Western Big Six boys track and field outlook

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By Shannon Heaton | Friday, April 4, 2008 3:44 AM CDT | () comments

Western Big Six boys track

Outlook

Could this be the year that Rock Island is dethroned?

It still is several weeks too early to tell, but United Township is determined to make the 2008 conference chase far more interesting than many previous years.

"It’s a good team, as far as balance goes. That’s what I like about it: the balance of this group. They’re making it a lot of fun for me," Panthers coach Bob Feller said of his team.

“UT covers all the areas — sprint/hurdle, jump, distance and throws — as deeply as we have in the past,” Rock Island coach Ed Lillis said. “That will make them very hard to beat.”

Both UT and Galesburg outpointed the 14-time defending WB6 champion Rocks at Saturday’s Gene Shipley Invitational in Moline, but the four-way battle between those three schools and Moline should provide for a great deal of fireworks over the next five-plus weeks.

Athletes to watch

Josh Pope, United Township: He has made himself into one of the Illinois metro region’s strongest hurdlers and has not lost thus far in 2008. May be stronger as he goes farther out in the hurdles, which might make the 300-meter intermediate hurdles his best event.

Richard Lewis, Rock Island: The most-decorated individual returning this season, Lewis won the 100 and 200 dashes, and anchored the Rocks’ winning 400 and 800 relays a year ago. At the Class AA state meet, Lewis was fifth in the 100 last year, finishing in 10.75 seconds.

Shawn Ledbetter, Moline: The metro region’s top returning high jumper, Ledbetter also swept the hurdles races at conference last year. He let Pope fire the first outdoor shot in what should be a great head-to-head battle all season without returning fire, instead choosing to skip Shipley to compete at the state indoor meet.

Quinton Musgrow, United Township: Arguably the most talented performer whom few, by comparison to a Lewis or Ledbetter or more recently Pope, have heard of. Musgrow runs very capable legs on the Panthers’ sprint relays, which have forged to the front this year, and should be at or near the front of the field in the long and triple jumps. He won the Big Six long jump championship in 2007.

Airreo Greer, United Township: The heir apparent to Lewis’ Illinois metro sprint title, the Panther junior almost knocked off Lewis in the 200-meter finals at Shipley last weekend. Greer has brought home several relay firsts for UT this season, including two last weekend.

Storylines

�n� UT largely will rest its fate on the shoulders of Pope, Greer and Musgrow, but three individuals who may fly under the radar, yet prove huge to the Panthers’ success, are pole vaulter Luke Martinez and thrower Matt Wendt, both seniors, and sophomore sprinter DeMykhal Teague. Martinez and Wendt are hands-down the best in the vault and shot, respectively, and Teague would be the ace on four other conference teams.

�n� Rock Island isn’t down, though Shipley clearly served as first blooding. Hurdler Charles Nunn will pick up points in the aftermath of Pope vs. Ledbetter, and junior distance runner Travis Anderson has huge ability, particularly in the 3,200. Jumpers are in short supply, for the first time in a while, and the Rocks are still trying to find depth behind Lewis in the sprints. “We have some very good individuals, but we have to develop depth in all areas,” Lillis said.

�n� Galesburg doesn’t scare anyone with any of its individuals, but as a group the Silver Streaks can play a definite spoiler role. Jumper Daniel Granger will push Musgrow hard in both the long and triple, and there’s a cadre of solid if not spectacular distance runners who can score. Zack Boehme (throws, sprints) brings an interesting combination of events to the table.

�n� Moline is built along a similar line to Galesburg, though the Maroons do have a horse in Ledbetter, and some very nice middle-distance runners, particularly with Joe Zahn and Jonathan Smith. Seth Dessert is going to challenge for top honors in the discus every meet, and Payne Finn might be a year away from breaking out as a jumper, maybe the Maroons’ best since Aaron Cook.

�n� Rock Island Alleman will have depth concerns, but with the 1-2 power punch of Brian McGuire — who might be the best miler in the Big Six — and Tim Hird in distance, the Pioneers will score points there. Getting defending discus champion Vince Ewald back will be a big help; Ewald can score in the triple jump, also.