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Class Boys State Championship Preview
There will be a ton of big-time performances in Charleston over the weekend
Tony Jones- Dyestat IL/ESPN RISE
This weekend in Charleston is going to be all about top ranked Herrin whether you like it or not. The master chatter is going to be how much the Tigers are going to win their third state championship by. And how high and how far Zach Riley will jump and sprint on the relays. Of course, there will other teams and individuals to watch and cheer in each of the meet’s categories: track and field.
Winnebago will be out to thwart any Herrin celebrations this weekend. The ‘Bagos will attempt to move up from state runner-up last year on the strength of throws guru Alex Thompson.
Others to keep any eye out for: Tuscola, Sparta, Rochester, Champaign (St. Thomas More), Oregon, Shelbyville.
Event look-
Sprints/Hurdles:
The 100m is going to be a hotly contested event with the likes of Nate Schreiber (Trenton Wesclin), Ben Asmus (Heyworth), and Jade Ackerman (St. Thomas More). Schreiber is the top runner from last year’s final. Asmus and Ackerman are Dyestat Illinois’ TFX leader. The focus will remain on these individuals because the massive times from the sectionals could be hand-timed inflated. Even so, a betting person would be served to include sectional leaders: Cody Kramer (Harvard), Jeremiah Ludwig (Polo), Jimmie Smith (Canton), Ismael Yemoh (Westminister Christian), and Quinn Haas (Lena-Winslow). Only Ludwig is rated high in FAT scoring… Ackerman is the only 200m sprinter under 22.00 in terms of automation; he may also be the heir to the crown vacated by the graduated Jordan Thomas of Oregon. However, there are so many quality athletes to consider here. Sectional leader Jimmie Smith ran 21.5h and will have to be taken seriously. Don’t blink your eyes on Ausmus either. Winnebago’s Michael Mann will be striving hard in qualifying and scoring for his team’s title hopes… the 400m is always a grueling event, but it’s especially tough for any would be hotshot trying to 200/400 or 100/200/400 in it. Ausmus will be attempting the triple. Another name to be considered is Cody Boarman of Shelbyville. He will be trying to duplicate Ausmus. But the focus of the event itself will be on Boarman and Ausmus. They are also co-sectional leaders in the one-lapper (48.7h). Boarman was also indoor champion… state leader Nick Gallardo (Oregon) is out of the 110HH with an injury. Next in line is teammate Jeff Wehmhoefer and his 14.4h sectional best. Wehmhoefer is ranked #4 in TFX stats. The surprise in this event could be Ser Whitaker of Illini West. He ran 15.06 in the prelims. The biggest question is this: where has Nick Centola of Rochester been. He was one of the state’s best high hurdlers last year when he placed 3rd…. Tanner Ewing (Stark County) is an easy choice for 300H. He is the top returnee with a sweet 38.5h clocking. He has dominated this event this season and it will continue unless he decides not to. Ewing’s nearest foe is Ser Whitaker at 39.3h.
Relays-
4x100-
Key teams: Herrin 42.5, Sparta 43.0, Stanford Olympia 43.0, Chicago (Leo) 43.42.
This race is Herrin’s to lose. The Tigers of course should have Zach Riley on it for the final and run away with the title.
4x200-
Key teams: Winnebago, Leo, Herrin, Olympia, Tuscola.
There is tight pack among the top 5 teams going into state with Winnebago leading the way at Sectionals with a mark just over 1:30. But Herrin has the top seasonal mark.
4x400-
Key teams: Nashville, Rochester, Eureka, Shelbyville.
Perennial 4x4 power Nashville finished 6th last year with three sophomores on the unit. Juniors Zach Fieber and Gannon Mamell will lead the sting for the Hornets. Eureka and Rochester are the only under teams under 3:25 and will mount a serious title threat. Shelbyville will have a tired but still dangerous Cody Boarman on anchor.
4x800-
Key teams: Beecher, Elmwood, St. Joe Ogden, Westmont.
Beecher has been strolling right all season that started with a victory at IPTT and through their sectional leading 8:01.88. The nearest competitor is listed more than 10-seconds in back of the Bobcats.
-Distance-
Junior standout Griffin Nykaza (Beecher) leads all entrants in the 800m with a solid 1:56.96 mark. But close by is James Leigh of Fieldcrest at 1:57.21. This battle should be a good one even if Nykaza runs on the 4x8r… Griffin’s younger brother and freshman standout Grant Nykaza is the second overall 1600m seed at a swift 4:25.17- just behind little known Daniel Delaney (Carlinville) at 4:24.5h. Not to be forgotten is cross country champion Justin Rehfeldt of Rockford (Christian). Rehfeldt has a history of low key performances prior to state and then turning on the jets…. Rehfeldt is the top seed in the 3200m with a solid time in the 9:29 range and more than ten seconds faster than his nearest competitor.
-Field-
Zach Riley has been the state of Illinois’ best High Jumper for several years now. The Rend Lake college bound senior has accomplished just about everything at the state championship… except obtain the Class A record or any record. Riley’s US#6 7-2 mark is just shy of Tom Smith’s (Heyworth) 7-3.25 famous feat that has stood still since 1985. There has been some speculation that the rolled ankle Riley turned during the early portion of the indoor season has not healed all the way. It will be interesting if a sore ankle will prevent Riley from performing his exploits in the Long Jump. It will be tough for anyone to beat Riley in his second best event as the 23-3.5 will show from Sectionals. The defending state champion should not have any issues in defending his title, but Johndavid Rollins (Harrisburg) may be the only person capable of an upset… Herrin will look to continue their dominance in the jumps with Brian Hankey leading the way in the Triple Jump with a solid 45-6. No one is within two feet of him… Cody Klein (Sparta) has been on a serious run since the indoor season that took him from being noticed to being one of the top Pole Vaulters in the country. The 17-0 monster leap was achieved at the Benton Spring Fling back in April. That US#4 effort will be incredibly hard to beat. Well, even the 16-0 effort from Sectionals will be difficult to overcome by his competitors… Alex Thompson of Winnebago had a great year when set a class record in the Discus Throw of 190-11 in 2009. He has stepped his game up to another level with by heaving the plate 201-6. But there is a problem. His name is Brandon Noe. He is from Champaign St. Thomas More and he has the second best throw in the country at 203-7. Thompson is ranked #5 in the nation. So, it looks like it’s going to take a state all-time best effort or US #1 or #2 effort to win the IHSA Class A championship!... Noe should have an easier time in the Shot Put, but he still has a healthy 59-7 sectional best. Rob Stein (Elmhurst Timothy Christian) and Thompson have upper 50-foot puts. |
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