Boys-
60m prelims: The finals should be a tasty treat for fans of speed. Adam Nelson (Sr., Triad), Jeremiah Collins (Sr., Chicago Collins),and Ahmari Knight (Sr., Crete-Monee) will lead the charge. Nelson ranks #3 in the state at 6.91. He will be after top spot held by the magnificent Josh Eiker (Sr., Galesburg) who has toasted the track in 6.88.
400m: IL #9 Steve Strange (Sr., Oswego) will be out to improve his 50.49 season best. Strange placed second at the Centennial Invitational during his first trip to the Armory several weeks ago.
4x200 relay: The track event of the day may be here if you like rankings. Section 5 will feature the top unit in the state Crete-Monee who clocked 1:31.54. The Warriors will be opposed by IL #11 :Morgan Park and TF North who listed themselves at 1:31.90. Regardless of the seed times everyone must get the stick around the track clean. As we all know running this relay can be hazardous to ones health.
Section 5 of 5 Finals
1 Jacksonville 1:34.00
2 Urban Prep Englewood 1:33.72
3 Niles North 1:33.50
4 Morgan Park 1:32.70
5 Crete-Monee 1:31.54
6 TF North 1:31.90
200m: Jeremiah Davis is the favorite simply because he has been consistent in performing well under pressure. It also doesn't hurt to have the 9th fastest time in the state at 22.44. Adam Nelson and Greg Howell (Sr., Morgan Park) will be out to stop Davis.
Distance events will be a work in progress-
You will not see the best fields in the distance arena this year. But if you are a fan you may see several athletes emerge and fight for state championship podium material in the spring. It will start with the 800m with Collin Boone (Jr., Oswego), Jared Schuckman (So., Normal University), and Eduardo Lopez (Sr., Rantoul) are the tenants here ranging from 2:02-2:03... can Ben Flowers (Jr., Jerseyville) overpower the 1600m field? He has a all-time personal best of 4:21. Jack Franklin (Normal U High), Carl Way (Sr., Danville), and David Gayton (Jr., Oswego) will challenge.
High Jump: Noah Adams (Sr., Meridian) is the top returner from 2015 when he jumped 6-10. However, he has been a little quiet thus far with only a 6-4 clearance on his resume. He will be pumped up to know that Darryl Sullivan (Sr., Marion) has cleared a US #1 7-3 on the season. Don't expect Adams to reach that height, but instead he could get the crowd hyped with steady improvements throughout the competition. Don't you dare sleep on IL #5 Avery Taylor (Sr., TF North) and his solid 6-6. He will give Adams everything he wants.
The best of the rest will start will with the pole vault and Matthew Knipfer (Sr., St. Joe-Ogden). Knipfer has a personal best of 15-4 from indoors in 2015. He may be ready to touch that height on Saturday; no 22-2 long jumper Adam Nelson entered? No problem. Xavier Taylor (Sr., Morgan Park) is in line to improve on his 22-0.5 personal best he achieved at the Proviso West Invite last month.... Howell is top performer in the triple jump two feet better than his nearest competitor with a 45-5 personal best this season... lastly is defending shot put champion Sam Sikon (Jr., Carbondale) who got noticed real quick with his then personal and state indoor best 60-feet. Sikon has not missed a beat with a US #12 60-6.75 and IL #1. Sikon is a quiet rage competitor and ready to challenge the long standing meet record that has stood since 1982 by Gary Kostrubala (Chicago Marist). The 60-3.75 may be history.
