ILXCTF.com 2022 IHSA Boys Track & Field Previews - 1A Sprints/Hurdles

By Michael Newman [email protected]

The Class 1A sprint events this spring should be just as wide-open as last year’s season. The top sprinter in this classification Aidan Laughery graduated early from Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley so that he can enroll early at the University of Illinois to play football. The one athlete that was a surprise in last June’s 1A State Finals was Tony Phillips of Kankakee McNamara. The freshman jumped into the spotlight in his sectional meet when he ran 11.02 for the 100 Meter Dash for the win and 22.97 to finish third.

Those times did not get him into the fastest sections of the State Finals that would have no prelims. Phillips just went out and won his section races that happened to be the fastest times in both events. A freshman who wins two state titles is hard to ignore. All eyes will be on him when he enters the blocks in Charleston this May.

The 110 High Hurdles are loaded heading into this season with defending champion Jadon Robertson of Cowden-Herrick leading a talented group that includes Luke Myszka of Downs Tri-Valley. Myszka was all-state in both hurdle events and the 200 Meter Dash last June. He could be aiming for three state titles in his senior year.

Here is a look at the three sprint events and two hurdle events that are on the IHSA schedule for Class 1A.

100 Meter Dash

Notes – Aidan Laughery had run 10.58 last spring but graduated early. It opens the door even more with defending state champion Tony Phillips of Bishop McNamara and seventh-place finisher Peyton Locke of Rockridge the only returning all-state athletes back. Phillips ran his season’s best (10.87) in the state finals. Locke’s best is just five hundredths of a second behind that of Philips.

Tyreke Fortney of Peru-St. Bede and Ryan Williams of Hope Academy were the only other athletes back that had times under 11 seconds. Jack Pearce of Pleasant Plains finished 12th in last year’s finals. Antonio Richardson of IC Catholic Prep, Dawson Feyen of Galena, Tyron Ferguson of Aurora Christian, and Alex Anderson of Morrison are some of the athletes to keep an eye on in this event.

400 Meter Dash

Notes – Three all-state athletes and five runners that ran under 51 seconds last year head this event. Cameron Crow of Litchfield finished third in Charleston last year and has the fastest time (50.33) coming back. Julian Aske of Beacon Academy and Alex Anderson of Morrison all come back with all-state finishes on their resume. Awstauce Grauer of Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley and Justice Brainerd of Morrison are the other two runners back with times under 51 seconds.

Kaiden Droste of West Central and Caleb Hoekstra of Timothy Christian were in the top 12 in last year’s finals. These two athletes could find themselves in Charleston with a top five finish. Grant Hunt of Princeville, Aidan McCorkle of St. Joseph-Ogden, and Cannon Lambert of Harvest Christian Academy are some of the runners that could see earn all-state honors this May.

200 Meter Dash

Notes – Four all-state athletes are back led by defending state champion Tony Phillips of Kankakee McNamara. Max Allen of Arthur-Lovington, Peyton Locke of Rockridge, Tyron Ferguson of Aurora Christian, and Luke Myszka of Downs Tri-Valley were all-state last year with thoughts of finishing on top in 2022. Phillips returns with the fastest time (22.31) followed by Myszka (22.63) and Antonio Richardson of IC Catholic Prep (22.69).

There are five other runners returning that ran under 23 seconds. Kaiden Droste of West Central, Sterling Stotts of Camp Point Central, and Luke Jelderks of Chicago Christian are some of the athletes to watch for this season in this event.

110 Meter Hurdles

Notes – This could be the toughest 1A event this year with seven all-state athletes coming back. Jadon Robertson of Cowden-Herrick surprised many last year in winning the state title in Charleston. He leads this talented group in 2022. Robertson holds the fastest returning time (14.68). Luke Myszka of Downs Tri-Valley and Nathan Kirby of Salt Fork were both all-state and under 15 seconds last year. Myszka entered last year’s state meet as the favorite. He will be hungry for another shot for a title this year.

Jackson Kern of Auburn, Nathan Cain of Pleasant Plains, Matthew Beltran of Forreston, and Bobby Mogged of Cullom Tri-Point were all-state as well as running times under 16 seconds. Ridge Willard of Bloomington Cornerstone Christian Academy also ran under 16 seconds. He could be a surprise in the event and could get his time close to 15 seconds. Owen Scherff of Gibault Catholic, Chase Juster of Wilmington, and Given Siegel of Seneca are some of the athletes that could make their presence known in this event.

300 Meter Hurdles

Notes – This hurdle event is wide-open compared to the shorter of the two hurdle races. Luke Myszka of Downs Tri-Valley finished third last year just ahead of fourth-place finisher Jackson Kern of Auburn. Both athletes are ahead of the rest of the returning hurdlers by almost two seconds with Myszka leading the way with a 39.27 best.

There are only three other athletes back that had times last year under 42 seconds. That is why we said this event is wide-open. Bobby Mogged of Cullom Tri-Point, Breyton Beck of Shelbyville, and Daryl Okekke of Judah Christian will all be pointing for times under 40 seconds. Nathan Kirby of Salt Fork, Michael Cunningham of Winnebago, Tristan Rhodes of Altamont, and Evan Reitz of Steeleville are some of the athletes to also keep an eye on in this event.