Team Outlook:

It’s Newton all the way, right now and it looks like they will score around 60-65 points.  Then there is a 4 way battle for 2^nd and 3^rd with Illini Bluffs, Sparta, and Monticello 33-40 range.  While teams like Walter Lutheran, Morrison, Herrin, Illinois School for the Deaf, Williamsville and Rushville all could score realistically in the 22-35 point range.

Top Ten Projection

1.       Newton

2.       Illini Bluffs

3.       Sparta

4.       Monticello

5.       Morrison

6.       Walter Lutheran

7.       Herrin

8.       Rushville

9.       Williamsville

10.   Illinois School for the Deaf

Long Jump:

1. Lacedrix Brown (Jr) Illinois School for the Deaf

2. Eric Thompson (Jr) Herrin

3. Cody Wisslead (Jr) West Prairie-LaHarpe

Outlook:  I expect the top 3 to remain the same and it’s doubtful there will be any suprises coming.

Pole Vault:

1. Tyler Pence (Sr) IVC

2. Eric Mammoser (Sr) Newton

3. Brett Stewart (Sr) Eureka

Outlook:  Pence is the best vaulter in the field on paper, but paper means little and he knows it.  He’s out to prove last year a freak accident.  Mammoser and Stewart will be tough to top with their experience, but if one is looking for the youth movement and the future of Class A pole vault Alex Freshour of Olympia and Cody Doerflin of DuQuion could steal at least a part of these seniors show.

High Jump:

1. Eric Thompson (Jr) Herrin

2. Chris Smith (Sr) Mount Pulaski

3. Trevor Poore (Sr) Carterville

Outlook:  Thompson should breeze the competition on paper, but he had a hard prelim day running relays for Herrin.  He may miss an early attempt, but I don’t see how doesn’t clear at least 6’9” making it virtually impossible for anyone else to touch him.

Shot Put:

1. Andy Ward (Sr) Rushville-Industry

2. Josh Brent (Jr) Bloomington Central Catholic

3. Matt Eader (So) West Frankfort

Outlook:  It’s really just the Ward and Brent Show as both are a foot clear of the Eader.  Two boys to lookout for are Grant Keegan of Coal City and Bryant Parker.

Triple Jump:

1. Ridge Thompson (Jr) DuQuoin

2. Justin Huston (Sr) Macomb

3. Nick Frese (Jr) Camp Point Central

Outlook:  Thompson is currently sitting in 3^rd behind Huston and Frese, but he has surpassed 46’ this year at his Sectional meet.  I expect him to leap past Huston and Frese, but they are worthy and consistent competitors who just might hold him off.

Discus:

1. Andy Ward (Sr) Rushville-Industry

2. Ben Bishop (Sr) Williamsville

3. Brian Bishop (Jr) Williamsville

Outlook:  Ward leads both Bishop brothers and Ben Stringer of Central A&M.  Ward just may complete the throwing double, but Ben Bishop currently sits in 4^th behind his brother and that may give him all the incentive he needs to go toe to toe with Ward.

4x800m Relay:

1. Monticello

2. Sparta

3. Olympia

Outlook:  Monticello is the clear favorite here as they make a run at the State Record and a potential trophy.  The majority of the field currently sits at 8:07-8:11 range.  I am sticking with what both Sparta and Olympia, primarily because of their #1 runners on the relay even though neither team had a great showing in the prelims.  However, I wouldn’t look past Oregon, Newton, or Tremont at the moment.  This will be the start of a fantastic day of racing, but will likely be the 3^rd or 4^th best race of the day, even with the possibility that 6 or more teams go sub 8.

4x100m Relay:

1. Newton

2. Walter Lutheran

3. Herrin

Outlook:  All eyes should be on lanes 5, 6, and 7 as that should be the order of the finish.  IVC looks strong to contend, but Newton will take this one.

3200m Run:

1. Jeremy Stevens (Sr) Winnebago

2. Scott Krapf (Sr) Danville Schlarman

3. Tyler Bradford (Sr) Wayne City

Outlook:  Expect a surge from Matt Feldhake (Effingham St. Anthony) or Mike Greive (Bureau Valley)  to make the selection in the field.  Stevens should roar to victory here, but Scott Krapf looks pretty strong and Bradford is coming off a pretty successful cross-country season.

110m Hurdles:

1. Jeremy Puckett (Sr) Fairfield

2. Mitch Blair (Sr) St. Joe-Ogden

3. Patrick Mendenhall (Sr) Newton

Outlook:  Puckett is clearly the class of this field, but Blair and Mendenhall have the ability to make it interesting.  The outsiders fans should be looking for are Dave Voss (Timothy Christian) and Kyle Cresap (Monticello).

100m Dash:

1. Levi Richards (Jr) Newton

1. Brady Hammon (Jr) Illini Bluffs

1. Sammy Biggs (Sr) Morrison

1. Jared Cernansky (Jr) Sparta

Outlook:  Why four #1’s?  11.03, 11.04, 11.05, and 11.06 are the times they ran in prelims.  This could be the top race of the day or it could be the 2^nd best.  For 11s it will be sheer excitement.  I expect that to be the order of a photo finish.  The tone for Newton’s day will be set here.

800m Run:

1. Rodney Oyler (Sr) Meridian

2. Greg McBride (Sr) Sparta

3. Jared Koch (Sr) Tremont

Outlook:  This was supposed to be the race of the day way back in January.   Well the top 3 returning finalists from last year, including defending champ Charlie Hatch either did not run it at sectionals or decided to scratch in favor of the 1600m run.  However, do not let that deter you from missing the action as this was the deepest year in Class A 800m in a long time.  McBride is a returning medalist from last year, and if not for running the 4x8 for Sparta would be considered the favorite.  McBride has the fastest time coming out of prelims, but Oyler ran a sectional best of 1:55 and is not in the 4x8.  The other 2 guys to watch are Andrew Colbert of Monticello and Koch, both are running the 4x8 and since no one in recent memory has ran to a State Championship on their 4^th 800m in 2 days in class A, going with Oyler is seems to be the smart pick.  Expect a fast pace regardless as Oyler is a front runner.

4x200m Relay:

1. Sparta

2. Walter Lutheran

3. Newton

Outlook:  Herrin, the top time out Sectionals did not make finals.  Sparta looks to be the team to beat, but Walter Lutheran and Newton are not far behind.  All eyes again should be on lanes 5-6-7 in the sprint relays.

400m Dash:

1. Sammy Biggs (Sr) Morrison

2. Scott Phelps (Sr) Monticello

3. Joe Davis (Sr) North Lawndale Prep

Outlook:  Biggs is going to win a sprint race, Phelps wants 3 1^st place finishes, and Davis looks unreal.  This is another one of those finals that should be spectacular as Levi Richards of Newton and Brady Hammon of Illini Bluffs both figure to be in the mix and that still leaves out Martin McCormick who is the defending champ who will be in Lane 3 despite having the slowest time of all the finalist.  Expect some huge fireworks as no one works the last half of race like Phelps or Hammon.

300m Hurdles:

1. Dave Voss (Sr) Timothy Christian

2. Jeremy Puckett (Sr) Fairfield

3. Cody Wisslead (Jr)  West Prairie-LaHarpe

Outlook:  Normally taking Puckett is a good choice, but Voss and Wisslead produced some very fast times in prelims that Puckett will have a hard time matching.  Puckett gets to chase, so take Voss for the win as Puckett nudges out WIsslead for 2^nd.

1600m Run:

1. Charlie Hatch (Sr) Nashville

1.   Dorian Ulrey (Sr) Riverdale

1.   Jeremy Stevens (Sr) Winnebago

1. Scott Krapf (Sr) Danville Schlarman

Outlook:  Krapf and Stevens are in the 3200m race and both will be going for victory there.  With Sir Chuck and Defending State Champion and State meet record holder for the event Ulrey fresh.  This folks could be a race that rivals anything AA has to offer.  All four of these guys negative split their last halves in the 2:05 range and looked like they could have kept going.  Don’t be surprised to see the record fall again this year and by fall it could take a 3-5s plunge below the 4:10 line.  This is a truly amazing field and could possibly be the best race ever not just for the day in Class A history.

200m Dash:

1. Brady Hammon (Sr) Illini Bluffs

1. Sammy Biggs (Sr) Morrison

1         Lacedrix Brown (Jr) Illinois School for the Deaf

Outlook:  This is another one of those races, expect it to be a nail biter between these three.  Hammon will win one of the sprint events why not this one and that should make all three individual champs after the completion of this race.

4x400m Relay:

1. Monticello

2. Dwight

3. Newton

Outlook:  This will be a fitting race to end the meet on.  Monticello will be charged to go out and go after the victory.  Dwight is ready to take home a title, and Newton will look to add to its point total and medal collection.  Here’s to hoping for a finish like the Dwight and Monticello prelim heat.