Illinois Top Times Full Recap


Class A-

[Boys]
Things started with the boys' pole vault and super freshman Isaiah Whitaker of Bloomington Central Catholic putting his imprint on the record boards. His attempt started after the runner up Griffin Kimbrel (Jr., Pana) bowed out after clearing 13-5.25. Whitaker would take his spot in the books with a 16-6.75 and later attempt 17-0.25. Though he missed two excellent efforts, he is the one to watch over the next three years.

As expected in the shot put among titans Garrett Taylor (Sr., Salt Fork) and Chris Boyd (Sr., Tuscola), they separated themselves from the field to go 1-2 with 55-2.25 and 55-0.75 efforts respectively.

Daryl Okeke (Sr., Judah Christian) had his best day on the track, at least during the indoor season. He won two gold medals: the state's top 60-meter hurdler just missed his season best with a convincing 8.03 win and proved there was no one equal to him. A short time later Okeke outlasted a swagged-out Charles Shaw (Sr., SIU-Charter) 6.90-6.96 in the 60m.

The biggest upset of the entire weekend was Mason Kooi (Sr., Springfield Lutheran) placing second in the high jump. The New Balance Indoor National champ was like a #1 seed falling vs. #16 in the NCAA BB tournament. Kooi could never get his footing, fouling out at 6-4.25. Noah Gilmore (Jr., Robinson) seized the opportunity and fully capitalized on it, winning with a clearance of 6-5.50.

Cabott Craft (Sr., Champaign St. Thomas More) in his first full and official year of competing in the triple jump, not only finishes undefeated he earns his first title (46-4) and the state's overall top-ranked position in the event.

Julian Aske (Sr., Evanston Beacon Academy) followed his Nike Indoor National emerging elite title with a ITT version in 1:56.56. Aske waltzed through the first 400 in 56.6 before cruising home.

Shelbyville got the drop on the 4x200 field from the first leg and it in 1:33.40. It was a struggle for top seed Madison who had to claw their way back from an early deficit but finished second in 1:33.91.

In the 3200, Tommy Murray (Sr., Riverdale) battled with several other competitors for about 2000m before pulling away the seven-second victory over Logan Beckmier (Sr., Arthur) in 9:27.84 PB.

The top four and seven of ten 4x800 relay times came here. It was Elgin Harvest Christian Academy that rode to the big win in 8:12.07. Daniel Winkelman (Sr) dashed 1:59.89 on his anchor carry.

Bjorn Carlson (Sr., Rockford Christian) finished undefeated in the 400m with an easy victory in 50.76. He also produced the classification's top time

Bryson Grant (Sr., Iroquois West) had the lead in the 1600m until the penultimate lap, that's when Isaac Teel (Jr., Pinckneyville) took charge and ran to a victory in 4:22.81.

Supreme Muhammad (Jr., Winnebago) produced his best ever race, winning the 200m in 22.23- dropping nearly a second off his previous best.

Shelbyville wins their second relay of the day, the 4x4 was taken in 3:29.84- the 7th fastest time in the state.



[Girls]---

Long jump: Laurel Munson (Sr., Eureka) only had one jump over 17 feet and it was a huge one, 17-11.75, and good for 15th best in the state.

Shot Put: Laney Lester (Sr., Henry-Senanchwine) held off Amanda Gustafson (Sr., Winnebago) 37-11.25 to 37-10.

High Jump: Aubrey Phillips (So., El Paso-Gridley) wins on fewer misses against Kiara Wesseh (Jr., Nemark). Both girls cleared 5-5.

Triple Jump: Kelsey Hutchins (Sr., Sherrard) picked the right time to take over the class lead with a title on her second attempt which reached 36-4.25 (IL#18).

Pole Vault: The favorite Livia Binder (Sr., Maroa) no height opened the door for Teagan Johnson (Jr., Seneca) who won with a PB 12-3.50 (IL#7)

60: Little known before ITT, Kaylin Moreland (Sr., Meridian) produced the second-best mark in the prelims (7.98). In the final, Moreland blazed the field with the 16th fastest time in the state (7.82).

60H: Cambria Geyer (Sr., Tremont) produced her best-ever performance in the final with a 9.00.

4x800: Winnebago had been dormant in terms of a fast time leading up to the championship. The 'Bagos smash the class record by over 10 seconds in 9:36.29. 

3200: Freshman Molly Farrell of Marshall shed 20 seconds from her previous best to win by 12 seconds in 10:56.92. Farrell nearly ran even splits after clocking 5:27 in the first half of the race.

4x200: Rockford Christian gets the class best in 1:48.90 and perhaps the school record.

800: Ahry Comer (Jr., Pope County) used a 67.8 first 400m to dispose of the field with a time of 2:17.05

400:  Lindley Johnston (Sr., Stark Co) stated that her indoor goal was to eclipse the 60-second barrier. She was pleased to see 59.86.

1600: Elena Rybak (So., Father McGiveney) repeats as champion in a PB 5:05.37 over Ahry Comer

200: Lindley Johnston wins her second title of the day in 25.96- she is only one of 26.00.

4x400: The top six and nine of ten came from the Top Times including Seneca's 4:07.44 (IL#10)