By Michael Newman

DyeStat IL Editor

Even though five of the first six finishers in the 3A 1600 Meter Run have graduated, this season could still be the faster than last year overall. The runners that have returned have vastly improved making the anticipation of what this event could be in 2013 hard to take. But wait we will as we watch a fabulous progression of this season.

The potential of the 3200 should be fun to watch with Cross Country Champion Jack Keelan leading the way. Even though the 1600 may overshadow this event, we could still see three or four runners go under nine minutes for the 3200.

The movement of 2A Cross Country Champion Jones College Prep to 3A for track this season will make the races just a bit more crowded in 2013 but even more competitive.

The 800 & 4 x 800 Meter Relay? It could be perhaps the biggest mystery events in all of 3A for 2013. It should be fun to watch some new faces step up into the spotlight in 2013.

Here is a look at the distance events for 3A Boys in 2013 including the 3200 Meter Relay.

800 Meter Run

I think in the years that I have covered track & field, I have never seen anything like this in this event. The finals in the 800 last year had 12 runners…all of them seniors. This event is wide open. It gives the opportunity of someone that we are not expecting stepping up and becoming the face of this event in Illinois in 2013.

Two of the top returnees are Alex Riba and Patrick Perrier (O’Fallon HS, O’Fallon). Perrier has the best returning time in the 800 running 1:54.88 at his conference meet last May. Riba is close to his teammate running  1:55.02 at the Collinsville Invitational. The big question will be if either of these runners sacrifices their main event, the 1600, to concentrate on this race. Many decisions will need to be made as the season progresses. Also from the St. Louis metro area, keep a close eye on Chad Maxwell (Edwardsville HS, Edwardsville).

The one runner that could challenge these three is Matt Anyiwo (Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Flossmoor). Even though he ran in the low 1:56’s during the season, he turned some heads when he ran 1:54.95 in the National Junior Olympic meet in July. Only a junior, this runner is realizing how talented he is and could drop his times into the 1:52’s this spring. One other junior to watch is Alex Bashqawi (York HS, Elmhurst). Not much was heard from this York Duke his first two years at the school usually recovering from minor injuries. Last spring, he ran a 1:56 split on York’s 3200 meter relay. He has found more confidence after his 27^th place finish in the state cross country meet. He has the ability to win this event.

After these 5 runners, there is a one second drop off. Keep an eye on Chase Skenandoe (East HS, Oswego), Nick Matysek (Jacobs HS, Algonquin), David Lenzini (South HS, Crystal Lake), Logan Means (Whitney Young HS, Chicago), Jacob Amari (South HS, Downers Grove), Nick Vucovich (Fremd HS, Palatine), Trevor Obency (Huntley HS, Huntley), Nick Prajka (Sandburg HS, Orland Park), Alex Lima (Lyons Township, LaGrange), and Jacob Butler (Warren HS, Gurnee). Any one of these athletes have the talent to step up and win this event in Charleston this coming May.

1600 Meter Run

Six runners return from last year’s finals, four of them medalists. That could be one of the reasons why this event may be the showcase event in this year’s state meet. But when you think about it, when not is this event the focus in this distance crazy state. When you have your top 6 returning runners all with PR’s under 4:16 will make you stay in O’Brien Stadium a little bit longer this May.

In any of the distance races in Illinois at the state meet, you have to worry about the multiple races that the runners have to negotiate in less than 24 hours. Last year’s temperatures in the mid 90’s forced a few runners just to choose one event. One runner that chose the 3200 / 1600 double was Jack Keelan (St. Ignatius Prep, Chicago). The 3A state cross country champ has the fastest returning 1600 in 4:09.64 (enroute to the mile) at the Midwest Distance Festival. Last year, Keelan came back on the double to place seventh in this race. He is a year stronger both physically and mentally and could go for the distance double here.

Garrett Lee (North HS, Belvidere) is the highest placing returnee finishing fifth last spring. His confidence in racing has grown as shown in his great cross country campaign. His only hiccup was the state meet race. He has a PR of 4:11.3 from last year. He is a runner with the talent and the work ethic to drop into the 4:06-4:07 range.

We mentioned Patrick Perrier & Alex Riba (O’Fallon HS, O’Fallon) in the 800 preview. They are worth mentioning here. If this is the race that they choose, both will be dangerous and in the mix for a state championship. Riba’s time of 4:14.39 and the 4:15.12 Perrier ran in the prelims last year make them the fastest duo in the state. Both have the ability to push for a state championship in 2013.

Billy Bund (Lake Forest HS, Lake Forest) had a break out cross country season and will be considered one of the top runners in the 1600. Bund finished tenth last season and has a 4:15.25 PR. His confidence level is high and will challenge the elite in this state. Martin Martinez (Warren HS, Gurnee) chose to run the 3200 last year at state. He did run 4:15 at his county meet last year at the beginning of May. He could be a sleeper in this event. One runner that has not been mentioned is Kyle Hauser (Marist HS, Chicago). Hauser had a breakout end of last season culminating in an eighth place finish in the 1600. He finished 34^th last November at Detweiller. He will be in the mix with the above runners this spring.

Jamison Dale (Jones College Prep, Chicago) ran 4:15.97 to set the 2A record in the prelims last year. He has the potential to be with the state’s elite in this event. He is just another runner that could be flirting in the area of 4:10 this spring.

Keep a close watch on Alex Baker (Central HS, Crystal Lake). He did not have his best 1600 last spring, but the 14:21 that he ran at state in cross country show that his improvement could carry over in the 1600. Other runners to keep an eye on as well include Tyler Rasso (United Township HS, East Moline), Nathan Mroz and Chris May (York HS, Elmhurst), Robert Somary (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights), Harry Winter (Fremd HS, Palatine), Calvin Quarterman (McHenry HS, McHenry), Robert Taylor (Maine South HS, Park Ridge), Micah Beller (Niles North HS, Skokie), Pat McMahon (Sandburg HS, Orland Park), and Christian Zambrano (Palatine HS, Palatine).

3200 Meter Run

At the conclusion of the last track season and you would try to project what the 3200 Meter Run will look like in 2013, the overwhelming favorite’s role would have gone to Jack Keelan (St. Ignatius Prep, Chicago). The senior hast the fastest returning time (8:55.86) and his runner up finish last year is the highest returning medalist. The cross country season showed the development of a couple of runners that could press Keelan this track season.

Quentin Shaffer (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect) could be the one runner that made the biggest improvement during the cross country season.  He did run 9:17 during last season but did not run his best race last May at state. He showed his leap by placing second last fall at the state meet and then finishing 12^th at the NXN Nationals. He is one runner that could push Keelan.

One runner that should place high is Scott Milling (York HS, Elmhurst). The senior pushed the pace on Keelan before finishing second last fall at their sectional race. Milling also pushed the pace at the state meet before falling to sixth. His progress has been dramatic the last six months. His confidence level has risen after being the only Illinois male runner to qualify in both the NXN & Foot Locker Nationals. He has already run 9:31 this winter. His times will dip below 9 this spring.

Let us not forget about Tyler Yunk (North HS, Belvidere) who finished fifth last year in this race at state. He has a PR of 9:03. He had a good cross country season until his conference meet when he suffered a hip flexor injury that slowed him for the state meet. He will be back this spring at the front of the pack with a chip on his shoulder wanting to prove himself.

Jamison Dale (Jones College Prep) ran 9:22 last spring in 2A and could be a force in this event if he chooses to double. His teammate Luke O’Connor may perhaps be the surprise of this event. His running improvement showed during the course of the cross country season where each race he ran, he gained more confidence. This is a runner that could go under 9:10 this spring.

Other runners that I would watch in this vent this year include Micah Beller (Niles North HS, Skokie), Jesse Reiser (McHenry HS, McHenry), Jonah Hanig (Highland Park HS, Highland), Evan Prizy (Schaumburg HS, Schaumburg), Alex Gold (Deerfield HS, Deerfield), Andrew Philipose (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights), Ryan Burgoon (Barrington HS, Barrington), Joe Cowlin (Prairie Ridge HS, Crystal Lake), and Nolan McKenna (Wheaton-Warrenville South HS, Warrenville).

4 x 800 Meter Relay

While New Trier and Niles North had the exposure during the regular season, Lane Tech sat back and waited for the state series. The Indians emerged at the top winning a tactical state championship race last May. Lane only returns one runner from last year’s quartet. The defending champs will need some runners to step up if they want to be in the first five this spring.

There are three squads from last year’s state finals that return three runners but are missing their anchorman. Fifth place finisher Minooka is in a great spot even though they will miss 1:52 half miler Dan Popek. Joey Santillo should step up in the leader’s role. Jacobs loses anchor William Hennessy, but have either Ryan Ross or Nick Maytsek to step in to the last position. Lake Park lost Ryan Jorgensen to graduation, but has a good nucleus to choose from led by Dakota Morales.

There are a couple of schools that I would watch for that could step onto the top podium step at O’Brien Stadium. Sandburg has Pat McMahon and Nick Prajka back to lead them from a team that ran 7:46 last spring. They have a deep squad that could push this team to faster times. The other school to watch is York. Last year was not a typical year for the Dukes as they had the 25^th fastest time in 3A. This is a team that is used to being near the top of the mountain. This will be a team that has no standouts but are deep with 8 runners at 2:01 or faster. This is a sneaky dangerous team.

Also watch for York’s WSC-Silver rival Lyons Township. Last year the Lions ran 8:02 with basically sophomores and freshman on the quartet. Watch for their improvement curve as the season progresses.  One team that could be a surprise if they decide to load it would be O’Fallon. Talent is there for this squad. Steve Chorma has run 1:57 along with Patrick Perrier and Alex Riba running 1:54. Plus the fact, they have 3 other runners with the ability of going sub 2. If O’Fallon decides to run this quartet, they would be the favorite.

Other schools that I would watch for include Springfield, Wheaton-Warrenville South, Palatine, Fremd, Belleville West, and Lake Zurich.