2014 Class A Boys Pre-Season Distance Preview


Jon Davis and Nick Hess will be the big fish in the Class A pond this spring.
 

Boys 3200-

Overall Remarks: Only four of the top ten finishers return this year. This means that this event may lack the star effect that the graduated Grant Nykaza had.  Jon Davis and Nick Hess will hopefully create a friendly rivalry here like they did on the grass.  Everyone will have to fall in line and compete at their own levels this spring.

2013 State Champion: Grant Nykaza (Beecher) 9:10.92
Key individual profiles:
Nick Hess (Sr.), Champaign (St. Thomas More) 9:26.03 (2nd overall)
When it comes to 1A distance running preseason, this athlete was the favorite then, and although Hess was upset at state, making him beatable for sure, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be the favorite in this event, unless possibly if Jon Davis decides to do this event as well.

Connor Ehnle (Sr., Tremont) 9:31.03 (4th overall)
A top 10 cross country finisher, despite injury trouble, is known to put in the offseason work. Ehnle will not let Hess take this individual title without a fight!

Eric Ponder (Jr., Tuscola) 9:34.07 (9th overall)
Don’t underestimate this 5th place finisher from cross country.

Daniel Plunkett (Sr., Pleasant Plains) 9:32.96 (7th overall)
Although he was a little more humble pacing his team this cross country season, Plunkett stands as the 3rd best returning finalist this season. Clearly this event is his specialty, so keep an eye out!

Caleb Imig (Sr., Tremont) 9:50.67 (14th overall)
Imig paced nicely with his teammate Connor Ehnle. Expect a top five finish from him.

Alex Pettis (Sr.), Henry (H.-Senachwine) [Coop] 10:00.62 (24th overall)
Pettis finished 8th overall at 1A state for cross country with a time of 15:20. Clearly he has gotten better as an overall distance runner and has what it takes to be among the elite.

Andrew Sharp (Sr., Altamont) 9:48.70 (12th overall)
This kid stepped last fall and earned all-state cross country honors. Watch for him to make an excellent transition to the track.

T.J. Pitcock (Sr., Byron) 9:48.71 (13th overall)
Pitcock ran strong for a good long part of his cross country season as the Oregon Sectional champion, but unfortunately had a bit of a derailment at state. Look for a top ten placement from him at season's end.

Ben Strobel (Jr., Vandalia) 9:51.77 (17th overall)
As the last individual to qualify for state at the tough Decatur Sectional, you know Strobel is going to be good!

Rolando Aguilar (So.), Kewanee (H.S.) 9:51.02 (15th overall)
Based on his solid track numbers last year as the 15th place finisher, Aguilar has the talent to go in the top ten in this event. No cross country times to update us on where he stands since then.

Jon Davis (So., Oakwood Fithian)
Ahh ha! It would be real foolish to omit the reigning state cross country champion in this event despite not having a documented 3200m time on record.  Even if Davis never announces any desire to touch the track for eight laps he has to be considered a favorite in this event. The guess is he would be a 9:10-15 type of runner at season’s end.

Also watch for: Cory Landon (So., Carlinville), Kenny Heaton (Sr., Sparta), Madison Velchek (Decatur St. Teresa), Peter Keller (Jr., Effingham St. Anthony).
 

Rank Time Athlete Name Team C/O Date Meet
1. 9:26.03 Nick Hess St. Thomas More High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
2. 9:31.03 Connor Ehnle Tremont High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
3. 9:32.96 Daniel Plunkett Pleasant Plains High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
4. 9:34.07 Eric Ponder Tuscola High School 2015 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
5. 9:48.70 Andrew Sharp Altamont High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
6. 9:48.71 Tj Pitcock Byron High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
7. 9:50.67 Caleb Imig Tremont High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
8. 9:51.02 Rolando Aguilar Kewanee High School 2016 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
9. 9:51.77 Ben Strobel Vandalia High School 2015 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
10. 9:55.73 Kenny Heaton Sparta High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
11. 9:57.29 Madison Velchek Decatur St. Teresa High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
12. 9:59.45 Marcus Skinner Shelbyville High School 2016 05/11/2013 Shelbyville Open
13. 9:59.60 Cory Landon Carlinville High School 2016 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
14. 10:00.47 Al Baldanado Hall High School 2015 05/17/2013 1A Bureau Valley Sectional (Boys)
15. 10:00.62 Alex Pettis Henry-Senachwine High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
16. 10:03.14 Braydon Crozier St. Joseph-Ogden High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
17. 10:04.03 Corbin Kakac Fairfield High School 2015 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
18. 10:05.73 Ross Mccormick Seneca High School 2016 05/04/2013 Carlin Nalley Invitational
19. 10:05.81 Nick Godsell Unity High School 2014 05/11/2013 Shelbyville Open
20. 10:08.44 Jacob Meyer University High School 2016 04/26/2013 Chicago Christian Invitational


Boys 800-

Overall Remarks: This race looks to be the highlight of the distance events, with eight of the top ten all back! Expect possibly the whole top ten to go under two minutes!

2013 State Champion: Michael Brown (Sr., Carmi-White County) 1:55.47

Michael Brown
As the defending champion, Brown is naturally the favorite in this event! But he is not without a fair amount of competition close behind so he absolutely has to be on his A game again this year.

Wal Khat (Sr., Mooseheart ) 1:56.79 (2nd overall)
Mr. Kat always seems to run well at the end of the season and returns not only as the runner up in this event but also with some solid cross country prowess, too, as the Lisle sectional champion and as the fourth place runner at state. If anyone’s going to pull off the upset, it’s him!

Sam Powers (Sr., Champaign (St. Thomas More) 2:02.05 (prelims)
There are a few pundits wondering why Powers is ranked here for someone who did not run too crisp of a state prelims race.  However, he wasable to log 1:56.95 at the Midwest Distance Festival putting him right about here in potential placement, provided that he recovers from an ankle injury that shut him out of cross country sectionals.

George Gunter (Sr., Urbana (University) 1:58.71 (4th overall)
Gunter elevated himself from 2:01 to 1:58 that included three sub-2:00 clockings.

Michael Cook (Sr., Kewanee (Wethersfield) [Coop] 1:59.26 (5th overall)
As the third place 1A state cross country finisher who nearly outkicked Hess and was a surprise to a lot of individual predictions that season, it will be interesting to see if Cook surprises some more in this event.

Nathan Costello (Sr., Braidwood Reed-Custer) 1:59.37 (6th overall)
Here is a top 800m veteran that we will see in the mix again this year.
 
Andy Arenz (Sr., Auburn) 1:59.59 (7th overall)
Watch for Arenz in the chase pack!

Tye Sutherland (Sr., Toledo (Cumberland) 1:59.73 (8th overall)
So our eighth place man is back as well as our individual champion, runner up, AND 2-7? Oh boy!

Cade Martens (Sr., Heyworth) 2:01.61 (10th overall)
Martens ran a 1:59.40 to qualify for the finals, but lost a little steam doubling this event up at state with the 1600. Watch for him to at least get to the finals if placing high in the finals is biting a little more than he can chew.

Mitch Owens (So., Williamsville) 2:01.88 (prelims)
A quality middle-distance runner who should be able to break into the sub-2:00 club with ease.

Also watch for: Drennian Martin (Sr., Shelbyville), Max Bucksbaum (Jr., Chicago Latin), Max Volchenboum (Sr., Chicago U-High), Mitch Sand (Sr., Port Byron), Wyatt Avenatti (Sr., Georgetown-Ridge Farm).
 

 
Rank Time Athlete Name Team C/O Date Meet
1. 1:55.47 Michael Brown Carmi-White County High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
2. 1:56.79 Wal Knat Mooseheart High School 2015 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
3. 1:56.95 Sam Powers St. Thomas More High School 2014 06/08/2013 Midwest Distance Festival
4. 1:57.32 Brock Snarski Meridian High School 2014 04/30/2013 Sullivan Redskin invitational
5. 1:57.39 David Ricks Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School 2014 06/08/2013 Midwest Distance Festival
6. 1:58.71 George Gunter University Laboratory High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
7. 1:59.41 Wyatt Avenatti Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School 2014 04/26/2013 Spartan Classic
8. 1:59.73 Tye Sutherland Cumberland Community High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
9. 1:59.86 Nick Hess St. Thomas More High School 2014 04/06/2013 Saber Invitational
10. 2:01.61 Cade Martens Heyworth High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
11. 2:02.70 Drennian Martin Shelbyville High School 2014 05/11/2013 Shelbyville Open
12. 2:03.00 Max Bucksbaum Latin High School 2015 04/26/2013 Ridgewood Invitational
13. 2:03.90 Andrew Gardewine St. Anthony High School 2015 04/30/2013 National Trail Conference
14. 2:04.21 Max Volchenboum University High School 2014 04/26/2013 Chicago Christian Invitational
15. 2:04.66 Jon Davis Oakwood High School 2016 03/28/2013 Tuscola 5-Team
16. 2:04.87 John Evans Tuscola High School 2014 04/22/2013 Tuscola Open
17. 2:05.08 Jacob Ludy El Paso-Gridley High School 2014 05/17/2013 1A Bureau Valley Sectional (Boys)
18. 2:05.15 Connor Ehnle Tremont High School 2014 04/30/2013 McLean County / Heart of Illinois Conference Meet
19. 2:05.87 Andrew Warnes Unity High School 2016 04/29/2013 Tuscola Fresh/Soph Invitational
20. 2:06.00 Eric Ponder Tuscola High School 2015 04/29/2013 Tuscola Fresh/Soph Invitational


Boys 1600-

Overall remarks: Six out of the top ten return in this event.  Last year only one runner broke 4:20 for the mile/1600, there is a chance that several middle-distance standouts could break into the 4:15-4:20 range.  All in all this could be a dangerous event.

2013 State Champion: Grant Nykaza (Beecher) 4:23.28
Jon Davis (So., Fithian (Oakwood) [Coop] 4:27.84 (2nd overall)
As not only the top returner, but the cross country state champion, it’s going to be interesting to see how the sophomore improves in this event—especially if doing this one fresh like last year—having a deadly combination of endurance and leg speed. We may have ourselves a new 1A record in seasons to come.

Michael Cook (Jr., Kewanee (Wethersfield) [Coop] 4:27.88 (3rd overall)
Remember that it was a real sprint out to the finish for Cook and Davis. As the 3rd overall cross country 1A cross country finisher, Davis is not the only one with endurance. And as the fifth overall 800 finisher last season, Davis is not the only one with leg speed. Watch for a real race again between these two.

Connor Ehnle (Sr., Tremont) 4:30.23 (6th overall)
Ehnle success at doubling this with the 3200 has been 100% proven. He ran a 4:26.26 so he is most certainly capable of running the time he needs to finish here.

Nick Hess (Sr., Champaign (St. Thomas More) 4:38.32 (11th overall)
Hess ran out of steam for this event also, unfortunately. But who can blame him doing the 4x8 and the 3200. But as it stands, he returns with a 4:27.45 preliminary performance and a 4:22.40 at the Mahomet Seymour invite running the event fresh. So he is more than capable of being a top two contender in this event this season.

Michael Brown (Sr.), Carmi (C.-White County) 4:41.74 (12th overall)
Brown ran a 4:25.95 at sectionals and 4:28.04 in the prelims, but unfortunately ran out of steam running his breakout 800 race to win in that event, which explains why his finals time wasn’t too hot. In terms of talent, and assuming he doesn’t get as faltered by repeating his 800 success, he should be in contention for third.

Cade Martens (Sr., Heyworth) 4:31.07 (7th overall)
Martens is a veteran who has competed in the state cross country and track meets numerous times. He’ll get the job done!

Wal Khat (Sr., Mooseheart) 4:32.44 (8th overall)
Even off of a hard 800 performance, expect Kat to score in this event again like he did last year.

Andrew Warnes (So., Tolono (Unity) 4:34.33 (prelims)
Unfortunately Warnes came short of qualifying for finals last year during his Freshman debut season. But as an all-state cross country runner this year, he is a proven star in the making and can be expected to find a way into the finals.

Daniel Plunkett (Sr., Pleasant Plains) 4:35.54 (10th overall)
Plunkett may not double up which may prove to be a good choice as the 3200m is an intense race. But you can count on him to qualify for the finals and score major points for his team.

T.J. Pitcock (Sr., Byron 4:35.69) (prelims)
Pitcock came short of a trip to finals, but it’s very likely he’ll make it this year.

Also watch for: Andrew Gardewine (Jr., Effingham St. Anthony), Andrew Sharp (Sr., Altamont), Corbin Kakac (Jr., Fairfield), Cory Landon (So., Carlinville), Peter Keller (Jr., Effingham St. Anthony).
 

Rank Time Athlete Name Team C/O Date Meet
1. 4:22.40 Nick Hess St. Thomas More High School 2014 05/11/2013 Mahomet-Seymour Boys Invitational
2. 4:24.50 Wal Knat Mooseheart High School 2015 05/04/2013 Mooseheart Relays
3. 4:30.23 Connor Ehnle Tremont High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
4. 4:31.07 Cade Martens Heyworth High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
5. 4:31.97c Jacob Meyer University High School 2016 06/08/2013 Midwest Distance Festival
6. 4:32.60 Jon Davis Oakwood High School 2016 04/26/2013 Spartan Classic
7. 4:34.80 Nick Godsell Unity High School 2014 04/26/2013 Spartan Classic
8. 4:35.07 Andrew Warnes Unity High School 2016 05/11/2013 Shelbyville Open
9. 4:35.54 Daniel Plunkett Pleasant Plains High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship
10. 4:35.56 Wyatt Avenatti Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School 2014 04/26/2013 Spartan Classic
11. 4:35.83 Cory Landon Carlinville High School 2016 04/27/2013 Jokisch-Grandone Invitational
12. 4:38.88 Andrew Sharp Altamont High School 2014 04/30/2013 National Trail Conference
13. 4:39.74 Alex Pettis Henry-Senachwine High School 2014 05/11/2013 Mahomet-Seymour Boys Invitational
14. 4:39.98 Eric Ponder Tuscola High School 2015 04/22/2013 Tuscola Open
15. 4:40.00 Jacob Silverman Latin High School 2015 04/26/2013 Ridgewood Invitational
16. 4:40.45 Brock Snarski Meridian High School 2014 04/05/2013 Arthur Invitational
17. 4:41.16 Sam Powers St. Thomas More High School 2014 04/12/2013 Monticello Boys Invitational
18. 4:41.49 Madison Velchek Decatur St. Teresa High School 2014 05/11/2013 Shelbyville Open
19. 4:41.72 Arch Robison University Laboratory High School 2014 04/26/2013 Spartan Classic
20. 4:41.74 Michael Brown Carmi-White County High School 2014 05/25/2013 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championship