Illinois area boys track season outlooks

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By Shannon Heaton | Wednesday, April 9, 2008 2:41 AM CDT | () comments

Outlook

The area boys track and field scene in Illinois is going to be jumping in 2008.

Not just a play on words, many of the area’s most talented track competitors will be found in or near a jumping pit during the course of their day.

On the track, sprints, hurdles and distance already are starting to appear as if a new status quo is preparing to take over, with a very strong on-the-track class graduating a year ago. It’s in the field, however, that boasts the most returning experience, though area dominance in the weight throws might very well be an open question.

Athletes to watch

Andrew Walter, Geneseo: Capable of flirting with sub-22-second times in the 200-meter dash and 22-foot-plus long jumps, the Maple Leaf senior won the Ted Stopoulos Award, given to the best long jumper at the UT Kiwanis Invitational. Walter is a very strong turn runner and might be very dangerous in the 400, as well.

Brad Bohms, Erie/Prophetstown: The state’s top returning high jumper in Class A, the Panther senior finished third with a leap of 6-6 a year ago. Bohms also medaled as a sophomore, tying for seventh. Experience and skills are both in his favor this year.

Tanner Carlson, Annawan/Wethersfield: The Braves’ all-time scoring leader in basketball, Carlson now turns his attentions to the track, where he won two medals at the Class A state meet as a junior (fourth in the 400, sixth in the 1,600 relay). With Aledo’s Darin Blaser graduated, look for Carlson to dominate the Lincoln Trail Conference meet next month.

Matt Knoll, Orion: The junior jumper should be close, if not over, 21 feet in the long jump and could very well flirt with 44 feet in the triple jump before this season ends. Probably the strongest field-event competitor not coming from team powerhouses Farmington or Monmouth-Roseville.

Josh Wilson, Sherrard: Possesses all the talent in the world and showed a great deal of it in last year’s state meet in the 800-meter run, where he was sixth. He’s third among returning 800 runners.

A.J. Smith, Riverdale: Often chased Bohms or set his own pace in the high jump. Smith has flirted with the stratosphere in that event. No less a notable figure than TRAC-8 legend Ted McMillan has said that high-jump success comes down to spring in the legs on the day in question, and Smith’s got plenty of spring.

Storylines

• Geneseo brings a little bit of everything, and that ability to put some talent into each event might be a reason why the Maple Leafs can topple Sterling for top honors in the NCIC Reagan Division, though Dixon will also pose some challenges. "We hope to be in a position to contend come championship meet season," Leafs coach Don Fredericks said. The sprinting and jumping ability of Walter, Jacob Kuban and Shane Reschke will be big for Geneseo down the stretch. Discus man Curt Jensen could be a darkhorse state qualifier in that event, as might pole vaulter Jaran Heaton.

It’s a tall order to ask Sterling to repeat its 2007 showing, as many of the Golden Warriors’ top athletes have moved on. Remaining is jumper/vaulter Tim Gaumer, who has 42-foot capability in the triple jump, 12-plus in the pole vault, and can turn a sub-40 300 hurdles.

• It might be difficult for Rock Falls to move up to the top of the NCIC Lincoln Division, but the Rockets do have three returning double Lincoln medalists in senior Brody Murray (sixth in the 110 and 300 hurdles) and juniors Zohar Burciaga (fourth in the 100 and long jump) and Nick McFadden (fourth in the 1,600 and 3,200).

• In the Northwest Upstate Illini, West Carroll isn’t going to be able to hide behind its youth as easily as the Thunder did a year ago, but the group is still fairly young (just one senior returning letterwinner in conference placewinner Logan Baisden). "People didn’t take much notice of us last year because we were so young. Youth is still a weakness that we will have to work through," coach Dan Baisden said. "We are expecting to be more competitive this year."

• In the Three Rivers Conference, with Bureau Valley losing several high-powered performers to graduation, the gap at the top just might be filled by Sterling Newman. The Comets have a bevy of sprinters returning, led by senior Justin Shippert, who anchored Newman’s winning 400 and 800 relays. Sophomore Dillan Reyes is going to be among the top milers and will help Newman’s defending champion 3,200 relay.

• Some are tabbing Erie/Prophetstown for the TRAC-8 victory, and with good reason. The Panthers have good middle-distance personnel, one of those being junior Matt Pyse, who could be the league’s top long jumper. Bohms, too, is a huge field-event factor for E/P.

• It might be difficult for Riverdale, Fulton and Morrison to make sizable inroads in the TRAC-8 race, in the absence of a sizable talent influx, but each of these teams has quality individuals on which to call. Smith should be in the hunt for high jump medals in every meet this year, including state, for the Rams, while Morrison senior Brian Suarez will defend his 400 title. Fulton’s Dennis Barr might be the most versatile competitor in the league (a triple medalist in 2007 — 110 and 300 hurdles, as well as shot put).

• Sherrard is going to be one of those three or so teams in the Olympic Conference which, most likely, is going to have to fight for third behind the overpowering depth of Farmington and Monmouth-Roseville. In addition to Wilson, look for a breakout year from sophomore Alex Lavens in the hurdles and jumps. First-year senior pole vaulter Charlie Saddoris already possesses the area’s top height.

• Orion won’t just have Knoll to lean on, as senior Nick Graber is a returning state qualifier in the high jump. "We will be strong in field events and relays," coach Brad Cirks said. "Sprint relays will be a strength."

• Rockridge is low on numbers and returning experience — just three returning letterwinners and only one of those a senior — but some quality influxes of youth might mean a brighter future for the Rockets. Junior Josh Bohnsack provides some stability in the distance events.

• With 14 returning letterwinners — including Carlson and fellow 1,600 relay returner in junior Chris Parks — Annawan/Wethersfield should hold on to its Lincoln Trail Conference title. The Route 78 co-op is bolstered by three other returning seniors and a host of talented juniors. "We are strong in the middle distance, which makes us very versatile," coach Creston Fenn said.

• Still, though, don’t count out Aledo, which is co-oping with Westmer this year. The co-op is off to a strong start, thanks to its sprint relays, hurdling strength with Logan Tompkins and throwing power with Brandon Coulter, who comes over from last year’s Westmer/Yorkwood co-op.

• ROWVA’s Anthony Mahnesmith will challenge Tompkins for titles in both the 110 and 300 hurdles events, and the Tigers also should be strong in distance, led by senior Keith England and junior Kasey Potts, who won a regional title in cross country last fall. "We return 16 letterwinners and have 32 out, which I’m hoping will create good competition throughout the year," coach Chris Campagna said.