All eyes turn to IC Prep’s Rowell in the 1A Sprints

By Michael Newman

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There has been a change in scenery in the 1A sprints now that standouts Brett Charlton, Jacob Sholl, and Andre McGill have graduated. This classification took a blow when Aaron Harris left this class as Lisle High School moved up to 2A for this track season. You can also add in the movement upward of Eureka and Tolono Unity to 2A this year opening up more opportunities for new faces to shine this season.

One athlete that could step to the fore front of the 1A sprints this season should be Jordan Rowell. The junior stepped into the Chicago area spotlight this past fall as he led IC Catholic Prep football team to the IHSA 3A Semifinals. He made his name on the track the spring before when he earned all-state honors in the three sprint races in the state meet. Now he is the runner with the bulls-eye on his back.

The biggest challenger in all three of the 1A individual sprint events this season could be Kahlil Wassell (New Berlin HS). Also a junior, Wassell emerged his sophomore season earning all-state honors in the 100 and 200. He comes back also with one of the top five times in the 400 making him a triple threat similar to Rowell.

The hurdle events could be a mystery and one that we will see who could develop at the top of the ladder by the time we get to the beginning of May. The one athlete to watch in the longer hurdle race this spring could be Arcola’s Clayton Strader who could do some special things.

100 Meter Dash

Top Returnees

Preview – Jordan Rowell and Kahlil Wassell are the only returning all-state runners in this event led by Rowell’s third place finish. Even though Wassell finished eighth last year at Charleston, I think it could be closer than people think. Their seasonal bests last season were only separated by one hundredth of a second led by Rowell’s 10.88. Both are juniors. This could be the start of a special two year rivalry in the 1A sprints.

It is wide open after that. One runner that I would keep an eye on this spring would be Jeremy Davis (Collins HS, Chicago). He did not jump out at anyone during the regular season running neat 11.1 in most of his races. He qualified for the state meet but did not make finals. A week after state, he dropped his personal best by almost two tenths of a second at the Illinois Sprint Spectacular.

Mitch Bierman (Newton HS), Kobe Doran (St. Thomas More HS, Champaign), and Chase Riley (Patoka HS) all ran under 11 seconds last season and could be a threat for a top three finish. David Frye (Leo Catholic HS, Chicago) and Christian Horta (St. Anne HS) would be two other athletes to watch as well.

200 Meter Dash

Top Returnees

Preview – It will be the same story as in the 100 Meter Dash between Jordan Rowell and Kahlil Wassell at the head of the class in this event. Rowell ran a seasonal best 21.90 in 2015. He did finish sixth behind Wassell’s fourth place finish in the state meet. One athlete I believe could be the top challenger to both these athletes is Brady Rude (Newman Catholic HS, Sterling). This could be his best event. He could also be a factor in the 100 Meter Dash in 2016. Rude only had a 22.38 seasonal best last season but did finish fifth at state. It would not surprise me if he finishes in front at the end of May.

Nick Muenier (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley HS) is the only other all-state runner coming back in this event. The senior finished ninth a year ago. Jeremy Davis, Chase Riley, Garrett Blagrave (Robinson HS), and Camden Coleman (Urbana University HS) could also be factors in this event this spring.

400 Meter Dash

Top Returnees

Preview – The move of Lisle’s Aaron Harris to 2A this season makes Jordan Rowell a huge favorite in this event entering the season. The junior has the fastest returning time in 1A (49.04) by nearly a second. He finished second in the finals last year. We could see him make one step up as the champion in this event in 2016.

There are two other all-state runners that are back in this event. Josh Gordon (Mooseheart HS) was a surprise at the end of the season running under 50 seconds (49.95) and finishing seventh in the state meet. Zach Vancil (West Central HS, Biggsville) placed ninth at state last year. Just like Gordon, he could be one of the athletes to chase after Rowell for the state crown. He should be dipping under 50 seconds this spring.

With only three all-state runners coming back, opportunity is abound in this event for someone to step onto the center stage. Kahlil Wassell did not run this event at state last year but did show promise in the post season turning in a 50.89 time. Kaleb Simmons (Althoff HS, Belleville), Jackson Pierce (Nashville HS), and Michael Eastwood (Bureau Valley HS, Manlius) lead a strong group of runners that have their eyes set on a top nine finish at the state meet.

110 Meter High Hurdles

Top Returnees

Preview – This is an event of opportunity for any of the 1A athletes choosing to compete here in 2016. It is not as strong event as the 2A or 3A short hurdle races this year. It could be tighter. Only two all-state athletes are back in this event led by Andy Margason (Timothy Christian HS, Elmhurst) who finished sixth at state. Curtis Gordon (Vandalia HS) is better known for his results in the Pole Vault. He will be tough in this event this spring. The junior finished seventh a year ago and does have the fastest returning time (15.04) by a tenth of a second ahead of Noah Blivernicht (Teutopolis HS). All three athletes should be challenging for the state championship.

Only seven athletes are returning having run under 15.5 last year. Kyle Carver (Casey Westfield HS), Zach Johnson (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley HS), and Dustin Kemp (Sesser-Valier HS) lead the remaining group that have intentions of finishing in the top five. Like I said, I am sure we will see some new faces towards the front by the time we get to May.

300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles

Top Returnees

Preview – Four athletes are back that made the finals in this event in 2015. The athlete to beat in this event should be Clayton Strader (Arcola HS).  The senior is the highest returning placer in this event finishing third on the big blue oval. It did not look like he would be among the tops last year as he was stuck running between 40.6 to 40.8 most of last season. His time dropped a second state weekend. He ran 39.69 a year ago. He could dip under 39 seconds in his final prep campaign. Strader played a big part of his team’s third place finishing running on their relays. We could see him in another individual event this season.

Konner Wilson (Oregon HS) has the next fastest returning time more than a half second behind Strader. Andy Margason would have been one of the finalists last year but fell in his preliminary heat. He should be one of the 1A elites in this event in 2016. Brett Dannis (St. Bede HS, Peru) and Hayden Goleman (Elmwood-Brimfield HS) finished seventh and ninth last year. They would like to finisher high this season.

Relays

Top 2015 Times

Preview – This season could be a year of transition for the three sprint relays. There is no real dominant teams coming back. It would have been Tolono Unity but the Rockets will be competing in 2A this spring. Arcola was their chief competition last season winning the 400 and 1600 Relays and finishing second in the 800 Relay. Two athletes are back for that team led by Clayton Strader. Fulton has a good group coming back led by Rodney Gossard and Tony Simmons that could threaten for the 400 and 800 Relay crowns. Sterling Newman is good in the sprint relays and could be among the best led by Brady Rude. St. Joseph-Ogden also has a good group back that could place high in all three of these relays.