2020 ILXCTF.com Illinois Track & Field Previews - 3A Boys Field Events
By Michael Newman
[email protected]
The event with the only Class 3A returning champion entering this 2020 season is the Pole Vault. It also happens to be the toughest of all six field events with the top three finishers back. Zach Frye of Lake Park surprised most last year clearing 15-3 in the finals to claim the championship. Andrew Saloga of Marmion Academy and Liam McGill of Bloomington finished second and third and hungry to capture this year’s state championship.
The 2020 season started quickly for Saloga as he cleared a personal best 16-4 at the National Pole Vault Summit in Nevada last month. He is currently ranked sixth in the nation. McGill competed in a club meet at the University of Illinois at the beginning of January clearing a personal best of 15-6.25.
Triston Paul of Belleville East and Nate Bermes of Kaneland are two athletes that could go past 15-feet and surprise with a top three finish.
Mystery In The Horizontal Jumps
Both the Long and Triple Jump are events of opportunity this season. Three all-state athletes return in both events.
Kaden Turner of Bloom Township opened some eyes with his sectional performance of 24-2.50 on his home runway. Nine athletes qualified from that sectional in this event. Turner finished fifth at state as three athletes from that sectional earned all-state honors.
Elijah McCauley of Belleville East shocked some fans when he finished second at state. That was not bad for a freshman. His progression was quick as he had jumped in the 21-foot range until his conference meet when he jumped 22-5. He was eighth (22-8.75) after his state prelims jumps, then bolted up to 23-3.25. McCauley was the first freshman to earn all-state honors for his school in his event since Adoree Jackson did it finishing second in the Long Jump in 2011. Jackson moved to California after his freshman year and did great things in that state, became an All-American at Southern California, and now plays in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans.
The one athlete that stands out in the Triple Jump is Jayden Lambert of Downers Grove South. Lambert is the top returning athlete in the event finishing third at state last year with a 47-8.5 effort. Myles Lincoln of Plainfield South and Lawi Djuma of Geneva also placed in the top nine in last year’s state meet. Dillon Peters of Andrew just missed all-state placing tenth. Peters has the second best returning mark (45-6) from his sectional meet at Bloom.
A New King of the Ring
There will be a new champion in both the Shot Put and Discus in 2020 when we leave Charleston. Only two athletes that were all-state last year are back making this event wide-open. The one athlete that everyone will have their eyes on this spring in this classification is Matthew Appel of Neuqua Valley.
Appel will be a step ahead of the rest of the athletes in this event heading into this season. He had a great progression in the Shot Put last year going from 55-0 in his first meet and ending at 58-9 in Charleston where he finished fourth. Peter Skoronski of Maine South, who finished seventh, is the other all-state athlete to return. Shawn Lee of Downers Grove South got that state meet experience last year but just missed all-state as he finished tenth. Appel’s best is almost two feet ahead of that from Skoronski (57-1). All three of these weight men could surpass 60-feet at sometime this spring.
Appel will enter the Discus ring this outdoor season as the favorite after finishing third last year at state. His best of 187-11 from his sectional meet is more than 13 feet ahead of the other all-state athlete back John Kruzel of Lincoln-Way East (174-6) from his state meet performance. The event is wide-open with at least 20 athletes with the talent to finish in the top five.
The High Jump
There is no favorite in this event. The only thing that is wider open is the Grand Canyon. Three all-state athletes are back led by Jonah Walton of Hoffman Estates, Isaiah Tyler of Proviso East, and Jordan Vela of Andrew. Walton and Porter Conroy of Kaneland lead all athletes into 2020 with 6-5 bests.
Only two athlete last year at state surpassed 6-5. The hope is there that more than two will clear that height in Charleston.
Top Returning Class 3A Boys Field Event Athletes
Long Jump
| 1 |
Kaden Turner |
|
12 |
|
Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp.) |
|
7.38m |
|
5 - 3A |
| 2 |
Kenyon Johnson |
|
12 |
|
Edwardsville |
|
7.21m |
|
|
| 3 |
Kavon Jones |
|
12 |
|
Crete (C.-Monee) |
|
7.11m |
|
|
| 4 |
Elijah McCauley |
|
10 |
|
Belleville (East) |
|
7.09m |
|
2 - 3A |
| 5 |
John Moellenkamp |
|
12 |
|
Mt. Prospect (Prospect) |
|
7.09m |
|
3 - 3A |
| 6 |
Colton Doll |
|
12 |
|
Kaneland |
|
6.98m |
|
|
| 7 |
Onyi Ukaobasi |
|
12 |
|
Geneva |
|
6.87m |
|
12 - 3A |
| |
Kyshun Robinson |
|
12 |
|
Proviso West |
|
6.87m |
|
|
| 9 |
Adonte Crider |
|
12 |
|
Quincy |
|
6.86m |
|
|
| |
Malcolm Bevans |
|
11 |
|
Chicago (St. Ignatius College Prep) |
|
6.86m |
|
|
| |
Isaiah Tyler |
|
12 |
|
Proviso East |
|
6.86m |
|
|
| 12 |
Enoch Antwi |
|
12 |
|
Romeoville |
|
6.85m |
|
|
| |
Roderick Williams |
|
11 |
|
O'Fallon |
|
6.85m |
|
|
| 14 |
Samson Shukuru |
|
11 |
|
Rock Island |
|
6.81m |
|
|
| 15 |
Ryan Dykes |
|
12 |
|
Barrington |
|
6.79m |
|
|
| |
Jonah Walton |
|
11 |
|
Hoffman Estates |
|
6.79m |
|
|
| 17 |
Jay Coleman |
|
12 |
|
Naperville (Central) |
|
6.78m |
|
|
| 18 |
Trevor Fed |
|
12 |
|
Dundee-Crown |
|
6.77m |
|
|
| 19 |
Lawi Djuma |
|
12 |
|
Geneva |
|
6.73m |
|
|
| 20 |
Jylen Spivey |
|
12 |
|
Aurora (West Aurora) |
|
6.71m |
|
|
| |
Myles Lincoln |
|
12 |
|
Plainfield (South) |
|
6.71m |
|
|
| 22 |
Michael Gradle |
|
12 |
|
Lockport (Twp.) |
|
6.69m |
|
|
| |
Keion Battle |
|
12 |
|
Oswego (East) |
|
6.69m |
|
|
| 24 |
Evan Lendy |
|
12 |
|
Wheaton (North) |
|
6.67m |
|
|
| 25 |
Xavier Curtis |
|
12 |
|
Carol Stream (Glenbard North) |
|
6.65m |
|
|
| |
Folahanmi Ilori |
|
11 |
|
Lane Tech |
|
6.65m |
|
|
| 27 |
Diontre Smith |
|
11 |
|
Zion-Benton |
|
6.64m |
|
|
| 28 |
J'Lynn Gay |
|
11 |
|
Proviso East |
|
6.63m |
|
|
| 29 |
Oneil Isaac |
|
12 |
|
Maine East |
|
6.62m |
|
|
| |
Joshua Rivers |
|
12 |
|
Bolingbrook |
|
6.62m |
|
|
Triple Jump
| 1 |
Jayden Lambert |
|
12 |
|
Downers Grove (South) |
|
14.54m |
|
3 - 3A |
| 2 |
Dillon Peters |
|
12 |
|
Andrew |
|
14.07m |
|
10 - 3A |
| 3 |
Enoch Antwi |
|
12 |
|
Romeoville |
|
14.01m |
|
|
| 4 |
Myles Lincoln |
|
12 |
|
Plainfield (South) |
|
13.98m |
|
6 - 3A |
| 5 |
Kenyon Johnson |
|
12 |
|
Edwardsville |
|
13.93m |
|
12 - 3A |
| 6 |
Lawi Djuma |
|
12 |
|
Geneva |
|
13.91m |
|
7 - 3A |
| |
Jordan Vela |
|
12 |
|
Andrew |
|
13.91m |
|
|
| 8 |
Leslie Fisher |
|
11 |
|
Normal Community West |
|
13.89m |
|
|
| 9 |
Noah Davis |
|
12 |
|
Lane Tech |
|
13.82m |
|
|
| 10 |
Cortez Albarran |
|
12 |
|
Warren Township |
|
13.66m |
|
|
| 11 |
Justin Gnade |
|
11 |
|
Naperville (North) |
|
13.59m |
|
|
| 12 |
Richard Buehling |
|
12 |
|
Elmhurst (York) |
|
13.58m |
|
|
| 13 |
Xavier Andrews |
|
12 |
|
Palatine (Fremd) |
|
13.55m |
|
|
| 14 |
Cody Machlet |
|
12 |
|
Geneva |
|
13.44m |
|
|
| 15 |
Joe Ogunbode |
|
11 |
|
Lansing (Thornton Fractional South) |
|
13.42m |
|
|
| |
Brian Dickerson |
|
12 |
|
Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp.) |
|
13.42m |
|
|
| 17 |
Peter Kimba |
|
12 |
|
Rock Island |
|
13.40m |
|
|
| 18 |
David Zieba |
|
12 |
|
Rolling Meadows |
|
13.31m |
|
|
| 19 |
Brandon Vines |
|
12 |
|
Batavia |
|
13.28m |
|
|
| 20 |
Desmond Horton |
|
10 |
|
Roselle (Lake Park) |
|
13.23m |
|
|
| 21 |
John Moellenkamp |
|
12 |
|
Mt. Prospect (Prospect) |
|
13.21m |
|
|
| |
Tristan Cruz |
|
12 |
|
South Elgin |
|
13.21m |
|
|
| 23 |
Josh Guyer |
|
12 |
|
Huntley |
|
13.18m |
|
|
| |
Diego Durr |
|
12 |
|
Romeoville |
|
13.18m |
|
|
| 25 |
Nate Goodman |
|
11 |
|
Barrington |
|
13.16m |
|
|
| |
Keion Battle |
|
12 |
|
Oswego (East) |
|
13.16m |
|
|
| |
Andrew Diversey |
|
12 |
|
Mt. Prospect (Prospect) |
|
13.16m |
|
|
| 28 |
Malcolm Bevans |
|
11 |
|
Chicago (St. Ignatius College Prep) |
|
13.12m |
|
|
| 29 |
Kameron Stearns |
|
12 |
|
Elmhurst (York) |
|
13.08m |
|
|
| 30 |
Colton Doll |
|
12 |
|
Kaneland |
|
13.04m |
|
|
| |
Abdul-Karim Toheeb-Lawal |
|
11 |
|
Homewood-Flossmoor |
|
13.04m |
|
|
High Jump
| 1 |
Porter Conroy |
|
11 |
|
Kaneland |
|
1.96m |
|
|
| |
Jonah Walton |
|
11 |
|
Hoffman Estates |
|
1.96m |
|
5 - 3A |
| 3 |
Isaiah Tyler |
|
12 |
|
Proviso East |
|
1.93m |
|
6 - 3A |
| |
Olujimi Taiwo |
|
12 |
|
Whitney Young |
|
1.93m |
|
|
| |
Connor Hopkins |
|
12 |
|
Downers Grove (North) |
|
1.93m |
|
|
| |
Jordan Vela |
|
12 |
|
Andrew |
|
1.93m |
|
8 - 3A |
| 7 |
Deandre Holliday |
|
12 |
|
Willowbrook |
|
1.90m |
|
|
| |
Joshua Washingtonn |
|
11 |
|
Harvey (Thornton) |
|
1.90m |
|
|
| |
Kieran Thompson |
|
12 |
|
Loyola Academy |
|
1.90m |
|
|
| |
Aiden Oliver |
|
12 |
|
Normal Community |
|
1.90m |
|
|
| |
Abdul-Karim Toheeb-Lawal |
|
11 |
|
Homewood-Flossmoor |
|
1.90m |
|
|
| 12 |
Isaac Suh |
|
12 |
|
Buffalo Grove |
|
1.88m |
|
|
| |
Joe Mantych |
|
11 |
|
Mt. Prospect (Prospect) |
|
1.88m |
|
|
| |
Cortez Albarran |
|
12 |
|
Warren Township |
|
1.88m |
|
|
| 15 |
Matt Travers |
|
11 |
|
Glenbard West |
|
1.87m |
|
|
| 16 |
Felix Legge |
|
11 |
|
Downers Grove (South) |
|
1.85m |
|
|
| |
Jaden Dolphin |
|
12 |
|
Maine West |
|
1.85m |
|
|
| |
Charlie Nolan |
|
10 |
|
Normal Community West |
|
1.85m |
|
|
| |
Nathan Domont |
|
10 |
|
Bradley-Bourbonnais |
|
1.85m |
|
|
| |
Matthew Hightower |
|
12 |
|
Shepard |
|
1.85m |
|
|
| |
Nick Mallon |
|
12 |
|
Grayslake (Central) |
|
1.85m |
|
|
| |
Eric Maher |
|
11 |
|
McHenry |
|
1.85m |
|
|
| |
Michael Borchert |
|
11 |
|
Crystal Lake (Central) |
|
1.85m |
|
|
| |
Ryan Dykes |
|
12 |
|
Barrington |
|
1.85m |
|
|
| |
Josh Guyer |
|
12 |
|
Huntley |
|
1.85m |
|
|
| |
Ryan Fist |
|
12 |
|
Prairie Ridge |
|
1.85m |
|
|
Pole Vault
| 1 |
Zach Frye |
|
12 |
|
Roselle (Lake Park) |
|
4.72m |
|
1 - 3A |
| 2 |
Andrew Saloga |
|
12 |
|
Marmion Academy |
|
4.65m |
|
2 - 3A |
| 3 |
Liam McGill |
|
11 |
|
Bloomington |
|
4.57m |
|
3 - 3A |
| 4 |
Trison Paul |
|
12 |
|
Belleville (East) |
|
4.50m |
|
8 - 3A |
| 5 |
Kyler Probst |
|
12 |
|
Normal Community |
|
4.42m |
|
|
| 6 |
Nate Bermes |
|
12 |
|
Kaneland |
|
4.32m |
|
11 - 3A |
| 7 |
Andrew Diversey |
|
12 |
|
Mt. Prospect (Prospect) |
|
4.29m |
|
|
| 8 |
Rick Undesser |
|
12 |
|
Minooka |
|
4.19m |
|
|
| |
Jamie Goin |
|
12 |
|
Joliet (Central) |
|
4.19m |
|
|
| 10 |
Aniketh Rayudu |
|
12 |
|
Naperville (Central) |
|
4.17m |
|
|
| |
Tyler Oslage |
|
12 |
|
Antioch |
|
4.17m |
|
|
| |
Victor Rodriguez |
|
11 |
|
J. Sterling Morton Township |
|
4.17m |
|
|
| |
Collin Kao |
|
11 |
|
Lakes Community |
|
4.17m |
|
|
| |
Samuel Goin |
|
12 |
|
Joliet (Central) |
|
4.17m |
|
|
| |
Josh Kolodziej |
|
11 |
|
St. Charles (North) |
|
4.17m |
|
|
| 16 |
Charles Cruse |
|
10 |
|
Normal Community |
|
4.11m |
|
|
| |
Ted Allen |
|
11 |
|
Kaneland |
|
4.11m |
|
|
| |
Josh Cotter |
|
12 |
|
Oak Park-River Forest |
|
4.11m |
|
|
| 19 |
Derek Butts |
|
12 |
|
Yorkville |
|
4.01m |
|
|
| |
Jacob Dyer |
|
11 |
|
Collinsville |
|
4.01m |
|
|
| |
Drake Hawkins |
|
11 |
|
Pekin |
|
4.01m |
|
|
| 22 |
Greyson Schneider |
|
12 |
|
Loyola Academy |
|
3.96m |
|
|
| 23 |
Nolan Krol |
|
12 |
|
Lincoln-Way West |
|
3.86m |
|
|
| |
Damian Zych |
|
11 |
|
Palatine |
|
3.86m |
|
|
| |
Sean Licata |
|
12 |
|
Glenbrook North |
|
3.86m |
|
|
| |
Rich Palumbo |
|
12 |
|
Maine South |
|
3.86m |
|
|
| |
KT Siversten |
|
11 |
|
Crystal Lake (South) |
|
3.86m |
|
|
| |
Cameron Green |
|
12 |
|
Batavia |
|
3.86m |
|
|
| |
Dylan Nola |
|
11 |
|
Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) |
|
3.86m |
|
|
| |
Jacoby Brooks |
|
12 |
|
Maine East |
|
3.86m |
|
|
Shot Put
| 1 |
Matthew Appel |
|
12 |
|
Neuqua Valley |
|
17.91m |
|
4 3A |
| 2 |
Peter Skoronski |
|
12 |
|
Maine South |
|
17.40m |
|
7 - 3A |
| 3 |
Shawn Lee |
|
12 |
|
Downers Grove (South) |
|
17.27m |
|
10 - 3A |
| 4 |
Sebastian Swistak |
|
12 |
|
Mt. Prospect (Prospect) |
|
16.41m |
|
|
| 5 |
Hunter Matuch |
|
11 |
|
Vernon Hills |
|
15.98m |
|
|
| 6 |
Nicholas Farmer |
|
11 |
|
O'Fallon |
|
15.86m |
|
|
| 7 |
Ethan Richter |
|
11 |
|
Libertyville |
|
15.82m |
|
|
| |
Ahmondiel Barr |
|
12 |
|
Harvey (Thornton) |
|
15.82m |
|
|
| 9 |
Joe Edwards |
|
12 |
|
Lockport (Twp.) |
|
15.81m |
|
|
| 10 |
Maurice Abdalla |
|
12 |
|
Carol Stream (Glenbard North) |
|
15.51m |
|
|
| 11 |
Ahmoniel Barr |
|
12 |
|
Harvey (Thornton) |
|
15.41m |
|
|
| 12 |
Brad Walker |
|
11 |
|
Huntley |
|
15.37m |
|
|
| 13 |
Kyle Clabough |
|
10 |
|
Yorkville |
|
15.30m |
|
|
| 14 |
Tyler Marchert |
|
11 |
|
Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) |
|
15.27m |
|
|
| |
Charlie Aberle |
|
12 |
|
Lake Forest |
|
15.27m |
|
|
| 16 |
Jacob Morrissey |
|
12 |
|
Edwardsville |
|
15.11m |
|
|
| 17 |
Miles Thompson |
|
12 |
|
Glenbrook North |
|
15.07m |
|
|
| |
Matthew Egly |
|
11 |
|
Oswego |
|
15.07m |
|
|
| 19 |
Quentin Ivory |
|
12 |
|
Evanston (Twp.) |
|
14.82m |
|
|
| 20 |
Johnathon Gibleon |
|
11 |
|
Quincy |
|
14.76m |
|
|
| 21 |
Mike Smith |
|
12 |
|
Lansing (Thornton Fractional South) |
|
14.76m |
|
|
| 22 |
Carter Levin |
|
12 |
|
Barrington |
|
14.73m |
|
|
| 23 |
Diamante Reed |
|
12 |
|
Proviso West |
|
14.71m |
|
|
| 24 |
George Rasmussen |
|
12 |
|
Edwardsville |
|
14.63m |
|
|
| |
Patrick Pray |
|
12 |
|
Moline |
|
14.63m |
|
|
| |
Joe Nowakowski |
|
10 |
|
Palatine (Fremd) |
|
14.63m |
|
|
| 27 |
Isaiah Carlson |
|
12 |
|
Plainfield (East) |
|
14.60m |
|
|
| 28 |
Aidan Olsen |
|
11 |
|
Wheaton (North) |
|
14.59m |
|
|
| 29 |
Nick Tannhauser |
|
11 |
|
Rolling Meadows |
|
14.57m |
|
|
| 30 |
Brett Kuras |
|
12 |
|
Batavia |
|
14.48m |
|
|
Discus
| 1 |
Matthew Appel |
|
12 |
|
Neuqua Valley |
|
57.28m |
|
3 - 3A |
| 2 |
John Kruzel |
|
12 |
|
Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) |
|
53.19m |
|
6 - 3A |
| 3 |
Hunter Matuch |
|
11 |
|
Vernon Hills |
|
49.17m |
|
11 - 3A |
| 4 |
Tyler Marchert |
|
11 |
|
Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) |
|
48.95m |
|
|
| 5 |
Anthony Green |
|
12 |
|
Normal Community |
|
48.56m |
|
|
| 6 |
Isaiah Carlson |
|
12 |
|
Plainfield (East) |
|
47.88m |
|
|
| 7 |
Nolan Lindroth |
|
12 |
|
Plainfield (North) |
|
47.42m |
|
|
| 8 |
Hunter Danton |
|
11 |
|
Neuqua Valley |
|
47.14m |
|
|
| 9 |
Grayson Therron |
|
11 |
|
Wheaton (North) |
|
47.04m |
|
|
| 10 |
Ethan Richter |
|
11 |
|
Libertyville |
|
46.52m |
|
|
| 11 |
Brett Kuras |
|
12 |
|
Batavia |
|
46.41m |
|
|
| 12 |
Eric Malinowski |
|
11 |
|
Mt. Prospect (Prospect) |
|
46.02m |
|
|
| 13 |
Alex Valle |
|
12 |
|
McHenry |
|
45.97m |
|
|
| 14 |
Ryan Lakin |
|
12 |
|
Naperville (Central) |
|
45.72m |
|
|
| 15 |
Ahmoniel Barr |
|
12 |
|
Harvey (Thornton) |
|
45.62m |
|
|
| 16 |
Ryan Faut |
|
11 |
|
Glenview (Glenbrook South) |
|
45.59m |
|
|
| 17 |
Joshua Suttles |
|
12 |
|
Belleville (East) |
|
45.44m |
|
|
| 18 |
Konrad Twardowski |
|
12 |
|
Hersey |
|
45.42m |
|
|
| 19 |
Ayobami Arokoyo |
|
12 |
|
Schaumburg |
|
45.39m |
|
|
| 20 |
Rylie Mills |
|
12 |
|
Lake Forest |
|
45.11m |
|
|
| 21 |
David Mun |
|
10 |
|
Vernon Hills |
|
44.96m |
|
|
| 22 |
Sebastian Swistak |
|
12 |
|
Mt. Prospect (Prospect) |
|
44.53m |
|
|
| 23 |
Jayvin Chandler |
|
12 |
|
East Moline (United) |
|
44.42m |
|
|
| 24 |
Joe Edwards |
|
12 |
|
Lockport (Twp.) |
|
44.09m |
|
|
| 25 |
Nicholas Farmer |
|
11 |
|
O'Fallon |
|
43.87m |
|
|
| 26 |
Kareem Hajjar |
|
12 |
|
Burbank (Reavis) |
|
43.56m |
|
|
| 27 |
Demari Hart |
|
12 |
|
Rockford (East) |
|
43.33m |
|
|
| 28 |
Ben Kiesgen |
|
12 |
|
Fox Lake (Grant) |
|
43.26m |
|
|
| 29 |
Chris Garcia-Cloud |
|
11 |
|
Collinsville |
|
43.05m |
|
|
| 30 |
Shawn Lee |
|
12 |
|
Downers Grove (South) |
|
42.95m |
|
|
