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The new look Illinois Top Times (formerly Illinois Prep Top Times) will have new handlers. Give credit to Dan Andrews, Roland Brent, and Randy Anderson and their willingness to take on such an enormous event. The trio hail from central Illinois Bloomington community and they know how things tick around there. So, they should keep the baton passage a smooth one.
Let’s take a look at several scenarios that will take place inside Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center:
Boys-
-It will get started in the sprints
The 60m will be a new event on the event log replacing the 55m. When Illinois Wesleyan University officials authorized the renovation of the Shirk Center, they resurfaced the track and added the 60m markings to coincide with the college distance. The new meet tenants thought it would be a good idea to invest in that thought as well.
The 60m field is set nicely even without 55m leader Fred Mosby (Winnebago). Look for Nick Rude (Sr., Sterling Newman Catholic), Corey Pryor (Chicago Leo), Devin Johnson (Sr., Erie-Prophetstown), and Brent Albertson (Sr., Flanagan) to contest one of the fastest Class A finals in a long time.
The 200m should be as thrilling with Albertson and Joe Morrow (Sr., Chicago Hales Franciscan) leading ranked 1-2 in the state classification. It will be the first indoor meeting between the two speedsters. There will be a several other faces to watch as well. Rude will be back at it along with Johnson. We could possibly see a few guys dip under 23.00. Albertson ran 22.78 to place third at Gene Armer Invite last week- so he is primed and ready.
List leader Kyle Blievernicht (Jr., Teutopolis) is in the field as is A#3 Logan Ross (White Hall North Greene). But it’s Blievernicht who comes with the mark under 53.00. How much can he improve on the 52.53 that he put up at Charleston EIU last weekend? Keep an eye on freshman Nicholas Meunier (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley). He is the younger brother of former distance star Sydni Meunier, who now runs for Notre Dame. Sydni had tremendous range and speed for a middle-distance/distance runner. Now, it appears that her brother has inherited the same speed genes.
When it comes to hurdles, senior Marlon Britton is the man. He is also a key component in the Chicago Leo team champion run. He and rival Joe Morrow will take their fight to the mondo surface of the Shirk Center. Britton has run an equal amount of 55 and 60 hurdle races, so the consistency is there. He ranks US#17 in the shorter version at 7.47. His 8.36 time is the sixth best mark in the entire state.
-How will the distance events shape up without Nykaza?
The 3200m record of 9:27.7 held by Steve Schroeder (Monticello) would have been obliterated by Grant Nykaza (Sr., Beecher) had he not opted to go the Florida State University Relays this weekend to open his outdoor campaign. Nykaza clocked 9:14.37 at the Downers Grove South Mustang Relays as an individual participant in the 4x800m relay. He will be attending FSU in the fall as a student-athlete. Illinois State University bound Jesse Hahne of Danville Schlarman will be the top choice here. So far on the season he has clocked 9:36.79. He should have an easy time with the field unless someone steps up. Ethan Duclos (Jr., Red Bud) is a relatively unknown lad who has an opportunity to step big time and make himself a name. He ran his personal best 9:54.99 at the Gene Armer Invite.
The 1600m field will deeper and the one to watch with Hahne and standout Nick Hess (Jr., Champaign St. Thomas More) ready to duel. Hess has raced a light schedule this season. So, please don’t be deceived by his 4:32 clocking. He ran 4:26 as a sophomore in ’12.
The state’s top 800m runner thus far on the season is Indiana State University signee Blake Hale of Robinson. Blake is a confident young man with a smooth stride. He style will be to take the lead right away and dare anyone to challenge him. In three contests this season, he is undefeated.
-Landon will be the man to watch in the field
The fandom will get a treat with Kyle Landon (Sr., Chester) in the house. He will finish the indoor season as the nation’s top high jump mark. But it is assumed that he would also like to tackle Zach Riley’s (Herrin) meet record 6-10. Landon is showing amazing consistency with jumps of 7-0 and 6-10 in two different meets. T.J. Henry (Sr., Taylorville Rockridge) is Landon’s nearest competitor at 6-4.
The state of Illinois is beginning to welcome in the transition of new blood. Adam Coulon (Fr., Downs Tri-Valley) is quickly making himself a household name. Coulon actually already is a name down in the central Illinois area after crushing the middle-school competition. He has broken national and world record age group marks up to age 14 including a personal best 15-6 last weekend at Gene Armer. Coulon is not your typical skinny freshman. He is about 5-9 or 5-10 and built like a safety of football. He definitely has some serious strength training under his belt. There will be another fellow 15-foot vaulter in the field. Jack Denby (Jr., Carlinville) will compete against Coulon for the first time and will not be intimidated by his credentials and stature. Denby has an impressive competition resume as well. He placed second at the prestigious U of Kentucky Invite and won the recent Charleston EIU Invite. It should be a fun 1-2 affair Friday evening at the Shirk.
Ryan Pearce (Sr., Villa Grove) is the heavy favorite in the shot put. His main goal will be to defend his Top Times crown and go for a personal best. He has launched the SP 55-7.5 in very limited action this season.
Mr. Landon will add the long jump to his event long. He leads all competitors with a 21-7 effort. His attempt to become a double champion will not be as easy as the high jump with the likes of Michael Randall (Jr., Knoxville), Corey Kersey (So., Neoga), Devin Johnson, and Kyle Kleeman (Sr., Carlinville) in the field. They all are within seven inches of Landon. Landon actually beat Kersey last week at Charleston by .25 inches. It is certain that both athletes will have ready Friday evening.
-The relays are always a draw for the fans
Champaign (St. Thomas More) is the top 4x800m relay team in the classification and the eight ranked team overall in the state. The Sabers are shoe-ins to win this title, but they will need help if they plan on going after the meet record of 8:00.15. Their closest competitor is near 20-seconds in back of them on paper.
The 4x2r seasonal best leader Lawrenceville will not be competing in the championship. However, Chicago Leo will be there as will fellow Chicago Catholic league foe Hales Franciscan. In last weekend’s CCL meet, Leo finished second but beat Hales Franciscan 1:34.36-1:35.38. Also, Sterling Newman Catholic (1:35.64), Aledo Mercer County (1:35.99), Eureka (1:36.3), and Tuscola (1:36.4) are teams that cannot be slept on.
The last event on the track is the 4x4r and it is always exciting to celebrate the conclusion of a long day with a show stopping event such as the 4x4r. Pre-season favorite Aurora Christian has opted to wait until the outdoor season to strut their stuff. Eureka will now come in as the top seed at 3:36.05 and Mackinaw Deer Creek is the second choice. The Hornets beat Deer Creek just a few days ago at the Silver Streak Last Chance meet.
Girls-
-Field events will lead off the girl’s championship
The sample size is too small to make a 2013 analysis for the state’s top overall high jumper Kandie Bloch (Sr., Argenta-Orena), who was US#6 last season at 5-10. Bloch has only had one competition since the end of her glorious basketball career. That will change now with track and field being the bread and butter sport. Bloch has signed on to the University of Illinois-Champaign. Now, it’s time to improve from the 5-6 from two weeks ago at Charleston EIU Invite. A solid field awaits the defending champion Bloch in Peyton Wade (Jr., Aurora Christian), Karissa Roman (So., Weathersfield), Rachel Rhodes (Williamsville), Hope Tewes (Fr., Springfield Lutheran), and Tessa Holland (So., Fieldcrest). Wade and Roman have Illinois’ top mark at 5-8.
The classification leader Megan Lauzon (Sr., Rushville-Industry) will not be competing so all eyes will be on Freya Block (Sr., Kewanee). Block produced a season best 38-9 at the Silver Streak Last Chance meet. She improved by over four feet from her previous meet. Now, with a little more work she could hit the 40-foot mark.
Remember these names for the pole vault: Taylor Knauf (Sr., Aurora Christian), Morgan Zacharias (Reed –Custer), Zoe Gossmeyer (So., Tremont), Morgan Mahnesmith (Kewanee Weathersfield) and Hannah Swift (So., Clinton). Knauf drops in from 2A where she leads the indoor best class mark of 12-0. Zacharias is supposed to be the heir apparent to Alyssa Applebee’s (Seneca) crown. Zacharias isn’t too far behind at 11-9.
Amelia Glueck (Jr., Tremont) is not the top seed in the long jump, Courtney Croy (Jr., Neoga) is. But she is going to get extreme pressure from the defending state champion. Veteran jumper Chelsea Miller (Sr., Sesser-Valier) will be there as well.
Sophie Fairman (Sr., Staunton) will be the top choice in the triple jump but count on Paige Rus (Sr., Erie-Phophetsville), Graci Bastert (Jr., Carthage Illini West), and Mollie Bowman (Jr., Sullivan) to challenge.
-Distance running will cut its teeth at The Shirk
Brittney Burmester (Jr., Red Bud) leads all entrants at 11:39.03 and her teammate Deanna Deterding (So.) is second. The field is lean on top marks but this is the championship and a significant jump in effort will be expected from the field. Add in Lea Viano (Jr., Carlinville) for a little fair competition.
Burmester will lead a deeper 1600m field that will certainly run faster than the classification best 5:27.79. Julie James (Sr., El Paso-Gridley), Ivy Handley (Sr., Decatur St. Teresa), and Rachel Devereux (Jr., Decatur St. Teresa) will burn the track up. Handley is the cross country champ and James a former 800m ace. Enough said on how fast Friday night’s 1600 will be.
Maddison Zimmer (Sr., Delavan) may not have to improve much on her 2:20.66 season best mark to win. Julie James comes in at 2:24.90 but ran 2:16 two seasons ago, but injuries have stifled potentially big returns. Cassie Mundekis (So., Manito Midwest Central) is an upcoming name that fans should be aware of. She could very well win this thing if her all-time personal best of 2:14.99 means anything. Stay tuned!
-Speed stuff is solid
Amanda McClain (So., Sullivan) leads all entrants with a 59.54 mark. Miranda Marry (Jr., Fisher), Taylor Adcock (Sr., Moweaqua Central A&M), Sophie Fairman, Rayanne Wright (Sr., Clifton Central), and Jessica Jump (Sr., Edwardsville Metro East Lutheran) are veteran names that will push for the long sprint crown.
Maybe we should have said that Jessica Jump is a triple-crown threat because she is the top seed in the 60m and 200m. It will be hard for anyone to overthrow in the 200m, but if there is anyone that can do it Danielle Crawley (Jr., Sherrard) would be the one. She is the defending champion in the defunct 55m. Amelia Glueck is a long jump specialist but she can also sprint. She should be among the top three or four finishers.
Moweaqua Central A&M duo Taylor Adcock and Kaitlin Corzine (Sr.) should rule the roost. But first a pesky freshman named Jenny Kimbro from Catlin stands in the way. Adcock is the state leader and she should be ok in her march to another championship.
-Decatur St. Teresa will spotlight the relays
Decatur St. Teresa is the heavy favorite in the 4x800r and the only team under 10:00 at 9:59.94. They have star athletes on the roster in Ivy Handley and Rachel Devereux. It’s going to be a battle for second place. Pleasant Plains, Eureka, and the rest will have to duke it out.
The 4x2r will have Clinton as the class leader at 1:48.90. But watch out for perennial power South Holland Seton Academy to emerge. They Lady Sting love the Top Times meet to jump start their outdoor season. Erie and Illini West will be cogs here too.
Illini West leads all teams in the 4x4r with a solid mark of 4:17.08. Pleasant Plains, Central A&M, St. Joe Ogden, and Clinton are all bunched together.