Class 2A Boys State Championship Preview: Say Cahokia 4-Times

Cahokia will look to be the bosses this weekend in Charleston (Colin Boyle photo)

If it wasn’t for Country Club (Hillcrest) we all would be talking about a six-peat for the juggernaut Cahokia program and its present super dynasty.  Instead they will be going for a four-peat and adding to an already impressive legacy led by Coach Leroy Millsap and company.

Let’s a look at the action in Friday’s preliminary round:

Sprints-

100m: Dion Hooker (Jr., Sycamore) has a tough year due to being banged up from the football season as one option. But over the past few weeks Hooker has gained his strength and vigor to lead all competitors coming into the prelims a solid 10.75 from the Burlington Central Sectional. Now the quest will be to stave off hungry foes like Demoria Harris (Jr., Chicago Dunbar), Adam Nelson (So., Troy Triad), and the indoor king Josh Eiker (So., Galesburg).
Others to watch: Ty Seager (So., West Chicago Wheaton Academy), Javon Montgomery (Sr., Plano), Franklin Hunt (So., Olympia Fields Rich Central).

400m: The top runner JD Lafayette (Sr., Normal University) has opted out to help his team in the 4x800 relay and himself in the open 800m. The road to the top of the podium will now go through IL#9 Tayvonne Landry (Sr., Carbondale) and his 49.03. DeVante Clark (Sr., Jacksonville) has tasted success in the past on the strength of former relay state championships. He will get an opportunity to shine on his own as star Reggie Bratton has graduated.  Clark comes with a 49.33 season best. Michael Giovannelli (Sr., Chatham-Glenwood) blazed 48.9 unnoticed during the regular season. He will be taken seriously now. The overall field is nice with 10 long sprinters running under 50.00 at the sectional round.
Others to watch: Tyran Lyons (So., Cahokia), Matt Ruff (Sr., West Chicago Wheaton Academy), Kyle Carter (Sr., Maple Park Kaneland), Marling Brady (Sr., Cahokia), Will Moore (Jr., Metamora), Brandon Riley (Sr., Chicago Morgan Park).

200m: Demoria Harris has some big boots to walk in family first. His older brother Darvell Harris dominated the 3A 200 and sprint relays two years ago. Now it’s little brother who is seated second among the qualifying field at 21.85. The smooth gliding Demoria likes to finish strong and decisively. He is very capable of running much faster than the 21.79 that he has put up. Josh Eiker is at his best in the 200 so it should be no surprise to see him leading the field with a 21.83 mark.
Others to watch: Tayvonne Landry, Robert Grider (Sr., Mt. Vernon), Jack Curtis (Jr., Glen Ellyn Glenbard South), Evan White (Sr., Rochelle).

Distance-

800m: No defending champion John Wold (Sr., Glenbard South) means that a new champion is going to be crown. Regardless, it appears as though JD Lafayette is the people’s choice favorite after posting a blazing 1:51.72 that was the top mark in Illinois before the state series and top 10 nationally. Lafayette has a perfect blend of speed and distance that it takes to become a great middle-distance runner. Zac Justus (Sr., Pontiac) has faced Lafayette enough in his career to know his tendencies. Justus has resurfaced to pull in the fastest time at the sectional round. Justus has run 1:54.16 this season.
Others to watch: Taylor Garrett (Sr., Charleston), Matt O’Connor (Sr., Burlington Central), Sean Zerrusen (So., Effingham), Kevin Vroegh (Sr., Lansing Illiana Christian), Heath Warren (So., Springfield).

1600m: This event is solid with JD Lafayette in it. Lafayette should get into the final with ease but can he win this race after running on the 4x8 (assuming he does if team makes final) and open 800? He is going to have to be a gladiator to get the task completed. Joe Singleton (Sr., Glenbard South) looks like a sure shot pick here to pick up his first title as he comes in with the fastest mark of 4:21.14.
Others to watch: Murphy Affolder (Sr., Mascoutah), Salvatore Flight (Jr., Oak Park Fenwick), Lance Mueller (Jr., Waterloo), Nick Fiene (Jr., Lansing Illiana Christian), Ben Mohrdieck (Sr., Vernon Hills), Simon Thorpe (Sr., Dixon).

3200m: This event will play out on Saturday. Expect Joe Singleton, Zach Hird (Sr., Rock Island Alleman), Alex Keeble (So., Mahomet-Seymour), Kyle Whitney (Sr., Vernon Hills), and Simon Thorpe are the main players here. Singleton has run 9:18, Hird has clocked 9:20, and Thorpe pushed 9:21 on to his resume. The potential of going super fast is there if these three amigos go after it.
Others to watch: Noah Affolder (Fr., Mascoutah), Nick Brey (Sr., Arlington Heights St. Viator).

Relays-

4x800: Cahokia always seems to be in the discussion as one of the best in the state year after year despite being primarily a sprint oriented program. Maple Park Kaneland is the defending state champion and will be the heavy favorite with a shot at the classification record if they get pushed. The Knights blazed 7:50.27 in their only stacked attempt prior to sectionals back in April. Nathan Kocera (Sr.) has opted not to run the open 800. His selfless act will boster Kaneland. They are seated coming in at #1 and Cahokia #2. Springfield clocked 7:54.94 at the Collinsville Invitational earlier in the month. The Senators will be a heavy foe in the finals.                                                                                                                                                                   Others to watch: Metamora, Johnsburg, Vernon Hills, Troy (Triad), Champaign Central

4x100: Cahokia once again will be a player even if they strip down their team for the finals. Sycamore will be a strong team with Dion Hooker running it. The Spartans lead all qualifiers at 42.70. Kaneland blazed 42.76 in their sectional race. The winner should be in the 42.10 or faster range on Saturday.
Other teams to watch for: Centralia, Burlington Central, Troy Triad, Galesburg, Jacksonville, Chicago Dunbar.

4x200: It's starting to sound like a broken record. Cahokia leads the classification at 1:27.62. They also are rocking and rolling with a sectional best 1:28.30. Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin clocked 1:29.09.  The team that everyone should be concerned with is Chicago Phillips.

Other teams to watch for: Kaneland, Champaign Centennial, Dunlap, Mt. Vernon, Olympia Fields (Rich Central)

4x400: Can we say WORD for the fourth time? The Comanches have got to be the most complete in the state regardless of classification in regard to relays- particularly this one in which they have dominated over the years. 2014 is no different. Watch and see the Comaches blaze sub 3:19 on Friday. Kaneland will be in the neighborhood and ready to pounce on any transition mistakes that Cahokia makes. 

Other teams to watch for: Chatham-Glenwood, Burlington Central, Springfield Southeast, Springfield, Troy Triad.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Field events-

Long Jump: Ja'mari Ward (So., Cahokia) does not need an introductory. He is that good and will dominate this event. He is an elite national athlete at the tender age of 15. We should all take it in and look forward to seeing a 24-foot effort in the prelim round. Others to watch include Barry Richardson (Jr., Mascoutah), Davion McManis (Sr., Dunlap), George Washington (Jr., Washington)

Pole Vault: Tyler Jourdain (Sr., Salem) is the classification leader with a regular season mark of 15'7". He will be tough to beat if not impossible. But the competition has be played out and the vault can be a tricky event. Chase Black (Sr., Charleston) is a local product who has the luxury of sleeping in his own bed. He will be ready to compete on Friday. Look for Dylan Kuipers (Sr., Kaneland), Joseph McDanel (Sr., Mt. Vernon).

High Jump: This is the sleeping villain event as many of the top players have jumped well enough to secure a spot to Charleston. Jack Curtis is one of the state's best at 6'9"- IL#3 to be exact. He will be in a hunt for the title with Logan Zeman (Sr., Lasalle-Peru). Zeman won the Illinois Top Times Indoor title. The defending champion Alex King (Sr., Massac County) is not 100% healthy since re-fracturing his foot at Top Times. But he is going to give it his best shot as a competitor. Sabree Bakari (Jr., Springfield Southeast), Devante Clark (Sr., Jacksonville), Darryl Sullivan (So., Marion) are some of the key players.

Shot Put: Nate Dyer (Sr., Maple Park Kaneland) is the sectional and classification leader at 56'3" and 56'2". Sam Sikon (Fr., Carbondale) is new to the IHSA ranks. It will be interesting to see how he handles the big time pressure. Watch for AJ Marmion (Sr., Geneseo), Keith King (Sr., Peoria Richwoods).

Discus: AJ Marmion is the classification leader. Nate Dyer is in good position to help his team score major points. Jacob Wagner (Jr., Mattoon). Chris Smith (Sr., Winnego).

Triple Jump: Ja'Mari Ward all day. He has already eclipsed the 50-foot mark at 50.6.5 making him one of the top five leapers in the country. Look for Carsen Cash (Sr., Marion), Jalon Monigan (Sr., Cahokia), Ben Barnes (Jr., Maple Park Kaneland).