Last year's Class A action, particularly the 200m, was exciting to watch! Levi Milder (#6) is a key figure this year.
Charleston- Things kick off on Thursday morning on the campus of Eastern Illinois University inside O'Brien Stadium. Here are some items that have been tucked in the conscience. Check them out!
Morrison is a state favorite for the first time-
Morrison has always been in a team spoiler role in recent years, but this time, the Mustangs sit on the throne entering the first day of qualifying. The key components to success will depend on Levi Milder (Jr) and Brady Anderson (Jr). Milder is the class leader in the 100 (10.72) and 200 (21.76). Anderson has run 21.77 and won the 60m dash title at the Illinois Top Times.
Who is going to stop Nicolai Martino?
Nicolai Martino (Sr., Winnebago) enjoyed a fine cross country season in which he finished second. He could have stopped there and mused about his honors. Instead, he stayed in the lab and got even better over the winter and into the indoor season. All of that extended work has led to this point. Martino took third in the Prospect Wanner Invitational 3200m and later clocked 9:00.96. Since his team is in the running for a trophy, look for him to double back in the 1600m.
Martino will have one last opportunity to add to his legacy and possibly depart as the best from Winnebago. The legendary Jeremy Stevens owns that distinction after winning the state 3200 crown in 2006. Stevens also ran 8:56.9 at the Prospect Invite earlier that year. Also, Martino will have an opportunity to avenge his state cross country loss to Chaz Oberkfell (Jr., Gillespie).
It is 7 foot or else for Will Nohren-
One of the most exciting features during the indoor track and field season was the emergence of Will Nohren. The junior from Shelbyville took ninth last year at the state meet in the high jump. He rose to an IL#1 6'10" in March that led to a title at Illinois Top Times, and the following day, he took runner-up honors at the Illinois Indoor Championships. Nohren is undefeated outdoors with a state best and a top 20 national mark of 6'11.75." He has contended on clearing the magical seven-foot barrier this season. He better hurry up because there is someone named Ottis Powell (Jr., Willowbrook), who cleared 6'10" in his 3A sectional championship. Powell is trending up, and the high jump is his only event. Nohren, on the other hand, is competing in the long where he is a contender to place in the top three.
Let's stay with the field events, leading off with the great Isaiah Whitaker -
We already spotlighted Will Nohren in the high jump; now it's time to discuss Isaiah Whitaker. The outstanding junior from Bloomington Central Catholic, Whitaker, won his sectional championship with a 12'1.75", which is probably his lowest clearance for a standing since grade school. No need to worry, though. Whitaker won the New Balance Indoor national title and competed at the Millrose Games. His US#1 18'1" is the best for an IL kid and #4 all time in high school annals. Expect to see a run for the all-time record by his mentor Zach Bradford's 18'2."
Shot putter Graham Meister is just a sophomore at Dwight HS, but is already a state champion. He is back with a lethal 63'0" and ready to repeat and go even further. He is more than six feet better than his nearest competitor, so we all will have to match things up virtually across all classes. Meister is IL#3 coming in.
The discus throw will feature four throwers over 170 feet, led by Trenten Monnet (Sr., Brownstown) at 177'0.50" and is ranked 9th in the state. Monnet has competed in over a dozen meets and is lathered up. He took 6th last year to earn all-state honors.
The 400 may be an underrated event on the track-
Last year's state runner-up, Brian Smith II (Sr., Winnetka North Shore Country Day) could be ready to break 49 seconds for the first time this weekend. He had an opportunity to do that in April in the warm climes of California at the Arcadia Invitational. His inability to distance himself from the fray has allowed Carter Stroot (Jr., Abindon-Avon) to pop up with a string of sub-50 sec efforts, including a class best 49.04. Like Smith, Stroot will compete in three events, which will keep them on par as equals in terms of the fatigue factor. There are four other sub-50-second marks on their resume. This could be among the deepest that Class A has seen.