The field events is where it is going to go down for the power teams attempting to establish a beachhead prior to the track finals. For those that come away with the least amount of cuts and scrapes will be looking good for a glorious day of track and field. A significant number of great athletes appear ready to assault the meet records and transform the rankings by the end of the day.
MEET PERFORMANCE LISTLong Jump-
Meet record: 23'11.25 by Johnny Nolan (Hillside Proviso West) 1988
Key entrants: Ja'Mari Ward (Cahokia), Louis Brown Jr. (Hillside Proviso West), Chico Jackson (Wheaton North), Dylan Boye (Darien Hinsdale South), Marquis Murray (Cahokia)
Outlook: Proviso West Head Coach Johnny Jenkins (also known as Johnny Nolan) knows that his long standing meet record was in trouble the moment that he mentioned Ja'Mari Ward. "I want to bring the best jumpers in the state to the [Proviso West Boys 50th Annual] Invite; I want that kid [Ja'Mari] Ward," Jenkins asserted at the time. It now appears the hard work of recruiting Ward to compete in what is expected to be one of the meet's biggest draw has paid off. Ward is the nation's top returning long jumper who is currently ranked #1 in the US at 24'7.25". Ward has a personal best of 25'6.5w [+2.2] from a year ago. The superstar junior is simply light years ahead of the competition and all eyes in the building will be on him Saturday morning. Louis Brown Jr. was a state finalist last spring. He will be ready to show off on his home turf. Don't bet against Chico Jackson though. He will be itching to get back to peak form. Jackson has a personal best of 23'5.25.
Jemante Steward clearing 6'8" last year at state (Colin Boyle photo)
High Jump-
Meet Record: 6'10" by Dan Williams (Proviso West) & Steve Weaver (Moline) 1982
Key entrants: Anthony McRoberts (Cahokia), Jamante Steward (Proviso West), Chris Wright-Madison (Oak Park-River Forest), Seade Vinson (Cahokia), Kenny Brown (Oak Park-River Forest)
Outlook: This is a deep field filled with potential state champions in their respective classifications. Anthony McRoberts is the state leader at 6'8.25; he has emerged being a 6'4 a season go to going 6'7 and above so far on the young season. Let's not forget about Jamante Steward. The ultra-talented senior placed fourth last year in the 3A state meet and has a goal of reaching the 7-foot plateau. Steward needs to get focused on track and field though. Maybe competing against Western Silver Conference foe Chris Wright-Madison will be the potion that he needs in getting back on track. Wright-Madison has leaped 6'8 and will be one of the event favorites on Saturday.
Wheaton North senior Matt Contreras will be the favorite in the pole vault (Colin Boyle photo)
Pole Vault-
Meet Record: 15'1" by Mark Zilch (Roselle Lake Park) 2001
Key entrants: Matt Contreras (Wheaton North), Steven Chun (Hinsdale Central), Luke Nelson (Oak Park-River Forest)
Outlook: It should be a fun battle between Matt Contreras, Steven Chun, and Luke Nelson who all come into the action with a similar profile.All three lads have cleared 13-feet and all three have a goal of winning this prestigious indoor title. A big meet like this should break one of the trio out and send him home a winner. Contreras, an all-stater from last year, won this event two seasons ago.
Triple Jump-
Meet Record: 48'1.75" by Charles Parker (Oak Park-River Forest) 1985
Key entrants: Ja'Mari Ward (Cahokia), JaShaun Steward (Proviso West), Anthony McRoberts (Cahokia), Zach Hogan (Downers Grove North)
Outlook: Three of the top four state performers are entered here. Ward of course is the state's premier leaper who happens to be US# 3 at 49'9.5". It has been a few weeks since he last competed and that intense hunger will bring out the best in him. The megastar Ward has been limited in the number of attempts taken at meets by his coach Leroy Millsap. The ultimate goal of reaching 54-feet will require staying healthy and relatively fresh down the stretch of what hopes to be a long season that moves into the late summer. But you better believe the plan is to smash the meet and field house records in front of a packed house... emerging talent Jashaun Steward is a novice who has reached 45'6 in his first season of track and field. He will battle Anthony McRoberts for runner-up honors.
Shot Put-
Meet Record: 62'0" by Jeremy Kline (Lake Park) 2010
Key entrants: Adam Schaufelberger (LaGrange Lyons), Dyan Scheirich (Lake Park), Mike Prestigiacomo (Lake Park), Chago Basso (Lake Park)- sophomore level, Darniall Akins (Cahokia), Tom Cwiok (Neuqua Valley)
Outlook: Another state leader will be featured in Adam Schaufelberger. He eclipsed the 50-foot mark for the first time last week in his team's quad meet connecting for 55'6. He will compete against three Lake Park throwers Dyan Scherich, Mike Prestigiacomo, and Chago Basso. They all have personal bests over 50-feet. Basso will compete in the frosh level. That's the luxury in being in a great throwing program that the Lancers have. Hopefully, we will witness the season's first 60-foot mark by one of the throwers.