Tony Jones/ ESPN RISE
Class A/AA State Final Recap
 
Class A: It’s not often schools known for cross country prowess can turn it around and produce a great track and field product. Perhaps, for the first time in history, two predominately “XC” factories from the same conference (Big Northern) placed first and second in the team score. Oregon scored a hefty 55 pts to rival Winnebago’s 37. Another solid cross country school (track too) Stanford-Olympia placed third with 33.50. Heyworth was 4th with 32 and defending champion Herrin netted 29 pts.
Class AA: Hillcrest came into the state championship as the heavy favorite and they did not disappoint. The Hawks feasted heavily on the sprint action they were entered in. The 93 points scored was total domination over powerful Cahokia (47). Springfield Lanphier got back to the medal stand despite heavy personnel losses due to graduation. Coach Mike Garcia’s tea m led by Justin Smith scored 44 points. Galesburg just missed the trophy stand with 42 pts and Rock Island gained the 5th position with 37 pts.
Tony Jones’ Outstanding Athlete Class A: Peter Callahan (Winnetka North Shore Country Day)- Callahan had one of the most memorable performances in of the meet. He arguably cemented himself as one of the best ever Class A performers in the process. Callahan anchored his team’s 4x8 to a 7th place effort after being in near last on the final leg. They all earned all-state honors in the process. He won the 800m in meet record time and his time was second fastest of the day for all classes. The final event, his signature race, Callahan turned a tactical early pace into his own freak show. He demolished a good field and won easily. It would have been nice to see Callahan in the AAA field.
Tony Jones’ Outstanding Athlete Class AA: Justin Smith (Springfield Lanphier). Smith enjoyed an outstanding day with four medals, two of them gold. Smith won the 100 and 200 rather easy and was second in the long jump. He anchored his team’s 4x1r to the medal stand. The likable and smiley Smith will continue his education and running at Indiana State University next year.
Track-
Class A 4x800m relay-
Trement 7:57.99
Elmwood 7:59.17
St. Joe Ogden 7:59.22
Summary: Tremont had to be considered a strong candidate to win because of Parker Thompson. That fact would have to play out for awhile, because Thompson would not be able to strut his stuff until the anchor leg. Monticello took a commanding lead on the first two legs [1:57.0, 2:03.3], but the Tremont third leg actually got his team in good position for Thompson. Thompson took controlled and won going away in a class best time (his split: 1:53.8). North Shore Country Day star Peter Callahan grabbed the stick in 11th place and obviously out of the title picture. Rather than just conserve energy for his open events, he began to pick off one runner at a time and then unleashed a furious sprint the last 150m to finish 7th overall. The ultimate team player ran 1:53.3r for his leg.
Class AA 4x800m relay-
Galesburg 7:51.85 [1:56.8, 1:59.0, 1:59.9, 1:55.9]
Springfield 7:57.41
Belvidere North 7:58.98
Summary: the ‘Streaks got it going with its first two legs running strong. But Springfield and Belvidere North are good and would not go away easily. Still, this race was top seeded Galesburg’s to win. Anchor Lucas Junk got the baton and immediately tore up the first 100m turn and glided the backstretch with precision. The pursuing two teams did not have an answer. It was smooth sailing from there on out as Junk raced home in a class best time/school record.
Class A 4x100m relay-
Aledo 42.68
Heyworth 42.91
Oregon 42.96
Summary: Aledo came in with the top prelim seed and never trailed. Anchor Kyle Tompkins brought it home strong with the state’s top seasonal time in the process.
Class AA 4x100m relay-
Country Club Hills (Hillcrest) 42.42
Bloomington 42.67
Rock Island 42.85
Summary: Hillcrest is the best team here but it wasn’t easy. The Hawks didn’t have the best start through two legs, and Bloomington’s baton bobble entering the curve exchange allow Hillcrest to take care advantage of their blunder. It was smooth sailing despite the Purple Raiders trying to save face with a strong anchor closing.
Class A 3200m-
Sean Smith (Winnebago) 9:36.72 [4:48.0/4:48.7]
Blake DeLong (Hillsboro) 9:39.44 [lap leads: 5,6,7]
Chris Nied (Rockford Christian) 9:46.14
Summary: this slow moving affair clicked off checkpoint splits of 2:21.2, 3:36, 4:47 with Nied, DeLong among the leaders. Although the pace quick on the fifth lap, it was still a lethargic 75.6. Finally, the crowd awaken on the bell lap when Smith closed out the matter with a 60.1 blazer.
Class AA 3200m-
C.J. Elward (Peoria Notre Dame) 9:24.35
Lucas Cherry (Carbondale) 9:26.28
Paul Zeman (Belvidere North) 9:33.74
Summary: the middle-class race opening laps was not much better than its Class A cousin as 2:22.2, 3:37.5 attests. To make matters even worse, things stay stagnant through the halfway point in 4:50 and change. It didn’t seem like any of the leading candidates wanted to race until lap 6. Cherry and Elward finally opened things up and separated themselves from the chase group. Elward and Cherry dueled hard with Elward turning back the former home schooled Cherry for the winner.
Class A 110HH- wind: +2.2
Kyle Tompkins (Aledo) 14.72w
Joe Streepy (Columbia) 14.94
Nick Centola (Rochester) 14.99
Summary: Tompkins was an afterthought in a lot of people’s minds including himself. “I never, ever thought I’d win it,” said Tompkins overjoyed with emotion. His seed time of 15.12 was hardly anything to go on in terms of predicting a winner. Tompkins, who admitted to not being the most flawless hurdler, got over clean and was in the mix through six hurdles and then it was eight and finally the winner in easy form. The race favorite Centola did not have a clean race as he and several others knocked hurdles around that prevented a faster race.
Class AA 110HH- wind: +3.0
Maurice Lyke (Hillcrest) 14.37w
Dominique Hall (Belvidere North) 14.46
Jamison Wilson (Hillcrest) 14.61
Summary: Lyke got the quick start and scaled the hurdles first with Hall trailing in second the entire way. Lyke’s teammate Wilson held off Cahokia’s DeAnthony Henderson for third. Chicago Harlan’s Brendan Presley got the Public League’s first hurdle points in a long time.
Class A 100m- wind: +2.2
Jordan Thomas (Oregon) 11.01
Pierre Washington-Stee (Addison Driscoll Catholic) 11.09
Terrance Wright (Chicago Hope Academy) 11.10
Summary: it wasn’t a surprise with Thomas and Washington-Stee dueling in the final. They both carried the top marks from the prelim. Thomas was able to hold on for the victory.
Class AA 100m- wind: +2.6
Justin Smith (Springfield Lanphier) 10.70w
Ben Sparkman (Rock Island) 10.87
Pierre Williams (Hillcrest) 11.00
Summary: a bit of an upset here. Even Smith himself was surprised. He is more of a 200m specialist when it comes to track events. The famously made long jumper got a great start on the field that featured Sparkman and leaderboard frontrunner Williams. Smith easily won with Sparkman second.
Class A 800m-
Peter Callahan (North Shore Country Day) 1:51.22 [56.1/55.1]
Zebo Zebe (Tolono Unity) 1:52.59
Parker Thompson (Tremont) 1:52.64
Summary: the opening pace was fast (54.5) with this being perhaps the deepest ever Class A field. Callahan and Thompson were on even terms after running taxing 4x8 legs. Callahan trailed with the pack up to the 600m mark and then began his move with a powerful burst that took everyone ahead of him by surprise. Callahan continued on to an easy victory. In the process hi
Class AA 800m-
Godrey Kawewe (Carbondale) 1:56.32
Jeff Wooldridge (Jerseyville) 1:57.51
Hans Anderson (Sycamore) 1:57.95
Summary: a tactical thriller all the way. Chicago Harlan’s Vincent Perkins played the early rabbit opening the first 400m in 57.4. Perkins continued to lead despite the pack closing in, and finally swallowing him up at 500m. Kawewe emerged into the lead with several followers, but it was clear that he had the momentum on his side, Kawewe fought off a potential challenge to the front from Chicago Lake View’s Romeo Jurado. Kawewe continued to push the turn and now the homestretch. Wooldridge was now in full flight to make up ground. Kawewe held on strong for the victory.
Class A 4x200m relay-
Rock Falls 1:29.10
Oregon 1:30.12
Harrisburg 1:30.46
Summary: Rock Falls turned a close race into a laugher just before the final leg. Oregon was supposed to contend at the very least because they were top seeded. Aledo placed 4th overall out of a special heat #1.
Class AA 4x200m relay-
Crete-Monee 1:28.74
Midlothian (Bremen) 1:29.08
Cahokia 1:29.09
Summary: top seeded Chicago Harlan would have to do it without #1 sprinter Steve Clark. Clark injured his leg at the end of the 4x1 relay and had to be pulled. Sophomore Welton Crayton was his replacement. The Falcons were still competitive and actually led the race at the end of the second leg when Crayton got the baton. Crete-Monee took full advantage of the mismatch and spurted ahead while Harlan faded back. Bremen moved up with Cahokia. But it was Crete-Monee with the slight lead on the start of the anchor leg. The Warriors maintained their advantage despite things tightening up. Bremen was in a struggle with Cahokia, who was closing in hard on them. Monee held off both pursuers for the victory.
Class A 400m-
Ben Asmus (Heyworth) 48.56
Jordan Thomas (Oregon) 48.85
Malcolm Taylor (Urbana University) 49.21
Summary: a solid field that featured none other than Zebo Zebe (Tolono Unity) himself. It was Zebe in it through the first 300m but Taylor was fighting Asmus hard along with Thomas. Asmus was in the lead the majority of the race, but he was in a dogfight. Thomas got close at the end but Asmus was too strong.
Class AA 400m-
Ian Wells (Champaign Central) 49.04
Garrett Dorsey (Wauconda) 49.31
Sam Russell (Hillcrest) 49.38
Summary: it was suppose to be Sam Russell and Pierre Williams of Hillcrest dominating this race. Wells and Dorsey had other ideas though. The favorite Russell competed well as Wells got next to him at 250m. He did not fold but instead welcomed the challenge. The race took itself to the last 50m and Wells was not fading, instead it was Russell who faltered. Wells won in a surprise and Dorsey nipped Russell at the finish line for second.
Class A 300H-
Derick Higgins (Cuba) 38.68
Tanner Ewing (Toulon Stark County) 38.74
Trevor Hoffman (DuQuoin) 38.76
Summary: the final result appeared a lot closer than it really was. Higgins, won of the finest all-around hurdlers in Class A, did not have a particularly good 110HH final. He redeemed himself by getting a great start and actually opened up a sizable lead on the field. The trailing pack with Ewing, Hoffman, and Eric Miller (Pana) closed hard on the final hurdle, but it was too late as Higgins threw his hands up in excitement as he crossed the finish line.
Class AA 300H-
Logan Markuson (Maple Park Kaneland) 38.57
Wana Wauna (Oak Forest) 38.77
Davin Dollison (Champaign Centennial) 38.97
Summary: revenge is sweet sometimes. Markuson had one of the fastest times in going into state meet final for the 110HH. He false started and laid stunned while his peers went on to become all-state athletes a short time later. Markuson hung his head for a short time and then moved on. It helps that he is a budding and future decathlete- so moving on is imperative. Markuson got a fair start and drew even on the second hurdler with the field and then took off in the lead on the curve. Hillcrest’s Maurice Lyke tried to go but faded. Top seeded Wauna was even on the brink. Markuson continued to carry the curve momentum through the final set of hurdlers and finally the finish line. Sweet revenge it is.
Class A 1600m-
Peter Callahan (North Shore Country Day) 4:15.30 [3:16.4]
Parker Thompson (Tremont) 4:18.35 [2:11.0, 3:15.9]
Justin Rehfeldt (Rockford Christian) 4:21.02
Summary: Callahan sized the field out with Thompson through 1200m. Callahan appeared content with just running behind Thompson the entire way had something up his sleeve. With just 200m to go, he had a move that left Thompson standing still as he powered completely away. It seemed almost embarrassing for Thompson but he still ran a personal best.
Class AA 1600m-
Greg Whittle (Galesburg) 4:20.53
Ryan Todd (Jerseyville) 4:21.08
John Crain (Dunlap) 4:21.76
Summary: this was not an easy victory for Whittle. Instead he did it the hard way. The first two laps was Josh Battles of Peoria Richwoods out front. Jerseyville junior Ryan Todd took over the chores on the third lap. Whittle move into the lead on the back stretch of the final lap and up to the top of the homestretch. Todd fought back and got even with Whittle but was held in check and settled for second
Class A 200m-
Jordan Thomas (Oregon) 21.90
Ben Asmus (Heyworth) 21.93
Ross Johnson (Newton) 22.38
Summary: Thomas and 400m champ Asmus dueled. Thomas got a better start but Asmus closed late on the homestretch but he could not overtake Thomas.
Class AA 200m –
Justin Smith (Springfield Lanphier) 21.67
Ben Sparkman (Rock Island) 22.16
Mike Wright (Kankakee) 22.48
Summary: Smith all the way here in a complete breeze.
Class A 4x400m relay-
Melrose Park (Walther Lutheran) 3:22.53 [50.8- anchor]
Stanford (Olympia) 3:22.85
Murphysboro 3:22.95
Summary: Class A leader Lena-Winslow was suppose to rule this one, but an incredibly sluggish second leg killed them off. It was Murphysboro, Stanford, and Walther Lutheran fighting for the top three spots. Walther Lutheran anchor Martin Lamar made his move with 60m to go that sealed the deal.
Class AA 4x400m relay-
Country Club Hills Hillcrest 3:20.51 [50.5, 50.6, 50.3, 49.1]
Galesburg 3:21.18
Chicago Harlan 3:22.24
Wauconda 3:22.67
Carbondale 3:22.88
Springfield Lanphier 3:22.96
Summary: Hillcrest entered the race with the top mark and top overall AA unit. But it was Galesburg leading for the first two legs. Hillcrest emerged from a pack of four to open up a slight gap. Sam Russell would run anchor for the Hawks and he opened up more daylight on the field. It would be Wauconda, Galesburg, Harlan, and several others to fight out 2-5 or 6 spots. Harlan made a late surge to grab 3rd away from two other teams.
Field Events-
Class A Long Jump-
Zach Riley (Herrin) 23-5.5
Jacob Peak (Winchester) 22-10.75
Sean Martin (South Holland Seton Academy) 21-10.75
Summary: Riley started the day in a hole with just a 22-5.25 qualifying mark, but he didn’t seem worried. He was on the infield doing his stretches prior to the competition and wore a face of confidence. After all, he has a lot on his plate for the day with the 4x1, 4x2 relays, and of course his signature event- the high jump to follow. Riley hit 23-3.5 to overtake Peak, who wasn’t able to counter, and he remained at 22-10.75 from the prelims.
Class AA Long Jump-
Laderrick Ward (Cahokia) 23-1.5
Justin Smith (Springfield Lanphier) 22-6
Jeshiah Campbell (Bloomington) 22-0.25
Summary: the day’s first final was already a high pressure cooker with coaches yelling instructions to their respective athletes from across the fence behind the pole vault area. For Cahokia, it was Vernon Carter (he finished dead last at 12th) and Ward needing to pick up big points here to counter favored Hillcrest. Super senior stud Justin Smith stood in the way even though he was positioned second coming out of the prelims. He is the most dangerous competitor in all of Illinois with 24-0 and 23-11 leaps on his resume. But this morning though, Smith was as flat as his facial expressions after each jump. He barely got into the 22-0 zone and settled for the runner-up spot. Ward’s final jumps weren’t much better with a 21-11 effort sprinkled in. His prelim carryover did the trip and he won his first state title.
 Class A Pole Vault-
Scott Mammoser (Newton) 15-6 PB
2) Matt Bane (Rochester) 15-0
2) Alex Freshour (Stanford-Olympia)
Summary: not much press was given to Mammoser this season or even season for that matter. His best coming into the state meet was only 14-11. That height hardly guarantees coverage in vault rich state of Illinois. Mammoser went out and went his competition fair and square with a personal best effort. A disappointed Freshour, who has cleared 16-0 in the past, may have been a little winded from competing in track events still claimed second overall with Bane.
Class AA Pole Vault-
Logan Pfibsen (Streator) 15-6
Zach Siegmeier (Crystal Lake Central) 15-0
Kevin Kingsberry (Sycamore) 14-9
Summary: as expected Pflibsen won the title comfortably. The junior vaulter set the first class record in the newly formed 2A division. Siegmeier gave his best effort. He attempted to surpass his personal best, going for 15-6 but happily settled for second.
Class A High Jump-
Zach Riley (Herrin) 7-0
Zach Wood (Camp Point Central) 6-8
Austin Brandenburg (Cerro Gordo) 6-5
Summary: the state’s pre-eminent jumper Riley has become a household name. He was chronicled earlier during his indoor title chase. He dispatched the competition early enough to set his own stage and personal show for the large crowd in attendance. Riley cleared 6-10 before moving up to 7-0. The track action was allowed to cease momentarily, so he could use all of the allotted runway that extended into lane 1 of the track. He cleared it. The bar was raised to 7-2 for an attempt at his own school record. Former state champion Eric Thompson holds the honor. Riley’s first attempted appeared true but the bar fell on him before he was able to exit the mat. The next two attempts weren’t as close but they were still hardly efforts. The appreciative crowd gave him a standing ovation at the conclusion of the event.
Class AA High Jump-
Ikechi Nnamani (Normal University) 6-8
Cheldon Brown (Springfield Lanphier) 6-7
Nick Sinon (Maple Park Kaneland) 6-7
Summary: once Nnamani polished off Brown and the field, he wanted in on the 7-0 derby. Why not? There are only 27 leapers with the distinction of a 7-0 mark next to their name. Plus, everyone likes to see 7-0 attempts- it’s one of high school track and field’s great wonders. Nnamani gave his best effort but fell ever so shy of the mark.
Class A Shot Put-
Tyler Clott (Peotone) 56-7
Rob Stein (Elmhurst Timothy Christian) 55-5.75
Michaeal Pearce (Villa Grove) 54-7.25
Summary: Clott continued to ride his post-season momentum from Sectionals to the State prelim to the Final. Although he didn’t improve his prelim mark, he was still able to hold off Stein, who actually increased his mark on Saturday.
 Class AA Shot Put-
Terron Armstead (Cahokia) 57-7
Matthew Smith (Mt. Vernon) 57-3.25
Curt Jensen (Geneseo) 56-1.75
Summary: the class leader Armstead came into the state meet with a best of 61-0. However, he struggled to get past the 57-0 mark in the prelim round despite leading the field. Smith took the lead but Armstead still had difficulties with 54, 55- foot throws. Just prior to his final attempt, Armstead sat down in the football end zone to contemplate and collect himself. His name was called and he stepped calmly into the ring. Armstead spinned and heaved an effort that appeared true. No announcement for several moments… then “57-7” said the head official.
Class A Triple Jump-
Terell Williams (Chillicothe Illinois Valley Central) 45-6.75
Dylan DeJonge (Erie) 44-6.5
Myles Baker (Effingham St. Anthony) 44-6
Summary: Williams’ position from Friday’s prelim round didn’t change, and he actually improved on his class best effort by over an inch for the triple leap title. Baker made the biggest improvement to solidify third place. Not bad for a kid jumping only 42-5 in the sectional round.
Class AA Triple Jump-
Julian Mayfield (Rock Island) 47-2.5
Jamison Wilson (Hillcrest) 47-0.25
Vernon Carter (Cahokia) 46-7
Summary: state overall leader Vernon Carter could not get un-tracked and the door was open for Mayfield and Wilson to challenge for the title. Mayfield trailed Wilson and four other perform ers up to his final attempt. He hit the board and skied to victory. He improved from the worst position last year: 10th. He also got the school record in the process.
Class A Discus-
Alex Thompson (Winnebago) 190-11 SR
Brandon Noe (Champaign St. Thomas More) 167-8
Chris Thompson (Winnebago) 163-1
Summary: The ‘Bagos proved they can achieve more than cross country and distance running. The Thompson brother duo enjoyed a second day surge to earn 18 pts on 1-3 finishes. Alex Thompson is the younger brother of Chris and he opened up final competition with an all-time Class A mark of 189-10 on his first toss. His second throw was even further at 190-11. A. Thompson may have felt the energy from the Dan Block-Marcus Popenfoose duel.
Class AA Discus-
Chris Thornton (East Peoria) 165-1
Curt Jensen (Geneseo) 164-5
Aaron Carr (Hillcrest) 162-11
Summary: None of the top 5 changed from Friday’s prelims. The top three marks are the Season’s best. Thornton was not even a participant in the state championship last year. |
