Brett Charlton carries Eureka to second; Jack Denby sets 1A Pole Vault record; Jon Davis wins Triple Crown of Distance

By Michael Newman

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Charleston, Ill --- It was not a certainty that Aurora Christian would win the 1A team championship Saturday afternoon at the IHSA Boys State Track and Field Championships until the 200 Meter Dash was run. Eureka needed a win by Brett Charlton, who had willed his team to that position, and for Aurora Christian’s Johnathan Harrell to finish sixth or worse. Jacob Sholl (Illini West HS, Carthage) guaranteed that Charlton would not win the race. Coming out of the urn in Lane 6, Sholl pulled away down the home stretch winning the state championship (22.01) by almost three tenths ahead of Brady Rude (Newman Catholic HS, Sterling) and Jordan Rowell (IC Catholic Prep, Elmhurst). The times starting popping up on the scoreboard. An outcry rumbled through the crowd as it showed Charlton was ninth. Charlton was in the middle of the pack but not last. A few minutes later it was corrected. Charlton was fifth. Harrell was just eight hundredths behind him in sixth. That secured the second championship as in many weeks for Aurora Christian. A week before, the Aurora Christian team walked away with the Girls 1A title.

It was a battle of wills between Charlton and Harrell throughout the meet. It seemed like every sprint relay, it came down to the two runners battling it out. In the 4 x 100 Meter Relay, Charlton held off Harrell to secure the relay title for the Hornets. Only five hundredths separated the two. In between the two relays, Charlton got a good start out of the blocks to hold off Broc Smith (Tuscola HS) to win the 100 Meter Dash (10.90 – 10.92). In the 4 x 200 Meter Relay, it was Charlton had the lead coming out of the turn. The Eureka junior had to hold off the oncoming Harrell for the win. This time the margin was larger: a tenth of a second (1:29.56 – 1:29.66). Charlton accounted for 35 of his team’s 42 points.

If Charlton had willed his team to second, it was a team effort and the heart and guts of Harrell for Aurora Christian to win the team championship. The Eagles only captured one individual championship. Jonah Walker held on to his preliminary lead to win the Discus (165-10). He got to that point overcoming a right shoulder injury. Josh Schien also contributed in the Pole Vault tying for sixth clearing a seasonal best 14-0. Freshman Tanner Chada also gave the Eagles a sixth place finish in the 3200 Meter Run (9:46.21).

It was Harrell’s 400 that typified the senior’s will to get his team a championship trophy. Last season, a foot injury would limit Harrell to only able to run in relays. He could not start from the blocks. Harrell had less than 25 minutes to recover from his 4 x 200 anchor to get ready for one lap around the track. Harrell came out of the turn in fourth. He passed two runners to finish second behind Jason Pokalsey (Central A&M HS, Moweaqua). It was redemption in a way for the Moweaqua senior. A year ago in the same event, Pokalsey had qualified for the finals and was one of the favorites. Because of the schedule being moved ahead because of weather, Pokalsey arrived at the stadium late and missed his race. It did not happen this year. His time of 49.07 was more than two tenths ahead of Harrell (49.34).

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There was redemption also for Jack Denby (Carlinville HS) in the Pole Vault. In last year’s final, rain started as the event was going on. In an instance like that, you cannot move the event indoors forcing the athletes to adjust to their surroundings. It was something that Denby could not do as he no heighted. It was something that he carried to him all season. It did not matter that he placed second at the New Balance Indoor Nationals. He wanted that state championship that eluded him a year ago. He also wanted that 1A state record.

It was a battle throughout with Riley Smith (Casey-Westfield HS) and Matt McCoy (Lewistown HS) as the two cleared 15-6. When both missed the next height, the championship was Denby’s. All he needed to do is break the 25 year old record of Clifton Central’s Jamie Marek. He had the bar set one inch higher at 16-3.

He cleared it and the crowd erupted. The record was his. The memories of the year before were erased. His dreams were realized. It had not hit him even as he waited for his medal. He was still shaking in excitement.

“After last year, I am very, very happy,” Denby said. “It was amazing. It was awesome. I have dreamt about this for a year since my no height here.”

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Jon Davis (Oakwood HS, Fithian) popped on the 1A distance scene at last year’s state meet finishing second in the 1A 1600. This year he has been the runner of focus in the distances. After his cross country championship last fall, there was speculation that Davis may attempt to run the 3200 this spring. It was an event that he had never raced before. His first serious race in the event was the week before at his sectional race. He outkicked Nick Hess (St. Thomas More HS, Champaign) to run 9:22.

It was tactics and sanity that would win this 3200. Temperatures were in the mid 80’s at the time the gun went off. Humidity was in the mid 50’s making it uncomfortable for the runners in the race. A pack of Davis, Hess, and Eric Ponder (Tuscola HS) broke away from the rest of the pack. The three passed by the 1600 in a swift 4:38. The thing was that neither of the three runners were willing to force the pace issue. The next lapped dropped to a 72. The following lap to 73. The race was falling into the hands of Davis kick. Ponder and Hess were realizing that. With 450 meters to go, Davis started to make his move with Hess and Ponder trying to make an effort to stay with him. Davis pulled away in the last 150 meters to capture his second state championship (9:21.24). Hess was two seconds back (9:23.90). Ponder was third just a second back (9:25.05).

“It was very smart not to make a move in this weather. It was almost unbearable on the track,” Davis said after the race. “I knew that Nick Hess knows how to run a race really well. All the guys ran well.”

The question was how Davis would recover after the 3200 to get ready for the 1600. It was Davis and Hess that led through the first 400 in 64. Just before they passed the 800, Ben Scamihorn (Marshall HS) took off passing the 800 in 2:11. Hess and Davis were a second back but the gap was growing between the three. Just before the bell lap, Davis caught the Marshall senior. Davis did have company with Hess, Ponder, and Caleb Imig (Tremont HS) close behind. All the runners started their kicks. It was a powerful move down the final straight away that gave Davis the win (4:20.07). His final 400 was 59 seconds. Imig was only a second back in second. Hess, Ponder, Scamilhorn, and Michael Cook (Wethersfield HS, Kewanee) took the next four spots only separated by four tenths of a second.

“I thought he (Scamilhorn) was not going to stop so I needed to make my move,” Davis said. “It was now or never. I thought to myself this was everything. I’m thrilled with the accomplishment (winning the 1600, 3200, and XC). My team was very supportive with me even when I did not come in first.”

Other 1A Highlights

The first three runners from Pleasant Plains had given anchor Tyler Johnson a five second lead when he received the baton for the final 800 Meters of the 4 x 800 Meter Relay. It took a strong final 100 meters to hold off Urbana University’s George Gunter’s 1:55 anchor to give Pleasant Plains the 1A championship in this event. Byron and Shelbyville finished two seconds behind U-High to finish third and fourth.

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It looked like there could be a new champion in the 800 Meter Run earlier in the season when Tye Sutherland (Cumberland HS, Toledo) defeated defending champion Michael Brown (White County HS, Carmi) in two meets in March. Sutherland’s confidence was growing from that. He was ready to go for state when he had the 1A best sectional time heading to Charleston. In the finals, it was Sutherland that controlled the race for the first 780 meters of the race. It was Brown’s final surge that Sutherland could not respond to that gave Brown his second consecutive 1A state championship by only three tents of a second (1:54.33 – 1:54.68).

“This feels better. The first one I was not expecting it. This one I was dreaming for it,” Brown said. “I was feeling really confident (coming into the last 100 meters). The last 30 meters I could see I could gain on him and I gave it 100%.”

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It was a pool of emotions for Tommy Lovett (Seneca HS) as he crossed the finish line winning the 110 Meter Hurdles (14.67) just two tenths of a second ahead of Josh Kirby (Peoria Christian HS). It was a great season for Lovett. He was injured a year ago not even running outdoors. This year he was the man with a gold medal around his neck. “There is no better feeling better than this,” Lovett said. “I’m still kind of speechless from it. This is the greatest feeling in the world to have friends and family out here supporting me.”

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Matt McCoy’s day was great after he established a new personal best clearing 15-6 and placing third in the Pole Vault. It close at the end of the 300 Intermediate Hurdles as he won the race by only eight hundredths of a second ahead of Drew Crook (Gillespie HS). The significance of the win by McCoy for his school was significant. It was the first individual state championship for Lewistown since John Bertram won the 100 Yard Dash and the 220 Yard Dash in 1898.

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The day on the track ended with a win by a surprising Mooseheart team. This squad does not run the major meets during the year but come on strong when the time is right. Anchored by all-state 800 meter runner Wal Khat (he finished fourth on Saturday), Mooseheart won by close to two seconds ahead of Teutopolis (3:24.48 – 3:26.30).

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In the field events. Corey Kersey (Neoga HS) maintained his leading position in both of the horizontal jumps winning his second and third career individual state championships. The junior won the Long Jump winning by more than four inches ahead of Marcus Sitko (Staunton HS). Kersey also defending his title in the Triple Jump with a 47-8 ¾ jump for the win.

Jason Fry (Stewardson-Strasburg HS) came into Charleston as the favorite in the Shot Put. He did not disappoint. His put of 56-8 ¼ won the state championship by more than four feet ahead of Stephen Gibson (Tuscola HS). Along with the finishes in the distances by Eric Ponder and the sprints by Broc Smith, Tuscola left Charleston with the third place trophy in 1A.