IHSA State Track & Field Championships - Class 2A Boys Preliminary Session Recap

East St. Louis-Senior in control for state team title; Chris Nelson qualifies in four events to get Herrin in contention; Gavin Genisio runs 4:12 in prelims in 1600 Meter Run

By Michael Newman

Charleston, Ill – East St. Louis-Senior perhaps came out of the morning session better than they did when they start of the meet Friday morning at the IHSA State Championships at Eastern Illinois University.

The Flyers qualified 13 to Saturday’s finals led by three relays and two events where they advanced two athletes to the finals. They advanced seven to the finals and the sprints and the hurdles. They also received unexpected help with athletes qualifying in the High Jump and the Discus.

Cahokia will be in contention for a trophy advancing nine to the finals. They will be in good position to pick up some points in the field events with Nick DeLoach leading the Triple and advancing in two other events. Chase Crawford leads in the Shot Put and will also score points in the Discus. Sterling had a good day on Friday qualifying all four of their relays and three individuals (seven total). Mt. Zion qualified eight along with Columbia advancing six to the finals.

Chris Nelson put Herrin in a good position to earn a trophy on Saturday afternoon. It started in the 4x100m Relay where broke the race open by taking the leg on his second leg. Kyrese Lukens brought the baton home with an event best of 42.29 to win the second heat. Urbana (42.31), East St. Louis-Senior (42.54), and Marian Catholic (43.15) the other heat winners. Triad has the fastest non-winning time (42.40) in this relay.

Nelson shocked the fans inside O’Brien Field in the second heat of the 100 Meter Dash. He busted out of the blocks and already had a lead 40-meters. He crossed the line running 10.48 for the win thinking that he broke the Class 2A State Meet Record. It determined after the results that his race was just over the allowable wind limit of 2.0 m/s with a race speed of 2.1 m/s. Teammate Kyrese Lukens, Braydon Waller of Marian Catholic, and Nolan Milas of Burlington Central were the other heat winners.

Nelson’s third qualifier came when he anchored Herrin to the finals in the 4x200m Relay. A strong anchor leg by Nelson gave his team the win with a season’s best time of 1:28.50 in the final heat. It should be a close race in Saturday’s finals. Sterling leads all qualifiers running 1:28.49 to win the third heat. Triad (1:28.61), Richmond-Burton (1:28.86), and Tolono Unity were the other qualifiers.

Nelson finished his day by running 21.59 to earn the auto qualifier by winning the opening heat. Jackson Gilbert of Urbana had the fastest time in the event running 21.51 to win the final heat. Gilbert had an up and down day. He helped his team qualify for the finals in the 4x100m Relay. He was disqualified in his heat of the 400 Meter Dash. He will not be able to defend his state title in the event. He also anchored Urbana for a heat win in the 4x400m Relay. He will be very motivated on Saturday running in his final state meet. Nolan Milas and Kenneth Buchanan of East St. Louis-Senior were the other heat winners.

When Gavin Genisio of Benton scratched in the 800 Meter Run at his sectional meet, it showed he was ready to concentrate just in one event. He went though last year’s state meet finishing second in the 800 but struggling in the 1600 Meter Run finishing fifth.

Genisio had a goal in Friday’s prelims to try to break the 2A State Meet Record that Wilson Georges set last year. Genisio separated himself from the pack 100-meters into the race and was out of the range of the field by 200-meters. He was on pace for the first two laps passing in 61.2 and 2:03.8 at 800-meters. At that point, he was ahead of the pack with an eight second lead.

The pace slowed down on the third lap as he passed 1200-meters in 3:07.5. Genisio had the choice to run all out for the final lap or shut it down leaving himself something left for Saturday afternoon. Genisio cruised into the final with a 4:12.60 time.

The Benton junior will have company with him on Saturday. Ethan Hogan of Columbia won the second heat (4:20.78) holding off Dylon Nalley of Marion (4:20.98). Dale Johnson of Sterling won the first heat (4:21.14) ahead of Mac Kittrell of DePaul College Prep (4:21.35) and Grayden Rill of Fenwick (4:21.80).

TRACK PRELIMS HIGHLIGHTS

4x800m Relay – Bethalto Civic Memorial ran the fastest time of 8:04.85 to win the second heat of this event. Glenbard South (8:06.92) and Champaign Central (8:08.70) were the other heat winners. Payton Prep (8:06.98) and Sterling (8:07.29) were the only other teams running under 8:10.

110 Meter Hurdles – Jaden Bossie of Mt. Carmel will be one of the favorites in this event on Saturday. Bossie ran a personal best of 14.61 to win the final heat of this event. Michael VanHootegem of Marian Catholic will be Bosse’s top competitor as he ran 14.69 to win the second heat. Don’t count out of this event  Demarlynn Taylor of East. Louis-Senior in this final. Taylor ran 14.80 to win his heat.

800 Meter Run – Patrick Hilby of Aurora Central Catholic took the pace out hard and took control of the pace after that in the final section of this event. He controlled the finish running 1:55.70 for the win ahead of Caden Emmert of Sycamore (1:56.17). Hilby after the race made the decision that he would scratch out of the 1600 Meter Run, an event that he qualified out of sectionals. Sam Atkinson of Mt. Zion (1:56.38) and Reece Dusek of Dunlap (1:56.27) were the other heat winners.

400 Meter Dash – The disqualification of Jackson Gilbert opened the door in this event. DeAngelo Hughley of Mahomet-Seymour had the fastest time running 48.98 to win the second heat. Devion Montgomery of East St. Louis-Senior ran 49.23 to edge Jayon Morrow of Kankakee (49.25) to win the opening hear. Quentin Stepney of East St. Louis-Senior ran 50.25 to win the third heat.

300 Meter Hurdles – Pre-meet favorite Demarlynn Taylor led all qualifiers running 38.98 to win the fourth heat of this event. Michael VanHootegem is the closest to Taylor having run 39.04 and winning the opening heat. Antonio Mack and Keshawn Lyons were the other heat winners. Christian Kronk of Columbia had the fastest non-heat winning time of 40.04.

FIELD EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Shot Put – The top three marks in this preliminary round all came on the third attempt of the event. Chase Crawford of Cahokia had a massive personal best of 63-3.25 (IL #2) tp lead all qualifiers. JehChys Brown of Centralia’s best of 58-0.50 stands in second-place ahead of David Russell of Illinois Valley Central (57-10.25). Caleb Smith is fourth (57-3). The rest of the field is more than five feet behind the top four.

Discus – David Russell had the top throw of 172-6 to lead all qualifiers in the Discus. Caleb Smith (164-1), JehChys Brown of Centralia (163-6), and Bennett Williams of Princeton (160-4) are in the top four. Chase Crawford moved from twelfth to fifth with a 158-2 throw on his final attempt.

High Jump – 11 athletes cleared 6-2 to reach the finals of the High Jump. Frederick Hassan of Kaneland, Nicholas DeLoach of Cahokia, Drew Rogers of Paris, and Matt Pluff of Freeburg are some of the notable qualifiers.

Pole Vault – 15 athletes qualified for Saturday’s finals in the Pole Vault. Kyle Hensley of Mt. Zion and Paul Migas of Lakes led 14 qualifiers clearing 13-3.50. The remaining qualifier, Brayden Combs of Geneseo, cleared 12-11.50.

Long Jump – Jayden Jones of Macomb leads after Friday’s preliminary round with a best of 21-10.25. Jacob Morrison of Mt. Vernon (21-9.50 and Exavier Williams of Herrin (21-6.25) round out the top three athletes.

Triple Jump – Nicholas DeLoach leads by almost two feet after the preliminary round. DeLoach fouled on his first two attempts, then jumped a clutch 45-3.75 on his third attempt to take the lead. Jayson Simmons of Hillcrest jumped 43-5.25 also after two fouls and currently stands in second.