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Stories in Track and Field June 2nd-15th
Track and Field is a beautiful sport. For those of you who are reading this, you already know this to be the case. The excitement and momentum that builds throughout a track meet is incredible to feel in the moment. Many people withdraw from the sport after competing in high school. Perhaps they are unsure how to follow the sport at the NCAA or professional level, or maybe they choose not to continue being involved.
My hope in writing this is to make the world of track and field, from high school to collegiate and professional levels, a little more accessible to a high school audience. I will highlight various stories that occur each week, as well as showcase content and media that celebrate the sport.
If you have a story you'd like me to share or highlight, feel free to send me a message on X (Twitter) at @SHS_TFXC. Now onto this week.
1. Wisconsin Thrower Steals the Show
When Wisco Badger veteran Jason Swarens stepped into the ring for his final throw, he was prepared and focused to deliver. And deliver he did. With a final throw of 21.23 (69'8"), he took the competition and won the national title. In one of the most exciting throwing competitions of the season, he stepped up to the plate and got it done!
This win was awesome to me on a personal level, as his throws coach, Dave Astrauskas, is a long-time mentor of mine. He was the head coach at a small Division II school, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, when I was a student-athlete. Dave has always been one of the best people in the world, and it's incredible to see the success he is having at the D1 level. To see the excitement of his athlete after a massive throw shows just how awesome this sport is. Dave is also an alum of Troy Triad, and his ties to Illinois run deep! You love to see it!
Video of the final throw here: https://youtube.com/shorts/E4yXseaOG-Q?si=BvaclnzyHBJoOCLI
Speaking of Wisconsin, a name we in Illinois would know well, Patrick Hilby made his individual debut at the NCAA level in the semis of the 800. I have a feeling this is not the last time we will see Mr. Hilby at the national meet.
2. Nico Young Shocks The World
Many of us have heard of Nico Young. Young was a member of undoubtedly the greatest high school cross country team of all time. He continued through the collegiate ranks, improving and getting stronger and faster. Last week in the GST(Grand Slam Track) meet in Philadelphia, he used a lethal kick to take home an exciting 3k. His kick looked great in a slow race, but how would it look in a fast race that was billed as a world record attempt?
Nico passed the test with flying colors and was there at the bell in third place, kicking for home with George Mills in the Oslo Diamond League 5k. Nico closed his last lap in 53 seconds to take home his first Diamond League victory and set a new outdoor American record in the 5k of 12:45.27! What a race from Nico. He has officially arrived on the world stage.
Not to be overlooked, but another American Graham Blanks (2 time NCAA XC Champion) was close behind in 7th place running 12:48.20! Two young Americans running that fast is incredible, not to mention exciting for the medal chances of US distance runners at the World champs. Nico, Graham, Grant Fisher, Dylan Jacobs, Parker Wolfe, and many others will compete to make the USA's team in an event where a big name is going to be left off the team. The US could send four athletes to worlds if Nico or Grant compete in and win the Diamond League final later this summer in the 5k, but for now, let's bask in the awesomeness that is US distance running right now.
Video of the race here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wbxloZhk3A
3. Roisin Willis Rewrites History
Michaela Rose broke the NCAA meet record in the semifinals of the 800. It looked like it was her race to lose when it came to the finals, and she took the pace out HOT. The first lap was passed in 56.09, which is an NCAA record pace, but in the end it was too fast and Roisin Willis was waiting to pounce, going from 5th to 1st in the final 150 meters. She would end up pulling away convincingly and take the win in a new meet record of 1:58.13, which puts her number three all-time in the NCAA.
Willis has had an up-and-down career and has opened up in the past about her mental struggles with confidence and depression. It was awesome to see her live up to the expectations of a great high school career. The future is bright with both Rose and Willis, as well as Makayla Paige from North Carolina, running into the top 4 all-time in NCAA history.
Watch the race here: https://youtu.be/VAME3v2EI50?si=XH47_6XWR21Z22J_
4. NCAA Title Teams Take Different Paths to Victory
Quincy Watts' Southern California (USC) men's team had an opportunity to lock up the National title in the final event, the 4x400 relay. If they finished 4th or higher, they would be the national champions outright. Texas A&M was looking to spoil the party and had the lead with 100 meters to go, only to get walked down by the team from South Florida, whose anchor was out for redemption after being DQ'd from the 400. In the end, A&M would hold on for second, and the USC squad would finish 8th overall, leading to a tie between Texas A&M and USC.
On the women's side, it was a no-doubter as the Georgia Bulldogs dominated the field, scoring 73 points. USC would finish 2nd with 47 points, and the big news for the Illinois crowd is that the Illinois women finished 5th overall, their highest finish in 29 years, and just missed a trophy. The Petros Kyprianou era at Illinois continues to show the fruits of his phenomenal recruiting efforts, and with reinforcements coming in next year from Illinois. Around the country, the University of Illinois is on the cusp of doing something special in the near future.
5. Grand Slam Track Cancels
I think we all hoped for a better outcome in the inaugural season of GST. The races were exciting, but as the season wore on, you could tell they were constantly pivoting to try to improve the product. It was a telling sign to me when the Philadelphia meet was reduced from three days to two days, which signaled an issue with ticket demand. The Philly meet, in my opinion, was a great success. Whether it was the political climate in LA or financial matters, you could call the season as a whole a flop. They tried to do something different, but not finishing the season seemed like a failure.
I'm not sure what the future holds for Grand Slam Track, but hopefully, there is some truth behind the talk of more sponsors coming on board and talk of another season next year. Time will tell.
6. 100m Dash Madness
Football player Tyreek Hill has long trash-talked the track and field world, saying he could beat Olympic Gold medalist Noah Lyles in a race. This week, Hill ran in a track race for the first time in a few years and clocked a 10.15 and reignited the trash talk with Noah Lyles. While 10.15 is quite a ways away from Noah's PR of 9.79, the excitement of this rivalry and race in the future, possibly in the USA's, is creating a buzz across social media. While I do not think Tyreek Hill will make the final at the USAs, the eyes it will bring to our sport will be encouraging.
In other 100m news, 18-year-old Maurice Gleaton ran 9.82(+2.4 W) at the Star Athletics Sprint Series to take down none other than USA 100m Olympian Christian Coleman. The two had a minor altercation following the race, in which both have since apologized and made amends. Nevertheless, what these young 100 runners are doing right now is impressive.
Tyreek Hill Race here: https://youtu.be/fUbAMErkwv0?si=YfwN57OuD7Sy5TPV
Want to dive more into the sport? Here are some great podcast recommendations and YouTube videos to check out to learn more about some of the best track athletes in the world:
The comeback of Donovan Brazier, the best story in track and field right now: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/citius-mag-podcast-with-chris-chavez/id1204506559?i=1000712472963
A very well done insight into the greatness of Cole Hocker, 1500 Gold Medalist
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Stories in Track and Field June 2nd-15th
Track and Field is a beautiful sport. For those of you who are reading this, you already know this to be the case. The excitement and momentum that builds throughout a track meet is incredible to feel in the moment. Many people withdraw from the sport after competing in high school. Perhaps they are unsure how to follow the sport at the NCAA or professional level, or maybe they choose not to continue being involved.