Springfield HS head coach Trae Contner is back at it with another exciting episode of the happenings in the sport
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This was a slow week on the high school side of things, but the professional side really got going. Here is a look at some of the biggest storylines of the week
1. Marcellus Moore 9.96
The former Illinois prep superstar from Plainfield North has entered the chat for the USA 100m Dash. This time, it secures his position on the USA champs and gives him an outside shot at making Team USA in the 100 or the 4x100 relay pool. It is really awesome to see Marcellus still out there going for it. As one of the most talented sprinters to come through Illinois, maybe ever, we will all be rooting for him at nationals!
2. Josh Hoey 3:29
The 800 specialist moved up to the 1500 at the Ostrava meet and broke through and joined the US list of athletes to go sub 3:30 this year. What a year for the 1500 as the scene has exploded even without Jakob Ingebritsen. This race was a lot of fun to watch and added to Hoey's great tour of Europe. Hoey was once a high school phenom and it has been great to watch him really come back onto the scene this year indoors and now outdoors.
Watch the race here: https://youtu.be/Xrf8TNVmbcw?si=NnWTIaaMyPSF_cjD
3. Faith Kipyegon sub 4 attempt
Probably the story of the week was the sub 4 attempt by the GOAT Faith Kipyegon in the mile. With an army of pacers, the newest and best gear, and a huge production funded by Nike, she went for it and ultimately ran 4:06.42. While this was the fastest mile ever run, it was ultimately too much of an ask to try to drop 8 seconds off of the world record, even with the best setups possible. Is sub 4 going to happen someday? Probably, but I think we are much further away than some may have thought.
Watch the attempt here: https://youtu.be/S46MvH1qU7U?si=RCreFdD76IJPBZgQ
5. Owen Powell Pre Classic
The soon to be Washington University athlete is preparing to compete with the best of the best at the Prefontaine classic in the International mile. Does he have a shot at the HS national record held by Alan Webb? I think so, but he has to run the race like Webb did. Hang in the back and see how many he can pick off in the final lap. Really looking forward to watching this race to see what he can do.
Here is a great workout that he did in preparation: https://youtu.be/Rbe60VdvqFI?si=xYYc26EI4lY2D9_V
6. Illini Continue To Build The Future
Coach Petros continues to put the Illini in a position to compete for the National Title and was recently named the NCAA regional coach of the year--another phenomenal accolade for the leader of the Illini. If you are ever in the area during the season, be sure to attend either an indoor meet or an outdoor meet at the University of Illinois. They are constantly competing with the best in the country week in and week out.
In addition, former Illinois prep superstar Jaimie Robinson has been named as an assistant coach. The former All-American who competed formerly at Homewood-Flossmoor HS, went on to star at U of Alabama, U of Oregon, and The Ohio State University. Article release: https://fightingillini.com/news/2025/6/30/womens-track-field-robinson-joins-illini-track-and-field-coaching-staff.aspx
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7. RIP Bill Delinger
The track and field world lost an absolute legend over the weekend. Bill Delinger, an Olympian and mentor and coach to Steve Prefontaine, passed away. He was a pivotal person in the rise of track and field. My words can't do his accomplishments justice, but here is an incredible article on the man written for RunnersWorld: https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a64958007/bill-dellinger-dies-at-age-91/
Please take a moment to give it a read.
8. Abby Hall takes the Western States 100 miler!
If you are a fan of endurance racing, then you know about former Wheaton-Warrenville South standout Abby Hall (nee' Mitchell). Hall recently won one of the long endurance racing crown jewels, the Western States 100 miler. Hall, a professional athlete with Adidas Terrex, breaks down her incredible feat!
9. Youth track and field at its core
It's summer track and field season for clubs, and around this time, athletes typically compete for spots to make the national championships. The USATF and AAU circuits dominate the circuit. There was also a new competition on the scene, called the Under Armour Sprint Showcase, put on by national representative Bryce Basting at Huntley HS.