Shot Put-
2019 State Champion: Greg Zellers (Sr., New Berlin) 55'9.25"
Key Athletes: Zellers, Payton Taylor (Sr., Salt Fork), Caleb Lahey (Sr., Bismark-Henning), Dalton Kitchen (Sr., Pinckneyville), Isaiah Bruce (Sr., Lena-Winslow), Alex Comet (So., Champaign [St. Thomas More]), FJ Simpson (Jr., Williamsville), Hayden Knott (Jr., St. Joseph-Ogden), Logan Robinson (Sr., DuQuoin), Devin Palmer (Sr., Winnebago), Jace Coffey (Sr., Forreston), Caleb Rutherford (Sr., Sangamon Valley), Josh Dyer (Sr., Tuscola), Kyle Uhl (Jr., Flanagan-Cornell), Colton Robinson (So., Carlinville), Chris Ulrich (Sr., Payson-Seymour)
Outlook: Greg Zellers returns as the measuring stick this year being the returning state champion and owning the top returning mark in the classification. Zellers stayed consistent last season breaking the 53-foot barrier a total of five times throughout the year. Zellers will be looking to challenge the 60-foot barrier come outdoors.
Payton Taylor looks to be the only young man capable of taking down Zellers as he owns the second-best returning mark in the shot put going 54-0.50 at the Vermillion Valley Conference Meet.
Watch out for the wildcard though as Isaiah Bruce is a sneaky competitor that can turn some heads. He placed on the state podium as a sophomore taking 7th but was unable to make it on the stage for the shot put and instead made it on the stage for the 4x200m. Bruce is a very interesting competitor as he is both an excellent thrower as well as a sprinter. Coming off an all-state football campaign he will be someone to watch.
With Caleb Lahey, Dalton Kitchen, and Alex Comet as returning all-staters, this event is starting to return to its old self after a down campaign last year.