Isaiah Whitaker was one of the marquee performers in all of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state meet
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It was a splendid weekend that spanned three days for Morrison, who won their first title under new coach Kevin Kilker. Kilker indicated that it was a great opportunity to work with such a great bunch of young men in his first season. The Mustangs produced results from all over the field and netted 60 points to easily defeat runner-up Tuscola (35) and third-place finisher Rockford Christian (32)
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4x800: Top-seeded Rockford Christian made no doubt that they were the team to beat. The Royals rolled to an easy 7:57.61 victory on the strength of a 1:57.9 anchor by junior Evan White. Rockford Christian was the only team in the classification under 8:00.
4x100: Morrison enters the track for the first time and is ready to go after some big wins. It has a great win in 42.16 and misses the class record of 42.13.
3200: Unfortunately, the fans did not get the head-to-head match-up of the two best runners in the class, Nicolai Martino (Sr., Winnebago) and Chaz Oberkfell (Jr., Gillespie). Oberkfell was the cross country champion, and Martino was runner-up to him last fall. Oberkfell failed to reach the championship section, so it was a virtual battle that everyone had to stand on.
Oberkfell won section 2 by 16 seconds with a time of 9:38.14. This was the perfect recipe for Martino to go for the win in hotter-than-normal temperatures. He maintained 71, 72 second circuits throughout the race and won comfortably in 9:33.86.
110HH: Landyn Mitchell (Sr., Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran) got revenge over several foes in the biggest race of his life, winning in a personal all-conditions best 14.37w (+2.9).
100: Brady Anderson (Morrison) had the third fastest seed of 10.86 from the prelims. He burned past top seed Alec Schlichting and teammate Levi Milder (Morrison) for the emotional victory: 10.74w (+3.3).
800: Corie Green (So., Delavan) is developing into a star in this event after superseding his prelim time of 1:55.86 with a personal best 1:55.46.
4x200: Morrison was the first team in Class A under 1:27 with a sizzling 1:26.87- the third fastest time in the state. On Saturday, the Mustangs continued with their dominant ways, clocking 1:26.92. No other team ran under 1:28.
400: Brian Smith II (Sr., Wilmette North Shore Country Day) followed up with a personal best 48.12 by dropping an easy 48.47 win.
300H: Mason Booker (Sr., Sullivan) was the favorite via the seasonal leader and the sectional best, but Trae Brickner (Jr., Peoria Christian) copped the top mark in the prelims. In the final, Booker and Brickner battled throughout the competition. Booker hit the final hurdle, which propelled him a few steps inside Brickner's lane. That stumble enabled Brickner to win 39.08-39.12.
1600: The pace was much more aggressive for Nicolai Martino, who cruised earlier in the morning for the 3200. He and Johnathan Iacobazzi (Jr., Sullivan) were in close proximity three laps in 3:11. Martino's strong kick on the bell lap put away Iacobazzi by nearly five seconds to win in 4:14.48.
200: Levi Milder (Jr., Morrison) seized the opportunity and got on the board for his first individual win, nearly breaking the class record (David Washington 21.36, 1984). Milder runs the second fastest in 1A history at 21.44 (+1.6).
4x400: Auburn saved their best for last, winning in 3:22.05 (class #1). Jacob Barth's 48.57 anchor carry was the difference for the victory.
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Field events-
PV: The nation's top vaulter, Isaiah Whitaker (Jr., Bloomington Central Catholic), gave the fans what they wanted, a show they would not forget. Whitaker entered the competition at 15'5" with just a single opponent remaining in Riley Hogan (Jr., Champaign St. Thomas More). Whitaker cleared his first heights and was perfect. Hogan bowed out at 16'0.75". Whitaker passed on that height and moved to 16'6.75" and missed on his first attempt, but cleared the second one. The height would be epic. He asked the bar to be raised to an IHSA all-class record 17'6.50" (5.35m). He went up and over on the second attempt, and the crowd on both sides of the stadium went crazy! Next up was 18'2.50" (5.55m). The first attempt was the best opportunity, but a slight overextension sent the bar sailing. The final attempt forced a tired Whitaker to bail. But it was one of the most exciting performances in state history.
HJ: The fandom will have to wait to see a seven-foot clearance from Will Nohren (Jr., Shelbyville), who cleared 6'6.75" for the win and bowed out at 6'8."
LJ: Will Nohren won his second title, achieving a mark of 22'10 (+1.9) on his second attempt in Thursday's preliminary round, which carried over. Nohren waited out competitor Logan Thompson (Fr., Belleville Althoff), who never bettered his 22'9.75" from Thursday.
SP: Graham Meister (So., Dwight) makes it two for two, throwing a series best 58'.5.25" in Thursday's prelim round.
TJ: Ben Roedl (Sr., Altamont) leaped over 45' in all six jumps, racked up a best of 45'10.50" on his third attempt.
DT: Landon Hulsing (Sr., Bureau Valley) tossed a personal best 187'7" on his fourth throw, moving from fifth to first and remaining there.
Isaiah Whitaker was one of the marquee performers in all of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state meet