Last year's 100m state final will be hard to top with seven of nine graduated (Colin Boyle photo)
Last year we noted the landscape of Class A sprinting is going to be even more different than last year due to heavy graduation. But guess what? The five events somehow quickly reloaded an produced a solid year. Yet again a ton of state performances exited. Can we say deja vu once more? It will be hard to duplicate two years ago but Illinois has gotten stronger from top to bottom in the speed arena, so we will see.
100m-
2015 State Champion: Marcus Sitko (Staunton) 10.65
Key returners: Jordan Rowell (Jr., Elmhurst IC Catholic), Jeremiah Davis (Sr., Chicago Collins), Kalil Wassel (Jr., New Berlin), Chase Riley (Sr., Patoka), Ethan Lucas (Sr., Casey-Westfield), Garrett Blagrave (Sr., Robinson)
Season outlook: Will this event suffer with seven of the nine state finalists graduated? It will be hard to match one of the classifications best ever's year in which five players broke 11.00. Another stud in Aaron Harris (Sr., Lisle) moved up to 2A where he is expected to vie for a title. Jordan is a two-time state finalist who has improved each season and busted two wind legal marks under the watermark. But you better not blink because if you do you are going to miss the name Jeremiah Davis. This kid may be one of the most raw and underrated sprinters in Illinois. Davis clocked his personal best 10.91 without starting blocks! Word on the street is that Davis is training with one of the state's premier coaches Zontavious Johnson. Don't be surprised if you see Davis running in the 10.6-10.7 range this year. A preview cannot be written without the name Kalil Wassel. He will add depth at the top end despite not having a great racing schedule. Overall, this classification will be just right when late May rolls around.
Top returners for 2016-
| 6 | 10.89 | 1.6 | 2017 | ||
| 7 | 10.91 | 2016 | |||
| 8 | 10.92 | 2017 | |||
| 11 | 10.99 | 2016 | |||
| 12 | 11.00 | 2016 | Olney Invitational1st P | ||
| 13 | 11.05 | 2016 | Olney Invitational1st P |
400m-
2015 State Champion: Jacob Sholl (Illini West) 48.72
Key returners: Jordan Rowell (Jr., Elmhurst IC), Josh Gordon (Sr., Mooseheart), Zach Vancil (Jr., West Central), Deandre McNeal (Sr., Chicago Collins)
Season outlook: This is easily the leanest sprint event as only three returners have broken 50.00 led by state runner-up Jordan Rowell. Don't hand over the reigns to him so fast. Deandre McNeal drops in from 2A. He was battle tested in the tough Chicago Public League and of course the state meet. Josh Gordon was an unknown until he took 7th last year at state. He may be able to challenge Rowell and McNeal this spring.
Top returners for 2016-
| 2 | 49.04 | 2017 | ||
| 4 | 49.95 | 2016 | ||
| 4 | 49.95 | 2016 | ||
| 8 | 50.52 | 2017 | ||
| 11 | 50.92 | 2016 |