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2017 IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championships Preview - 2A Teams

Published by
Illinois IHSA Outdoor State Championships   May 24th 2017, 4:41pm
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By Michael Newman, ILXCTF.com

[email protected]

 

Is there any school in 2A that could stop Cahokia in their pursuit of a seventh straight 2A title? Chances are good that Cahokia wins this weekend if they get through Friday safely. The talent is there to get the job done.

There are many teams that could challenge like Springfield Lanphier, Normal University, and Freeport to name a few. Freeport’s Deion McShane will look to win four individual events for his team.

Here is a look at some of the teams to watch in the 2A meet this weekend.

2A Teams to Watch

 

Cahokia

1st – Mascoutah Sectional

Qualifiers – 12 Total (8 Individuals, 4 Relays)

Overview – The Comanches look to stay perfect this decade as they go for their seventh straight 2A state tiles. This team reloaded and should be the team to beat when the 2A prelims begin Friday morning. Cahokia’s strength starts in the relays where they have the fastest 2A times in the 400, 800, and 1600 Meter Relays and will be big favorites in those baton races. Their 3200 Relay is not as strong as in the past but will still be able to score points. Chris Stanley will be in that relay as well in the 800 where he has the second fastest 2A time this season. Marquis Murray has the top sectional mark in the Long Jump and should be the favorite. Andra Ward will be one of the favorites in the Triple Jump. Shunn Grace should also get points in the event. Brandon Roberson has stepped up in his senior season as an elite 400 2A runner. I would watch for him to pick up some big points in the one-lap race. Watch for Keondre Wells to possibly score in the 110 Highs. The names change every year for the Comanches but the formula for success does not. We could see the same old winning pose on the podium Saturday afternoon.

 

Springfield Lanphier

1st – Lanphier Sectional

Qualifiers – 15 Total (11 Individuals, 4 Relays)

Overview – Lanphier won their own sectional which is not the strongest in Class 2A. They did take advantage of that opportunity advancing 15 to Charleston. Karl Wright is tied for the top mark in the High Jump and could win the event as well as A’Jonte Lee. If everything goes as plan, the duo could pick up double digit points. Dearis Herron will be busy as he could score some big points in the Long Jump as well as the 400 Meter Dash. He could also pick up some bonus points in the Triple Jump. Jarius Jackson looks like he could score in both the 100 and 200 Meter Dash. Their 400 Meter Relay team could get to the finals where anything could happen in that event. Their 1600 Meter Relay could surprise some. Austin Scheib could also get some bonus points in the Discus.

 

Normal University

3rd – Macomb Sectional

Qualifiers – 7 Total (6 Individuals, 1 Relay)

Overview – Their qualifying numbers may not be as big as Cahokia or Lanphier. The Pioneers do have the quality in their qualifiers to push for a state championship. Myles Aldridge has the top performance in the Triple Jump as well as in the Long Jump. U-High should expect big points from him both of those events. Jared Schuckman ran an epic race at Macomb running the fastest 2A time in the state in the 1600 Meter Run. He will be one to watch in that event. He is also a part of the 3200 Meter Relay team that is expected to contend for the state title. Matt Zacharias will also be a part of that relay. He could also get points in the 1600. Jack Franklin will be one of the favorites in the 3200. No errors on Friday could mean big things on Saturday.

 

Freeport

4th – Rochelle Sectional

Qualifiers – 9 Total (9 Individuals)

Overview – This is a team that could have one athlete lead them to one of the top three trophies. Deion McShane is the defending 2A champion in both hurdle events and should be the big favorite in both this Saturday. He should also get big points in the 200 Meter Dash as he has the top sectional time in that event. He should also get big points in the Long Jump. Jered Allison will get some big points in the Shot Put. It would be a bonus if he gets points in the Discus. Maurice Holloway could score in both the 110 Highs. He could get bonus points in the Triple Jump. Collin Heidenreich could also place in the Pole Vault. McShane’s big points will be a key on whether the Pretzels find themselves in the top three.

 

Aurora Marmion Academy

1st – Lisle Sectional

Qualifiers – 10 Total (9 Individuals, 1 Relay)

OverviewSeth Groom made some big noise at the Illinois Top Times Championships winning three field events. He won those events last week at Lisle as well as qualifying in the 200 Meter Dash. Big points from him in the Long Jump, Triple Jump, and High Jump could propel the Cadets into the trophy hunt. Michael Ronzone finished second last week in the 1600 Meter Run. He does have one of the 2A top times in that distance and could put up some big points. Their 3200 Meter Relay has run only 8:21 this season. They could score in that event. Groom getting into the 200 finals could also be a big boost.

 

Mahomet-Seymour

1st – Mahomet-Seymour Sectional

Qualifiers – 11 Total (10 Individuals, 1 Relay)

Overview – The Bulldogs come off a 2A championship cross country season with the possibilities of getting another trophy on Saturday. Distance events could provide a huge bounty of points. Their 3200 Meter Relay team has the third fastest 2A time in the event this season and could score some huge points. Mathias Powell and Brian Butcher both qualified in the 3200 Meter Run. Butcher has the second fastest 2A time and could challenge for a win with Powell also getting points. Gabe Pommier and Ryan Hodge qualified in a tough 1600 Meter Run. Pommier could finish among the first five. Ben Craw will be part of the 3200 Relay. He could also place in the 800 Meter Run. Brandon Bretz could make the finals in the 400 Meter Dash. You could see freshman Hunter Hendershot score in both the Shot Put and the Discus. Callen Whitehouse, injured most of the season, could be a surprise in the Pole Vault and provide some big points. This team is a sleeper and could leave Charleston with a trophy.

 

Maple Park Kaneland

2nd – Rochelle Sectional

Qualifiers – 9 Total (7 Individuals, 2 Relays)

Overview – Tradition can be a big thing especially in this meet. The Knights have that success that could lead to a top finish this weekend. Danny Walker, who won the state title in the Pole Vault in 2015, has the top vault in 2A and should be among the top three finishers. Clayton Hannula is among the top five in both the Shot Put and Discus. He could get double-digit points between both events. Matt Richtman qualified in both the 3200 and 1600 Meter Run. He could also get double-digit points in his two events. Their 400 and 800 Meter Relay teams made it to Charleston. He shorter relay has a better chance to make the Saturday finals.

 

Metamora

1st – Macomb Sectional

Qualifiers – 11 Total (9 Individuals, 2 Relays)

Overview – The Mid-Illini Conference and Macomb Sectional Champions could also be a factor in the top five. Jake Gillum is having a great season with the fastest 2A time in the 800 Meter Run and one of the top times in the 1600 Meter Run. The Redbirds have one of the top five times in the 3200 Meter Relay this spring. With Gillum in the relay, this team could challenge for the win. A triple by Gillum could be tough. He could challenge for the win in either of his qualifying events. Ethan Poston is one of the top athletes in the 2A High Jump and could give his team big points. Freshman Adam Gilbreath-Glaub is one to watch in the 3200 Meter Run if he is not part of the relay.

 

Sterling

1st – Rochelle Sectional

Qualifiers – 9 Total (8 Individuals, 1 Relay)

Overview – The champions of the Rochelle Sectional could have a chance to get into the top five. Nyrel Sullivan could be the athlete to pick up the majority of the points. We could see him pick up points in both the Long Jump and big points in the 100 Meter Dash. We could also see him score in the 200 Meter Dash. Jacob Gebhardt will be one of the favorites in the 1600 Meter Run. Zack Kirchoff could score in the Triple Jump. It would be a bonus if he places in the High Jump.

 

Geneseo

3rd – Rochelle Sectional

Qualifiers – 9 Total (7 Individuals, 2 Relays)

Overview – The Maple Leafs have the points to find their way into the top five. Reed Vanderheyden has one of the top times in the 300 Intermediate Hurdles and will be one of the favorites. He should also place in the 110 High Hurdles with Andrew Pischke. Both the 3200 Meter and 1600 Meter Relay teams are highly ranked and score some big points. Sam Thomas could also score in the Shot Put.

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