2016 Class A Boys Pre-Season Field Events Preview


The field events arena should be fun for fans to explore this season, especially in the high jump with senior Noah Adams attempting to leap over 7-0 in every big competition he explores. However, the Meridian senior is just one outstanding Class A athlete looking to crash through the headlines that the bigger classification kids seem to grab. The discus and pole vault will be of special interest as well. Sit back and see how things transpire in 2016.

Events: Long Jump, Pole Vault, High Jump, Shot Put, Triple Jump, Discus Throw

Top Event Returners For 2016

Long Jump-

2015 State Champion: Marcus Sitko (Staunton) 23-2.25

Key returners: John Ward (Sr., Kankakee McNamara), Jaylen Bester (Jr., Belleville Althoff), Kevin King (Sr., Kankakee McNamara), Jordan Smith (Sr., Shelbyville), Shalico Thompson (Sr., Camp Point Central)

Season outlook: Sitko has gone, graduated but the state runner-up John Ward returns as the favorite. He emerged in just one season improving by a foot. Let's see if he can measure over 23-feet this season. . The talented Ward is not quite in the league as his fellow namesake Ja'mari Ward, the superstar from Cahokia, but he can be the king of Class A. Though there are six finalists return none have surpassed 22-feet. Hopefully someone else besides Ward can emerge.

Top returners listed by 2015 ranking-



Pole Vault-

2015 State Champion: Riley Smith (Casey-Westfield) 16-3

Key returners: Adam Coulon (Sr., Downs Tri-Valley), Ethan Mizer (Sr., St. Joe-Ogden), Curtis Gordon (Jr., Vandalia), Blake Laird (Sr., Trenton Wesclin), Nathan O'Conner (Sr., Tremont)

Season outlook: Last season Riley Smith was the man in the vault as he connected on several clearings above 16-2 in ranking #2 statewide. He is now rolling with the Indiana State University Sycamores. The key person of interest is Adam Coulon. Coulon is the former child vault prodigy who broke world and national age group records up to high school. He was on course to match what the Jake Winder (Planfield Central) accomplished until a serious injury derailed the 2014 season. Coulon quietly returned last year and matched his all-time best of 16-feet. It is still up for debate whether he can regain the promise others had for him. The talented Coulon can certainly get up to 17-feet if all goes well in the health department.

Top returners listed by 2015 ranking-


High Jump-

2015 State Champion: Noah Adams (Sr., Macon Meridian) 6-10

Key returners:  Adams, Tyler Owen (Sr., Georgetown-Ridge Farm), Caleb Vogel (Jr., Duqouin), Adam Miller (Jr., Pana), Brad Cavanaugh (Sr., Polo)

Season outlook: Last year at this time the name Noah Adams was met with an resounding "WHO?!" Adams did jump 6-5 in 2014 and finished fifth at state along with an late season clearing 6-10, it wasn't until the state final that got him notification. The emerging star who towers above 6-5 in the height department is destined for great things this season. Just like every school boy jumper, Adams has a goal to eclipse 7-feet. That is an achievement very likely to occur and it could happen during the indoor campaign. Let's shoot for 7-3 and garner all the attention for this soon to be Illinois legend. Possible candidates lurking to stop Adams should he slip up is Tyler Owen and Adam Miller who both have 6-7 personal bests.

Top performers listed by 2015 ranking-


With the departure of would be 2016 title hopeful Bart Kennell now at Mattoon, the emergence of Shelbyville's Dillon Birch is expected (Colin Boyle photo)


Shot Put-

2015 State Champion: Blaze Murfin (Illini West) 59-8.5

Key returners: Dillon Birch (Jr., Shelbyville), Colton Yeakley (Arthur Lovington-Atwood-Hammond), Manning Plater (Sr., Rushville-Industry), Nick Olson (Jr., Flanagan Cornell Coop)

Season outlook: New faces are bound to take over with heavy graduation losses and transfers. Nick Olson may be next in line as the top thrower this season based on his fourth place finish at state last year as well as having the best returning throw. Manning Plater placed fifth with the same measurement as Olson. Plater is solid in the shot but his best event by far is the discus throw. One thrower that was a name to watch transferred in Bart Kennell. He is now at 2A Mattoon. His former teammate to watch according to Shelbyville coaches is Dillon Birch. Birch made last year's final with a 12th place finish. The prognosis is steady improvement and reaching the 54-55 foot range by season's end. If this occurs you can book Birch for a top three spot for sure in Charleston.

Top performers listed by 2015 ranking-



Triple Jump-

2015 State Champion: Marcus Sitko (Staunton) 46-2.25

Key returners: Paul Bingham (Sr., Paxton-Buckley-Loda), Ethan Meyer (Sr., Vandalia), Leo Helleberg (Sr., Stark County), Rodney Gossard (Sr., Fulton), Jecorrey Duncan (Sr., Chicago Clark)

Season outlook: The top two jumpers have graduated in Sitko and Corey Kersey. They both have served the classification well over the past several seasons. Now a host of new blood attempts to inject itself on to the scene this year. However, the promise of anyone getting up and over 46-feet looks challenging. Ethan Meyer may be that guy to step forward and have a monster year. He placed sixth in state last year. Paul Bigham was third with a wind-assisted mark. Also look for Rodney Gossard.

Top performers listed by 2015 ranking-



Discus Throw-

2015 State Champion: Stephen Gibson (Tuscola) 175-9

Key returners: Manning Plater (Sr., Rushville Industry), Devin Jones (Jr., Duquoin), Colton Yeakley (Sr., Arthur), John Barnes (Sr., Peru St. Bede)

Season outlook: Manning Plater returns is the man in charge in this event. He returns with the 7th best toss in Illinois despite finishing third in state last year. His personal best 179-feet was from two seasons ago and the 176-9 effort from last year is a beastly mark.

Top performers listed by 2015 ranking-