Stars are set to shine in the Friday session of this meet

 

By Michael Newman

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Three of the top athletes in all of Illinois High School Track & Field will be on hand at the Shirk Center on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University Friday afternoon for the 1A session of the Illinois Top Times Championships.

Jon Davis (Oakwood HS, Fithian) is the defending champion in the 1A 1600 Meter Run but will focus his attention on a fast time on the 3200 Meter Run Friday. The three time 1A cross country champion has his eyes on a sub 9 minute time. Anna Sophia Keller (St. Anthony HS, Effingham) has also three state championships in Cross Country as well as three on the track. The defending champion in the 1600 will go after another title in that race as well as looking for a championship in the 800.

Kathleen Young (Warrensburg-Latham HS) set the meet record a year ago and would like to suffer a case of déjà vu to up that record in the Shot Put. The junior is ranked #4 nationally and will be the big favorite in this event as she goes for her third straight ITT Championship and possibly an effort over 50 feet.

There will be other great events Friday. Here is a look at each of the events that will take place.

 

Field Events

 

3:05 PM

 

Girls Long Jump

1A Meet Record – 18-4 ¾ - Ryann Hendricks – Palos Heights Chicago Christian -2014; Amanda McClain – Sullivan – 2015

Outlook – McKendra Barthelme (Newton HS) is the top seed in this event having jumped 17-10 ½ in the Triad Invitational in February. After that jump, the best that Barthelme has jumped was 17-1 at Eastern Illinois on March 12. Jenny Kimbro (Sidell Jamaica HS) could be her chief challenger. Kimbro started her season a few weeks ago and is slowly finding her groove on the Long Jump Runway. She improved almost half a foot last week when she jumped 16-11 at the Clinton Last Chance Meet last Saturday. A jump 17-4 or better could put her in contention for the event win.

Megan Reed (Cambridge HS) has also jumped 16-11. She did it last week at Monmouth. Do not count her out for the win. Kite Oladipupo (St. Teresa HS, Decatur) jumped 16-8 on the Shirk Center runway last week. She is a possibility to go past 17 feet in this meet. Multi event star Annie Carlson (Westmont HS) has only jumped 16-3 this season but has only competed in two meets. I would also keep an eye on her.

 

Boys Long Jump

1A Meet Record – 23-5 ½ - Babetunde Ridley – Carlinville – 1996

Outlook – Jaylon Bester (Althoff Catholic HS, Belleville) had a breakout season opener at the SIU Meet at the beginning of the March unleashing a 22-3 effort in this event. He has the best seeded mark in this meet by a half a foot. Kankakee McNamara duo Jonathan Ward and Kevin King have jumped 21-6 this season and will be the ones that could challenge Bester. Brady Rude (Newman Catholic HS, Sterling) is the only other athlete that has gone past 21 feet and could also challenge for the win.

 

Girls Shot Put

1A Meet Record – 49-1 ¼ - K.D. Young – Warrensburg-Latham – 2015

Outlook – One of the first events in this meet will be this one. All eyes will be on meet recorder holder KD Young. The junior has been on a hot streak this season not going under 47 feet in any of her meets this season. Her 50-8 that she achieved at Ohio Northern University at the beginning of January is ranked fourth nationally. Two differences for her from last year is that she thought she peaked too early last season. Her goal was to peak twice this season. One of those peaks is at the end of the indoor season. We could see a big performance from her in this meet. 50 feet or longer would not be out of the question.

It is hard to imagine anyone getting close to Young in this meet. Abby Nicholson (Sidell Jamaica HS) had a season best at the Clinton Last Chance Meet last Saturday (41-11 ½), but it is still nine feet behind the best that Young has gone. Mikah Maples (Moweaqua Central A&M HS), Rachel Clowers (Pleasant Hill HS), and Megan McElroy (Illini West HS, Carthage) are athletes that could battle for the second spot.

 

Boys High Jump

1A Meet Record – 6-11 – Zach Riley – Herrin – 2009

Outlook – This will be a great event to watch as five athletes have all cleared 6-6 this indoor season.  The IHSA 1A State Champion Noah Adams (Meridian HS, Macon) started his season clearing 6-4 at Decatur and then 6-6 last Saturday at the U of I. He could go higher in this meet. Tyler Owen (Georgetown-Ridge Farm) finished second in this meet last year ahead of Adams and would like to take one step higher on the podium. He cleared 6-6 at Danville on March 12.

Nick Schultz (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley HS) along with Brady Irwin and Quinn Halversen (Rockford Christian HS) have all cleared 6-6 this season and will challenge for the win. With so many athletes that close together height wise, strategy and passing heights will definitely come into play in this event.

 

Girls Pole Vault

1A Meet Record – 13-0 – Morgan Zacharias – Braidwood Reed-Custer HS – 2015

Outlook – Hanna Atwood (St. Joseph-Ogden HS) has cleared 11-3 this season and is the only athlete only the 11 feet mark. Watch for her to be the favorite in this event. Madi Quinn (Hall HS, Spring Valley) has cleared 10-6 this season and Cassie Wilson (Tri-Valley HS, Downs) has cleared 11-0. If anyone is go higher that Atwood, it could be these two athletes.

 

5:00

Boys Triple Jump

1A Meet Record – 47-1 – Ridge Thompson – DuQuoin – 2007

Outlook – Dazhee Horton (Momence HS) shocked many of the fans at the Comet Classic at Reed Custer last Saturday when he jumped 44-0 ¼ to win this event. He had a 2015 seasonal best of 40-5. The question will be if he can maintain that distance in this meet. There is no one within a foot of Horton. Anthony Hand (Illini Bluffs, Glasford) and Ethan Meyer (Vandalia HS) have jumped 42-11 this year. If Horton is off, one of these athletes could take the win. Chris Bauer (Urbana University) and Brady Egelhoff (Carlinville HS) could also find their way into the top three in this event.

 

Girls Triple Jump

1A Meet Record – 38 – ¾ - Leah Orley – Benton – 2008

Outlook – This could be a wide open event, but eyes most likely will be on Megan Reed (Cambridge HS) and Annie Carlson (Westmont HS). Reed finished fifth in last year’s IHSA 1A State Meet. She has the top seed in this event (36-8) and has gone past 36 feet twice in the three meets that she has competed in this indoor season. Carlson has only jumped 35-6 ½ this season but again has only competed in two meets. The Westmont senior is a big meet performer that could find her way to the top of the podium in this meet.

Madison Davis (Rockford Lutheran HS) and Maddie Meyer (Argenta-Oreana HS) are the only other athletes that have gone further than 35 feet this season. They will challenge for a top three finish. Kaelyn Hamalle (Hall HS, Spring Valley) has jumped 34-10 this winter and could also be a threat for the top three.

 

Boys Pole Vault

1A Meet Record – 16-6 – Matt Bane – Rochester – 2010

Outlook – Curtis Gordon (Vandalia HS) is the athlete to watch in this meet. The junior is coming off of a personal best 15-6 clearance last week at Charleston and the only athlete in 1A to go over 15 feet this season. Ethan Mizer and Matthew Knipfer (St. Joseph-Ogden HS) are a foot behind Gordon with Mizer clearing 14-6 last week. If Gordon has an off night, watch for one of these two to step up. Nathan O’Connor (Tremont HS), Andrew McWhorter (Teutopolis HS), and Andrew Glynn (Staunton HS) are some of the athletes that will challenge for a top three finish.

 

Boys Shot Put

1A Meet Record – 59-2 ½ - Matt Maddox – Girard – 1996

Outlook – This is a wide open event especially with 1A list leader Kyler Yodts (Alleman HS, Rock Island) not in this meet. Michael Ford (Rockford Christian Life HS) has the top seed mark heading into this meet (53-5). He will be challenged by Avery Stevenson (Wethersfield HS, Kewanee) and Nick Olson (Flanagan-Cornell HS). They are the only other athletes in this meet to go past 52 feet this season.

 

Girls High Jump

1A Meet Record – 5-9 – Megan Reese – Eureka – 2001

Outlook – This could be the best of the 1A Field event competitions on Friday night. Hope Tewes (Pleasant Plains HS) had been stuck at 5-2 most of the indoor season. Last Saturday at Galesburg, she popped a 5-6 clearance. She finished third at the IHSA 1A State Meet last year. The surprise in this event is DaeLin Switzer (St. Teresa HS, Decatur). Just like Tewes, the freshman has been stuck on 5-2. The last week she has been hot clearing 5-6 in two meets that last being Clinton Last Chance last Saturday.

Ellie Niemann (Litchfield HS) cleared a personal best 5-5 at Jersey on March 12 and could push for the win in this meet. Laura Beckett (Moweaqua Central A&M), Billi Fox (Illini Bluffs, Glasford), and McKenzie Hagen (Watseka HS) are some of the athletes that could challenge for the win. There are 19 athletes competing in this event. Anything could happen.

 

Track Events

4:15

Girls 3200 Meter Run

1A Meet Record – 10:49.20 – Kelsey Hildreth – Byron – 2014

Outlook – This will be an interesting race especially that front runners Anna Sophia Keller and Daly Galloway are not in here having not run this distance indoors. 1A List leader Katie Glew (North Shore Country Day, Winnetka) will also not be running. Colleen Madden (Carlinville HS) showed last fall that she is a big race runner having finished 18^th at the 1A State Cross Country Meet. She ran a controlled 11:53.75 to win at the Triad Invitational in February. She won’t be up front early, but look for her to push the pace in the middle of the race.

Megan Grady (Amboy HS) started her season last Saturday on this track running 11:54 in the Clinton Last Chance Meet. She could be one of the runners to push the pace. Laura Krasa (Judah Christian HS, Champaign) is a talented sophomore that could come away with the win. She ran 12:04 last Saturday at the U of I. She could be the surprise in this race. Emma Hildreth (Byron HS), Keri Burmester (Red Bud HS), Nygia Pollard (Harvest Christian, Elgin), and Kelsey Cleary (St. Teresa HS, Decatur) are some of the other runners that could be up front. This is a deeper field than people think.

 

Boys 3200 Meter Run

1A Meet Record – 9:27.71 - Steve Schroeder – Monticello – 2012

Outlook – The can’t miss event of the Friday session and even this meet. Jon Davis (Oakwood HS, Fithian) has already run under the 1A meet record with a controlled 9:21.62 at the Charger Classic at the beginning of the month. He ran 4:19 (again controlled) last week at Charleston showing that he is primed for a great race here. I doubt it will be a race against the fourteen other athletes in this race rather a race against the clock. It would not surprise me to see him go past the first mile under 4:30. He wants a fast time to get himself ready for Arcadia in April. I could see him running 9:05 or faster.

The battle in this race outside of what Davis is trying to do is who will get second in this event. Hunter Cobbley (El Paso-Gridley HS) ran 9:50 at the end of February at Olivet Nazarene and could run near 9:40 in this meet. Sirlaurence King (Leo Catholic HS, Chicago) ran 9:47 last week at CCL and could push Cobbley. Tyler Johnson (Pleasant Plains HS) ran 9:56 at the end of February. I think he is capable of running near or under 9:40 in this race. Nolan Kriepe (Carlinville HS) is another runner to watch in this race.

 

Prelims 5:00 PM - Finals 6:20 PM

Girls 60 Meter Hurdles

1A Meet Record – 8.82 – Jenny Kimbro – Jamaica South Fork – 2015

Outlook – This race is all about 2 time defending 1A 110 Meter Hurdle champion Jenny Kimbro in this race. The 1A meet record holder in this event has only run this event once this season but it resulted in an 8.95 at EIU on March 12.  It would not surprise me that she breaks her own record finding a time under 8.8 in the finals. McKendra Bartheleme (Newton HS) and Alayna Slater (Fisher HS) have run under 9.3 this season. Watch for them to be Kimbro’s biggest challengers in this race. Annie Carlson (Westmont HS), Parker Francisco (St. Joseph-Ogden HS), and Emery Podowicz (Clifton Central HS) are some of the athletes to also keep an eye on.

 

Boys 60 Meter Hurdles

1A Meet Record – 8.24 – Joe Morrow – Hales Franciscan – 2013

Outlook – There is no clear favorite in this event. Curtis Gordon (Vandalia HS) ran 8.54 at SIU at the beginning of the month. He has the fastest seed time entering this meet. Brett Dannis (St. Bede HS, Peru) and Zach Johnson (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley HS) are within a tenth of a second of Gordon and could end up with the win in this event. Noah Blievenicht (Teutopolis HS) and Trey Miller (Lewistown HS) are some of the athletes that could challenge for a top finish. Watch for the winning time to be between 8.40 to 8.45.

 

Prelims 5:20 PM - Finals 6:35 PM

Girls 60 Meter Dash

1A Meet Record – 7.85 – Mariah Woods – Seton Academy – 2015

Outlook – Defending champion and 1A meet record holder Mariah Woods is back and ready to go in this event. She ran 7.98 to finish second at the GCAC Meet last Saturday showing that she could win her second ITT title. The one roadblock in Woods’ way is Courtney Sockwell (Rockford Lutheran HS). The junior has been the hot 1A sprinter this indoor season having run under 8 seconds six times including a 7.76 second place finish at the U of I last Saturday.

This is a good field where we could see a surprise. Jada Williams (Luther North HS, Chicago) came on strong last outdoor season. Williams has run 8.18 this winter but could go under 8 in this meet. Frankie Izard (St. Joseph-Ogden HS) has been tough this season running 8.07. It would not surprise me if she finds her way to the top of the podium. 26 athletes will toe the line in this event. I do think it could come down to Sockwell and Woods in the front.

Boys 60 Meter Dash

1A Meet Record – 6.93 – Andre McGill – Madison - 2015

Outlook – Will we see a winning time under 7 seconds in the finals of this event? With the talent assembled. It is a possibility. Jaylon Bester (Althoff Catholic HS, Belleville) has the fastest seeded time (7.02) from his race at SIU at the beginning of March. Connor Icenogle (Williamsville HS) has a faster seeded time than Kahlil Wassell (New Berlin HS), but it was Wassell that had the edge last week at Charleston. The two could push for the win in this meet.

Jeremiah Davis (Collins Academy, Chicago) has the fastest 1A time in the 55 Meter Dash (6.65) and has run 7.11 in this distance this year. It would not be a surprise if he wins. Jason Robinson (Trenton-Wesclin HS) and Brady Rude (Newman Catholic HS, Sterling) are two other athletes that I would watch in this event.

 

5:40 PM

Girls 3200 Meter Relay

1A Meet Record – 9:46.70 – Eureka – 2006

Outlook – This could be a great race. Urbana University enters this meet with the top seed time (10:17.86) led by sub 2:20 runners Arielle Summit and Annemarie Michael. It would not surprise me if this team gets close to 10 minutes in this race. Springfield Lutheran was a surprise during the cross country season but has established themselves as a distance team to watch in 1A this indoor season. With sister duos Jackie & Maddy Eck and Bernadette & Brigid Tournoux running, this quartet has the talent to challenge U-High for the win. Knoxville, Deer Creek Mackinaw, and St. Joseph-Ogden have the experience in this event and could push for a top finish. It will be a close race. The remaining teams are within five seconds of each other.

 

Boys 3200 Meter Relay

1A Meet Record – 8:00.15 – Monticello - 2006

Outlook – Shelbyville has the fastest seed time heading in this meet (8:24.40) and will be challenged by St. Joseph-Ogden for the win. The Rams should load this event with runners like Marcus Skinner and Ryan Skowronski leading the way. St. Joseph-Ogden, led by Gabe Lyons, has the talent along with Shelbyville to run under 8:20 in this race. Paxton-Buckley-Loda could be a threat if they are close on the final exchange. Nick Porter has sub 52 second 400 speed and could be a difference maker in this race. Watch for Byron and El Paso-Gridley to also challenge for a top three finish.

 

6:45 PM

Girls 800 Meter Run

1A Meet Record – 2:13.23 – Stephanie Brown – Downs Tri-Valley – 2008

Outlook – Anna Sophia Keller (St. Anthony HS, Effingham) starts her attempt at a double with the fastest seed time in this event (2:16.24) run two weeks ago at Charleston. She was doubling in that race also. Arielle Summit (Urbana University) has run 2:18.43 in this event and could be Keller’s biggest threat. Jacey Roper (Carlinville HS) ran 2:20.74 finishing behind Keller in the Charleston race and will be fighting for the win.

 

This is a championship field fitting for this championship meet. Mariah Brodie (Illini West HS, Carthage), Audrey Harrod (Hinckley-Big Rock HS), and Laura Evelti (St. Teresa HS, Decatur) all could find their way in the top three. It would not surprise me to see at least four runners under 2:20 in this race. Stephanie Brown’s 1A Meet Record of 2:13.23 could be in play in this race.

 

Boys 800 Meter Run

1A Meet Record – 1:55.8 – Zach Glavish – Illinois Valley Central – 2003

Outlook – Cory Landon (Carlinville HS) is the runner to beat in this race. The senior has the fastest seed time (1:57.03) by over four seconds. The question will be if he will be going for time or just for the win? Landon will be running in the 1600 Meter Run an hour later.

It could be a wide open race behind Landon. David Plunkett (Pleasant Plains) and Gabe Lyons (St. Joseph-Ogden HS) will be coming back from the 3200 Relay but could dip under 2 minutes. Joseph Stone (Newton HS), Josiah Vogel & Brian Smith (Rockford Christian HS), and Drake Baker (Meridian HS, Macon) all have the capability to run in the top three.

 

7:00 PM

Girls 800 Meter Relay

1A Meet Record – 1:47.50 – Seton Academy – 2012

Outlook – Luther North showed that they were a relay power at the IHSA 1A State Meet last May. It should not be any different in this meet as they have run 1:49.98 led by Jada Williams. Mercer County has the fastest seeded time by two hundredth of a second led by Kenzie Baker. Either or both of these teams could run under 1:48 with a chance at Seton Academy’s meet record set four years ago. St. Teresa, led by Kite Oladipupo, and Newton, led by McKendra Bartheleme, are also teams to watch challenging for the win.

 

Boys 800 Meter Relay

1A Meet Record – 1:33.0 – Harrisburg – 2000

Outlook – This event is perhaps the wildest of all the events contested in this meet especially with the handoffs. Mercer County ran 1:35.53 at their conference meet on March 11. They have the fastest seed time by over a second. The next nine teams behind Mercer County are within four tenths of a second of each other making this an extremely close event. Kewanee Wethersfield, Illini West, and Rockford Christian are some of the teams that will challenge for the championship win.

 

7:30 PM 

Girls 400 Meter Dash

1A Meet Record – 57.03 – Gena Rowlings – Stanford Olympia – 2001

Outlook – This event is anyone’s guess who will win. We will be seeing some of the athletes running in the 800 coming back 45 minutes later in this event. Mariah Brodie (Illini West HS, Carthage) has the fastest 1A time this year (1:01.48) and will be one of the 800 runners coming back to watch along with Audrey Harrod (Hinckley-Big Rock HS). Bethany Wagenbach (Tremont HS) could be the one athlete to watch. The sophomore has run 1:01.65 last week on this track and could be the favorite in this race. Cherree Miller (Fairfield HS), Annie Carlson (Westmont HS), and Megan Reed (Cambridge HS) are all within a second of Brodie making this race unpredictable. We could see the event winner coming from one of the earlier sections.

 

Boys 400 Meter Dash

1A Meet Record – 50.62 – Zach Glavish – Illinois Valley Central – 2002

Outlook – The top four athletes in this event are within a tenth of a second of each other making this anyone’s race. All sixteen runners entered could win. Steven Gilstrap (Farmington HS) has the fastest seeded time (52.42). Drake Baker (Meridian HS, Macon), Chris Bauer (Urbana University HS), and Zach Vancil (West Central HS, Biggsville) could all win. Also watch for Kahlil Wassell (New Berlin HS) and Deondre McNeal (Orr Academy, Chicago) to be on top of the podium Friday evening.

 

7:50 PM

Girls 1600 Meter Run

1A Meet Record – 4:54.83 – Katelyn Bastert – Carthage Illini West – 2007

 

Outlook – Anna Sophia Keller (St. Anthony HS, Effingham) has run this event three times this indoor season and has run under 5 minutes each of those times. She will have an hour rest after running the 800 earlier in the meet. When she doubled at Charleston on March 12, she came back after a 2:16 800 to run 4:57. She could threaten Katelyn Basert’s 1A meet record.

Don’t let the 5:18.62 time that Daly Galloway (Dwight HS) fool you. She ran that at the Batavia Distance Madness Meet. She had run 2:22 in the 800 earlier in that meet. If there is anyone that could push Keller in this race, it could be her. The same could be said about Maria Brauer (PORTA HS, Petersburg) in this race. This will be her only event and could be pushing Keller. A 5:10 or under race by Brauer would not surprise me.

Claudia Magnussen (Pana HS) will be fresh in this race and could also be a threat up front. Annemarie Michael (Urbana University HS) will be running the 3200 relay and her teammate Arielle Summit will be running the relay and the 800. Both could be tough in this race.

 

Boys 1600 Meter Run

1A Meet Record – 4:19.5 – Jason Bill – Bureau Valley – 2002

Outlook – Even though Cory Landon (Carlinville HS) has the fastest seed time in this event (4:20.18) by nine seconds, this race could be extremely tactical. Landon will be coming back from the 800 an hour before. It will be interesting to see how he responds to the turn around. Tyler Johnson (Pleasant Plains) is coming back from the 3200 as well as Hunter Cobbley (El Paso-Gridley HS). Marcus Skinner (Shelbyville HS) has run 4:30 and could dip near 4:27. Logan Hall (Arthur-Lovington HS) has run 4:29.48 and could come away with the win. Nick Porter (Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS) will be coming back from the 3200 Relay, but has run 4:31.22 this year as well as 51.97 in the 400. If this race comes down to a kick, it could come down to the wheels of Landon and Porter that could decide this race.

 

8:10 PM

Girls 200 Meter Dash

1A Meet Record – 25.70 – Tominque Boatright – Aurora Central Catholic – 2001

Outlook – All eyes will be on Courtney Sockwell (Rockford Lutheran HS) in this event. The junior ran 26.31 in January and came back to run 26.40 at the U of I last Saturday. She could get near or under 26 seconds in this race. Erika Zimmerlein (Amboy HS) finished ahead of Jenny Kimbro (Sidell Jamaica HS) on this track last Saturday at the Clinton Last Chance Meet. Both could threaten for the win if Sockwell gets off to a bad start. Jada Williams (Luther North HS, Chicago), Taylor George (Warrensburg-Latham HS), and Kenzie Baker (Mercer County, Aledo) could all be in the top three. Mariah Brodie (Illini West HS, Carthage) will also be in this event making this her fourth event of the night (60, 200, 400, 800).

 

Boys 200 Meter Dash

1A Meet Record – 22.3 – Jeff Farnell – Montini Catholic – 2005

Outlook – Jeremiah Davis (Collins Academy, Chicago) is the only runner under 23 seconds in this 1A meet. He did run that on the banked track at the University of Arkansas in January. He did run 22.96 at Illinois State at the beginning of March. He still is the favorite in this event. Connor Icenogle (Williamsville HS), Kahlil Wassell (New Berlin HS), and Deondre McNeal (Orr Academy, Chicago) should be close to Davis in this event. 22.7or faster should be the time to win.

 

8:35 PM

Girls 1600 Meter Relay

1A Meet Record – 4:07.46 – Carthage Illini West – 2015

Outlook – This event will be a fun way to end the first night of this meet. The top five teams are all within four seconds of each other. Clifton Central has the top seed time (4:16.62). They will be challenged by St. Joseph-Ogden, Winnebago, St. Teresa, and Pleasant Plains in this event.

 

Boys 1600 Meter Relay

1A Meet Record – 3:27.49 – Monticello – 2006

 

Outlook – Rockford Christian ran 3:36.79 last Friday in Wisconsin and should be one of the favorites in this race. There is of course St. Joseph-Ogden that thrives in this race in this meet and could be Rockford Christian’s biggest threat. Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Shelbyville, and Tremont will be among the teams challenging for the top spot.