Curtis Gordon is the king of vault this season
The field events as a whole is should be enticing. The pole vault will be a deep event with junior Curtis Gordon of Vandalia leading the way at 15-7. Gordon is undefeated and rated #3 in the state and with his speed (qualified in 110HH) makes him the big favorite to win his first outdoor state title. Gordon has the confidence of course from winning the unofficial indoor crown. He will need it with hungry hounds like Ethan Mizer (Sr., St. Joe Ogden) and former child prodigy Adam Coulon (Sr., Downs Tri-Valley) lurking around. They both have cleared 15-feet this season. It may take 16-feet to win it all.
The Illinois Top Times long jump champion Kevin King (Sr., Kankakee McNamara) may very well be the state champion on Saturday, but he is going to have to earn it after losing to an unknown Jonathan Muller (So., Paxton-Buckley-Loda) at his home cooked sectional. Muller defeated King 22-11.25- 22-8.75. Just behind King was his teammate and fellow senior John Ward who landed on 22-0. Additionally, the speedy footballer Jalen Bester (Jr., Belleville Althoff) is a key figure that better not get slept on.
Defending high jump state champion Noah Adams (Sr.,Meridian) is back and ready to out leap anyone who to threatens his throne. Adams leads the field at 6-7. Tyler Owen (Sr., Georgetown-Ridge Farm) beat Adams at Top Times with a monster leap of 6-11. He did attempt 7-1 in that affair showing where his head is mentally. Hopefully both of the athletes will be in peak position on Saturday.
Kyler Yodts (Sr., Rock Island Alleman) has thrown the shot put over 60-feet on three separate occasions, His latest effort- 60'3.50" comes in as the top mark from sectionals. Yodts is 5-feet better than the nearest competitor Nick Gibson (Jr., Flanagan). On the flip side deal it is John Barnes (Sr., St. Bede) leading the way in the discus. Barnes is ranked #3 in the state with a freshly minted 184-3. Barnes is far and away better than anyone going into Thursday's prelims. Look for him to gun for 190-feet and really put a stamp on the championship medal.
After finishing off his triple jump season with a fourth place finish at Top Times, Dazhee Horton (Jr., Momence) is now leading all entrants into the state meet with a personal best 44-5.75. But is Logan Webb (Sr., Illini Bluffs) stepping up late at 43-10 ahead of guys such as Anthony Hand (Sr., Illini Bluffs) and Ethan Meyer (Sr., Vandalia).