|
2007 Class A Boys Preview
This is will most certainly be the last year of a two-class system (three next season) unless the powers that be have a change of heart. So, it appears as though defending team champion Newton will be the final “Class A” champ. The Newts have lost key personnel to graduation but so has runner up Sparta and third place Morrison. Herrin has Eric Thompson. Monticello finished sixth but they lost a ton of firepower. It appears that Melrose Park (Walther Lutheran) is poised to move up on the seventh place effort of ’06. It will be interesting…
-Field Events-
Long Jump (top returnees) 1) Eric Thompson (Sr.) Herrin 22-11.5 2) Lacedrix Brown (Sr.) Jacksonville (Illinois School For The Deaf) 21-11 3) Levi Richards (Sr.) Newton 21-7 4) Cody Wissled (Sr.) Sciota (West Prairie Coop) 21-5 5) Tyler Harrell (Sr.) Carterville 21-4.5 6) Jeremy Totsch (Sr.) Liberty Coop 21-3.75 Outlook: the top five jumpers from last year’s ranking return including Levi Richards, who opted out to assist his team in the relays. 6th place state finisher Darin Blaser (Sr.) Aledo is back but the crown should go to Thompson.
Triple Jump- 1) Ridge Thompson (Sr.) DuQuoin 46-10.5 2) Nick Frese (Sr.) Camp Point (Central) 45-2.5 3) Joshua Wilkinson (Sr.) Bureau Valley 43-11.5 4) Ben Pratt (Jr.) Macomb 43-5.5 5) Tyler Carter (Jr.) 42-8 Outlook: R. Thompson is defending champ and should be unchallenged as he was in ’06. Look for juniors Pratt and Carter to move up in the ranks and crack the 45 foot mark.
Pole Vault- 1) Cody Doerflein (Jr.) DuQuoin 14-6 2) Alex Freshour (So.) Stanford Olympia 14-0 3) Joe Juricic (Sr.) Seneca 13-6 4) Adam Schafer (Sr.) Newton 13-7 5) Eric Celletti (Jr.) Byron 13-0 Outlook: only five state finalists return in an event that will be down. Doerflein (3rd at state) appears to be the favorite, however Freshour has already vaulted 15 feet (Mayor Dayley Windy City Vaultfest).
High Jump-1) Eric Thompson (Sr.) Herrin 7-2i 2) Ty Vandekerhove (Sr.) Sesser-Valier Coop 6-5 3) Dillon Binkley (Sr.) Warrensburg-Latham 6-6 4) A.J. Smith (Jr.) Riverdale 6-6 5) Isiah Simelton (Jr.) Frankfort 6-4 Outlook: Thompson is a premier jumper in the USA and he will be an instant highlight wherever and whenever he jumps. He has already jumped 7-0 this season (University of Arkansas). Undoubtedly, he will be looking for more in the ’07 campaign- perhaps several national accolades along the way. His only competition this season may be after the regular season.
Shot Put-1) Josh Brent (Sr.) Bloomington Central Catholic 55-10.5 2) Matt Eader (Jr.) Frankfort 54-1.5 3) Bryant Parker (Sr.) Illini Bluffs 51-8.5 4) John Ferman (Sr.) Georgetown-Ridge Farm Coop 50-2 Outlook: Brent has been a dominating sport since his sophomore year. He led wire to wire last year in the rankings and will have a goal of reaching the 60 foot mark and another championship.
-Relays-
4x100r- (top times from 2006) Newton 42.94 Melrose Park (Walther Lutheran) 43.54 Herrin 43.69 Illinois Valley Central 43.71 St. Joe Ogden 43.81 Outlook: perhaps there will be no dominant team like Newton’s quartet of 2006. It looks things will be much tighter with Herrin getting stronger and Walther Lutheran’s experience coming to the front. 6th place state finisher St. Anne will be strong by season’s end.
4x200r- Sparta 1:30.56 Walther Lutheran 1:30.88 Newton 1:31.09 St. Joe Ogden 1:31.62 Reed-Custer 1:31.82 Outlook: Newton placed third at state without Levi Richards. If he is added then they become state champs. Walther Lutheran has the inside track on everyone else.
4x400r- Dwight Coop 3:22.65 Harrisburg 3:22.96 Newton 3:24.84 Trenton 3:25.97 Monticello 3:26.31 Outlook: by the process of senior elimination Newton just have a little bit more experience and talent than anyone else. Defending champ Dwight will need to find an anchor leg to compete at the top level.
4x800r- Monticello 7:53.64 Rochester 8:04.68 Sparta 8:06.90 Stanford Olympia 8:09.24 Herscher 8:09.62 Outlook: don’t look for Monticello to repeat or even challenge as they graduated nearly everyone from their 4x8 unit. 2nd placer Rochester should move up in the fold and wear the bullseye.
-Track Events-
100m- Levi Richards (Sr.) Newton 10.99 Anthony Johnson (Sr.) Melrose Park (Walther Lutheran) 11.52 Jared Cernansky (Sr.) Sparta 11.52 Zach Atkins (Sr.) DuQuoin 11.57 Brady Hammon (Sr.) Illini Bluffs 11.61 Outlook: an experienced class returning here with Richards leading the way. Times should also improve over last season. Watch for Dan Benton (Westmont) as well to run fast marks.
200m- Brady Hammon (Sr.) Illini Bluffs 22.10 Cody Wissled (Sr.) Sciota (West Prairie) 22.37 LaCedrix Brown (Sr.) Jacksonville (Ill. School For the Deaf) 22.38 Anthony Johnson (Sr.) Melrose Park (Walther Lutheran) 22.65 Dan Benton (Sr.) Westmont 22.66 Outlook: Hammond remains in top spot as he defending state champion in the half-lapper. Stiff challenges will await him in the senior dominated event.
400m- Brady Hammond (Sr.) Illini Bluffs 48.52 Levi Richards (Sr.) Newton 50.28 Dan Benton (Sr.) Westmont 49.88 Noah Kumpf (Sr.) Peoria Central 51.26 Wes Ertmer (So.) Lena-Winslow Coop 51.70 Outlook: a reasonably strong field will be lead by state runner up Hammond. Also, there should be several more one-lap specialists pushing for sub 50 this season including young Ertmer.
800m-
Charlie Butler (Sr.) Olney East Richland 1:57.92 Jarrett Kessel (Sr.) Amboy Coop 1:58.68 Matt Best (Sr.) Tuscola 1:57.28 Ryan Griffin (Sr.) Rockford Christian 1:58.87 Jordan Cullen (Sr.) Rochester 1:58.94 Outlook: Butler is top returnee from ’06 and thus the marginal favorite. Best has the top returning mark but didn’t have the same consistency as Butler. Griffin, Kessel, and Cullen should fight it out as well as the season progresses.
1600m- Matt Feldhake (Jr.) Effingham (St. Anthony) 4:27.65 Matt Morse (Sr.) Peru St. Bede 4:31.24 Kyle Harvey (Jr.) Sullivan 4:27.83 Josh Moshier (Sr.) Port Byron (Riverdale) 4:31.96 Zach Bowling (Sr.) Heyworth 4:33.83 Outlook: although this event is not Feldhake’s specialty he is slight favorite based off of his depth and growth since last season. Morse and Harvey are the only all-state returnees and that should go a long way in terms of self-confidence.
3200m- Matt Feldhake (Jr.) Effingham (St. Anthony) 9:40.73 Trace Carlson (Jr.) Oregon 9:49.86 Brian Peterson (Jr.) Minonk (Fieldcrest) 9:49.38 Alex Tanney (Sr.) Lexington 9:40.74 Roger Pinon (Sr.) Chicago (Quigley Prep) 9:56.70 Outlook: Fieldhake made a breakthrough in his relatively young running career by winning the harrier title this past fall. He will be tabbed the favorite unless disaster strikes. Their will be endless possibilities of all-state runners such as Matt Morse (’06 state XC runner up) should he decide to compete in the deuce. Also, watch out for Logan Block (Knoxville).
110HH- Kyle Cresap (Sr.) Monticello 15.22 Zach Treece (Sr.) Murphysboro 15.24 Ethan Wolff (Sr.) Alton Coop 15.25 Garrett Barnas (Sr.) Bureau Valley 15.39 Bruce Guinzy (Sr.) Nashville 15.59 Outlook: this one is a pick ‘em. The top three returnees have times so close that it’s too close to call. They also finished 5th, 6th, and 7th in last year’s state final.
300IH- Cody Wissled (Sr.) Sciota (West Prairie Coop) 37.33 Ethan Wolff (Jr.) Alton Coop 39.52 Garrett Barnas (Sr.) Bureau Valley 40.09 Jacob Scheuer (Sr.) Dwight Coop 40.49 Clint Brewer (Sr.) Jacksonville (Illinois School For The Deaf) 40.59 Outlook: Wissled is one of the nation’s premier long hurdlers and the best in Illinois as evidenced by his sizzling 37.33 and Class A record. This season it will be all Wissled.
|