2023 IHSA State Track & Field Championships – Class 3A Boys Teams

By Michael Newman

This will be a meat grinder of an IHSA State Meet beginning Friday afternoon at O’Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University. Some teams will be eliminated from trophy consideration on Friday afternoon. It could come down to the final event on Saturday to determine who leaves Charleston with a state championship trophy.

Here is a look of 10 of the teams to watch this weekend in Class 3A

Oak Park-River Forest – 13 Total; 9 Individuals, 4 Relays

Outlook – The Huskies this spring has developed from an invitational team to a state team and will be in contention for a state title. Their sectional performance at Proviso East set them up in a good position. Oak Park qualified in 12 events for this weekend. They could score in 10 of those events. Liam Newhart will play a big part of the team’s success as one of the favorites in both the 3200 Meter Run and 1600 Meter Run. Nick Parrell could also score in the 3200 Meter Run. Kaden Garland should be among the top five finishers in both the Shot Put and the Discus. Josh Meister has been one of the elite 3A athletes in the Pole Vault. He will be one of the favorites on Saturday. Kwabena Osei-Yeboah had the second best jump last week in the sectionals in the Long Jump. Watch for him to be one of the favorites in that event. Caleb Schultz has a top time in the 100 Meter Dash and could challenge for the title. He could also score some points in the 200 Meter Dash. The Huskies are qualified in all four relays. It will be tough to make the finals in all four. Their 4x1 and 4x2 could advance to Saturday. The 4x8 team is strong and should challenge for the win in that event.

Naperville (Neuqua Valley) – 11 Total; 9 Individuals, 2 Relays

Outlook – The Wildcats won the 3A state title in 2021. They are in a good position to challenge again for the 3A title this weekend. Neuqua Valley qualified in 11 events from the Plainfield North Sectional. They could score points in nine of those events. James Ammenhauser is one of the top horizontal jumpers in the state. He will be the favorite in both of those events. Austin Belle has come on strong and is peaking at the right. He will score points in both the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash. He will also play a big part in the team’s 4x1 and 4x2 teams who could be among the top four finishers in each event. Zac Close could be one of the contenders for the state title in the 3200 Meter Run. It would be a bonus if Robert Glenn makes the final in a rough 1600 Meter Run. Jake Lansdowne is a good bet to score big points in both hurdle races.

Hinsdale (Central) – 9 Total, 6 Individuals, 3 Relays

Outlook – The Red Devils will be bringing down the most qualifiers that they’ve had in the program’s history. It will be a couple of athletes that will score the bulk of the points this weekend. Hinsdale Central qualified in seven events at Plainfield North. They should score in six of those events. Dan Watcke enters this meet as the favorite in the 800 Meter Run after winning the event as a sophomore in 2021. He will also anchor their 4x4 and 4x8 relays. They are a big favorite in the 4x4. They will be among the favorites in the 4x8. Aden Bandukwala is doubling in both the 3200 Meter Run and 1600 Meter Run. He will be one of the favorites in both of those races. Michael Skora will be a part of the team’s 4x8. He could also get into a loaded 800 where anything could happen if he makes the finals. Jesse Gamboa is in the second of three section of the 3200 Meter Run. A good finish in that section possibility could get him into the top nine. Michael Prieto is in the High Jump and could become all-state in that event.

Edwardsville – 10 Total; 7 Individuals, 3 Relays

Outlook – The Tigers have quietly put themselves to challenge for a trophy this weekend after a good sectional on their home track. Edwardsville advanced in nine events last week. They could score in seven of those events. The big points could come from the Triple Jump where Malik Allen has the best jump in Class 3A, and Gino Montgomery is among the top five. Iose Epenesa is among the top five athletes in the Discus and could contend for the win. Epenesa could also score points in the Shot Put. The Tigers qualified in three relays. Their quartet in the 4x2 is their best bet to score big. The 4x1 has a chance to make finals along with the 4x4 quartet. It would be a bonus if Alex Uder is all-state in the 800 Meter Run.

Homewood-Flossmoor – 13 Total, 9 Individuals, 4 Relays

Outlook – The Vikings are one of those teams that if everything goes right, they could be bringing a trophy home. Homewood-Flossmoor advanced in 10 events from their sectional and could score in eight of them. The big points could come from the sprints and relays. Olusoga Adeyiga could pick up big points in both the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash. John Gore is a possibility to reach the finals in the 100. The same holds true for Robert Scott III in the 200 Meter Dash. Their quartet in the 4x1 is the overwhelming favorite. The Vikings should be among the top four teams in the 4x2. Their squad in the 4x8 is running well at the right time. A finish in the top six could happen. The 4x4 has at least 20 teams that could make the finals. HF could be one of them. Aaron McIntyre could be among the top nine finishers in the Triple Jump. Freshman Myles Ellis could surprise some by scoring in the 300 Hurdles.

Batavia – 16 Total; 12 Individuals, 4 Relays

Outlook – The Bulldogs enter this meet as the defending 3A State Champions. A good meet on Friday could put them in position for a trophy on Saturday. Batavia advanced qualifiers in 14 of the 18 scored points. They could score in seven of those events. Weston White has been a surprise in the sprints this season. He could score in both the 100 Meter Dash and the 200 Meter Dash. The Bulldogs have success in Charleston in the two sprint relays. They should score in both the 4x1 and 4x2. Quintin Lowe is entered in the 800 Meter Run and 1600 Meter Run. He could be all-state in one of those event. Batavia is close to qualifying in the 4x8. Putting Lowe in could get this quartet all-state. The 4x4 is so close to qualifying but so are 19 other teams. Anything could happen in that event. Alec Crum will be one of the favorites in the High Jump. He could also finish in the top five in the Triple Jump.

Plainfield (South) – 9 Total, 7 Individuals, 2 Relays

Outlook – The 3A State XC team champion will look for a trophy this weekend. The bulk of their points will come from the four distance events. Plainfield South advanced in six event at Minooka last week. They should score in five of those events. Two of those events should have double scorers. Dylan Maloney could be a top five finisher in the 3200 Meter Run. BJ Sorg will run in Section 2 and could score from that section. Camyn Viger will be one of the favorites in the 1600 Meter Run. Ethan Reynoso could also pick up big points for the Cougars in that race. Reynoso and Viger could be among the quartet in the 4x8 and that could be among the challengers for the win. Gavin Borger is a possibility to score points in the 800 Meter Run. Kyle Eppenstein should score big points in the Pole Vault.

Downers Grove (North) – 11 Total; 8 Individuals, 3 Relays

Outlook – The Trojans look to be peaking at the right time for the biggest meet of the season. A top five finish is a possibility. Downers Grove North advanced in nine events in winning at the Wheaton-Warrenville South Sectional. They could score in six of those events. Ryan Eddington will be one of the favorites in the 800 Meter Run. He could also help in the 4x8 as the Trojans contend for a top five finish. Caden Weber looked strong last week in his 1600 Meter Run win. He could be among the top five in that event. Topher Ferris could score in the 3200 Meter Run. Vince Davero could pick up some big points in the Triple Jump as well as scoring in the Long Jump. North also qualified in the 4x2 and 4x4. Good prelims get them to Saturday in both.

Elmhurst (York) – 9 Total; 6 Individuals, 3 Relays

Outlook – The Dukes had a good sectional meet at Wheaton-Warrenville South last week. A good Friday preliminary session puts them close to a trophy on Saturday. York advanced in nine events last week in score in six of those events. Their 4x2 team ran the second fastest time in the state two weeks ago with 400m qualifier Joey Valeski a part of that quartet. York will have a decision to make on where to put him. The Dukes could also score in the 4x1 and 4x4. Aidan Hill will be among the favorites in the 800 Meter Run. Danny O’Shaughnessy will be close in the 1600 Meter Run. He is a possibility to advance to the finals. Gavin Schaer could be among the top five placers in the Pole Vault.

Minooka – 8 Total, 6 Individuals, 2 Relays

Outlook – The Indians again should be one of the teams that will contest for a trophy on Saturday. Minooka advanced in seven events and could score points in six of them. A huge hit was when Cael Hiser missed qualifying out of sectionals in the 100 Meter Dash. He did make it to state in the 200 Meter Dash where he could score big points. Hiser will be a part of the team’s 4x1 and 4x2 quartets that could score points in both of those relays. Darvell Smith is a possibility of scoring points in the 110 Highs. Zachary Balzer will be one of the favorites in the 1600 Meter Run if he can get out of a tough prelim field. Andrew Undesser is one of the elite athletes in the 3A Pole Vault. He will be one of the favorites in that event.