2006 Boys Class A

Track and Field Preview

 

Top Returning Competitors

 

Jumps

 

Long Jump

  1. Jarvis Smith, Sr., Sparta
  2. Cody Wissled, Jr., Sciota
  3. Damian Jeffro, Sr., Herrin
  4. Charles Johnson, Jr., Cairo
  5. Jared Lebonte, Sr., Warsaw

 

Outlook: Smith and Wissled should battle it out for top honors, Smith was 2nd last year, and Wissled was 5th.  Jeffro, Johnson, and Lebonte were finalists last year, but would have break 21’ to start to match Smith and Wissled.

 

Triple Jump

  1. Jarvis Smith, Sr., Sparta
  2. Nick Frese, Jr., Camp Point Central
  3. Justin Huston, Sr., Macomb
  4. Joel Johnson, Sr., Carlinville
  5. Ted Markin, Sr., Watseka

 

Outlook: Smith is far above the field, but the others should be finalists.

 

Pole Vault

  1. Tyler Pence, IVC
  2. Eric Mammoser, Sr., Newton
  3. Eric Eyler, Jr., Rushville
  4. Jeff Blair, Sr. Herrin
  5. Brett Stewart, Sr., Eureka
  6. Cody Doerflin, So., DuQuion

 

Other to Watch: Alex Freshour, Fr., Olympia

 

Outlook:  Pence was vaulting over 15’ all year until the State meet.  Expect big things from him, he cleared 14’ at U-High Invite on Saturday; his nearest competitor was Freshour at 13’6”.  Mammoser, Eyler, Blair, and Stewart can all give him a run for his money.

 

 

High Jump

  1. Eric Thompson, Jr., Herrin
  2. Trevor Poors, Sr., Carterville
  3. Nick Byom, Jr. Knoxville
  4. Drew Holl, Jr., Clinton
  5. Shelby Czerwonka, Sr., Nashville
  6. Andy Frank, Sr., Kewanee Westerfield

 

Outlook: Will Eric Thompson approach 7’0”.  Last year he demonstrated that he is the class of the field.  Poors and Byom were medalists last year, with Poors going 6’6”, so he could throw a wrench into Thompson’s plans to repeat. 

 

Throws

 

Shot Put

  1. Josh Brent, Jr., Bloomington Central Catholic
  2. Keegan Grant, Sr., Coal City
  3. Andy Ward, Sr., Rushville
  4. Josh Henkelman, Sr. Rochester
  5. Nick Schnorr, Sr., Indian Creek
  6. Ben Bishop, Sr., Williamsville

 

Outlook:  Brent, Grant, and Ward should be top three; the next competitors were 2’ behind Ward.  Brent should be able to hold off Grant.  Brent threw 50’10” at U-High on Saturday while Grant was winning state heavyweight wrestling title.

 

Discus

  1. Ben Bishop, Sr.,Williamsville
  2. Andy Ward, Jr., Rushville
  3. Nick Nasti, Jr., Plano
  4. John Lohrenz, Sr. Rockford Christian

 

Outlook:  With Seth Major, A.J. Eaten, and Josh Boudeman gone Ward is the only returning finalist in the two throwing events.  However, Bishop should run away with top honors here even Ward was not within 20’ of Bishop at last years finals.

 

 

Distance

 

3200m Run

  1. Tyler Bradford, Sr., Wayne City
  2. Challas Ray, Sr., Cumberland
  3. Matt Feldhake, So., Effingham St. Anthony
  4. Scott Krapf, Sr., Danville Schlarman
  5. Mike Grieve, Sr., Bureau Valley

 

Others to Watch: Jeremy Stevens of Winnebago and Dorian Ulrey of Riverdale.

 

Outlook:  If Stevens or Ulrey decide to run this race at State, they will be the favorites, but that does not mean anything because the field is loaded regardless.  I would look for Ray, Feldhake, and Krapf to be looking at this event for a state title after very successful cross-country campaigns.

 

1600m Run

  1. Dorian Ulrey, Sr., Riverdale
  2. Jeremy Stevens, Sr., Winnebago
  3. Charlie Hatch, Sr., Nashville
  4. Mike Grieve, Sr. Bureau Valley
  5. Tyler Bradford, Sr., Wayne City
  6. Challas Ray, Sr., Cumberland

 

Other to Watch: Parker Thompson of Tremont

 

Outlook:  Stevens will be looking to take down Ulrey in a battle royal, but they cannot forget about the runners behind them.  Especially Hatch who despite all concerns about the 800-1600 double will try to show his strength.

 

800m Run

  1. Charlie Hatch, Sr., Nashville
  2. John Neisler, Sr., Olympia
  3. Scott Phelps, Sr., Monticello
  4. Matt Somer, Sr., Herscher
  5. Jake Austin, Sr., Hinckley
  6. Greg McBride, Sr., Sparta
  7. Mike Belt, Sr., IVC
  8. Robbie Shimp, Jr., Henry

 

Other to Watch: Jared Koch of Tremont

 

Outlook:  While Hatch is a heavy favorite here, he still cannot look over his shoulder, because the field behind him is loaded with seven other finalists from last year.  Neisler and Phelps should help push the pace below Class State record time; this could possibly be the race of the day in Class A with three possible finishers below state record time and whole field capable of going sub 1:56. 

 

Sprints and Hurdles

 

100m

  1. Levi Richards, Jr., Newton
  2. Darick Clark, Sr., Stronghurst Southern
  3. Chase McCall, Sr., Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley
  4. Wes Carter, Sr., Macomb
  5. Matt Warner, Sr., Sherrard

 

Outlook: Richards and Clark are the top returnees from a field that lost Lombard Montini and very good senior class.  McCall ran great all last year, as he will be trying to edge both Clark and Richards for top honors.

 

200m

  1. Lacedrix Brown, Jr., Illinois School for the Deaf
  2. Wes Carter, Sr., Macomb
  3. Cody Wissled, Jr., Sciota
  4. Chase McCall, Sr. Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley
  5. Will Lindsey, So., St. Joe-Ogden
  6. Brady Hammon, Jr., Illini Bluffs

 

Outlook: Brown was an IESA state champion, despite his handicap.  He is also the only returning finalist in this event with that lost Normal U-High and Lombard Montini to Class AA.  He should also be the class of the field, but I would look out for Lindsey and Wissled.  Lindsey will be looking to score valuable points for his St. Joe’s team, while Wissled will be trying to recover from 300H.

 

 

400m

  1. Martin McCormick, Sr., Oregon
  2. Pat Pfeifer, Sr., Dwight
  3. Levi Richards, Jr., Newton
  4. Marcus Williams, Sr., Casey-Westerfield
  5. A.J. Shaw, So., Rushville
  6. Doug Hammon, Jr., Illini Bluffs

 

Outlook:  This is probably the best sprint match up of the day with three returning finalists.  McCormack will be a heavy favorite to win it all.  He went sub 49 last year, and if the field can push him, maybe sub 48 is possible.  Richards will be looking to score big points for Newton here.

 

110H

  1. Jeremy Puckett, Sr,, Fairfield
  2. Mitch Blair, Sr. St. Joe-Ogden
  3. Patrick Mendenhall, Sr., Newton
  4. Max Metz, Sr., Burlington Central

 

Outlook: Blair and Mendenhall will be battling for team points here, but Puckett is top returning hurdler.  I would look for a Puckett, Blair, Mendenhall battle, but Metz will be around in that mix somewhere.

 

 

300H

  1. Cody Wissled, Jr., Sciota
  2. Jeremy Puckett, Sr., Fairfield
  3. Sammy Biggs, Sr., Morrison
  4. Patrick Mendenhall, Sr., Newton
  5. Max Metz, Sr., Burlington Central
  6. Mitch Blair, Sr., St. Joe-Ogden

 

Outlook:  Wissled may himself put his team into trophy position here if he can win.  However, I would not look past any of the other 5 as they all are capable of taking top honors.

 

 

Relays

 

4x8

  1. Monticello
  2. Sparta
  3. Delavan
  4. Princeton
  5. Rockford Christian
  6. Byron

 

Others to Watch:  Winnebago, Tremont, and Olympia

 

Outlook:  Monticello says its goal is to break the state record; they have the horses to do it.  Sparta is more than capable of breaking 8:00 and that means they could challenge Monticello.  However, this relay could be interesting if Winnebago, Tremont, and Olympia field their strongest teams and if they do, I would look for five teams to go sub 8:00.  Byron returns all four runners and they were young so if they show any improvement they could make it six.

 

4x1

  1. Newton
  2. St. Joe-Ogden
  3. Oregon
  4. IVC
  5. Bloomington Central Catholic
  6. Illinois School for the Deaf

 

Outlook: Expect to see the Newton vs. St. Joe Ogden fireworks start with this relay.  This will set the tone for team race in the meet.  IVC is good, well coached and will hang around.  Bloomington Central Catholic is young and hungry and they could be the surprise here.  The other surprise waiting to happen is likely the Illinois School for the Deaf, in what could be the feel good story of the meet.

 

4x2

  1. St. Joe-Ogden
  2. IVC
  3. Newton
  4. Warrensburg-Latham
  5. Oregon
  6. Bloomington Central Catholic

 

Other to Watch: Winnebago

 

Outlook:  This will be the mid meet showdown between St. Joe and Newton, St. Joe is the favorite, but again IVC will be pushing both.  Newton needs a quality showing here, because the up and comers will be pushing them for points.

 

4x4

  1. Oregon
  2. Newton
  3. Monticello
  4. St. Joe-Ogden
  5. Herscher
  6. Sherrard

 

Outlook:  This race could mean as much as it did last year to Eureka, but could the race get any stranger than last years 4x4?  I doubt it will be as strange, but St. Joe and Newton will be battling to the end here.  I would expect the top four teams to be Oregon, Newton, Monticello, and St. Joes.

 

 

 

 

Team Outlook:

 

  1. Newton: Levi Richards, Patrick Mendenhall, and Eric Mammoser lead this team and they have 3 Quality relays
  2. St. Joe-Ogden: Good Relays, with Blair and Lindsey capable of scoring in hurdles and sprints respectively
  3. Rushville:  Will score heavily in field events, and may get some sprint points.
  4. Sparta:  Will rely upon Jarvis in Jumps, and McBride to lead the distance group.  If they make 4x4 finals they could be looking at 3rd or better,
  5. Oregon: McCormack in the 400m and three good relays will have them in position.  If they find points elsewhere, that will only be a plus for them.