Does Tolono Unity have the athletes to win the 1A team championship?

 

By Michael Newman

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We will have a new team champion this year as Aurora Christian graduated their main scorers from a year ago. The team that could move to the top is Tolono Unity. The East Central Illinois school has twelve qualifiers making that short trip to Charleston. Eight or nine of them could score points. Sterling Newman, Eureka, and Illini West also have the pieces to leave Charleston with a trophy.

 

Fans will get another chance to see Jon Davis do his thing again in the 3200 Meter Run and 1600 Meter Run where he will be the big favorite in both events. If the weather cooperates, he could break the 1A record in the 3200. The sprints should be fun with seniors Andre McGill, Brett Charlton, and Jacob Sholl hoping that their last time at O'Brien Stadium will result in a state championship. The Pole Vault could be the top field event in 1A as two time runner-up Riley Smith and 2013 champion Adam Coulon face off. There could be some drama in the Triple Jump as Corey Kersey go after his third straight 1A championship.

 

Here is a look at each of the events. We will look at some of the top teams at the end.

 

 

4 x 800 Meter Relay

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 7:40.02 - Algonquin Jacobs - 2006

                In the 1976 finals, Harvey (Thornton) recorded a manual time of 7:38.0 in the 2-mile relay (18.7 meters longer).

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 7:53.69 - Monticello - 2006

2015 1A State Best - 8:10.83 - Sterling Newman Catholic

2015 1A Sectional Best - 8:11.35 - Onieda ROWVA

2015 State Best - 7:43.51 - Barrington

 

Outlook - It could be a close race as the top four teams on the sectional list are only separated by a second. Onieda  ROWVA has the fastest sectional time having running their best time of the season by 16 seconds in winning the Farmington Sectional just ahead of Elmwood. Both teams should be towards the front.

 

The team to keep an eye on in this race is Tolono Unity. The Rockets ran 8:12.09 to win the St. Joseph-Ogden Sectional but have the asset of having 1:56 800 man Andrew Warnes as their anchor. Sterling Newman has the fastest 1A time so far this season and could be a threat with Chris Ahlers and Bryson Reyes leading the way. Tolono's area rival St. Joseph-Ogden has run 8:10.90 this season and could also pose a threat to Unity.  Sherrard finished behind ROWVA and Elmwood at the Farmington Sectional and will also challenge. Shelbyville has a great distance tradition and will be up towards the front. Others schools to keep an eye on include Dwight, Sparta, Eureka, and Carlinville.

 

 

4 x 100 Meter Relay

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 41.42 - Cahokia - 2006

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 42.13 - Herrin - 2010

2015 1A State Best - 42.75 - Tolono Unity

2015 1A Sectional Best - 42.92 - Tolono Unity

2015 State Best - 41.31 - Cahokia

 

Outlook -  Tolono Unity had the fastest sectional time in this event by half a second and should be considered the favorite. They are also the only 1A team to run under 43 seconds in 2015.  Sterling Newman (with Brady Rude) and Carthage Illini West (with Jacob Sholl) could be the biggest challengers. Arcola ran 43.34 10 days ago at the News Gazette Honor Roll Meet  also have the talent to dip under 43 seconds. St. Joseph-Ogden, Polo Community, Rushville-Industry, and Pana should also be chasing for a top three finish.

 

 

3200 Meter Run

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 8:42.89 - Donald Sage - Elmhurst York - 2000

                Craig Virgin of Lebanon recorded a manual time of 8:42.6 in the 2-mile run (18.7 meters longer) in 1973

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 9:10.56 - Jeremy Stevens - Winnebago - 2006

2015 1A State Best - 9:15.93 - Jon Davis (JR) - Fithian Oakwood

2015 1A Sectional Best - 9:15.93 - Jon Davis (JR) - Fithian Oakwood

2015 State Best -  8:49.40 - Jesse Reiser (SR) - McHenry

 

Outlook - When Jon Davis won his second straight 1A cross country championship last fall, he realized that he missed getting the 1A meet record set by Winnebago's Jeremy Stevens. He may able to right that wrong Saturday afternoon. Davis easily won his sectional race in 9:15.93 putting him only five seconds of the 1A meet record that Stevens set in 2006. Davis comes in with the fastest sectional time by 24 seconds.

 

Eric Ponder (Tuscola HS) finished second behind Davis at Detweiller last fall and should be Davis' chief competition in this event. In last year's state 3200 race, Davis and Ponder pushed each other all the way before Davis took off at the end.  Ponder has run 9:31.17 this season. He also is only running this event as he did not run the 1600 at sectionals.

 

After those two runners, it could be a battle for the third spot. Runners that will be challenging for an all-state finish include Marcus Skinner (Shelbyville HS), Corbin Kakac (Fairfield HS), Ross McCormick (Seneca HS),  Al Baldonado (Spring Valley Hall HS), Simon Ricci (Latin School, Chicago), and Tyler Johnson (Pleasant Plains HS).

 

 

110 Meter High Hurdles

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 13.79 - AJ Harris - Wheaton North - 2002

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 13.93 - Phil Sikkenga - Elmhurst Timothy Christian - 1997

2015 1A State Best - 14.43 - Aaron Luesse (SR) - Tolono Unity

2015 1A Sectional Best - 14.71 - Aaron Luesse (SR) - Tolono Unity

2015 State Best - 13.91 - William Session (JR) - Belleville East

 

Outlook -  Aaron Luesse showed that he was the class of the 1A hurdle field when he won the Illinois Top Times Championship in March. He will enter this meet as the favorite as he has the fastest sectional time and the fastest 1A time run so far this season. Luesse finished sixth in this event last season.

 

However, he is not a slam dunk in this event. Three other athletes have run within two tenths of a second of him this spring and will also be a threat to win the state championship. Reagan Todhunter (Sterling Newman Catholic) has been coming on strong towards the end of the year having run 14.72 to win the Three Rivers Boys Conference Meet. He finished fifth in this event last year. Josh Kirby (Peoria Christian HS) finished second in this event last season and is hungry to take one step up to the top of the podium on Saturday. He has run under 15 seconds seven times this season including 14.71 at the Mahomet-Seymour Invitational two weeks ago.

 

Nick Matthews (Cisne HS) has state meet experience having finished third last year and  having run 14.96 at his sectional last week. Other athletes that I would watch in this event include Curtis Gordon (Vandalia HS), Joe Feemorlu (Mooseheart HS), Riley Drees and Noah Blievernicht (Teutopolis HS), and Kyle Carver (Casey-Westfield HS).

 

 

100 Meter Dash

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 10.37 - Keith Thomas - Chicago Kenwood - 1986

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 10.47 - Lubeech Graves - Cairo - 1990

2015 1A State Best - 10.70 - Andre McGill (SR) - Madison

2015 1A Sectional Best - 10.81 - Marcus Sitko (SR) - Staunton

2015 State Best - 10.42 - Josh Eiker (JR) - Galesburg

 

Outlook -  At this time of the year, there is usually one hot athlete that steps to the forefront and has a great state meet. This year, that athlete could be Marcus Sitko. The senior seems to be peaking at the right time having defeated Andre McGill (Madison HS) to win the Staunton Sectional 100 race last week. Sitko ran 10.7510 days ago at the Capital Area Classic. McGill ran 10.70 in April at Belleville West.

 

This will be a loaded finals field with returning champion Brett Charlton (Eureka HS) a part of it. Charlton ran a season's best 10.88 in winning the Tremont Sectional and should be challenging for the win again. Jacob Sholl (Illini West HS, Carthage) finished fourth in this race last year will also pose a threat to the gold medal. Brady Rude (Sterling Newman Catholic) is running stronger having missed the first half of the season with an injury.  Even though he has only run 11.14, he could be a surprise in this event.

 

Other athletes to watch in the front include Justin Goff (Wesclin HS, Trenton),  Austin Sikora (Rockford Lutheran HS), Jordan Rowell (IC Catholic Prep, Elmhurst), BJ Bailey (Reed-Custer HS, Braidwood), and Aaron Harris (Lisle HS).

 

 

800 Meter Run

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 1:49.71 - Jason Van Swol - New Lenox Lincoln-Way - 1998

                Dave Ayoub of Peoria (H.S.) recorded a manual time of 1:48.9 in the 880-yard run (4.7 meters longer) in 1977

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 1:51.22 - Peter Callahan - Winnetka North Shore Country Day - 2009

2015 1A State Best - 1:55.97 - Jon Davis (JR) - Fithian Oakwood

2015 1A Sectional Best - 1:56.07 - Andrew Warnes (JR) - Tolono Unity

2015 State Best - 1:52.30 - Ty Moss (SR) - Naperville Neuqua Valley

 

Outlook - Andrew Warnes is the class of the field having run the fastest seasonal time in this field by more than a second and a half. Warnes has only lost once in this event this year  to Jon Davis at St. Joseph-Ogden at the end of April.  Warnes will be coming back from the 3200 relay earlier in the meet.

 

The one runner I would watch is Michael Cook (Wethersfield HS, Kewanee). He has medaled in this event the last two years. He missed all of cross country season due to a stress fracture. He is running stronger than ever  having run 1:57.72 to win the Farmington Sectional. Andrew Gardewine (St. Anthony HS, Effingham) has run 1:57.83 this season and could also be a threat to Warnes.

 

Runners to watch in this event include Austin McCarey (Byron HS), Joseph Stone (Newton HS), Ryan Skowronski (Shelbyville HS), David Horn (St. Thomas More HS, Champaign), and Gabe Lyons (St. Joseph-Ogden HS).

 

 

4 x 200 Meter Relay

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 1:25.98 - Cahokia - 2007

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 1:27.93 - Tuscola - 2012

2015 1A State Best - 1:30.06 - Tolono Unity

2015 1A Sectional Best - 1:30.22 - Tolono Unity

2015 State Best - 1:26.78 - Plainfield East

 

Outlook -  Tolono Unity again should be the team to beat in this event. They have run 1:30.06 during the year and have almost a three quarter of a second gap over the rest of the field. Arcola will be their chief competition in this event. Hales Franciscan, Farmington, Sterling Newman Catholic, Rockridge, Pana, and Fulton will also be challenging for top spots.

 

 

400 Meter Dash

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 46.51 - Harold Leonard - Chicago Mt. Carmel - 1985

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 46.76 - Ryan Shields - Chicago Leo Catholic - 2002

2015 1A State Best - 48.71 - Jacob Sholl (SR) - Carthage Illini West

2015 1A Sectional Best - 48.95 - Jacob Sholl (SR) - Carthage Illini West

2015 State Best - 46.87 - Kahmari Montgomery (SR) - Plainfield Central

 

Outlook -  This should be a great showdown between two of the top 1A sprinters in the state. Jacob Sholl has run under 49 seconds twice this year including his 48.95  to win the Beardstown Sectional. Brett Charlton (Eureka HS) looks like he is peaking at the right time running 49.83 to win the Beardstown Sectional. With both athletes pushing each other, we could see a winning time in the low 48's.

 

Nathan Stukenberg (Polo HS) dropped his seasonal best time down by more than a second in running 49.81 to win at Byron last week. He could be a threat towards the front as well. Aaron Harris (Lisle HS) was a power indoors, but he has only run 50.74 outdoors. He could be a surprise. Runners to also watch include Jason Rowell (IC Catholic Prep, Elmhurst), Josh Gordon (Mooseheart HS), Jordan Manges (IL School for the Deaf, Jacksonville). , and Kaleb Simmons (Althoff HS, Belleville).

 

 

300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 36.77 - Jon Schweighardt - Wheaton-Warrenville South - 1999

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 37.33 - Cody Wisslead (Sciota West Prairie - 2006

2015 1A State Best -  39.88 - Josh Kirby (SR) - Peoria Christian

2015 1A Sectional Best -  39.88 - Josh Kirby (SR) - Peoria Christian

2015 State Best - 37.13 - Isaiah Michl (SR) - Edwardsville

 

Outlook - This could be another  be another showdown between Josh Kirby and Aaron Luesse in this hurdle race. Kirby is the only 1A athlete to run under 40 seconds running 39.88 to win at the Farmington Sectional. Luesse also looked tough last week running a seasonal best 40.06 to win his sectional race. Riley Drees (Teutopolis HS), who finished ninth a year ago, has run 40.10 this year and will challenge for the championship.

 

Athletes that could also place in the top three on Saturday include Andy Margason (Timothy Christian HS, Elmhurst), Clayton Strader (Arcola HS), Regan Todhunter (Sterling Newman Catholic HS), Hayden Golemon (Elmwood HS), and Carl O'Connor (Onieda ROWVA HS).

 

 

1600 Meter Run

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 4:05.17 - Jeff Thode - Hoffman Estates Conant - 2009

                Andy Isla-Rubert of Hillside (Proviso West) recorded a manual time of 4:07.1 in the longer mile run (9.3 meters) in 1970

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 4:09.33 - Dorian Ulrey - Port Byron Riverdale - 2006

2015 1A State Best - 4:15.80 - Jon Davis (JR) - Fithian Oakwood

2015 1A Sectional Best - 4:16.75 - Jon Davis (JR) - Fithian Oakwood

2015 State Best - 4:09.72 - Zach Dale (SR ) - Hoffman Estates Conant

 

Outlook - The question in this race is who will get second. I think we have an idea of who will come out on top.  Jon Davis ran a great double last week running 9:15 in the 3200 and coming back to run 4:16 in this event.  He has run under 4:20 four times this year including twice indoors. He has the fastest time by eight seconds ahead of the rest of this state qualifying field. Even if the race becomes extremely tactical, Davis is still the guy to beat.

 

Michael Cook will be coming back from the 800 but I could see him finishing in the top three in this race. Jacob Silverman (Latin School, Chicago) ran 4:23.99 last weekend. If the race is right, he could go under 4:20. Chris Ahlers (Sterling Newman Catholic) has run 4:27.90 this year, but has the potential to get close to 4:20.

 

Other athletes to watch include Kenton Wilson (Shelbyville HS), Cory Landon (Carlinville HS), Al Baldonado (Spring Valley Hall), Matt Osmulski (Elmwood HS), Nick Porter (Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS), and Austin Earp (St. Joseph-Ogden HS).

 

 

200 Meter Dash

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 20.89 - Anthony Moorman - Roselle Lake Park - 1997

IHSA 1A State Meet Record -21.36 - David Washington - Melrose Park Walther Lutheran - 1984

2015 1A State Best - 21.76 - Jacob Sholl (SR) - Carthage Illini West

2015 1A Sectional Best - 22.26 - Jacob Sholl (SR) - Carthage Illini West

2015 State Best - 21.02 - Josh Eiker (JR) - Galesburg

 

Outlook - Three 1A athletes have run under 22 seconds this spring. They should be the athletes to watch in this event. Jacob Sholl ran 21.76 in Missouri at the beginning of May and is undefeated in this event. Andre McGill has run against some of the best of  Metro St. Louis running 21.87. He will challenge for the win. Sophomore Jordan Rowell (IC Catholic Prep, Elmhurst) has also qualified in the 100 and the 400. This event could be his best. He ran 21.90 at the beginning of May.

 

Athletes that I would keep an eye on include BJ Bailey, Aaron Harris, Steven Migut (Tolono Unity HS), Brady Rude (Sterling Newman Catholic HS), Kahlil Wassel (New Berlin HS), and Justin Goff.

 

 

 

 

4 x 400 Meter Relay

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 3:13.66 - East St. Louis-Senior - 2007

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 3:19.95 - Rochester - 2010

2015 1A State Best - 3:26.91 - Arcola

2015 1A Sectional Best - 3:26.99 - Arcola

2015 State Best - 3:17.78 - Cahokia

 

Outlook - This is a toss-up event. The top eight sectional times are only separated by two seconds. Arcola, St. Joseph-Ogden, and Tolono Unity have been the top teams this season and should be the team to watch. Eureka, Onieda ROWVA, Farmington, Polo Community, and Farmington are some of the schools that could be towards the front.

 

 

FIELD EVENTS

 

Long Jump

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 24 - 6 1/4 - Oscar Wallace - Alton - 1969

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 24-2 - Babatunde Ridley - Carliville - 1996

2015 1A State Best - 23-0 - Marcus Sitko - Staunton

2015 1A Sectional Best - 22- 1/4 - Kevin King (JR) - Kankakee McNamara

2015 State Best - 25- 6 1/2 - Ja'Mari Ward (JR) - Cahokia

 

Outlook - Corey Kersey (Neoga HS) bested Marcus Sitko by four inches to win the state championship last year. The outcome could be a little different this weekend. Sitko has a season's best jump of 23-0. Kersey has only jumped 21-9 1/4 this season but jumps big when the money is on the line. It could be a closer event in this meet.

 

Kevin King has the top sectional performance and could be the surprise athlete on this runway. Kelson Triplett (Litchfield HS) jumped 21-10 1/2 last week and could contend for the win. Brett Charlton jumped a season's best 21-10 1/4 and could be ahead of the rest at the end of this competition. Devon Laubscher (Cissna Park HS), Bryan Heath (Rockridge HS, Taylor Ridge),  and Ryan Laramee (Piasa Southwestern HS) could also challenge for the win in what could be a tight event. Only three inches separate the top nine athletes on the sectional list.

 

 

Triple Jump

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 51- 1/2 - Chris Hercules - Palatine - 1997

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 50-9 - Michael Conley - Chicago Luther South - 1981

2015 1A State Best - 45-7 1/2 - Marcus Sitko (SR) - Staunton

2015 1A Sectional Best  - 44-2 - Marcus Sitko (SR) - Staunton

2015 State Best - 51-11 - Ja'Mari Ward (JR) - Cahokia

 

Outlook - Corey Kersey has won two consecutive 1A Triple Jump state championships. He would like to win a third but Marcus Sitko could be in his way. Sitko has the best 1A jump in the state this spring (45-7 1/2) along with the best sectional performance last week (44-2). Kersey had his best jump of the season (43-7) in winning his sectional. They were close enough last week to make this competition exciting on Saturday.

 

Other athletes that could also be in the top three include Rodney Gosard (Fulton HS),  Corey Jones (Guerin HS, River Grove), Saheed Adewole (Leo Catholic HS, Chicago), and Jecorrey Duncan (Clark HS, Chicago).

 

 

High Jump

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 7-3 1/2 - Tom Smith - Heyworth - 1985

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 7-3 1/2 - Tom Smith - Heyworth - 1985

2015 1A State Best - 6-10 - Noah Adams (JR) - Macon Meridian

2015 1A Sectional Best - 6-9 - Noah Adams (JR) - Macon Meridian

2015 State Best - 6-10 - Darryl Sullivan (SR) - Marion

                                     - Noah Adams (JR) - Macon Meridian

 

Outlook - Defending state champion Derek Wegeman (Tri-Valley HS, Downs) is back for a second straight win. His best clearance this spring has been 6-7. The hot jumper in this event this spring has been Noah Adams. The junior cleared 6-9 to win his sectional last week and is tied for the best performance in the state (6-10). Logan Ross (White Hall HS, North Greene) finished sixth last year and has cleared 6-7 this year. The  Illinois Top Times champ will be a threat in this event.

 

Tyler Owen (Georgetown-Ridge Farm HS) was all-state last season and could challenge for the top three on Saturday. Brad Cavanaugh (Polo HS), Bryan Heath (Rockridge HS, Taylor Ridge), and Adam Miller (Pana HS) are among the athletes that could challenge for a top finish.

 

 

Pole Vault

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 17-3 - Luke Winder - Plainfield Central

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 16-3 - Jack Denby - Carlinville - 201

2015 1A State Best - 16-3 - Riley Smith (SR) - Casey-Westfield

2015 1A Sectional Best - 15-2 - Adam Coulon (JR) - Downs Tri-Valley

2015 State Best - 16-6 - Andy Jatis (SR) - New Lenox Providence

                                     - Jake Larocca (SR) - Palatine

 

Outlook - This is a good field led by two great athletes. Riley Smith has finished second in this event the last two years. He cleared a season's best  16-3 at the end of the year. Adam Coulon won the state championship in 2013. He did not compete at state last year. Coulon cleared 15-8 this season. The two could push each other to the 16-3 1A record set by Jack Denby last year.

 

None of the other athletes in this field have cleared 15 feet. Ethan Mizer (St. Joseph-Ogden HS), Monte Wolke (Toledo Cumberland HS), Nathan O'Connor (Tremont HS), and Carter Pillen (Wethersfield HS, Kewanee) are a few of the other athletes to keep an eye on in this event.

 

 

Shot Put

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 66-5 3/4 - Jermaine Kline - Roselle Lake Park - 2011

IHSA 1A State Meet Record - 63-6 - Matt Maddox - Girard - 1997

2015 1A State Best - 55-11 - Blaze Murfin (SR) - Carthage Illini West

2015 1A Sectional Best - 55-11 - Blaze Murfin (SR) - Carthage Illini West

2015 State Best - 61-3 - Adam Schaufelberger (SR) - LaGrange Lyons Township

 

Outlook - Stephen Gibson (Tuscola HS) has been the 1A list leader for most of the season. The senior, who finished second a year ago, has been over 54 feet four times this season including a 55-4 season's best two weeks ago at his conference meet.  Blaze Murfin jumped ahead of Gibson this week when he improved by four feet  with a 55-11 sectional lead. He has been consistently between 49-51 feet most of the year. If he repeats his sectional performance, he could find himself with a state championship.

 

Two athletes are a foot behind Murfin and Gibson. Ross Sealby (Byron HS) and Nick Olson (Flanagan-Cornell HS) could finish on top if the top two falter. Also watch for Nick Barr (Caitlin HS), Clayton Turner (Tuscola HS), and Braedon Lappin-Pratt (Bismarck-Henning HS) to challenge for a top five finish.

 

 

Discus

 

IHSA State Meet Record - 205-8 - Dan Block - Roselle Lake Park

IHSA 1A State Meet Record -  193-2 - Alex Thompson - Winnebago  - 2010

2015 1A State Best - 176-9 - Manning Plater (JR) - Rushville-Industry

2015 1A Sectional Best - 169-9 - Stephen Gibson (SR) - Tuscola

2015 State Best - 194-3 - AJ Espenesa - Edwardsville HS

 

Outlook - Stephen Gibson is the sectional leader four feet ahead of Blaze Murfin. Manning Plater, who has the best 1A throw this year,  threw 160-8 last week. Nick Matthews (Cisne HS) along with Colton Yeakley (Arthur HS) could also challenge for the state championship. The winner most likely will come from one of these five athletes.

 

 

 

Teams to Watch (In Alphabetical Order)

 

 

Carthage Illini West

State Qualifiers - 7 Total: 6 Individual, 1 Relay

 

Outlook - This is a team that could duplicate what their Girls team last week. They do not have much room for error. The main focus will be on Jacob Sholl. He has the fastest 1A times in the 200 and 400. He should also be among the top 4 in the 100. He could also get his team to the line first in the 400 Relay. Blaze Murfin should score big points in both weight events. He has the best sectional performance in the Shot Put. He could also be in the top three in the Discus. Jace Norman has a shot of scoring points in the High Jump.

 

 

Eureka

State Qualifiers - 9 Total: 6 Individual, 3 Relays

 

Outlook -  The Hornets finished second last year behind the efforts of Brett Charlton. He will try to lead his team to another trophy in his senior season. Charlton will be one of the favorites in the 400 and could also score some big points in both the Long Jump and the 100. Charlton will also be a part of a 1600 Relay team that could get some points. Their 3200 relay could get points in that event. It would be a bonus if Jaxon Rieke scores in the 400.

 

 

Sterling Newman Catholic

State Qualifiers - 10 Total: 6 Individuals, 4 Relays

 

Outlook - The 2013 champions finished fourth a year ago. They would like to bring home a trophy this season. The pieces are there to make that happen. Their 3200 Relay could contend for the win in that event. The 400 Relay will be among the top three teams in that race. Their 800 relay could also squeeze out some points in that event. Brady Rude was injured for the first half of the season. He has come on strong the last couple of weeks and could score in both the 100 and 200. Regan Todhunter is among the elite 1A hurdle athletes in the state. He should score big points in both of those events. Chris Ahlers has improved during this track season and could score in the top 5 in the 1600.

 

St. Joseph-Ogden

State Qualifiers - 10 Total: 6 Individuals, 4 Relays

 

Outlook - The Spartans could contend for a trophy. Their 3200 and 1600 Relays could get points. Ethan Mizer should be one of the top five in the Pole Vault.  Gabe Lyons could be among the top six in the 800. Austin Earp could also score points in the 1600.

 

 

Tolono Unity

State Qualifiers - 12 Total: 8 Individuals, 4 Relays

 

 

Outlook - The big favorite to capture the 1A state championship. They have the quality entrants in this meet that could score them some big points. Their relays will be the key to their success this weekend. The 400 and 800 Relays have the top sectional times. The 3200 and 1600 Relays should also be in the first three. Andrew Warnes has the fastest sectional time in the 800 and also will play a part in the 3200 and 1600 relays. Aaron Luesse will be one of the favorites in both of the hurdle races. Dawson Dodds or Austin Woodward could score in the 3200. Steven Migut has the possibility of scoring in the 200. If the seeds hold to place on Saturday, this team could clinch the team championship by the time we get to the 300 Hurdles.