Kaylee Meyer of Schaumburg upped her personal best in this meet clearing 5-8.75 for a state lead in the High Jump. Barrington’s Mia Sirois worked on speed in this meet running two relays and an individual race. Sirois was part of Barrington’s quartet that ran 9:46.88 to win the 4x800 Meter Relay. Abby Lewis (2:20.89) and Sirois (2:20.99) ran close giving Barrington a 1-2 finish in the 800 Meter Run. Sirois was also a part of Barington’s quartet that ran 4:18.18 to finish second behind Bulington Central (4:17.82). Scout Storms of Barrington ran 5:02.91 to win the 1600 Meter Run ahead of a five-runner pack within two seconds of each other led by Johanna Rudolph of Freeport (5:18.92) to finish second. Rege Cooper-Smith of North Chicago ran 7.80 to win the 60 Meter Dash ahead of Zariah Burnett of Rockford Guilford (7.81) and Taniah McElroy of Freeport (7.89).

Homewood-Flossmoor Boys ABC Meet (3/7) – Zion Morrison of Homewood-Flossmoor ran 6.88 to win the 60 Meter Dash ahead of Joshua Hill of Crete-Monee and Xavier Adeniyi of Evanston who both ran 7.04. Brian Jackson of Oak Park-River Forest won the 400 Meter Dash (50.70) with Nolan Lamoureaux of Lockport Township (50.95) finishing second. Rory Gaan of Fremd ran 1:58.64 to win the 800 Meter Run. Dylan Maloney of Plainfield South pulled away from the field to run 4:23.21 to win the 1600 Meter Run ahead of Finn Kelly of Oak Park-River Forest (4:30.29). Liam O’Connor of Oak Park-River Forest edged Michael Gamboa of Hinsdale Central in the 3200 Meter Run with O’Connor running 9:37.40 finish Gamboa and his 9:39.33 time. Homewood-Flossmoor ran 1:30.55 (IL #2) to win the 4x200 Meter Relay with Fremd running 1:34.08 to finish second. It was a close race in the 4x400 Meter Relay as Neuqua Valley ran 3:30.17 to win just ahead of Homewood-Flossmoor (3:30.27). Zach Morrison won the Shot Put with a 58-4.75 best (IL #3). Jonathan Sibley-Diggs of Oak Park-River Forest had a 57-1 best to finish second.