5. Normal West (31)
10. Glenview [Glenbrook South] (22)
The narrative: The projection is a dead heat for the top spot this Saturday between Neuqua Valley and Minooka. Both teams are in similar events so the head-to-head matchups will be much appreciated when it happens. Neuqua Valley will roll out four relays that can score in this meet, we do feel they have something left in the tank for all those races. Individually, Maxwell Mitchell (200 & 400m) and Nicolas Dovalovsky (1600m) will seek to score big points.
Minooka, the relay school, will look for a bulk of their points there as they have entries in all four including an IL#1 4x800m. Junior Tyler Colwell (200m & IL#1 100m) will enter the state meet with a target on his back, if he can duck and dodge his competitors on the biggest stage yet, the Indians will be in a good spot. Keep an eye on a sneaky Vincent Van Eck in the 800m too.
Batavia, who popped on the scene at #Smithstrong, has put themselves in trophy contention on strength of their relays and field event potential with Jalen Buckley (TJ & LJ) and Casey Carlson (HJ). Jonah Fallon could add to the Bulldogs total in the 400m.
Homewood-Flossmoor is typically at its best at this point in the season, their sectional performances proved they are right on time. Marshall Ellis has rounded into form individually (100 & 200m), while their state leading 4x100m (41.40) will look to hold for and score bug along with their state leading 4x200m (1:28.17). In the sprints and relays, there isn't too much room for error.
Normal West rounds out the top five as they look to carry the flag for central Illinois. Leslie Fisher (TJ) and Davonte Crawford (300h) will hope to drop big points as well as Jonovan Findley and Charlie Nolan in the high jump.
Edwardsville had some issues out of the sectional which may have hindered their title chances, but they do have Brandon Battle. Battle will attempt the 30pt triple crown and hope that may be enough if teams begin to falter. We all should be on state record watch after he dropped a current US#4 (46.60) in the 400m, the current all-time and state record is 46.24. There may be an outside shot the 200m record could be challenged pending wind conditions and track setup.
We do expect many teams to outscore these projections, let's hope for an exciting return for the boys at the state meet.