The relays are the life blood of a track meet in that it involves teamwork, precision, and good timing. It also provides excitement and entertainment for the fans- particularly the 4x400 which has often times been called "the showstopper." This season in Class A all four relays should experience a new state champion crowned down on the Big Blue track in Charleston at Eastern Illinois University in late May.
4x800m relay preview by Alex Goodlad
Overall comments: Only four of the finalist teams return three or more people. This year looks pretty much wide open in terms of who could win it.
2013 State Champion: Champaign (St. Thomas More) 7:57.96
1. Elmwood [Coop] 8:12.18 (6th overall)
The surprise cross country 2013 1A IHSA champion team looks good to win this event as they return three of the same faces—Ben Adkins (Jr.), Ian Armbruster (Jr.), and Collin Reicheneker (Sr.)—and based on their cross country depth, they appear to have the needed fourth man. It may not be expected for this team to kick the season off with the best times, but expect the Trojans to run well when it counts!
2. Pleasant Plains 8:15.09 (8th overall)
As the best 4x8 team coming back with their whole roster, the 2013 Elmwood Sectional champions have another ring they seek. Their squad consists of Mitch Johnson (Sr.), Andre Montgomery (Sr.), David Plunkett (So.), and Tyler Johnson (So.). It will be a close call for who wins it between them and Elmwood.
3. Shelbyville 8:08.57 (3rd overall)
While the rams finished third overall last year, it is hard to know what exactly they’re capable of with only Drennian Martin (Sr.) and Kenton Wilson (Jr.) coming back. But then again, if they only had 2 of 7 coming back and finished only one place less in cross country, they could definitely reload their 4x8 roster for a potential first place finish.
4. Oregon 8:09.24 (4th overall)
The Hawks seem to always have their act together in track, and their 4x8 should be no different. They return Austin Burkhart (Sr.), Adam Weller (Jr.), and Trevor Otten (So.) from last year’s roster.
5. St. Joeseph (Ogden) 8:09.68 (5th overall)
While the Spartans return only Nick Poff (Jr.) and Clayton Nigg (Sr.), they had great depth in their 8th place finishing cross country team and will undoubtedly show up for another great run in the 2014 finals.
6. Sparta 8:20.35 (10th overall)
They return three of last year’s roster: Zach Hall (Jr.), Kyle Hagne (So.), and Dylan Huether (Jr.). This is another team to watch if they can find a fourth man.
7. Lisle (Sr.) 8:22.52 (11th overall)
Like Sparta, the Lions are another final qualifying group looking to bump down from the back of the race to the scoring mix this year. They return Jeff Chan (Sr.), Alex Lange (So.), and Ben Buchelt (Sr.).
8. Liberty [Coop] 8:28.91 (12th overall)
This group ran an 8:25.35 to qualify for finals but didn’t quite replicate that in finals. But the good news for the Eagles is that they have three returning—Connor Wolf (Sr.), Brett Genenbacher (Sr.), Evan Schreacke (Sr.)—and a nice cross country pack team last season that was just outside of state qualification at the tough Elmwood sectional making fourth-man issues no problem.
9. Manilus (Bureau Valley) 8:36.01 (prelims)
The Storm unfortunately came short of making finals last year, but they return with their whole senior squad of Ryan Taylor (Sr.), Andrew Smith (Sr.), Colton Peterson (Sr.), and Kane Eastwood (Sr.) who are doubtless itching to end their careers with a bang by making it to the finals.
10. Sterling (Newman Catholic) 8:25.49 (prelims)
The Comets unfortunately got plagued by health trouble that derailed their state showing in cross country. And last year in track was also rough in that they were .15 seconds short of making finals. But fortunately they return Bryson Reyes (Jr.), Clay Jungerman (So.), and Micah Trancoso (Sr.) who have all made noise before and more than capable of doing so again this year.
Also watch for: Byron, Champaign (St. Thomas More), Dwight [Coop], Robinson
4x100m Relay-
2013 State Champion: Sterling (Newman Central Catholic) 42.38
Key returning teams: Eureka, Flanagan, Piasa, Madison, Chicago (Leo).
Outlook: So who is going to be this year for the short sprint relay kings? Last year’s champion Sterling Newman graduated three of four legs including the stealth Nick Rude. They don’t appear to be a factor among the classification’s elite unless their yearlings were waiting in the wings. Eureka, who are known more for their distance running prowess, has to be dub the quartet to beat. The Hornets ran a solid 43.10 to earn second place at state. Flanagan loses Brent Albertson but returns three legs. Madison ran 43.60 but had nothing to show for their prowess at the end of the season due to an exchange zone violation.
4x200m Relay-
2013 State Champion: Sterling (Newman Central Catholic) 1:29.60
Key returning teams: Eureka, Chicago (Hales Franciscan), Aurora (Christian), Piasa (Southwestern), Knoxville, Madison.
Outlook: This event appears to be the strongest depth-wise as five state finalist teams return at least three legs. Eureka was state runner-up last spring and should be in the driver’s seat with a ton of experience. They hold the top returning time of 1:30.34 to prove it. But there is a team that should have been in the final if not for faulty stick play. That team would be Madison from the far southern portion of the state. The Trojans busted a 1:30.82 at sectionals behind the leadership of junior Andre McGill. They could be in for the state championship running this season. It does pay off competing against the likes of E. St. Louis, Cahokia, Belleville West and East, and the other stellar St. Louis metro area schools. Also keep an eye on Hales Franciscan. The Spartans should be real good despite the graduation loss of sprint leader Joe Morrow.
4x400m Relay-
2013 State Champion: Oregon 3:23.67
Key returning teams: Aurora (Christian), Onieda (ROWVA), Manlius (Bureau Valley), Eureka, Madison.
Outlook: Last year six of the seven fastest times came in the state final. The best overall team may be a thing of maturation as a wrecking ball hit this event hard. The defending champion Oregon graduated strong legs Tommy McCormick and Garrett Newman. They would need to replace those two if they have dreams of getting back on the trophy stand. Aurora Christian could be the favorite team as three legs return from a fifth place finish at state. Bureau Valley and Eureka are the other two finalists with a majority of their strong suit returning. Madison could be a dark horse team. The Trojans ran 3:30 last year.