2018 Boys State Championship Snap Recap

One of the pleasant surprises of the state meet was Josh English (#3122) of Blue Island Eisenhower

3A-

Top three teams:

1) Naperville (Neuqua Valley) 52
2) Homewood-Flossmoor 48
3) Plainfield North 43

-Neuqua Valley fought a great battle on two fronts. The all-purpose Wildcats clawed and scratched out points all day long in a successful battle against Milesplit Illinois powers #1 Homewood-Flossmoor and #3 Plainfield North. It started with points in the field, relays, distance, hurdles, and sprints that got the job done for Naperville's chosen team. The Vikings held off the Marcellus Moore led Tigers for the runner-up trophy. The sensational sophomore did his best to assist his teammates with four wins (4x1, 4x2, 100, 200).

The defending high jump champion Camron Donatlan (Sr., West Aurora) decided as soon as basketball season was over that he was adding the long jump to his discipline. Donatlan was true with a winning taste in his mouth as he soared US#6 24-4.25 (+1.8). 

Bloomington senior Zach Bradford won the pole vault once more in another all-time state meet record 17-6. His previous mark was 17-4.

Junior Jordan Johnson of Quincy proved that he is the state's top discus thrower when won with a US #3 196-9, over 11-feet better than the second place competitor. 

John Meyer's quest for 70-feet in the shot put did not materialize. However, the U of Michigan bound senior from Lockport did break the IHSA record with a 68-8 effort that rolled over from Friday's prelim.

It was a great day for Sandburg's Dylan Jacobs. The senior distance ace won two events for himself and his school. The first was the 4x800 in which the Eagles regained their title last won in 2016. The winning time was 7:45.12- US #12 and Jacobs split 1:51.6 in almost celebratory fashion on the homestretch. That celebratory action aided Jacobs to a win in the 1600m. Junior Andrew O'Keefe of Granite City decided to attempt a jailbreak from a small pack on the bell lap. The gap opened so wide that the crowd seemed stunned, but Jacobs chased after O'Keefe and never gave up. A few meters before the finish line O'Keefe the apparent winner threw his hands up and was edged by Jacobs 4:11.60-4:11.68.

Senior Danny Kilrea of Lyons Twp got his long-awaited state title on the track. The blistering 4:26 opening half of the 3200m pretty much rdoasted a star-studded field. Junior Zach Kinne of Neuqua Valley tried to take advantage of an opening with several laps to go. It appeared with less than one lap to go, his lead surely became a mirage. Kilrea began to reel him in and finally overtook Kinne just a few seconds from the finish line to clock 9:02.77.

Josh English of Blue Island Eisenhower came in and left just as fast as he put away the competition in the 800. The soon to be North Central College student-athlete led most of the way including the first lap around 55-seconds. Sensing state leader Charlie Kern of York's late-race threats, English put down the hammer in which Kern or anyone could not overtake. The final verdict was a new state-leading 1:51.94.

Marcellus Moore was perhaps the story of the day among many. The youngster started his journey with his teammates in the 4x100 roasting the field on anchor like a Hollywood script. It was a crowd approval 41.29 3A state meet record! Next was the 100m and all eyes were on lane 5. How would Moore respond? No problem as he blazed the star-studded field in an all-time best 10.31 (+0.2). It was like a movie concert the cheers rang out. The last two events: 4x200 (1:26.17-IL#1) and 21.30 (-1.3) was pretty academic.


The 2A hurdles was a crash course lesson in getting to the finish successfully

2A- 

1) Aurora (Marmion Academy) 44
2) Mahomet-Seymour 40
3) Normal (University) 36

-Only one of the final power rankings proved true in the end for the trophy winners. To be fair, though, several of the top teams derailed themselves in the preliminary section. Top-ranked Rich Central finished 4th and did not have a 4x1 relay. They were the top seed by nearly a half-second, but unfortunately, a dropped baton doomed the Olympians.

Marmion Academy senior Seth Groom won two field events: Triple & Long Jumps. The rather impressive 48-3.5 (-1.7) is an Illinois state best.

Sophomore Hunter Hendershot of Mahomet-Seymour excelled on finals day in the shot put with a six-foot increase to stun the favorite Austin Klokkenga of Dunlap with a personal best 60-3.25

Normal University split up its distance crew to achieve maximum effort. The Pioneers gambled by not running its top two runners Matt Zacharias and Jared Schuckman and still won in 7:52.17. Schuckman later swept the 800 (1:53.87) and 1600 (4:19.97). 

Defending 400m champion senior VanHarvey Vance of Rich Central placed 2nd in 48.80 and later came back to win the 200 in 21.98.

Senior Solomon Wilson-Smith of Tinley Park knew that a state title was the only way to prove that his efforts over the past several years were for real. It was easy work for the SIU bound Wilson-Smith who smashed the field in a wind-legal 13.98. 

New Lenox (Providence Catholic) of New Lenox won the final event of the day, the 4x400 in 3:19.28. It is the top time in the state of Illinois. 

The pride of Chicago Heights this time was Marian Catholic. The south suburban private school won the 4x1 and 4x2 with a stinging fury. The first was in 42.27 in chasing down Mascoutah. The second was more comfortable as anchor Josh Smith held on for the win.


Lena-Winslow was a factor in several relays on Saturday

Class A- 

1) Colfax (Ridgeview) 50
2) Rockford-Christian 44
3) Rushville-Industry 37

-Thursday's mishaps made top rated Ridgeview concentrate harder in the finals on Saturday. Juniors Mason Barr and Tate Walcott got work early and often in grabbing their first title.

Wolcott increased his long jump lead over the favored Connor Artman of Illini West with a US#8 24-0.25 on Saturday. 

Senior Hunter Woodard of Tuscola eclipsed the 60-foot mark on Saturday with a 60-4.50 winner.

It was a great senior year for senior Jack McNabola of Chicago Francis Parker. He won the 3200m in 9:24.68. McNabola with a tremendous last lap that was nearly 58 seconds, outlasted senior Logan Hall of Arthur. Hall return to beat McNabola and future U of Illinois teammate Wyatt McIntyre of Athens 4:22.45.

Senior AJ Christensen of Polo (Forreston Coop) won both hurdles. The short version was 14.37 and the longer in 37.97. Christensen was already had state's second-fastest 300H in 37.62.

Senior Easton Bianchi of Sterling Newman Catholic came alive late in the season to prove he was the best sprinter in his classification and overall in the state. The 10.60 (+0.5) was the third fastest time of the merge. It was a piece of cake for Bianchi in the 200 as he glided home in 21.73.

Perhaps overlooked was the amazing feat by 4x800 champion Morrison. On the surface, 8:00.59 does not sound super impressive by Illinois championship standards. But consider this group is a bunch of sophomores! Hopefully, the future will be bright.

Former sophomore star now junior Riley Wells of Rockford Christian wins his second 800m title by holding off Illini West's Jacob Bryan 1:53.72-1:54.11.