Preview: 2025 Illinois IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championships - Class 1A Teams to Watch

By Michael Newman

Nine of the fourteen sectionals that took place last week were held on Wednesday. It was the day that had the worst weather of the week cold and rainy. It came down to only auto qualifiers making it to state in most of those sectionals. It is hard to determine the team leaders. Here is the idea that we produced.

Colfax (Ridgeview)

Qualifiers – 10 Total; 7 Individuals, 3 Relays

Notes – Despite the fact that Ridgeview ran in a sectional Wednesday at El Paso-Gridley, the Mustangs still were able to advance in nine events. Zane Hoffman will figure for points in the 100 Meter Dash where he has the second fastest time in Class 1A. He will also play a part in the 4x1, 4x2, and 4x4. Colton Snyder is 1A #15 where he qualified in the 100 and 1A #11 in the 200 Meter Dash where he could pick up points in both. Micah Hoffman is among the top 20 in the 110 Meter Hurdles and will challenge for a finals spot. Taiyveon Hanks is 1A #8 in the 300 Hurdles and will be in the mix to get points. The only individual in the field events is Joe Cheever qualified in the Discus where he will hope to get in the final 12. Ridgeview is ranked 1A #5 in the 4x1, 1A #4 in the 4x2, and the fastest 1A time in the state in the 4x4. The bulk of their points could come from those three relays. The Mustangs finished third at last year’s state meet. They could finish higher in this meet.

Morrison

Qualifiers – 12 Total; 10 Individuals, 3 Relays

Notes – Morrison is one of those teams that could leave Charleston top three trophy. Levi Milder leads the Mustangs having the fastest time in the state in the 100 Meter Dash as well as the 200 Meter Dash. Brady Anderson is also a part of the team’s 1-2 punch in the sprints. Anderson has the11 fastest time in the 100 Meter Dash and #2 in the 200 Meter Dash. Anderson and Milder will be a part of the top teams in the 4x1 and the 4x2. Ryan Alvarado will play a big part in the team’s relay success. He is #9 in the Long Jump and could get his team needed points.

Winnebago

Qualifiers – 13 Total; 10 Individuals, 3 Relays

Notes – Defending 1A champion Winnebago took advantage of a Friday sectional at Oregon where they advanced 13 to Thursday’s prelims. Nicolai Martino is running at his best with a chip on his shoulder from last year’s meet. Martino has the top time in the state in the 3200 Meter Run by 17 seconds and top seed in the 1600 Meter Run. Martino anchored his team to state in the 4x4 where the Indians should score points. Daniel Hodgson and Aiden Vazquez are among the top 12 in the 800 Meter Run and could both get points for their team. Bago is among the top 15 in the 4x8 without Martino. He will not race in that event at state, but Bago does have the strength to place in the top 9. Blake Inglima made it to state in the Pole Vault and could place. We might also see Myles Smith among the finalists in the Long Jump.

Rockford (Christian)

Qualifiers – 11 Total; 7 Individuals, 4 Relays

Notes – The Royal Lions finished in a tie for 18 in 2024. The qualifiers they got in the Oregon Sectional should get this team in the mix for a trophy. Their quartet in the 4x8 is always tough. Theu won the 4x8 indoors at Illinois Top Times. They are 1A #13 so far in the event. They could leave Charleston as the best. Evan White is 1A #2 in the 800 Meter Run and one of the favorites in the race. Andrew Kurien is 1A #4 in the 1600 Meter Run and could pick up big points. Isaac Otto is among the top four in the Triple Jump and will be one of the favorites in that event. The Royal Lions are 1A #7, in the 4x1, 1A #10 in the 4x2, and 1A #3 in the 4x4. They should score in all four relays.

Bloomington (Central Catholic)

Qualifiers – 10 Total; 6 Individuals, 4 Relays

Notes – It helps that you have the nation’s best athlete in the Pole Vault fronting your team. Isaiah Whitaker is the overwhelming favorite in the event and guarantees his team the lead even before the meet starts. Whitaker will be busy in two relays. The Saints are #9 in the 4x2 and #8 in the 4x4 both with Whitaker a part of it. TJ Larson will be one of the favoirtes in the 110 Meter Hurles ranked #3 entering this meet. Mason Clark made it to state in the 300 Meter Hurdles and could also get on the podium. Amir Byrd could make finals in the 200 Meter Dash. Byrd could also score points in the Long Jump. Finian Krenz is among the top 10 in the High Jump and may get a top nine finish.

Pleasant Plains

Qualifiers – 11 Total; 7 Individuals, 4 Relays

Notes – The Cardinals are still a team that will be in the mix for a trophy. The loss of all-state distance runner Elijah Teefey will hurt their chances. Pleasant Plains has the best time in Class 1A in the 4x8 with Teefey in that quartet. They had the fifth fastest sectional time. Plains is #12 in the 4x1, #8 in the 4x2, and #6 in the 4x4. Cole Payne is among the 800 Meter Run. Payne and Garrett Payne could both score in the event. Ethan Griminger is someone to watch that might score points in the 1600 Meter Run. Caiden Flanigan could be in the mix to score points in the 110 Meter Hurdles and could also score in the 200 Meter Dash.

Tuscola

Qualifiers – 14 Total; 12 Individuals, 2 Relays

Notes – The strength of Tuscola’s team in 2024 when they finished second was a strong distance group. This year’s edition of the team is more well rounded ready to contend for another trophy. Their strength this year could be in the weight events. Sawyer Woodard of Tuscola is #3 in Class 1A in the Shot Put and will contend for a state title. is also in the Shot Put and might garner points. Woodard is ranked #5 in the Brayden Weaver Discus and will be one of the favorites. The freshman Weaver also is in the event and could make the finals. Kam Sweetnam is among the top 15 in the Long Jumps and might score points. Sweetnam is #6 in the Triple Jump and is a threat to finish in the top five. Carter Simpson and David Hornaday could score points in the 110 Meter Hurdles. Simpson is among the top 10 in the 300 Meter Hurdles where we could see him find his way to the podium. Xander Neamtu and Blake McLeese both qualified in the 3200 Meter Run and might score. Tuscola is #19 in the 4x1 and #2 in the 4x200 Meter Relay where they could challenge for the win.

Shelbyville

Qualifiers – 8 Total; 8 Individuals

Notes – The Rams will need to get into the top five with no relays qualifying. They do have the top 1A athlete in the High Jump Will Nohren who has cleared 6-11.75 and is the favorite in the event. Nohren also has the second-best mark in the Long Jump and might win that event as well. Karson Bruns is #14 in the Triple Jump and might score in that event. Peyton Curry is among the top 10 with teammate Owen Beyers #18 in the Pole Vault where both could score points. Jack Jokisch is among the top 15 in the Shot Put where he might finish in the top nine. Tucker Kull could score in the 400 Meter Dash.

Maroa (Forsyth)

Qualifiers – 9 Total; 6 Individuals, 3 Relays

Notes – The Trojans won at Deer Creek-Mackinaw last week with hopes now of finishing in the top five this weekend. Graham Blackwell qualified in the Discus and may come away from the event with points. Aiden Williams achieved a personal best last week in the Long Jump and could finish in the top 10 this weekend. Connor Doolin might pick up points in the 200 Meter Dash. D’Angelo Owen is #15 in the 110 Meter Hurdles and could be all-state as well as in the 300 Meter Hurdles. Maroa-Forsyth has season bests at #8 in the 4x1 and #16 in the 4x2.

Altamont

Qualifiers – 6 Total; 5 Individuals, 1 Relays

Notes – Ben Roedl could pick up the bulk of his team’s points this weekend. Roedel is #2 this year in the High Jump and will challenge for the win. Roedl is #5 this year in the Long Jump and moved up to #2 in the Triple Jump with a win last week in his sectional meet. He could be among the top three in both of those events. Hayden Summers is #4 in the 300 Meter Hurdles and could also score some big points in his hurdle event.