By Michael Newman, ILXCTF.com Editor

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Congratulations to Zachery Bradford of Bloomington High School as the 2017 ILXCTF.com Boys Overall Athlete of the Year.

Bradford was in a competition with himself in most of the meets in Illinois this spring. When he was coming into the competition in the Pole Vault, most of the other athletes in the field were out due to misses.

Excluding the sectional meet in which he was just trying to hit the qualifying mark for state, Bradford went undefeated against Illinois competition. He cleared 17-4 to break Luke Winder’s state meet record along with the all-time Illinois best. Bradford made himself known on the national scene as he finished fourth at the New Balance Indoor Nationals and second at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Only a junior, we will see him challenge his own state meet record in 2018 along with going after an 18-foot clearance which he can achieve.

Two other athletes were considered for this top spot.

John Meyer, a junior from Lockport Township, won his second straight 3A state championship in the Shot Put. His 67-2 throw at the Lockport Sectional is the second longest for an Illinois high school boys’ athlete.

Soren Knudsen of Minooka, who will attend Northern Arizona University this fall, had a great senior year both in cross country and on the track. Knudsen completed the distance crown during this year starting with winning the 3A state title at Detweiller Park in November. He followed that up in May by winning the 3200 Meter Run and then coming back to win the 1600 Meter Run at the IHSA State Meet. Knudsen went undefeated outdoors which included running 8:55 for 3200-meters and 4:05 for the 1 Mile Run.