Brandon "King" Adams of Minooka will be a key figure against Plainfield North
With the SPC Boy's Conference today, we are going to break down each event at the conference meet for each one of you. The SPC is loaded this year, but who are the favorites to win each event? Join us as we show you.
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High Jump-
Key Names To Watch: Alexander Babbington (Plainfield East HS), Dylan Webb (Plainfield North HS), Bryan Keubeng (Plainfield East HS), Antonio Hayden (Minooka HS), Keylen Williams (Oswego East HS)
This is a deep event in this conference. This field includes two returning state qualifiers in High Jump from last year's state championship in Alexander Babbington and Bryan Keubeng. Babbington qualified for finals last season as a Sophomore, he will be challenged by breakout senior, Dylan Webb. It's very interesting that Webb, who is currently IL#9, has yet to win at an invitational this season, but he beat Alexander Babbington this past week at the Bill Jackson Invitational. So far this season Babbington has beaten Dylan Webb in High Jump, 2 of the 3 times they have competed against each other. Bennington most recently bested Webb at the Hunt Invitational.
Pole Vault-
Key Names To Watch: Matt Ogilvie (Oswego HS), Jared Middleton (Oswego HS), Dominic Ruettiger (Minooka HS), Tanner Evatt (Plainfield Central HS)
The SPC conference may be the best pole vault conference in the state as they have the likes of Matt Ogilvie, Jared Middleton, and Dominic Ruettiger all in it. Matt Ogilvie is coming into conference on fire as he had a great meet at the Bill Jackson Invitational when he vaulted a US Top 100 mark! It was his first time vaulting at an invitational outdoors this season and he PRed by a foot! Ogilvie took 2nd place at the SPC Indoor Conference meet to Oswego teammate, Jared Middleton. Jared was in the Class A flight of Pole Vault at Bill Jackson so he didn't compete against a teammate, Matt Ogilvie, so Jared placed 1st in his class. In the two meets that he has vaulted in this year, he has been undefeated. Dominic hasn't been going that high recently as he has vaulted 14-0 and 13-6 in the last 2 meets after he vaulted a 15-0 at Bob Cahoon. It will be interesting to see if he has a bounce-back performance at conference.
Long Jump-
Key Names To Watch: Geremiah Lawson (Plainfield Central HS), Bryan Keubeng (Plainfield East HS), Brendon Hanneman (Plainfield North HS), Nolan Anderson (Plainfield North HS), Xavier Jones (Romeoville HS)
This is just one of the few field events that the SPC has improved so much in. The favorite for sure is Geremiah Lawson who looks to finally be back on track after jumping a 23-3.50 at the Bill Jackson Invitational. Lawson got injured before NBIN and hadn't been the same until he had a great jump at Bill Jackson. Lawson wants to break 24 feet, could he do it at the SPC Conference Meet?
Triple Jump-
Key Names To Watch: Myles Lincoln (Plainfield South HS), Sam Goin (Joliet Central HS), TJ Neal (Joliet West HS), Chris Grady (Oswego HS), Raphael Young (Plainfield East HS), Xavier Jones (Romeoville HS)
Myles Lincoln is the man to watch after his breakout performance at the Hunt Invitational when he jumped a 44-7.50 to break his school record in Triple Jump and he hit a state qualifying mark. He is trying to gain a conference championship and hopefully jumps another state qualifying mark at the sectional meet. Xavier Jones also could leave his mark and win a conference championship as he was a state qualifier in triple jump last season, but has been put this outdoor season with an injury.
Shot Put-
Key Names To Watch: Jack Malloy (Minooka HS), Amiri Buchanan (Romeoville HS), Jack Sullivan (Plainfield East HS)
This will be an interesting one between Jack Malloy and Amiri Buchanan. Jack has only been able to break 50, 2 times this season and so has Buchanan, but Buchanan has only competed in 2 meets and Malloy has competed in 5. From looking at the stats unless Malloy has a breakout performance we will see Buchanan walk away with a win.
Discus-
Key Names To Watch: Chris Gianakopoulos (Plainfield North HS), Amiri Buchanan (Romeoville HS), Joe Reed (Plainfield South HS), Isaiah Carlson (Plainfield East HS)
Amir Buchanan is again the favorite in this one as he may be the most dominant thrower in the SPC this season. Watch for Joe Reed, Isaiah Carlson, and Chris Gianakopoulos to challenge him but from the looks of it, Buchanan is walking away with this win.
4x800m-
Key Teams To Watch: Plainfield South HS, Minooka HS, Oswego HS
Plainfield South is coming into conference on fire from the past two weeks. The cougars 4x800m won at the Bill Jackson Invitational this past Friday beating Oswego, Plainfield North, Plainfield East, and Plainfield Central who are all in their conference. Two weeks ago, they also defeated Minooka and Oswego East at the Minooka Quad invite. South's 4x800m are definitely the favorites to win the 4x800m at conference, but they will get a fight from the likes of Oswego, Plainfield North, Minooka, and Oswego East. Very surprising that Plainfield East is not running their top 4x800m who won the Hunt by 25 seconds and they ran an 8:00.16.
4x100m-
Key Teams To Watch: Plainfield North HS, Minooka HS, Plainfield East HS, Plainfield South HS
We all know who is winning here, Plainfield North will win this easily. The Tigers are coming off a Bill Jackson invite that saw them take down the IL#1 in the 4x100m, Huntley. They also beat the defending state championship 4x100m from last year, Homewood-Flossmoor. The Tiger's may be the best 4x100m in the state this year.
3200m-
Key Names To Watch: Matt Blanco (Oswego East HS), Brandon Nelson (Oswego HS), Luke Wentz (Oswego East HS)
As we look at the field it's not the best it could be as it doesn't include the likes of Christian Knowlton, Omar Paramo, Mitchell Bradford, etc. That doesn't mean this won't be a great race as Matt Blanco and Brandon Nelson are going to go head to head in the 3200m. Both have been great so far this season, but a moment that sticks out is Matt Blanco's performance at DNP. Blanco was up in the lead for a portion of the race, he may have fallen off, but he still ran a 9:20! We have a rising Sophomore that everyone should keep their eye on in Luke Wentz of Oswego East. Went won Frosh/Soph Conference for XC as a Freshman and has been running great ever since. He may not win the race, but he may be able to run a great time.
100H-
Key Names To Watch: Kyle Burke (Plainfield North HS), Justin Myers (Minooka HS), John Sobkoviak (Plainfield Central HS), Keylen Williams (Oswego East HS)
This will be a battle between Kyle Burke and Justin Myers as both men have had solid seasons to this point of the year. The turning point of Burke's season was at the Hunt Invitational when he ran a 15.05 to win the 110H since then he has been impressive running a 14.8 hand time at a weekday meet and running a 15.20 at the Bill Jackson Invitational. Burke seems to have taken Triple Jump out of his event list and he has improved in the hurdles ever since. Besides the Prospect Wanner Invite, Justin Myers has been running great all year but still hasn't run close to the 15.04 that he ran at Belleville West.
100m-
Key Names To Watch: Marcellus Moore (Plainfield North HS), Joe Otchere (Romeoville HS), Kaizer Giddie (Plainfield South HS), Blake Coughlin (Plainfield East HS), Dontae Rooks (Joliet West HS)
We all know who is winning this. "Baby Holyfield " Marcellus Moore will just run away with this race as he is currently the IL#1 in the 100m. Marcellus has won all 5 of his 100m's that he has run this year. Watch Joe Otochere, Kaizer Giddie, and Blake Coughlin compete for 2nd place behind "MM". Kaizer is an interesting name to see here as he is typically a 400m runner, but he showed at the Minooka Quad that he can also run the 100m as he ran an 11.01. Otchere was close to qualifying for the state meet last year when he took 3rd place in his sectional with an 11.04.
800m-
Key Names To Watch: Nick Pederson (Plainfield East HS), Ethan Prior (Plainfield North HS), Joe Fioresi (Oswego HS), Riley McIntyre (Plainfield Central HS), Oswaldo Guzman (Joliet Central HS), Omar Paramo (Plainfield North HS)
This field is stacked and may be the deepest event at the SPC Conference Meet. Plainfield North has the duo of Ethan Prior and Omar Paramo running in this race. Omar has had some amazing times this year as his PR's are 2:01.49, 4:20.48, and 9:29.20. That 4:20.48 1600m that he ran at Bill Jackson was a school record so, Omar is coming in on a roll. His 2:01.49 800m was run indoors so, that time is bound to drop as he runs outdoors for this race. Nick Pederson won the Bill Jackson Class B 800m this past Friday, finally breaking 2 for the first time in an open 800m. Riley McIntyre did not compete at the Bill Jackson Invite, but at the Hunt Invitational, he ran a 1:57 first leg of the 4x800m. If McIntyre can do that again he could have a conference championship in his future. Oswald Guzman was a state qualifier in the 800m last season but hasn't been running great this season. Fioresi is a wildcard as he ran a fast 4x800 split at Bill Jackson and was part of Oswego's state qualifying 4x800m from last year but, hasn't made that much noise this season.
4x200m-
Key Teams To Watch: Plainfield North HS, Minooka HS, Plainfield East HS
Plainfield North will be without Marcellus Moore as he prepares for the 400m that goes on right after this event. North's team ran a 1:29.79 at the Bill Jackson Invitational without Moore, but can they hold off Plainfield East and Minooka without their stud?
400m-
Key Names To Watch: Dalen Brown (Oswego HS), Dontae Rooks (Joliet West), Kaizer Giddie (Plainfield South HS), Brandon Adams (Minooka HS), Marcellus Moore (Plainfield North HS), Aaron Arroyo (Minooka HS), Joshua Bruce (Oswego East HS)
There are a lot of great runners in this race, but everyone is going to be watching the battle between Marcellus Moore and Brandon Adams. Moore and Adams had a great 200m at the indoor conference meet and their 400m battle at the outdoor conference may look a lot like it. Marcellus has the potential to beat Adams in his best event and if he does we may see Marcellus run the 400m at Sectionals and State to try and maximize the number of points Plainfield North can get at the state meet. Watch for Kaizer Giddie to also make a splash as he has been running great as of late.
300H-
Key Names To Watch: James Sanchez (Minooka HS), Justin Myers (Minooka HS), John Sobkoviak (Plainfield Central HS), Kyle Burke (Plainfield North HS)
James Sanchez is a returning state qualifier in the 300H but opted not to run them at the state meet and instead elected to try and get his 4x400m to qualify for the finals. This season Sanchez has been solid as his lowest place has been 4th this year and has won his last two meets. Watch for Burke, Sobkoviak, and Myers to push the St, Francis commits, but Sanchez should be able to win this one easily.
1600m-
Key Names To Watch: Omar Paramo (Plainfield North HS), Brandon Nelson (Oswego HS), Christian Knowlton (Plainfield South HS), Ethan Prior (Plainfield North HS), Emmanuel Angomas (Plainfield East HS), Mitchell Bradford (Oswego HS), Matt Blanco (Oswego East HS)
If everyone was fresh in this race it would be phenomenal, but the only top runner that is running this race fresh is Emmanuel Angomas who in his 2nd 1600m back from injury ran a 4:25. Knowlton and Bradford are in the 4x800m, Paramo and Prior is in the 800m, and Blanco and Nelson are in the 3200m. Probably the best runner that can double in this race is Christian Knowlton. For everyone who doesn't knowable the accomplishment he had a few weeks ago, Knowlton had prom on a Friday night and was on his feet for 6 hours then, went home and fell asleep, next morning he ran at the Lake Forest Invite running a 2:02 in the 4x800m and a 4:30 1-mile, and ended his weekend by running a 4:22 at DNP, winning section 1. Knowlton can double, but will he be able to win the mile?
200m-
Key Name To Watch: Joe Otochere (Romeoville HS), Marcellus Moore (Plainfield North HS), Brandon Adams (Minooka HS), Joshua Bruce (Oswego East HS), Blake Coughlin (Plainfield East HS), Alexander Babbington (Plainfield East HS)
We get to see Brandon Adams and Marcellus Moore race each other twice????? It's like Christmas for spectators at the SPC Conference Meet. They had a great battle at the the the indoor conference in the 200m when Adams probably gave Moore one of his toughest race excluding meets that he didn't run for Plainfield North at. Joe Otchere is also someone to watch as he was a state qualifier in the 200m last year.
4x400m-
Key Teams To Watch: Minooka HS, Plainfield South HS, Joliet West HS, Plainfield North HS
Minooka should win this regardless of if they have Brandon Adams in the 4x400m. Adams still could race the 4x400m at the conference as he did it at the indoor conference meet. Plainfield North is interesting as they are running a fresh 4x400m team and they think they can go 3:22, but those goals might be too high for them to obtain. Then Plainfield South has been looking for a great time as they haven't been running the times they want. They are changing it up a bit by demoting Sophomore, Jaylin Eison, to the Frosh/Soph team and bring back Reese Kocanda to the team.