Tuesday-
Southland
Kankakee gears up to defend their home track against conference rivals including Crete-Monee and Thornwood. Unlike last year, the Kays are more of a one-man show on the strength of Jayon Morrow (Jr.) in all three flat sprints. He will have his hands full with Javaris Pittmon (Jr., Thornwood) and Edward Clark III (Sr., Crete-Monee). Eric White (Sr., Rich Township) is Morrow's best competition in the 400, where Morrow has gone 49.16 so far this outdoor season.
Clark and Jhamarea Jones (Jr.) headline Crete's relays that are strong favorites in the 4x1, 4x2, and 4x4. Two field event stars are the athletes to watch, though. Pittmon's teammate Deandre Kelly (Jr.) will attempt the HJ, LJ, and TJ triple. His outdoor marks include 6-5, 22-6, and 42-8. Javaris Ambrose (Sr., Thornton) should walk to wins in both throws. He has gone 61-2 and 154-7.5 this year.
Heart of Illinois
Eureka and Ridgeview are the teams to watch in this conference. Charlie Bardwell (Sr.) leads a formidable Eureka distance attack that also includes Carson Lehman (Jr.), Andrew Perry (Jr.), and Tucker Hinkle (So.). Sam Bushert (Sr., El-Paso Gridley) will try to disrupt that monopoly. Ridgeview retorts on the strength of sprints and relays, including Brayden Campbell (Jr.) and his 10.97 and 22.57 season bests. Ridgeview and Eureka have both run 3:30 or under in the 4x400. Tyler Atkins (Sr.) boosts Ridgeview's prospects as a 46' putter, but Nick Feather (Jr., Heyworth) is close behind. Feather is also the discus favorite. Lastly, watch for two EPG sophomore jumpers: Marcus Czapar (PV) and Dante Golden (LJ, TJ).
Cahokia
The Cahokia Conference includes the best long distance runner in the state right now, Ethan Hogan (Jr., Columbia). Hogan may elect the distance triple as he is the leader in all three, but Noah Hunt (So., Breese Central) and Wyatt Doyle (So., Roxana) will try to block him in the 800. Matt Pluff (So., Freeburg) has broken out as an HJ favorite, clearing 6-9 back on April 10. The sprints will be interesting, as Carter Wasson (Sr., Steeleville) sports a 10.97 from early in the season, but Torre Lofton (Sr., Sparta), Gavin Baldwin (So., Red Bud) and Matthew Evans (Jr., Wesclin) will be in the mix with him as well.
Central Illinois
There are several strong rosters in this conference, headed by Tuscola, St. Teresa, Shelbyville, and Sullivan. Shelbyville and St. Teresa will be going head to head in each relay, and throw Tuscola into the mix in the 4x800 as well, depending on the event load of duo-stars Jackson Barrett (Jr.) and Josiah Hortin (Jr.), but Will Foltz (Jr.) will help the crew have options as well.
Shelbyville's sprints are led by Gage Smith (Sr.) and Tucker Foil (Jr.) and are neck-and-neck with St. Teresa's duo of Jeremy Walker (Sr.) and Brycen Hendrix (Sr.). Tuscola looks to lean on Chris Boyd (Sr.) for 20 points in the throws. Boyd threw 60' in the shot last year and has thrown 58-1.25 this year. St. Teresa's Royce Harper (Sr.) is an intriguing Triple Jump potential medalist, with a 45-2.5 jump on April 11th.
Kishwaukee River
Richmond-Burton and Woodstock North are chasing Woodstock in this conference. Woodstock has a hold on the distance events, on the strength of Ishan Patel (Jr.), Aryan Patel (Jr.), and Ellery Shutt (Fr.). Sean Rockwell (Jr., Richmond-Burton) will star in the 400 and then return to hold off teammate Jack Martens (Jr.) and Mark Duenas (Sr., Woodstock North) in the 200. The Creighton Brothers lead in the Pole Vault, and Landan (Jr., Woodstock North) has vaulted 14-0 and triple jumped 41-3 to lead the conference.
Mid-Illini
Morton will look to hold strong on the track, and will need to hold off Metamora and Pekin in the field events. Morton has sprint depth, led by Nyamedze Maison (Jr.) and Carl Whitaker (Sr.). Layton Knoop (Jr.) is the major Potter mid-distance weapon, and they have plenty of scorers in distance as well. The best track athlete is probably Reece Dusek (Sr., Dunlap) with 1:55 and 49.9 outdoor bests this season. Metamora can give Morton a run for their sprint relay money. Drew Tucker (Sr., Metamora) is the HJ favorite at 6-6, and watch to see what Heath Hawkins (Jr., Pekin) does in the pole vault. He has cleared 15-1.