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

 

By Michael Newman

 

Surviving the Prelims in the Distance Events

One of the toughest things to do for runners in the Class 3A distance events is to make it to the finals and come back and do it again 24 hours later. There has been a set schedule once we have gone to three classes where Class 1A runs on Thursday, Class 2A runs on Friday morning and Class 3A runs on Friday afternoon.

 

It is time for a change. When the IHSA was in the two class system, Class A and Class AA would rotate schedules with Class A going in the morning one year on Friday, then switching the next year with Class AA.

 

It will still be exciting on both days of prelim qualifying. The IHSA State Meet is one of the most unique state meets in the nation. It is probably the most exciting also and the toughest doubling in a distance event, succeeding in getting to the finals, and in the view of Class 3A coming back to do that less than 24 hours later.

 

We will probably see one of the most exciting preliminary sessions for Class 3A that we have ever seen. Part of that has to do with the number of qualifiers that we have in the three distance events, which has been amazing the quantities of runners we have seen making it down to Charleston.

 

Let’s look at each of the three individual races going from shortest to longest

 

Part 1 : The 800 Meter Run – This event qualified the most runners ever for either Class AA or Class 3A at the state meet with 57 athletes. Before we started the 11 sectional meets, 99 runners had run under the Class 3A qualifying standard of  1:59.36. After the sectional meets were completed, that number went up to 116 runners.

 

Four heats with the winners going and the next eight fastest advancing. All four of those heats will look like state finals. None of those heats can become tactical. If that happens, maybe the winner of that heat just gets out. The time that it takes to make it out could range from 1:55.8 to 1:56.2 to be in the twelfth spot.

 

John Ihrke of Glenbrook North is the top seed in the opening heat on Friday afternoon. The junior is having a great track season having run a 3A #12 time of 1:55.26 at the Deerfield Sectional. Quintin Lowe of Batavia has a choice to make in either trying to qualify in this event of in the 1600 Meter Run. With how strong and deep both events are this season, it may be tough to accomplish that. Lowe has a best of 1:55.98 (3A #20) run at the end of April in Oswego. Sam Patel of Wheeling dropped his personal best down to 1:56.73 (3A #35) at the Deerfield Sectional. Michael Skora of Hinsdale Central could be doubling back from the 4x800m Relay for his team. Skora has a best this year of 1:54.67 (3A #8) run at the Bud Mohns Invitational in April. Michael Polizzi of Taft ran 1:54.47 indoors at the Chicago City Championship in March Polizzi ran 1:55.17 (3A #11) two weeks ago at the Chicago City Championship. He finished sixth in the 3A finals last May. Barak Goldstein of Highland Park at 1:56.99 (3A #36) in Distance Night in Palatine and Trey Peterson of Collinsville (1:57.97, 3A #68) were the other two runners in this heat that ran under 1:58 in their respective sectional meets.

 

Aidan Hill of York is the top seed in the second heat of this event. His best time of 1:54.22 (3A #6) came last week at the Wheaton-Warrenville South Sectional. Hill may have the hot hand right now and peaking at the right time running personal bests in previous two races. Landan Gillespie of Kenwood has stepped up big in his senior season. He ran a best of 1:56.05 (3A #23) at the Chicago City Championships. He ran 1:56.28 last week at the Whitney Young Sectional. William Simon of Loyola Academy ran his best of 1:56.43 (3A #29) two weeks ago at the Chicago Catholic League Meet. Simon ran 1:56.58 last week at Deerfield. Alex Uder of Edwardsville ran a personal best of 1:57.07 (3A #37) last week in his home sectional. Jack Allen of Elgin is in the same situation having run a personal best of 1:57.21 (3A #41) last week at the Batavia Sectional. Austin Brown of Metea Valley qualified both in the 800 and 1600 in the Batavia Sectional. His best of 1:57.55 (3A #48) last week. Colin Nelson of Wheaton-Warrenville South finished third in his home sectional last week with a 1:57.55 time. His best was 1:55.85 (3A #19) in winning the DuKane Conference two weeks ago. Jeremiah Lanum of Bradley-Bourbonnais and his sectional time of 1:58.28 (3A #79), Jack Kuehl of Geneva with his sectional time of 1:58.64 (3A #86), and Austin McInturff of Waubonsie Valley who ran 1:57.35 (3A #43) at his conference meet, are other runners to watch in this heat.

 

The third heat of this distance is good. Ryan Eddington of Downers Grove North won at Wheaton-Warrenville South with a time of 1:54.05 (3A #4) is the hot distance runner in the state. He ran the fastest time in the state in the 1600 Meter Run (4:07.91) at WSC-Silver the week before. He anchored his team to state in the 4x8 last week. Will he be substituted for prelims in the relay? We will see. Foster Shelbert of Naperville Central will be his chief competition in this heat having a best of 1:55.08 (3A #10) run two weeks ago at the DVC Championships. Shelbert will race again in the 400 Meter Dash. Grant Giblin of Sandburg before this should be running in the 4x8 prelims. The junior has a best of 1:55.81 (3A #17 tie) run at Distance Night in Palatine in April. Samuel Barnard of Naperville Central is another 4x8 runner coming back in this event. Barnard’s best of 1:56.10 (3A #25) also came from Distance Night in Palatine. Owen Horeni of Yorkville is the new face in this event. Get used to him. We will see him three more years. Horeni ran 1:55.79 (3A #15) two weeks ago at the Southwest Prairie Conference. Will Huddleston of Maine South ran a personal best of 1:57.44 (3A #44) at the Proviso East Sectional. Eric Barajas of Zion-Benton ran a personal best of 1:57.72 (3A #56) at the Grayslake North Sectional. Muhiyadin Ali of Mather ran a best of 1:56.21 (3A #26) at Distance Night in Palatine. Ben Shebar of Wheaton North ran a best of 1:57.86 (3A #62) at the DuKane Conference. Matthew Andreano of Jacobs’ best came at Distance Night in Palatine (3A #63). It is a crazy deep heat.

 

The final heat could be the best. Dan Watcke of Hinsdale Central was the champion as a sophomore in 2021. Last year, he finished second in this event. He enters this meet with the fastest time in the state (1:50.68) run at McCarthy Memorial three weeks ago. He will also run in the 4x8 and 4x4. Caleb Levy of Warren Township finished third in this event. He ran 1:53.32 (3A #2) at Arcadia in April. He is the top seed from sectionals in this event with a 1:53.80 time. Matt McClelland of Quincy comes into this meet after running a personal best of 1:56.57 (3A #32) at the Edwardsville Sectional. Gavin Borger of Plainfield South will be a difference maker in the finals if he gets out of this heat which he should. Borger ran 1:56.03 (3A #22) at the Southwest Prairie Conference two weeks ago. Jake Ning is the second Wheeling runner in this event. Ning ran a best of 1:57.19 (3A #38) at the Deerfield Sectional. Andrew Nelson of Jones Prep is one of two runners from his school in this heat. Nelson ran a best of 1:56.00 (3A #21) at Distance Night in Palatine. Luke Barham of Stagg ran a personal best of 1:57.69 (3A #55) last week at the Plainfield North Sectional. Anthony Nitti is the anchor runner for Glenbard West’s 4x8 relay. If he runs, Nitti ran a best of 1:58.00 (3A #69) at Distance Night in Palatine. Gavin Ebenezer of Waubonsie Valley is the second runner from his school in this event. Ebenezer ran a 1:58.47 (3A #84) personal best last week at the Plainfield North Sectional.

 

Part 2 – The 1600 Meter Run – The prelims in last year’s 1600 were memorable. We learned in a three heat prelim is you cannot run a tactical race and expect to advance to the finals on time. Micah Wilson did what he needed to do to conserve his energy for the finals the next day in the 3200 Meter Run. There were a number of good runners that failed to advance to the finals including Riley Newport who was the first runner out last year and is in this field. There are only two runners that were finalists that are back.

 

All three heats are strong. The top two runners in the state in this event (Dan Watcke, Ryan Eddington are in the 800 Meter Run).

 

The top seed in the first heat is Zachary Balzer of Minooka who has a best of 4:16.18 (3A #11) at the Pete Struck Classic. Dalton Lowery of Whitney Young is the hot runner in this heat. The junior ran a personal best of 4:18.49 (3A #23) in winning at the Whitney Young Sectional last Friday. Marcellus Mines of Joliet West made the finals last year. An injury slowed him in the final 200-meters left in that race. Mines looks ready to win a state title. His best of 4:12.57 (3A #4) came in a second-place finish at the Pete Struck Classic. Liam Newhart of Oak Park-River Forest will be in this race as well as the 3200 Meter Run. Newhart’s best time of 4:14.76 (3A #8) comes from a third place finish at the WSC-Silver. Luke Pravecek of Maine South could make the finals. He ran a personal best of 4:20.71 (3A #39) last week at the Proviso East Sectional. Liam Naughton of Hersey is ready to run big. His best of 4:17.69 (3A #19) came two weeks ago at the MSL Championships. Nick Strayer of Lyons Township won Illinois Top Times indoors in this race. Strayer’s best of 4:17.29 (3A #18) came at Distance Night in Palatine. Alex Krieg of Palatine is the only freshman in this event. He ran a best of 4:22.10 (3A #49) last week at the Grayslake North Sectional. Brady Nelson of Oswego also achieved a personal best of 4:22.94 (3A #55) last week at the Plainfield North Sectional. Luke Noren of Naperville Central has a best of 4:20.18 (3A #35) at Distance Night in Palatine.  New Trier’s Oscar Dueno-Alda best came at the Pete Struck Classic when he ran 4:20.17 (3A #34). Finn Loken of Springfield made it to state running a personal best of 4:29.21 last week at Edwardsville.

 

This is a scary good second heat. Ethan Reynoso of Plainfield South is the top seed having run a personal best of 4:14.53 (3A #7) in finishing second last week at Minooka. Riley Newport of DeKalb is ready for this weekend after running 4:16.93 (3A #15) for the win at the DeKalb Sectional. Will Kozlowski of Lane Tech has been running well all spring. His best of 4:18.32 (3A #22) comes from Arcadia in April. Aden Bandukwala of Hinsdale Central will be a runner to watch this weekend. The 3A State XC Champion will be in this race as well as the 3200 Meter Run. Bandukwala has the fastest time in this field having run 4:12.40 (3A #3) at the Pete Struck Classic. Vijay Krishnamoorthi of Conant is peaking at the right time and could be a factor in both distance races. He ran 4:16.95 (3A #16) two weeks ago at the MSL Championships. Trey Sato of Grayslake Central won the 800 Meter Run indoors at Illinois Top Times. He should also be in the 4x8. Sato has a best of 4:13.82 (3A #6) from Distance Night in Palatine and is one of the favorites in this event. Robert Glenn will try to get Neuqua Valley points in this event. His best of 4:21.59 (3A #44) came last week at the Plainfield North Sectional. Carter Hayes is the second Palatine runner in this event. The sophomore ran a personal best of 4:22.04 (3A #48) came last week at the Grayslake North Sectional.  Chuck Halden of Glenbard West has a personal best of 4:21.82 (3A #46) at Distance Night in Palatine. Nathan Virginelli of Wheaton-Warrenville South ran a 4:22.78 (3A #54) also at Palatine. Quintin Lowe of Batavia, who also is entered in the 800 Meter Run, might be a factor if he is in this race. Lowe’s best of 4:18.70 (3A #24) came three weeks ago at the Kane County Championships. Dylan Ybarra of O’Fallon could also be in the 3200 Meter Run as well as being on his team’s relay card in the 4x8. Ybarra enters this meet. His season’s best of 4:21.22 (3A #42) came three weeks ago at Collinsville.

 

A fun third heat to watch on Friday. Camyn Viger of Plainfield South has the top sectional seed (4:14.21) in his win from last week at Minooka. His best time this year is 4:13.23 (3A #5) at Distance Night in Palatine. Caden Weber of Downers Grove North won last week at Wheaton-Warrenville South. He enters this meet with a best of 4:14.95 (3A #9) run at the Pete Struck Classic. Alexander Das of Oswego East ran a personal best of 4:18.93 (3A #28) last week at the Plainfield North Sectional. Sophomore Jacob Barraza of DeKalb could make the finals in this event. His best time of 4:18.95 (3A #29) came at Palatine. Danny O’Shaughnessy of York is peaking at the right time. He ran a best of 4:20.45 (3A #36) came from the Wheaton-Warrenville South Sectional. Theodore Cunningham of Fremd will be a factor in this event. His best time of 4:16.19 (3A #12) came in his MSL Championships win. Parker Nold of Oswego East is also entered in the 3200 Meter Run. Nold’s best time this season is 4:19.89 (3A #33) from Palatine. Zach Self of Waubonsie Valley dropped his time down six seconds last week at the Plainfield North Sectional when he ran 4:21.94 (3A #47). Trent Anderson of Sandburg is someone to watch for. Anderson’s best of 4:15.86 (3A #10) came at the Pete Struck Classic. Will Gelon of Prairie Ridge has an outdoor best of 4:22.99 (3A #57) coming last week at the DeKalb Sectional. Owen Forberg of Richards is the only all-state runner back from this race. He finished seventh in last year’s finals race. Forberg’s best time this year is 4:16.26 (3A #13). Austin Brown is also entered in the 800 Meter Run. He enters this meet with a best of 4:22.61 (3A #53) coming from the Red Grange Invitational in April.

 

Part 3 – The 3200 Meter Run – The most runners that qualified in an IHSA State Meet 3200/2 Mile happened this year when 45 runners qualified for Saturday’s finals races. The IHSA made the right move by separating the runners into three sections. It is the first time that this has happened for this event in the meet’s history.

 

We saw this happen a few years ago in a Girls 1600 prelim when 42 runners were split into two heats. The waterfall start made it interesting at the beginning  with 21 runners flying around the curve. 15 runners is manageable.

 

This is the fastest cutoff time for the final section of 9:21.51 and 9:21.62 for this year. The previous lowest cutoff was 9:22.2 in 1980.

 

What makes this even more exciting is that we could have two to three runners earn all-state from the second section. I doubt we will see any tactical races in all three sections.

 

Josh Poeschel of Downers Grove South and Lucas Yonker of Wheaton-Warrenville South are the top seeds in the first section. Oliver Burns of Plainfield North could be among the leaders up front. Brady Travers of Downers Grove North ran a 20 second personal best last week in his sectional race. He could have another special race in this meet.

 

The second section of this event will take us right to the 4x8 finals. It is also not a race to miss. BJ Sorg of Plainfield South has a best of 9:12.31 (3A #5) coming from the Southwest Prairie Conference Meet. Ben Crane of New Trier ran 9:18.97 (3A #19) at Distance Night in Palatine. The big mystery in this section could come from Dylan Ybarra of O’Fallon. He won the first section in last year’s state meet. He is also entered in the 1600 Meter Run. He is also on his team’s relay card in the 4x800m Relay. O’Fallon has the fastest time in the state with Ybarra as their anchor. The junior’s best time of 9:18.21 (3A #14) came in the Palatine race. Nate Wehner of Highland Park ran 9:23.58 (3A # 27) last week at the Deerfield Sectional. His teammate Brian Hatoum has a best of 9:24.14 (3A #28) run at Palatine. Jesse Gamboa of Hinsdale Central at 9:25.29 (3A #31) and Tommy Nitz of Huntley at 9:26.78 (3A #34) should also be watched in this sectional.

 

The runners in the final section know what they will be shooting for after watching the first two sections. Does this session get tactical? I doubt it. All nine placers from last year’s state meet graduated. There will be a new champion. Aden Bandukwala of Hinsdale Central has only run this race twice. He also has the fastest finishing speed having run 48+ in an open 400. He has the best time this year was 9:15.11 (3A #11) run at Hinsdale three weeks ago. Evan Horgan of Belvidere North has the fastest time in Class 3A (9:06.91) run last week at DeKalb. He dominated the race at Illinois Top Times in March. Do we see that kind of race on Saturday. Parker Nold of Oswego East and Matt Padilla of Oswego finished 1-2 in their conference meet and are 2-3 in Class 3A. Dylan Myers of Lake Zurich is someone to keep an eye on. His best of 9:12.02 (3A #4) came in a win at Distance Night in Palatine. He is someone you should not forget in this race. Vijay Krishnamoorthi of Conant is a runner that could surprise in this race. He ran a personal best of 9:14.36 (3A #8) to win at Wheaton-Warrenville South last week. He could have a faster race in him on Saturday. Liam Newhart of Oak Park-River Forest ran second to Camyn Viger at Minooka when he ran 9:14.05 (3A #7). We have to remember the finishing speed that Newhart has. The two closed the final 800-meters in 2:05. That kind of strength and finishing speed wins state titles. Do we see a replay of Bandukwala / Newhart coming to the finish line like we did last November at Detweiller Park? Zac Close of Neuqua Valley ran a personal best of 9:14.70 3A #10) in winning at Plainfield North last week. He should be up front pushing this pace.

 

4x8 is the showstopper in Illinois

The most anticipated event in this state starts the IHSA finals and does not end it. It is something about the history of the event that started in its first year that it was contested.

 

It is hard to say how this race will play out. It will depend on how coaches set up their lineups. Hinsdale Central is the defending Nike Outdoor National Champions from last year. The Red-Devils also won indoors at the New Balance Indoor Nationals running 7:43.82. The first time they have used Dan Watcke in their lineup was last week at the Plainfield North Sectional. Hard to say if we see Bandukwala scratch out of an event to run here. Central is deep in talent with him and could still win this race.

 

O’Fallon ran the fastest time in 3A (7:47.53) at Triad at the end of April with Dylan Ybarra as the anchor. With Ybarra in the second of three sections of the 3200 Meter Run, will he be scratched to run in this relay? O’Fallon still has a talented group that could contend for a top finish. They could contend for the win on Saturday.

 

Naperville Central has the athletes that could win. It helps where you have Foster Shelbert, Luke Noren, and Samuel Barnard capable of running under 1:56. They will be a factor in this race. Chatham-Glenwood ran 7:52.00 (3A #3) in winning last week at Edwardsville. Lyons Township ran 7:52.42 (3A #4) and Oak Park-River Forest ran 7:53.31 (3A #7) at Proviso East and will be in the front. Plainfield South should load this relay up with Camyn Viger and Ethan Reynoso as a part of the quartet. The Cougars best time of 7:53.05 (3A #6) puts them in contention in this race.

 

Homewood-Flossmoor has surprised some this spring with their best 7:52.93 (3A #5) run last week at Lockport. Sandburg can never be counted out. They ran 7:53.71 (3A #9) and will have Trent Anderson and Grant Giblin part of the quartet. Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South will contend for top five finishes. Hersey, Prospect, and Glenbard West are among other teams to watch for in this race.

 

Lacy chases after the sprint triple; Bailey Jr. tries to stop him

The Class 3A sprints again are so deep in talent this season as per usual. This year, we could see two athletes chase after three individual wins in the three sprint events. The last athlete to complete this feat was Kahmari Montgomery who did it last in 2015. What made his triple unique is he won these three races within a span of 70 minutes on a rainy day in Charleston.

 

Daniel Lacy of Champaign Centennial could be the athlete to watch in this discipline. Lacy enters this meet with the 3A fastest times in the 400 Meter Dash (47.37) and the 200 Meter Dash (21.26). His best in the 100 Meter Dash is 10.76 run early this season at Princeton in April. He has the fifth fastest sectional time in that event (10.79).

 

The one athlete that could break up Lacy’s triple or do it on his own is Billy Bailey Jr. of Joliet West. The senior did not make it to state last year. He made a huge jump this spring with the fastest 3A time in the state in the 100 Meter Dash, third fastest in the 400 Meter Dash (47.73), and third fastest in the 200 Meter Dash (21.43).

 

Bailey is among the favorites in a deep 100 Meter Dash. Caleb Schultz of Oak Park-River Forest ran 10.60 early in the year to win at Minooka. It is still ranked #2 in Class 3A. He also had the fastest time coming out of sectionals and has the top seed. Austin Belle of Neuqua Valley has a best of 10.70 (3A #5) and ran into a slight headwind at the DuPage Valley Conference Championships. Olusoga Adeyiga of Homewood-Flossmoor ran 10.61 in that Minooka race with Schultz. Henry Kennedy of Dundee-Crown has been a factor in the sprints all season. He ran a best of 10.76 last week at Batavia and could be in the mix. Lacy ran 10.78 in his sectional race and will also be in the hunt. Danny Eloe of Naperville North has struggled with an illness outdoors. He looked great week running 10.76 at Plainfield North last week and could be a difference maker.

 

We should see the Lacy / Bailey Jr. showdown in the finals Saturday in the 400 Meter Dash. They are in separate heats on Friday. There are eight runners this year that have run under 48 seconds. Josh Pugh of Yorkville is the top returning runner in this event. Pugh has a best of 48.20 (3A #4) and will be the favorite in the first heat. Austin Rowswell of Lincoln-Way West ran a personal best of 48.25 (3A #5) last week at Minooka. This sophomore will challenge for the win on Saturday. Ramontay Abraham of Belleville West ran a personal best of 48.68 last week and is another runner to watch.  Joey Valeski of York, Doug Anderson of Highland Park, and Dominik Balenda of Prospect could also challenge for top five finishes.

 

Bailey Jr and Lacy are in separate heats in the 200 Meter Dash. The final two heats =on Friday will be interesting with Bailey, Belle, and Anderson in the third heat and Adeyiga, Lacy, and Rowswell will run in the final heat. Alassane Ba of Moline ran 21.64 at Minooka (3A #5), Omar Mims of O’Fallon ran 21.75 (3A #6) at Edwardsville, and Cael Hiser of Minooka (21.80, 3A #8) ran a top 10 time in his sectional. This field is deep. We could see some surprises making it from Friday to Saturday.

 

HURDLE NOTES

People took notice of Miles Granjean of Evanston Township he won Illinois Top Times. He got even more notice when he ran a wind legal 13.99 time at Minooka in April. He has been undefeated in eight meets this year in the event, He should make it nine in Charleston on Saturday.

 

There are nine other runners that have run under 15-seconds in Class 3A. The runners that ran personal bests last week in their sectionals include Jake Lansdowne of Neuqua Valley, Matthew Thomas of Danville, Marcus Caselberry of Stevenson, and Bryce Thomas of St. Charles North, All could contend for top five finishes this weekend. Jonathan Tegel of Crystal Lake Central has run 14.42 (3A #2) and could be the closest to Granjean. Chris Rodriguez of Niles West has a 14.51 time (3A #3) and cannot be dismissed from this discussion. Quinton Peterson of Lemont has the times under 15-seconds to surprise some in this race.

 

Both of the top two times in Class 3A in the 300 Meter Hurdles came from last week’s sectional meets. Ryan Schaefer of Glenbrook South has been the top athlete in this event most of the season. He lowered his best down to 38.37 in winning last week at Deerfield. A time under 38 seconds could be coming to him very soon. Bryce Thomas of St. Charles North ran 38.95 (3A #2) in winning last week at Batavia. Schaefer and Thomas are the only 3A runners under 39 sec0nds this season.

 

Carter Alvarado of Crystal Lake South ran 39.18 (3A #4) last week at DeKalb. Quinton Peterson of Lemont has a 39.14 best (3A #3) this season. He finished fifth last week at the Plainfield North last week and could bounce back on Friday. Saiheed Jah of Moline will be a factor in both hurdle events. Vincent Barcelona of Lyons Township, Jonathan Tegel, and Jake Lansdowne all will challenge for all state in this event.

 

RELAY NOTES

The highwire event of this meet is the 4x100m Relay where anything can happen if you are a fraction of a second too slow in your handoffs.

 

Homewood-Flossmoor is the team to beat after running a fantastic 41.03 to lead the state in winning at their conference meet two weeks ago. They ran 41.20 last week at Lockport.

 

Edwardsville lowered their best time down to 41.52 last week in their sectional. Naperville North and Neuqua Valley challenged each other in the DuPage Valley Conference meet with North running 41.99 (3A #3) ahead of Neuqua’s 42.10 (3A #5). Dundee-Crown ran 42.01 (3A #4) last week at Batavia and should go under 42-seconds this weekend.  Batavia, Bolingbrook, Kenwood, Oak Park-River Forest, and Rockford East all have top 10 times. Oak Park will need the points for the team title. They could run big this weekend. Keep an eye on Champaign Centennial with Daniel Lacy anchoring.

 

Four heats take the winners and the next five. Keep an eyes on these teams:

Heat 1 – Naperville North, Oak Park, Minooka, Glenbrook South, Rockford East.

Heat 2 – Dundee-Crown, York, Batavia, Kenwood

Heat 3 – Edwardsville, Neuqua Valley, Chatham-Glenwood, Warren Township

Heat 4 – Homewood-Flossmoor, Champaign Centennial

 

Edwardsville is the top seed in this meet after running a state leading 1:27.11 last week in their sectional. York ran 1:27.25 (3A #2) out of Lane 7 two weeks ago at the WSC-Silver Championships with Joey Valeski in their lineup. Last week the Dukes ran 1:29.32 in winning their sectional but ran it without Valeski in the 400. Homewood-Flossmoor is the only team in this meet under 1:28 having run last week at Lockport. Neuqua Valley and Naperville North will be factors in this relay as will Batavia, Minooka, and Oak Park-River Forest will.

 

This relay will be wild with five heat winners and the next four qualifying on times.

Heat 1 – Neuqua Valley, Metea Valley

Heat 2 – York, Oak Park, Dundee-Crown, Minooka

Heat 3 – Naperville North, Batavia. Alton

Heat 4 – Homewood-Flossmoor, Bloom Township

Heat 5 – Edwardsville, O’Fallon, Rockford East

 

Hinsdale Central won the 4x400m Relay in 2021 and finished second in last year’s state meet. The Red Devils has the Class 3A best of 3:19.33 that is more than two seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

 

Five teams under 3:24 heading to this meet that include Edwardsville, Yorkville, Barrington, and Homewood-Flossmoor. The next 18 teams are all in the 3:24 range. There will be a lot of seasonal bests in these heats.

 

The same situation as in the 4x2 with five heat winners and the next four qualifying on times.

Heat 1 – Grayslake Central, Lyons Township, Metea Valley

Heat 2 – Homewood-Flossmoor, Downers Grove North, Prospect, York

Heat 3 – Edwardsville, Barrington, Naperville Central

Heat 4 – Hinsdale Central, St. Charles North, Oak Park-River Forest

Heat 5 – Yorkville, Bradley-Bourbonnais, Kenwood

 

FIELD EVENT NOTES

The top seven athletes in the Shot Put in Class 3A have marks of 57-feet or farther. Tyler Michelini of Lake Park is the favorite in this event having a 3A best of 64-9.5 coming two weeks ago at the DuKane Conference meet. Alex Sohn of Normal Community had a best of 62-7.5 at Metamora in April and Javaris Ambrose of Thornton, who won indoors at Illinois Top Times, has a best of 61-2 coming at Arcadia. Kaden Garland of Oak Park-River Forest, Henry Warsaw of St. Charles North, Alfredo Pantoja of Proviso West, and Jacob Klink of Hononegah could all figure to challenge for a top five finish. Michelini had the best put in state sectionals with a mark of 62-3.25.

 

The Discus could be one of the closest of the field events this weekend. Maverick Ohle of Naperville Central, who finished second last year in Charleston, has a 3A lead of 183-9.5 when he won the Plainfield North Sectional. Two other athletes are within three feet of the junior. Reece Ihenacho of Cary-Grove threw a personal best of 183-2.75 last week at Batavia and should be among the favorites. Tyler Michelini will look for the weight event sweep. His best of 180-1 came three weeks ago at the DuPage County Championships. Iose Epenesa of Edwardsville, Evan Sweeney of Metea Valley, and Alex Sohn all have seasonal bests of 170-feet and will challenge for a high finish.

 

The top 10 athletes in the High Jump heading into this meet all have cleared 6-6 or higher this season. Chris Taylor of Normal Community had the top sectional clearance and the top mark in Class 3A. Just like any other High Jump at state, this one again will be wide open. Marcus Kennedy of Brother Rice, Robert Wagner of Oak Lawn, Alec Crum of Batavia, Kosta Zografos of Wauconda, and McHale Hood of Minooka could all challenge for the win.

 

Josh Meister of Oak Park-River Forest is the top seed in a tough field in the Pole Vault. His best clearance of the year is 15-8. He cleared 15-7.75 to win at the Proviso East Sectional last week. Esad Sengun of Schaumburg cleared 15-9 at the MSL Championships two weeks ago and has the top mark in Class 3A. Andrew Undesser of Minooka cleared 15-7 at his home sectional and could challenge for the win. Matthew Thomas of Danville, Zachary Galvicius of McHenry, and Kyle Epperson of Plainfield South will also challenge for the state title.

 

There are seven athletes that have jumped past 23-feet this season and will challenge for the 3A state title in the Long Jump. Robert Wagner of Oak Lawn enters the meet with the top 3A mark of 23-10.25 achieved at the South Suburban Red Conference Meet. Parrish Hartley of Kenwood jumped 23-8.75 at Kankakee in April. His best since that point was the 21-8.25 jump that he had last week in his sectional. James Ammenhauser of Neuqua Valley will look for a double win in the horizontal jumps. His best this season is 23-7.75 coming at the DuPage County Championships. Kwabena Osei-Yeboah of Oak Park-River Forest jumped a personal best of 23-6.25 last week at Proviso West and will also challenge for a win. Brody Squires of Waubonsie Valley won at Illinois Top Times in March. He finished behind Ammenhauser at DuPage County but did jump 23-3.5 (3A #6). Watch for him this weekend. Deandre Kelly of Thornwood, Dedrick Richardson Jr of Lincoln-Way East, and Lance Somerfield of Sandburg are some of the other athletes to keep an eye on in this meet.

 

A showdown was set up by great sectional performances in the Triple Jump. Malik Allen of Edwardsville has the top mark in Class 3A with a 47-3.75 best last week at the Edwardsville Sectional. James Ammenhauser jumped a personal best of 46-4.25 last week at Plainfield North and will challenge for the state title. A number of athletes to watch in this event include Vince Davero of Downers Grove North, Gino Montgomery of Edwardsville, Alec Crum of Batavia, and DeAndre Neely of Grayslake North.