Connor Artman has jumping and sprinting at an all-time level all season
1A Breakdown:
Long Jump-
If you think anyone but Connor Artman of Illini West is winning Long Jump you are crazy. The defending 1A Long Jump State Champion, is the current IL#1 and US#8 in Long Jump. Artman traveled to New York 2 weeks ago to participate in the championship field of Long Jump at New Balance Indoor Nationals. Artman ended up taking 6th place with a 23-1.75 and becoming an All-American in the process. Artman said on twitter he was not happy about how he performed at New Balance Indoor Nationals. If he is not satisfied with being an All-American, imagine what he will do to this field at Top Times.
Pole Vault-
We have the returning 1A State Champion in Pole Vault in this field. Cameron Witts of Williamsville is coming into this meet on a roll. He is coming off a weekend that saw him beat who will be his biggest competition at this meet, Garret Bachtold of Paxton-Buckley but, Witts only beat Bachtold by attempts. They both vaulted a 15-0 and look to have another great battle this weekend. If will be very interesting to see who wants to win that title more.
Shot Put-
Andy Bird is returning runner-up at the 1A State Championship for shot put and the favorite to win at top Times this year. Bird won this meet last year in shot put and is looking to repeat again. We will see Bird throw for the first time since March 3rd at the Jacksonville High School Invite, we will see what kind of shape he is in. Bird will have to watch for Hunter Woodard who is having a great year for shot put. He has destroyed his PR from last year by almost 2 feet! The returning All-Stater is currently undefeated in shot put this year. We will see on Friday if his undefeated streak can last.
High Jump-
Cameron Getz of Meridien and Tristen Tewes of Pleasant Plains are the men to watch in this event. Getz is undefeated so far in the two meets that he has jumped in. Getz is also a returning All-Stater that is the top seeded mark for Top Times this year. Tewes will not go down without a fight. Tewes is also a returning All-Stater but, Tewes hasn't been consistent this year. He jumped a 6-2, then a 6-6, and finally a 6-4 in his last three meets. If Tewes can have a good meet he can beat Getz.
Triple Jump-
Michael Hill of Illini Bluff is the favorite in this one. Hill has only jumped once this year and it wasn't that great but he jumped a 42-5 and won at the Jacksonville High School Invite. Hill puts himself in this conversation because of what he did at State last year. He was the runner-up in Triple Jump. Watch for Hill to be tested by a returning All-Stater in Ramsey Hunt. Hunt transferred from Oakland High School to Shiloh High School this past year. The lowest place he has taken this year is 2nd and is the current top seeded mark in the field.
3200m-
This rivalry has been so good this year between Logan Hall and Wyatt McIntyre and luckily we get to see the next chapter of their battle this weekend in the 3200m. McIntyre beat Hall at the 1A XC State Championship this past fall to become the 1A XC State Champion. The surprising thing is that McIntyre has never beat Hall in a track race. They have raced each other 9 times on the track and Hall has walked away with the victory every time. Mcintyre will definitely be wanting to win his first track race against Hall this Friday.
60H-
What is Connor Artman not good at? He is the favorite in Long Jump and the favorite in the 60H. The returning All-Stater in the 110H, won this event last year and has a PR currently of 8.14 on the season. You know that Artman wants to get under 8 and win the 60H. Another man to watch is Mason Barr of Ridgeview. He is the defending 300H 1A State Champion. He has ran ok in the 60H this year but, has been looking like he has a breakout meet ahead of him. This might just be his breakout meet.
60m-
Easton Bianchi of Sterling Newman Catholic is the defending 1A 100m State Champion is the favorite this year to win the 60m at Top Times. He has not ran the 60m much this year, he ran it once and it was at the UK High School Invite where he took 3rd place behind two All-Americans in the 60m Eric Allen Jr. And Marcellus Moore. Watch for Tate Walcott, Diondre Lewis, and Dionte Lewis to battle for that 2nd place spot behind Bianchi.
4x800m-
This race will put Rockford Christian to the test. They are not racing their 1A 800m State Champion junior in their team, Riley Wells. Rockford is still going in with a not so experienced team they are racing three juniors and one freshman. It will be interesting to see what they can do without Riley Wells. Watch Elmwood and Pleasant Plains to make a push for that Top Times title and they both have experienced teams. Pleasant Plains is running a team that has four All-State athletes on it and Elmwood is running a team that has three All-State athletes on it.
800m-
Jacob Bryan of Illini West has been the top 800m in Illinois this year, he should easily win this race right? Nope. The returning All-Stater will have to face last years returning 1A 800m State Champion Riley Wells of Rockford Christian. Unlike Bryan, Wells has not had his best season. He has broken 2 in both his races he has ran this year but after running a 1:52 last year, Wells has expected more at the start of this season. Wells is not going to give up, he very well could have a breakout meet and beat the current IL#1 Jacob Bryan.
4x200m-
As we have said in the rest of these previews that experience is big when it comes to relays. The biggest favorite is Rockford Christian. They are a experienced team with three All-Staters on it. It is not for sure that Rockford Christian will win this event there are many other teams that could possibly win like Macon Meridian, Ridgeview, and Madison. Out of those three team Ridgeview probably has the best chance of beating Rockford Christian.
400m-
Mason Barr is the man to watch in the 400m. Barr is the current IL#3 in the 400m and was the IL#2 for most of the season before this past weekend when Gavin Jaime ran a 49.29. Barr ran the 400m this past weekend at the EPGTF Indoor Invite where he won the 400m with a 51.89. Barr is fast at the 300H so of course he is good at the 400m, they both require the endurance that he has. Other names to watch are Dionte Lewis of Williamsburg-Latham, Diondre Lewis of Warrensburg-Latham, and Ben Buresh of Wethersfield .
1600m-
Eli Ten Eyck of Pittsfield has to be the main favorite in this race. He is the only favorite that is fresh for this 1600m as Wyatt McIntyre has the 3200m and Jacob Bryan has the 800m before the 1600m. The Pittsfield athlete, is a returning All-Stater in the 1600m after taking 2nd last year at the 1A State Championship. The only problem that Ten Eyck will have to face is the only man that has beat him this year in the 1600m, Jacob Bryan. Bryan beat him at the Jacksonville High School Invite a few weeks ago.
200m-
Easton Bianchi should be able to walk out of Top Times with the 200m title with him. Bianchi is the defending 1A 200m State Champion. He has ran the 200m once this year but he ran a great time of 22.04 which is the current IL#2 time. Watch for a huge battle for 2nd place between Tate Walcott (Ridgeview), Mason Barr, Dionte Lewis, and Diondre Lewis.
4x400m-
Rockford Christian is the favorite to walk out with this title. If Rockford Christian can walk away with all three of the relay titles we could possibly see a new number #1 in our power rankings. Rockford Christian has a team of four All-Staters on it including their powerhouse middle distance runner, Riley Wells. Don't expect it to be a easy win for Rockford Christian as Pleasant Plains has the top seeded time and a team with three All-Staters.