The sprints are expected to be hotter than the track-
This year may be one of the most stacked years for sprints in Illinois history. We will see the likes of Marcellus Moore (Plainfield North), Declan Rustay (Hoffman Estates), Bobby Nuzzo (Mundelein), and Courtney Lindsey (Rock Island) in both the 100m and 200m and we will also see the likes of Brandon Adams (Minooka), Luis Cossio (Barrington), Jason Thormo (Grant), Quemarii Williams (Danville), Dontae Rooks (Joliet West), and Charlie Wade (St. Charles East).
The 100m and 200m titles this year look like they are going to Moore for sure. Moore has been undefeated against all Illinois competition this year. Rustay who was last years 100m and 200m champion is looking like he won't even get 2nd place as Lindsey has been so great this year.
The 400m will be a great battle between last years state champion, Cossio, and Adams, but look for the likes of Rooks, Wade, Williams, and Thormo to possibly push for the win. Rooks recently beat Brandon Adams at his conference meet, but Brandon got him back at the sectional meet.
The hurdles will be very interesting-
We will probably see someone break 14.00 for their first-time in the 110H at the state meet this year as Donovan Turner (Neuqua Valley), Matthew Lewis-Banks (Homewood-Flossmoor), Victor Cameron (Crete-Monee), and Sam Conger (Batavia) are in the field. Turner was close to breaking 14-seconds at the Plainfield South Sectional Meet when he went 14.08 without anyone near him. Turner blew out Peyton Frankenreider in the hurdles. Lewis-Banks is still surprisingly unsigned, but if he has a great state meet, colleges will be wanting him badly.
In the 300H, Turner and Conger will be back and the field will also include Bobby Cayet, Jaden Jackson (Fremd), Ben Konopka (Fremd), and Joe Zubak (Wheaton South). Cayet is an interesting name that many have probably not heard before and that is because he had never broken 39 seconds this year until the Huntley Sectional where he won with a 38.55. That was his first meet with a good time all year, we will have to see if that was just a flash in the pan or if it was showing his potential. We will also have to see how the Palatine Fremd duo do as both Jackson and Konopka are expected to advance to the final. Jackson took 2nd place last year in last year's state final.
Distance for days-
The 800m this year has been kind of sad as we have only seen five guys go sub 1:55. The standout of the group is Charlie Kern of York who has gone 1:52.56. After a cross country season that he had to sit out most of due to an illness, it is amazing that he is in such great accordance. Others to consider is Franky Romano (Edwardsville), Josh English (Blue Island Eisenhower), Ryan Birkmeier (Downers North), and Phillip Hall (Danville)
The 1600m is solid with the likes of Clayton Mendez (Whitney Young), Dylan Jacobs (Sandburg), and Thomas Shilgalis (Naperville Central) will all be in the field. It was very surprising to see Danny Kilrea (Lyons Twp), Zach Kinne (Neuqua Valley), and Josh Methner (Hersey) all decide not to do the 1600m and just do the 3200m. Another shocker was to see Rory Cavan (Glenbard West), Zach Albrecht (Jacobs), Sam Rivera (Whitney Young), Brandon Christopher (Maine South), Omar Paramo (Plainfield North), and Tommy Brady (Maine South) not even able to make it out of their sectionals. The 1600m field is thin this year due to different factors.
In the 3200m we will see Kilrea, Mendez, Miles Christensen (Downers Grove North), Jack Roberts (Downers Grove North), Brady, Marcos Garcia (Waukegan), Methner, and Kinne tangle in the most stacked distance event at the entire state meet. Mendez and Kilrea are the only two in this field that has broken 9 minutes before, but Christensen, Roberts, Brady, Garcia, Methner, and Kinne will all be running the 3200m fresh at the state meet. We may see 4+ sub 9:00 performances in this race if the projected extreme hot temps stay away.
Field Events will be fire-
In the discus throw, hopefully, we will be able to see a 200+ footer and possibly a couple of them. The field has three serious contenders for that magical mark and they are Jordan Johnson (Quincy), Brian Keyes (McHenry), and John Meyer (Lockport). Johnson is the favorite as he has been on fire all year long and has just been waiting to break 200' at the state meet. All three are returning all-staters so it will be a great battle. In the shot put, it will be Meyer and everyone knows it as he is the best thrower in Illinois's history.
In the High Jump, look for Camron Donatlan (West Aurora) and Frank Massey (Bloom Twp) to elevate themselves. They both have hit 6-10 this year, but the favorite is Donatlan as he is a 2x State Champion in High Jump. Donatlan will be looking to finally break 7-feet at the state meet.
In the Long Jump, we will see Yorkville's Peyton Frankenreider, Plainfield Central's Geremiah Lawson, and Bryan Keubeng (Plainfield East) battle it out. It is crazy to think that these three favorites battled it out already at the Plainfield South Sectional Meet, and at that meet, Frankenreider prevailed so going 24-1. Frankenreider is the favorite to win, to say the least.
Finally in the Triple Jump, Peyton is again the favorite after he had a 47+ foot jump at the Plainfield South Sectional Meet and he is looking good before the state meet.
In the Pole Vault there is only one man taking that title home and his name is Zachery Bradford. Can he connect on 18-feet?
Relays are always fun-
The 4x100m will be interesting as three teams have chances to win the state title and they are Plainfield North , Homewood-Flossmoor, and Belleville West. The favorite has to be the current IL#1 and defending state championship 4x100m team, Homewood-Flossmoor, who are returning all four members of last years state championship 4x100m. Earlier this season though, Plainfield North beat Homewood-Flossmoor, a win that shocked the Illinois track community.
In the 4x200m we will see Stevenson, Belleville West, Glenbard West, Rock Island, and Barrington in the field. If Luis Cossio opts to run the 4x200m at state this year Barrington has to be the favorite, but since he is the defending 400m state champion, that seems highly unlikely. If Luis is not in the 4x200m the favorite has to be Stevenson who had a great showing taking 2nd place to Barrington at the sectional meet. This is a competitive field and it is anyone's race.
The 4x400m is looking good with teams such as Lockport, Bloomington, Belleville West, Shepard, and Danville in the field. Danville has been a mid-distance powerhouse as of late but may not have what it takes. The favorite for some who may win is the Bloomington team who has a new 400m runner in Zach Bradford, who we all know for being a great pole vaulter, but he can also go sub 49 for a 4x400m split. Bradford is deadly when he gets that baton and may be the most feared anchor in the field.
In the 4x800m Sandburg is back with another potentially great quartet as they look to be the favorite to win the state title. They had a breakout performance at their sectional meet becoming the first Illinois team to go sub 7:50 this season. Sandburg will be followed by Danville who has been one of the favorites all year in and Danville recently broke 7:50 at their sectional meet. This is a fun field to watch with some amazing teams in it.