Illinois High School Track & Field Highlights - April 21, 2025

Photo: Cooper McGinnis of Neuqua Valley and Thomas Woodard of Batavia over the final hurdle at Saturday’s #SmithStrong Invitational at Minooka (Kevin Dorsey Photo)

By Michael Newman

Only one meet was cancelled this Easter weekend. Calm conditions produced some great performances in every event. Hopefully, this becomes a trend as we head in the next month as we head to Charleston and the IHSA State Meets.

Here are highlights of some of the meets that took place over the past weekend.

Recaps/Videos – Bruce Ritter Invitational (4/17) | #SmithStrong Invitational (4/19)

Bud Mohns / Bob Cohoon Invitational @ Downers Grove South – Some high-flying times happened Saturday on Downers Grove South’s new track. Lincoln-Way West edged York 113-102 for the team title with Lake Park scoring 96 points to finish third. Austin Rowswell of Lincoln-Way West had the big day with two fast races in the longer sprints. Rowswell ran the state’s fastest time (47.48) to win the 400 Meter Dash. It bettered his outdoor personal best by almost a second. Bruce Duncan III of Bolingbrook ran 48.83 to finish second ahead of Brian E Smith II of North Shore-Country Day who lowered his personal best down to 49.15 (IL #8). Rowswell helped his team run 42.77 to win the 4x100 Meter Relay finishing ahead of Sterling (43.24) and Maine South (43.52). Rowswell later in the meet ran a personal best of 21.82 (IL #7 tie) to win the 200 Meter Dash.

Payton Prep made a huge statement on their way to defending their Class 2A State title in the 4x800 Meter Relay. The Grizzlies with Vaughn Collier, Declan Slavin, Tra'Monti Williams, and Preston Ellis ran a state leading time of 7:47.18 to win the race in this meet. Berwyn-Cicero Morton also made a statement running 7:52.21 (IL #2) to finish second. Five teams ran under 8:10 with York finishing third (8:03.75) ahead of Hinsdale Central (8:07.59) and Downers Grove South (8:09.68). Two seconds separated the top three runners in the 3200 Meter Run. Nicholas Dui of Lincoln-Way West ran 9:37.66 edged Patrick McGrail of York for the win (9:37.76. Wojtek Gilarski of Hinsdale South ran 9:39.61 to finish third. Preston Ellis of Payton Prep came back from the 4x800 Meter Relay to run 1:55.79 (IL #6) for the win in the 800 Meter Run. Hunter Spee of Lincoln-Way West ran 1:56.53 to finish second ahead of Bolingbrook’s Jason Vervack (1:58.82 and Isaac Stowers (1:58.81). Sam Kehoe of York pulled away to run 4:24.95 to win the 1600 Meter Run where the top five runners were separated by under three seconds. John Clinton of Downers Grove South finished second (4:25.77) ahead of Everett Sinson of York (4:26.10), Tra’Monti Williams of Payton Prep (4:27.08), and Michael Gamboa of Hinsdale Central (4:27.25).

Brendan Vlasak of Lincoln-Way West ran 15.06 to Luke De Simone of York (15:09) for the win in the 110 Meter Hurdles. Anthony Lusciatti of Lincoln-Way West ran 38.79 (IL #3) to win the 300 Meter Hurdles ahead of De Simone who ran 39.73 to place second. York ran 3:25.57 to hold off Lincoln-Way West (3:25.99) to win the 4x400 Meter Relay. Sterling ran an electrifying 1:28.47 (IL #4) to win the 4x200 Meter Relay. York ran 1:30.06 to place second. Lake Park swept the top two places in the Shot Put as Rodrigo Gonzalez had a 54-10.75 to win the event. Joseph Michelini had a 53-1,75 put to finish second. The duo also finished 1-2 in the Discus as Gonzalez threw 164-8 for the win ahead of Michelini (157-2).

Military Classic @ Mascoutah (4/18) – There were some excellent performances in this Good Friday meet. The championship section of the 100 Meter Dash was aided by a +2.8 m/s wind. Tyjaire Kellum of Murphysboro took advantage of that running the fastest time this season (10.48) to win that event. Akeelan Dowell of Cahokia ran 10.74 (IL #7) and Colton Ladage of Chatham-Glenwood ran 10.77 (IL #10) finishing second and third. Troy Mclean of Belleville West ran 22.12 to win the 200 Meter Dash with teammate Morquez Bulliner running 22.35 in finishing second. Calvin Nolan of Belleville West ran 49.35 in his win in the 400 Meter Dash. Corrion Raiford of Cahokia (49.72) and Brady Moser of Chatham-Glenwood (49.72) finished second and third. Jalyn Cole of Belleville West ran 14.42 to win the 110 Meter Hurdles ahead of Keaton Koch of Mt. Vernon (14.95) and Adrian Mann of Harrisburg (14.98). Mann came back to run 40.38 to win the 300 Meter Hurdles with Reginald Griffin of Cahokia running 40.47 in finishing second.

Host Mascoutah won a competitive race in the 4x100 Meter Relay with a 41.99 time. Edwardsville (42.10, IL #9), Chatham-Glenwood (42.38), Cahokia (42.40), and Belleville West (42.58) followed. There were seven teams that ran 43 seconds or faster. Mascoutah also picked up the win in the 4x200 Meter Relay running a fast 1:28.25 (IL #2). Belleville West ran 1:28.86 (IL #8) to finish second ahead of Chatham-Glenwood (1:30.09) and Cahokia (1:30.10). Belleville West ran 3:26.91 to win the 4x400 Meter Relay. Mascoutah (3:28.67) and Carbondale (3:28.88) placed second and third.

Herrin is one of the surprise teams early in this outdoor season in the 4x800 Meter Relay. The Tigers on Friday ran 8:03.06 (IL #8) to win with Bethalto Civic Memorial running 8:03.29 (IL #10) to finish second. Quaid Berger ran 9:37.07 to win the 3200 Meter Run. Four runners were under 1:59 in the 800 Meter Run. Luke Smith of Waterloo ran 1:57.21 to win the race with Drew Twyman running 1:57.71 to place second. Zachary Duffie of Freeburg (1:58.46) and Jonathan Witzman of Murphysboro (1:58.54) finished third and fourth. Gabriel McLain of Benton pulled away to run 4:22.08 in winning the 1600 Meter Run. Max Weber of Bethalto Civic Memorial (4:28.96) and Twyman (4:31.89) finished second and third.

Andrew Kinsman of Benton had a best of 60-2.5 (IL #2 to win the Shot Put. Matt Pluff of Freeburg, Gavin Cothern of Richland County, and Larry Wills of Chatham-Glenwood all cleared 6-4.75 in the High Jump with Pluff winning on fewer misses. Camren Reed of Mascoutah jumped 22-11.25 (IL #5) to win the Long Jump.

Capitol City Classic @ Memorial Stadium, Springfield – Parker Campbell of Lincoln ran 14.61(IL #5) to win the 110 Meter Hurdles by almost a second. It was a little closer in the 300 Meter Hurdles as Campbell won with a 41.20 time. Bloomington’s Jamari Randolph ran 41.48 to finish second. Voldy Makabu of Champaign Centennial cleared 6-6 in winning the High Jump. JJ Lewandowski of Champaign Centennial along with Noah Molitor of Normal University both cleared 6-4 finishing second and third. Tristan Stanton of Rochester jumped 21-9 to win the Long Jump. Kamri Sales of Springfield Southeast jumped 44-11 to win the Tripe by more than two feet. Springfield’s team in the 4x400 Meter Relay. The Senators with Jaiyden Wilson, Mekhi Newman, Jacob Greco, and Deandre Brown in their lineup ran 3:25.24 to win the final event of the meet. Champaign Centennial ran 3:27.71 Springfield currently has the fifth fastest time in the state (3:24.72). Springfield was also flying around the track in the 4x200 Meter Relay as they ran 1:28.47 (IL #3) to capture the win.

Haake Invitational @ Glenbard West – The showcase in this event came in the Pole Vault. Kyle Quaid-Bowman, the junior from Glenbard South, cleared 16-4.25 (IL #3) to win the Pole Vault. Chris Renford of Glenbard East jumped 21-9 to win the Long Jump. Lucas Galas of Glenbard South ran 1:58.71 in winning the 800 Meter Run ahead of Graham Faris of Glenbard West (1:59.45). Aidan Murphy of Wheaton North had the best performance on the track in this low-keyed meet. Murphy ran 4:20.08 (IL #9) to win the 1600 Meter Run. Matt King of Glenbard West ran 4:28.95 to place second.

Hub Relays @ Rochelle – The Pole Vault was also the showcased event in this meet. Andrew Nuyen on his home runway cleared 17-0 (IL #2) to win the event in a big way. It is his first time clearing that height. Connor Penney of Machesney Park Harlem (52-10.25 to win the Shot Put.

Jody Gitelis Invitational @ Barrington – Scout Storms played a big part of Barrington’s win in their own invitational scoring 121 points to win by just two points ahead of Lake Zurich (119 points) with Plainfield North finishing third with 101 points. Storms anchored her team to the win in the 4x800 Meter Relay with a 9:35.22 time (IL #4). Plainfield North (9:45.07) and Lake Zurich (9:47.41). Storms took the win in the 1600 Meter Run (5:09.10) finishing ahead of Josie Cahill of New Trier (5:10.62) and Barrington’s Angelica Hil (5:12.85). Storms helped clinch the team title for the Fillies anchoring their quartet to the win in the 4x400 Meter Relay (4:09.99) with Lake Zurich running 4:11.29 to place second.

Mia Sirois of Barrington remains undefeated against Illinois runners in the 3200 Meter Run. Sirois ran 10:14.64 (IL #2) to easily win the event by 46 seconds with Elsie Czarniewski of Plainfield North running 11:01.08 in finishing second. Plainfield North easily won the 4x100 Meter Relay timed at 47.24 (IL #4) winning by three seconds ahead of Barrington (50.51). Katherine Jewell of Prairie Ridge ran 12.54 to win the 100 Meter Dash. Plainfield North went 1-2 in the 200 Meter Dash with Taylor McClain taking the win (25.09) ahead of teammate Lauren Dellangelo (25.33) and Conant’s Daisha Brunson (25.41) and Jewell (25.64). Branson also ran 14.88 to win the 100 Meter Hurdles. Arisa Bisola of Lake Zurich threw 132-0 to win the Discus.

Minooka Girls Invitational (4/17) – Mariyah Robinson of Homewood-Flossmoor won two individual races along with being a part of two relay wins. Robinson was part of the quartet that ran 47.73 to win the 4x100 Meter Relay with Huntley (49.16) and Lincoln-Way East (49.84 placing second and third. Robinson was dominant in the 100 Meter Dash running 12.25 to win ahead of teammate London Willingham (12.70) and Kyra Hayden of Lincoln-Way East (12.85). HF’s quartet ran 1:at 1:44.26). Robinson finished her day running 43.73 to win the 4x200 Meter Relay with Huntley the closest team to them. Robinson finished her day running 24.27 (IL #3) with teammate Aniya Mullins running 25.93 to finish second. Alaina Steele of Lincoln-Way East ran a season’s best of 58.47 to win the 400 Meter Dash with Hazel Nadal of Rolling Meadows finishing second (58.62). Breasia Mims of Homewood-Flossmoor ran 15.44 to win the 100 Meter Hurdles just ahead of Hayden (15.60). The order switched in the 300 Hurdles with Hayden winning in 45.79 (IL #10) close to two seconds ahead of Mims (47.18).

Jaloni Wiley of Homewood-Flossmoor had a best of 39-8.5 to win the Shot Put by five feet. Wiley came back to throw 134-10 (IL #8) to win the Discus with Angelina Tadros of Lincoln-Way East throwing 124-0 to finish second.

Mike Rebeck Girls Invitational @ Schaumburg – Annika Swan of St. Ignatius College Prep ran a seasonal best of 2:13.61 (IL #2) to win the 800 Meter Run in one of the top races in this meet. Teammate Allison Shutler ran 2:15.16 (IL #8) in finishing second. Ella Sheaffer of St. Ignatius College Prep won the 1600 Meter Run (5:10.96) ahead of Streamwood’s Sophia Baumert (5:12.75). Kylie Simpson of Hononegah ran 11:15.94 to win the 3200 Meter Run just ahead of Schaumburg’s Milano Pisto (11:17.98). Amy Carhee of Schaumburg ran 14.53 (IL #2} to win the 100 Meter Hurdles.

Blue and Gold Girls Invitational @ Wheaton North – Sophia Dalrymple of Wheaton North ran the state’s fastest time in the 300 Meter Hurdles on her home track. Dalrymple ran a personal best of 44.29 winning the race by more than two seconds. Elizabeth Wende of Batavia was a double winner on the track running 12.448 to win the 100 Meter Dash ahead of Destiny Hicks of Oswego (12.61), Wende came back to run 58.29 to win the 400 Meter Dash ahead of Wheaton North’s Autumn Gruenwald (58.75). Hicks came back to 25.67 to win the 200 Meter Dash with Gruenwald again finishing second (25.94).

Sandburg ran 9:44.18 (IL #8) to win the 4x800 Meter Relay ahead of Batavia (9:50.36) and Lockport (9:52.57). Sydney Fontaine of Lockport ran 2:18.48 to win the 800 Meter Run seven seconds ahead of Nia Ortega of Downers Grove South (2:25.94) and Fabiola Gipson of Neuqua Valley (2:25.98). Elizabeth Hall of Neuqua Valley ran 5:04.02 in winning the 1600 Meter Run ahead of Maddie Romaine of Wheaton North (5:09.58) and Sofia Arcuri of Maine South (5:10.19). Olivia Dalson of Neuqua Valley won both horizontal jump events. The junior jumped 17-6 to win the Long Jump by more than a foot. Dalson then jumped 36-1.25 to win the Triple Jump. Veronica Walkosz of Lockport Township and Mackenzie Fodrey of Glenbard East both jumped 35-8.75 finishing second and third.

O’Fallon Girls Invitational (4/18) – There were some great state leading performances in this Good Friday meet. Sophia Shapiro of Edwardsville ran the fastest time in the state (14.35) to win the 100 Meter Hurdles with Hailey Gray of Belleville East running 15.14 (IL #10) to place second. Shapiro came back to run 57.40 (IL #4) to win the 400 Meter Dash just ahead of Nina Brown of Champaign Centennial (57.56, IL #6). Belleville East’s Kamryn Durrah (58.27) and Gabrielle Peppers (59.24) finished third and fourth. Four teams ran under 49 seconds in the 4x100 Meter Relay. Alton ran 47.54 (IL #5) for the win ahead of Belleville East (47.65, IL #6), Troy Triad (48.63), and O’Fallon (48.70) were the next three teams.

Sophia Schardan of Troy Triad continues to run faster in every race she competes in. The junior accomplished that on Saturday with two more personal bests in her two wins. Schardan ran 11.62 (IL #2) to win the 100 Meter Dash. Rayna Raglin of Alton ran 11.71 (IL #4) to place second ahead of Nona Brown (12.04, IL #8) and Takia Tiller of Belleville East (12.16). Schardan came back to run 24.65 (IL #6) to win the 200 Meter Dash. Raglin again finished second (24.83, IL #7) ahead of Cassidy Willis of Belleville East (25.24).

Makayla Gajewski of Nashville had a 38-4 best to win the Shot Put. Elsie Williamson of Taylorville threw 117-3 to win the Discus. Emma Behrmann of Nashville jumped 18-4.5 (IL #6) to win the Long Jump. Belleville East ran 3:59.354 (IL #4) to win the 4x400 Meter Relay by a six second margin ahead of East St. Louis (4:05.72). Cameron Crump of Waterloo ran 11:15.05 to win the 3200 Meter Run. O’Fallon’s Ellie Bush ran 11:17.85 to finish second. The order changed in the 1600 Meter Run as Bush ran 5:11.99 with Crump running 5:12.80 to finish second.

Lady Raider Invitational @ Bloomington (4/18) – Zoe Carter of Normal University doubled up in the two distance races in this meet. Carter ran an outdoor seasonal best of 10:54.81 (IL #10) to win the 3200 Meter Run ahead of a personal best from Ashlyn Chopra of Chatham-Glenwood who ran 11:11.11. Abby Tudeen of Dunlap ran 11:14.46 to place third. It was close in the 1600 Meter Run as Ali Londrigan of Chatham-Glenwood ran 5:02.60 to hold off Carter (5:03.02, IL #10) for the win. Londrigan earlier in the meet ran on Glenwood’s quartet that ran 9:43.14 (IL #7) to win the 4x800 Meter Relay. Normal University ran 1:43.87 to edge Danville (1:43.93) for the win in the 4x200 Meter Relay. Jamia Esther, who led off for Danville, ran 12.31 earlier in the meet to win the 100 Meter Dash.