Preview: 2025 Illinois IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championships - Class 2A Teams to Watch

By Michael Newman

The chase for the team title in Class 2A will be tight. Sycamore will have a healthy Aidan Wyzard who missed last season due to injury. Metro St. Louis teams East St. Louis, Cahokia, and Triad are all loaded making this meet coming down to the final event to determine a winner. Here is a look at the 2A teams to watch beginning Friday morning..

Sycamore

Qualifiers – 14 Total; 11 Individuals, 3 Relays

Notes – The Spartans were in this position a year ago to contend for a state trophy. That never happened when Aidan Wyzard injured his hamstring and missed most of the meet. Sycamore finished eighth last year. Wyzard is healthy heading into this meet where he could lead his team to a state championship. Wyzard finished second last year in the Long Jump before the injury. He has the #3 mark in Class 2A and will contend for the state title. He has the fourth fastest time in the 100 Meter Dash and #2 in the state in the 200 Meter Dash. He could win both of those sprints. Sycamore has the third fastest time in the 4x1 with Wyzard anchoring and will contest for the win. Sycamore also has the third fastest time in Class 2A in the 4x400 Meter Relay and #10 in the 4x800 Meter Relay. Cory Goff will contend for all-state in the 1600 Meter Run. Dylan Hodges has the second fastest time in the 400 Meter Dash and will be the favorite in the event. Hodges also qualified in the Triple Jump and could also score in that event. Devin Karda made it to state in the 300 Meter Hurdles and might score in that event. Will Rosenow has the third best mark in the Shot Put. Rosenow also has the longest throw in the Discus and will contend for the state title. Teammate Dylan Weides also qualified in the Discus and could score points. Braedon Shaner was the Illinois Top Times Champion and will challenge for a top five spot in the Pole Vault.

East St. Louis

Qualifiers – 17 Total; 13 Individuals, 4 Relays

Notes – The Flyers have the numbers to contest for the state title advancing 17 from the Civic Memorial Sectional in 13 events. There are several teams that could claim a state title and this squad is one of them. Shamond McClain is one of the top five athletes in the Long Jump where he could claim this title. McClain is #2 in the Triple Jump and will also contend for the win in this event. Tyreke Baker is ranked in the top 20 in both horizontal jumps and will contend for points. Darius Ivy has one of the toughest individual doubles on the meet schedule in the 800 Meter Run and then right back in the 400 Meter Dash. Ivy is among the top 10 in Class 2A in the 800 and #3 in the 400 Meter Dash. Melvin Sledge could score points in the 200 Meter Dash. Durand Sain could also score points in the 400 Meter Dash. Darrion Brasley might place in the High Jump. The strength of East St. Louis is always the relays. The Flyers are #5 in 4x1, #5 in the 4x2, and #2 in the 4x4. Their 4x8 team is #17 entering into this meet.

Cahokia

Qualifiers – 12 Total; 9 Individuals, 3 Relays

Notes – The Comanches do not have the numbers that their rival East St. Louis has. They do have the quality in their numbers that could challenge for a state title. Akeelan Dowell was a double sectional winner in the sprints last week and will contend for both state titles. Dowell is second fastest in the 100 and third fastest in the 200. Jaylen Pennington is #4 in the 400 Meter Dash while teammate Corrion Raiford. They could both finish in the top five. Cahokia qualified in all three sprint relays and is a good bet to get big points in all three. The Comanches are #6 in the 4x1, and the fastest times in the 4x2, and the 4x4. Nigel Gooden is #13 in the 110 Meter Hurdles and could get points in that event. Gooden and Reginald Griffin are among the top 10 in the 300 Meter Hurdles, and with both expect to reach the finals. Victreze Thomas is #2 and should challenge Shamond McClain for the Triple Jump title. Hartles Holman qualified in the Long Jump and might score to start the meet.

Olney (Richland County)

Qualifiers – 14 Total; 11 Individuals, 3 Relays

Notes – Don’t be surprised if the Tigers challenge for a top three finish Saturday afternoon. They have the quality points to put them into the top three. Rex Hallam jumped 24-7 in his sectional and has the top mark in the state in the Long Jump while Gavyn Cothern is among the top five. They could pile up with big points in that event. Hallam finished second at Tolono and could also score in the Triple Jump. Cothern and Gavin Root qualified last week easily in the High Jump. Cothern is among the top 15 outdoors, but I would not doubt him finishing in the top three. Casey Thomas is among the top 10 in the Shot Put in which he could come away as all-state. Felipe Goncalves could score points in the 100 Meter Dash and 400 Meter Dash. Ian Pianfetti qualified in the 100 Meter Dash and could get points in the 200 Meter Dash. Quaid Berger you will see up front in the 3200 Meter Run. The freshman could be among the top five in Saturday’s race. Richland County is #2 in the 4x1 and #8 in the 4x2. They could score in both of those events.

Mascoutah

Qualifiers – 11 Total; 7 Individuals, 4 Relays

Notes – The Indians rely on strong relay teams to contend for a trophy in the IHSA State Meet. The same thing applies for this year’s championships. Mascoutah has the fastest time in 2A in the 4x1 (41.74), but that time came in April. They did run 41.93 last week’s sectional. Their 4x2 is #3, their 4x4 is #13 and their 4x8 is ranked #6. They should score in all four of those relays. Robert Williams is #13 in the 400 Meter Dash and has a good chance to qualify for the finals. Williams is also in the top 10 in the Pole Vault and in position to finish in the top five. We could see Leo Cozzi score points in the 800 Meter Run. Riley Kramer could get points in the Shot Put. Cameron Reed will be in the mix for scoring in the top six in the Long Jump.

Morton

Qualifiers – 11 Total; 7 Individuals, 4 Relays

Notes – Morton needs no errors during Friday morning’s prelims to get into position for a trophy on Championship Saturday. Cole Rinkenberger is ranked #6 in the 100 Meter Dash and will be one of the favorites in the 100 Meter Dash. Rinkenberger is #4 in the 200 Meter Dash and could be in contention for the win. The Potters will be strong in the distance events. Abe Martin is having an incredible freshman season. He will contend for a top three finish in the 800 Meter Run. Christian Harris won Illinois Top Times in the 1600 Meter Run and could win outdoors on Saturday. Boston Beyer could also be in the mix to finish in the top five. Max Carter ran 9:26 this year and will be in the mix for an all-state finish in the 3200 Meter Run. Crew Martin is someone to keep an eye on in the 300 Meter Hurdles. Calvin Leman is one of the top 10 athletes in the Pole Vault and will challenge for points in the event. Morton qualified in all four relays. The Potters are #13 in the 4x1, #11 in the 4x2, #5 in the 4x4, and #13 in the 4x8.

Chicago (Payton)

Qualifiers – 7 Total; 5 Individuals, 2 Relays

Notes – The Grizzlies have entries in just five events. Those events could push Payton into the top five. They are the defending champions in the 4x800 Meter Relay and have the fastest time this year in the state. The Grizzlies will be the big favorite on Saturday erasing their own Class 2A record and probably the overall state meet record. Preston Ellis and Tra’Monti Williams will come in with some of the top times in the 800 and will score big points in that event. Vaughn Collier and Declan Slavin both ran 4:21 last week and can go sub 4:20 in Saturday’s finals. Steven Jiang has 9:48 this spring. A sub 9:40 can get him near the top nine. Payton will have their same quartet as the 4x8 in the 4x4. They have the #9 2A time in the 4x4 and will run faster both Friday and Saturday.

Mahomet (Seymour)

Qualifiers – 13 Total; 11 Individuals, 2 Relays

Notes – Metamora Sectional champions come into Friday’s prelims with a shot of finishing among the top five teams. Augustus Gaudio is #5 and could challenge for the win in the 800 Meter Run. Ethan Ramirez could also make the finals. Gaudio and Hemry McMurry could challenge for points in the 1600 Meter Run. Travis Hoffman is #12 in the 110 Meter Hurdles and will need a clean prelim race to make it to the finals. Hoffman has the top time in the state as of this meet in the 300 Hurdles and is one of the favorites in that event. Jayvon Tompkins might score points in the Shot Put. Ty Clark of Mahomet-Seymour has cleared 15-4.25 and is among the top three in the Pole Vault. Clark will challenge for the win. The Bulldogs are the #2 team in the 4x800 Meter Relay and will challenge Payton for the win.

Troy (Triad)

Qualifiers – 10 Total; 8 Individuals, 2 Relays

Notes – Defending state champion Louis Yohannes has the top 2A time in the 110 Meter Hurdles and is favored to repeat that title. Terry Lamb also has a chance to make the finals in that event. Drew Twyman qualified in both the 3200 Meter Run and the 1600 Meter Run and could score in both events. Zane Meier went over 15 feet last week at Civic Memorial. The sophomore is #5 in 2A and will challenge for a top three finish. James O’Toole could get the teams points in the 100 Meter Dash. Their sprint relays are tough at #4 in the 4x1 and #15 in the 4x2.

Metamora

Qualifiers – 12 Total; 9 Individuals, 3 Relays

Notes – Jordan Cranford dropped his time down to 10.79 in his third race back after missing over a month due to a hamstring injury. He is up to #10 in the 100 Meter Dash. His time should drop even faster this weekend. Zach Born will be one of the favorites in the 800 Meter Run. Trae Helwig could get into the finals of the 1600 Meter Run. Gavin Johnson qualified in both hurdle races and might score in the 300 Meter Hurdles. Cameron Nickel could get his teams in the Discus. Metamora is #17 in the 4x1, #19 in the 4x4, and qualified in the 4x800 Meter Relay.