By Michael Newman

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Here is a look at each of the events at Friday’s Class 1A session of the Illinois Top Times Championships. Field events start at 3:05 PM. The first running final begins at 4:15 PM.

 

Field Events

 

Long Jump – 3:05PM

Girls – Athletes with the top four performances in 1A are in this competition led by Amelia Glueck (Tremont HS). Her 18-2 ½ jump at the Jacksonville Invitational at the beginning of the month leads the field by close to a foot. Peyton Wade (Aurora Christian HS) jumped 17-2 ¾ at the beginning of February at the U of I Armory, but I would not count her out. McKendra Barthelme (Newton HS) is the only other athlete in this meet past 17 feet. Watch for her to be in contention for a top three finish.

 

Other athletes that I would keep an eye on include Tonya Piergies (North Shore Country Day, Winnetka) who jumped 16-10 ¼ last Monday at the Clinton Chance Meet, Courtney Croy (Neoga HS), and Randa Harshbarger (St. Thomas More HS Champaign). Also watch for Amanda McClain (Sullivan HS). She has only jumped once this year (at Charleston two weeks ago) but her personal best is over 17 feet. Keep an eye on her.

 

Boys – This is a quality field with the top six 1A jumpers. It’s anyone’s guess who will be on top of the podium Friday evening. Austin Wenskunas (Argenta-Oreana HS) has the longest 1A jump so far this season (21-4 ¾). Chris Walker (North Boone HS, Poplar Grove) in his first meet last Saturday at Byron jumped 21-2. It should be a close battle between these two athletes.

 

Marcus Sitko (Staunton HS) is also in the 21 foot arena and will challenge for the win in this meet. Don’t forget about Dwight Swartz (Sherrard HS) and Jayden Kaiser (Unity HS, Tolono) who are on the verge of going past 21 feet. Corey Kersey (Neoga HS) is the defending state champion in the Triple Jump. He could pull a surprise and challenge for the meet championship.

 

Triple Jump – 5:00 PM

Girls – Megan Reed (Cambridge HS) has the top seed performance entering this meet (35-6 ¼). Her jump is more than a foot ahead of Mollie Bowman (Sullivan) who jumped 34-4 last Saturday at Mahomet Seymour. Rachel Colbert (Erie-Prophetstown HS), Elizabeth Bristow (St. Thomas More HS, Champaign) and Tessa Holland (Fieldcrest HS, Minonk) should also be competing for the win in this meet.

 

Boys – Ever since the enrollment switch of a couple of years ago, the one event that has suffered has been this one. However, we could see a good competition Friday night. There are only three athletes that have gone past 43 feet in 1A this indoor season. These would be the athletes that I would keep an eye on.

 

Chris Walker (North Boone HS, Poplar Grove) popped a 45-6 ¾ jump last Saturday at Byron. He should be the favorite since his jump is two feet further than the next closest athlete. But when you have defending 1A state champion Corey Kersey (Neoga HS) waiting in the wings, you can’t count him out. He only jumped 43-5 at Charleston last Saturday, but that big meet experience will kick in at this meet. Ben Montgomery (Athens HS) finished behind Kersey at Charleston. Watch for him to be in the mix as well.

 

High Jump

Girls 5:00 PM – This could be the best 1A Girls field event competition at this meet. The top four athletes entered are all ranked in the top 40 in the United States. It should provide for some great performances.

 

Peyton Wade (Aurora Christian HS) cleared an US #4 5-8 ¾ at the beginning of February. As she proved at the end of last year, she is a big meet performer. She could rise to the occasion in this meet. Rachel Rhodes (Williamsville HS) also has a 5-8 jump at the beginning of February. I still believe she will be in the mix for the win.

 

Karissa Roman (Wethersfield HS, Kewanee) jumped 5-7 ¼ in Missouri at the February. Do not count her out. Tessa Holland (Fieldcrest HS, Minonk) cleared 5-6 a couple of weeks ago in this building. Right now, she could be the hottest jumper in this event. Even though Wade, Rhodes, and Roman got their performances in February, we will still see a 5-8 jump in this meet. It’s anyone’s guess who could win on Friday.

 

Boys 3:05 PM – Matt Utterback (Pleasant Plains HS) is the athlete to watch in this event. Last Saturday at the Charleston Invitational, he cleared a 1A best of 6-7. He jumps big in big meets. Logan Ross (North Greene HS, White Hall) was the surprise this indoor season clearing 6-6 at Jacksonville at the beginning of the month. He could push Utterback. Corey Kersey (Neoga HS) set a personal best of clearing 6-4 in the Charleston meet. He could surprise in this event as well.

 

Tyler Owen (Georgetown-Ridge Farm HS), Bryan Heath (Taylor Ridge HS, Rockridge), and Luke Rasmussen (Lowpoint-Washburn HS) all have cleared 6-4 this season. They will push to go higher in this meet.

 

Pole Vault

Girls 5:00 PM – Morgan Zacharias (Reed Custer HS, Braidwood) will be the big favorite in this event. Her 12-6 clearance at the Windy City Pole Vault Summit at the beginning of March is a foot and a half better than the rest field. She has been over 12 feet consistently this season. I just can’t see this trend halting.

 

We all know that anything can happen in a meet, especially the Pole Vault. Freshman Nicole Bagwell (Unity HS, Tolono) cleared a personal best 11-0 last Monday. We could see her go higher Friday night. Kristen Slaughter (St. Anthony HS, Effingham), Bailey Reifsteck (Unity HS, Tolono), and Zoe Gossmeyer (Tremont HS) will all be competing for a top three finish in this meet.

 

Boys 3:05 PM – It is Denby vs. Smith Part 3 starting at 3 PM Friday afternoon. Jack Denby (Carlinville HS) and Riley Smith (Westerfield HS, Casey) are two of the top Pole Vault athletes in the state. They are also in this competition. They have split the first two times they have met this year. Denby cleared 16-3 while Smith cleared 15-6 at the Windy City Summit. Last Saturday at Charleston, it was Smith that got the better of Denby clearing 15-3 while Smith only cleared 14-0. Something will have to give Friday afternoon.

 

Matthew Knipfer (St. Joseph-Ogden HS) and Curtis Gordon (Vandalia HS) are the only two other athletes that have cleared 14-0 indoors this year. I would watch them battling for third in this meet.

 

Shot Put

Girls 3:05 PM – Karly Goodman (Arthur HS) has the best put entering into this competition (39-1 ¼). It is more than a foot better than Jasmine Jefko (Cambridge HS). The question will be if Goodman can flirt with the 40 foot mark in this meet. Paige Putnam (Knoxville HS) is another half foot back and should push Jefko.

 

Boys 5:00 PM – The top two athletes in this 1A event will face off Friday evening. Jason Fry (Stewardson-Strasburg HS) enters the meet with the best put (51-7 ½). Only two and a half inches back is Stephen Gibson (Tuscola HS). We could see both of these athletes pushing each other over 52 feet.

 

Ben Foster (Wethersfield HS, Kewanee) and Ross Sealby (Byron HS) are the only other athletes past 50 feet. Terron Bell (Leo Catholic HS, Leo) and Landon Rosenboom (Central HS, Clifton) should also battle for top 3 finishes.

 

Track Events

 

3200 Meter Run

 

Girls 4:30 PM – This could be a great battle between two of the top 1A Girls distance runners. Adrienne Brauer (PORTA HS, Petersburg) was pushed early last week at the U of I, but pulled away to run 11:08.04. Kelsey Hildreth ran 11:09.24 by herself two weeks ago on her home track. With these two runners going after each other, it would not surprise me to see a sub-11 winning time.

 

Lea Viano (Carlinville HS) and Maria Baldwin (Fieldcrest HS, Minonk) both have the ability to be in the 11:20 range in this meet. Also watch for Erica Hibser (Lewistown) and Michaela Wiersema (Peoria Christian HS) should be close to the front as well.

 

Boys 4:15 PM – TJ Pitcock (Byron HS) has the best seed time by 10 seconds and the only 1A runner under 10 minutes so far this season. He finished fourth in this meet a year ago. He looks to be the favorite.

 

Eric Ponder (Tuscola HS) has the tendency to push the pace early. I would expect the all-state runner to be with Pitcock. Freshman Tanner Chada (Aurora Christian HS) placed in the USATF Indoor Youth Championships in Maryland at the beginning of March. He could be a surprise in this race. Kenny Heaton (Sparta HS), Jacob Ludy (El Paso-Gridley HS), and Levi Schmillen (Fieldcrest HS, Minonk) could be in the top three in this race.

 

60 Hurdles

 

Prelims 5:00 PM; Finals 6:20 PM

 

Girls – This will be a great matchup of the top two finishers in last year’s state meet. Peyton Wade (Aurora Christian HS) is the defending 1A champion. She ran 9.46 in the 60H at the beginning of February. Jenny Kimbro (Jamaica Coop) ran the seventh fastest time in this event in the state last week at Mahomet-Seymour. Those two should battle for the championship.

 

McKendra Barthelme (Newton HS) won at Charleston a couple of weeks ago and will be in the mix for the win. Sarah Bindel (Chester HS), Emily Podowicz (Central HS, Clifton) and Erin Johnson (Wesclin HS, Trenton) should also be in contention for a top finish in this race.

 

Boys – This could be an interesting race. Josh Kirby (Peoria Christian HS) ran the fastest 1A time last week in Champaign. In this distance, he has the fastest time by more than a quarter of a second. He would be the one to watch in this race.

 

It could be a close battle for the next spots after that. Ronnie Drmmond (Wesclin HS, Trenton), Vaughn Gentzler and Tyler Rubarts (Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS), Connor Stark (Sherrard HS), and Taylor Kirby (Salt Fork HS) all have the talent to challenge Josh Kirby for the event championship. It could be a close finish.

 

60 Meter Dash

 

Prelims 5:20 PM; Finals 6:30 PM

 

Girls – All eyes will be on Amelia Glueck (Tremont HS) in this race. She has the fastest 55 time in 1A. Danielle Crawley (Sherrard HS) ran the fastest 60 time last week at Knox College (7.91). Both runners will provide us a very close finish.

 

Miranda Marry (Fisher HS) has had success in the long sprints this indoor season and could be a surprise in this race. Jenna Layden and Kite’ Oladipupo (St. Teresa HS, Decatur), Courtney Cobert (Erie-Prophetstown HS), and Abbie Fuller (Fieldcrest HS, Minonk) will be also up towards the front in this race.

 

Boys – Theodore Hopkins (Leo Catholic HS, Chicago) looks to be the favorite in this race. After missing most of last season with a leg injury, Hopkins has come back strong. He won the Chicago Catholic League Championships last Saturday running a 6.55 55 Meter Dash. He will be tough to beat.

This will be a tight field. Andre McGill (Madison HS) ran 7.10 a couple weeks ago at Edwardsville and could challenge Hopkins. Dwight Swartz (Sherrard HS) ran 7.05 ten days ago at Monmouth showing that he will be in the mix of things. Brett Charlton (Eureka HS) ran his 7.14 at Normal at the end of February but could surprise in this race. Also watch for Brady Rude (Newman Catholic HS, Sterling) and Kuturrey Singleton (Holy Trinity HS, Chicago) who could challenge for a top four finish in this sprint.

 

4 x 800 Meter Relay – 5:40 PM

Girls – Petersburg PORTA and Decatur St. Teresa basically have the same seed time just separated by hundredths of a second. PORTA ran their race in Jacksonville at the beginning of the month with both Maria and Adrienne Brauer in their quartet. With Adrienne running the 3200 and the 1600, the focus should turn on St. Teresa. Their squad is led by veteran relay racers Bree Tschosik and Rachel Devereux that could provide the edge for their team in this race.

 

The surprise team in this race should be Illini West.  Their 10:16 that they ran at the Titan Invitational shows they are capable of winning this race. If Urbana University is close at the end, they have freshman anchor Annmarie Michael that could bring U-High the race championship. Also watch for Tolono Unity and Eureka to be in contention for a top spot.

 

Boys – This is going to be an extremely close and exciting race. The top four teams that have seeded times within four seconds of each other. Pleasant Plains and Urbana University were within a second of each other last week. We could see much of the same type of race here. Shelbyville and St. Joseph Ogden ran close together at SIU at the beginning of the month. You can expect both teams to be challenging towards the front. Tolono Unity was ten seconds back last week, but have the talent to challenge for the race championship Friday night. Expect the winning time to be in the mid-teens.

 

800 Meter Run – 6:35 PM

Girls – Cassie Mundekis (Midwest Central HS, Manito) has the fastest time in this race by close to 8 seconds. She should be the BIG favorite in this race. Taylor Edwards (Arcola HS) is just rounding into running shape after participating in basketball. She could be under 2:20 in this race. Haley Miller (Tremont HS) finished behind Edwards at Charleston. You can expect her to be close.

 

Annemarie Michael (University HS, Urbana), Lea Viano (Carlinville HS), and Hannah Stone (Unity HS, Tolono) will all be coming off of doubles. They will fight for top three finishes. Mundekis will be coming back 45 minutes later in the 1600. It will be interesting to see if she will go for the win or go for time in this race.

 

Boys – Tye Sutherland (Cumberland HS, Toledo) has been the dominant force in this event in 1A. He has defeated defending 1A champion Michael Brown twice already this season. With Brown not running in this meet, the favorite’s label goes on Sutherland. Wyatt Avenatti (Georgetown-Ridge Farm HS) was just edged out by George Gunter (University HS, Urbana) at the Uni Mini Meet a week ago. Gunther will be part of his relay team. We will see how much he has left.

 

Sam Powers (St. Thomas More HS, Champaign) could be the one athlete to challenge Sutherland. He has only run 2:01 this season, but has a PR of 1:55. Andy Arenz (Auburn HS) and Drennian Martin (Shelbyville HS) could challenge up front also in this race.

 

4 x 200 Meter Relay – 6:40 PM

Girls – Illini West has the best 1A time by more than a second over Newton. These two teams should challenge for the race championship. Sherrard, St. Teresa, and Byron have the talent also to win this race.

 

Boys – Leo Catholic has the relay tradition. They also have the fastest time in 1A by almost two seconds. They will be one of the teams to watch in this race. Madison has a talented quartet that could be the Chicago Catholic League team’s biggest challenger. Paxton-Buckley-Loda and Eureka will also challenge for the race championship.

 

400 Meter Dash – 7:05 PM

Girls – Miranda Marry (Fisher HS) will most likely run the hurdle races outdoors. Indoors, she has made her presence known in this event. Her time of 57.82 that she ran at Arkansas in January still is the fastest 1A time this season. However, Amanda McClain (Sullivan HS) could be the favorite in this race. She ran 58.98 on Mahomet-Seymour’s 165 meter track. It would not surprise me if she dips into the 57’s in this race. Also watch for Charlene Helton (Marquette HS, Alton), Rachel Rhodes (Williamsville HS) and Tessa Holland (Fieldcrest HS, Minonk) be up front in this race.

 

Boys – With TFX list leader Tristan Fox not competing in this meet, this race will be wide open with any of the runners entered having a good chance to win. Morgan Flynn (Williamsville HS) has run 52.13 and has the fastest seed time. Jacob Sholl (Illini West HS, Carthage), Joshua Henning (Lutheran HS, Springfield), and Kyle Blievernicht (Teutopolis HS) are all within tenths of a second within each other and could challenge for the race win

 

1600 Meter Run – 7:20 PM

Girls – This will be a wide open and fast race. There is no Anna Sophia Keller in the field, but this field is loaded. The top five runners in this race will all be coming back from doubles. Cassie Mundekis (Midwest Central HS, Manito) will only have 45 minutes to rest after her 800 Meter race. She ran 5:09 less than a week ago at Sterling. I could see her waiting for her moment to kick. Kelsey Hildreth (Byron HS) will be coming back from the 3200. She will make her presence known in the front. Maria and Adrienne Brauer (PORTA HS, Petersburg) work nicely together when they race. They could steal the race.

 

The one runner that I would watch is Daly Galloway (Dwight HS). Her school Gardner-South Wilmington coops with Dwight in the spring. In the fall, you remember she was in the top ten at state. She has run 5:21 solo this year. She could be a surprise. Rachel Devereux (St. Teresa HS, Decatur) will also be towards the front. Also watch for Haley Miller (Tremont HS) and Lea Viano (Carlinville to be there as well.

 

Boys – This was the race of the night at last year’s meet. Nick Hess (St. Thomas More HS, Champaign) hopes that it is not as exciting this year. It came down to an eyeball to eyeball finish between Hess and Connor Ehnle (Tremont HS) in the final few meters. Both dove towards the finish with Hess declared the winner due to a disqualification to Ehnle. Hess has the fastest seed time this year with Ehnle two seconds back. I’m sure Ehnle remembers.

 

1A Cross Country champ Jon Davis (Oakwood HS, Fithian) finished second outdoors last year in the 1600. He’s run 4:32 so far this season and could push both Hess and Ehnle. Cory Landon (Carlinville HS) looked good last weekend at Charleston finishing behind Ehnle. He will be fighting also for a top spot in this race.

 

200 Meter Dash – 7:35 PM

Girls – Miranda Marry (Fisher HS) has the fastest seed time by close to a half second over Amelia Glueck (Tremont HS). It should be closer than the seed times indicate. Peyton Wade (Aurora Christian HS) and Danielle Crawley (Sherrard HS) will also be in the final section. Any of these four runners could come out on top in this event.

 

Boys – Andre McGill (Madison HS) and Jacob Sholl (Illini West HS, Carthage) are the top seeds in this event and only runners under 23 seconds. They are also 4 hundredths of a second within each other. It should be a close finish between the two. Brett Charlton (Eureka HS), Aaron Harris (Lisle HS), and Riley McClendon (Leo Catholic HS) all have the talent to challenge for the win in this race as well.

 

4 x 400 Meter Relay – 8:00 PM

Girls – Illini West has the fastest time in this event by close to three seconds. They should be the favorites in the final race of the 1A program. Moweaqua Central A&M, Clifton Central, and Williamsville should challenge for the championship.

 

Boys – This race is wide open. Madison, Tolono Unity, Bureau Valley, and Newton are all within three seconds of each other. Any of those schools are capable of winning. Onieda Rowva and Teutopolis are capable of winning from Section 2.