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2009 AA Season Preview
With the IHSA splitting into 3 classes for Track and Field, some mid level schools will get a chance to shine this upcoming season.
by Michael Newman
Dyestat Illinois
In the new "AA", it will be a year of adjusment or the athletes. At sectionals for some of these athletes, it was
a chance to compete for a personal best. Now comes the reality of this season of getting that personal best
but also qualifying to run at the State Meet at Charleston. It will give programs who did not have the chance
or the possibility of competing against the large school super programs now the chance to bring back a
team trophy. The following preview will give you an idea of what to look for this season. It will hard to be tell
early on the individuals or the teams the watch. But it will be fun to see some of these young student-athletes
develop their talents.
Teamwise, Cahokia was one of the superpowers in the old large class. Now, they will move down to the
middle class and will be a favorite to win the team title. Leroy Milsap's team will be led by Darien "Doc" Donald, the
defending AA 400 meter champ. Their squad is young, but very talented. Hillcrest will chase this southern Illinois
power. Ron Towner's squad will score points in the hurdles led by Maurice Lyke and have the talent in the sprints
to push Cahokia. Don't discount Springfield Lanphier, who will be rebuilding their sprint corps but will score
led by High Jumper Cheldon Brown. Rock Island, Bloomington, Springfield, Belvidere North, and Normal University will also
be in the hunt.
| | 100 Meter Dash | | | | 10.94* | | Adrian Smith | SR | Peoria Woodruff | | 11.04* | | Pierre Williams | JR | Country Club Hills Hillcrest | | 11.14* | | Lovell Ginn | SO | Chicago Leo | | 11.14* | | Mark Kachmer | SR | Wheaton St. Francis | | 11.14 | | LaStevenson McKinley | JR | LaGrange Park Nazareth Academy | | | 200 Meter Dash | | | | 21.54 | | Darien Donald | SR | Cahokia | | 22.30 | | Jeshiah Campbell | SR | Bloomington | | 22.34* | | Will Brucker | SR | Normal University | | 22.44* | | Ken Burke | SR | Country Club Hills Hillcrest | | 22.44* | | Mark Kachmer | SR | Wheaton St. Francis | | 22.46 | | Tyshawn Burch | JR | Peoria Woodruff | | 22.54* | | Pierre Williams | JR | Country Club Hills Hillcrest | | 22.71 | | John Mossman | SR | Riverside-Brookfield | | 22.74 | | Caleb Miller | JR | Dunlap | | 22.74* | | Cameron Peters | SR | Springfield | | 22.74* | | Adrian Smith | SR | Peoria Woodruff | | 22.76 | | Corey Hartz | SO | Sterling | | | 400 Meter Dash | | | | 47.52 | | Darien Donald | SR | Cahokia | | 49.64* | | Greg Patton | SR | Bloomington | | 49.84* | | Garrett Dorsey | SR | Wauconda | | 50.26 | | Ian Wells | JR | Champaign Central | | 50.34* | | Sam Russell | JR | Country Club Hills Hillcrest | | 50.44* | | Seth Erickson | SR | Carbondale | | 50.48 | | Devon Mancillas | SR | Rochelle | | 50.74* | | Cameron Peters | SR | Springfield | | 51.04 | | Gavin Aubry | SR | LaSalle-Peru | | 51.24 | | Steven Begando | SR | Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin | | 51.34* | | Matt Brummell | SR | Salem |
The sprints should be interesting. Darien Donald of Cahokia is the defending champ at 400 meters and has
the best returning time by 2 seconds in this event. Donald is returning from a injury and surgery that caused
him to miss football in the fall. He is coming along slowly, but watch this future Sycamore to shine in the sprints,
especially the 200 and the 400. Freshman teammate Qinntarius Hill will surprise alot of people this spring
with his speed. Pierre Williams of Hillcrest will get his opportunity to show his stuff in the sprints and also
in the two short relays.
| | 800 Meter Run | | | | 1:56.54* | | Brandon Stewart | SR | Springfield | | 1:57.94* | | Lucas Junk | JR | Galesburg | | 1:58.84* | | Jeff Wooldridge | SR | Jerseyville-Jersey | | 2:00.24* | | Kasey Ferrigan | SR | Dixon | | 2:00.73. | | Dan Grace | SR | Lombard Montini | | | 1600 Meter Run | | | | 4:22.68. | | Timothy Hird | SR | Rock Island Alleman | | 4:25.30. | | Matthew Gilmer | SR | Sycamore | | 4:27.69. | | Nick Wiseman | SR | Oswego | | 4:29.64* | | Ryan Alvarez | JR | Crystal Lake Central | | 4:31.64* | | Brad Walwer | SR | Springfield | | 4:31.94* | | Ryan Todd | JR | Jerseyville-Jersey | | 4:32.74* | | John Crain | JR | Dunlap | | 4:33.34* | | Josh Battles | SR | Peoria Richwoods | | 4:34.14* | | C.J. Elward | JR | Peoria Notre Dame | | 4:34.44* | | Caleb Cross | SR | Mt. Vernon | | | 3200 Meter Run | | | | 9:31.24. | | Timothy Hird | SR | Rock Island Alleman | | 9:40.11. | | Lucas Cherry | SR | Carbondale | | 9:41.59. | | Greg Whittle | SR | Galesburg | | 9:43.48. | | Matthew Gilmer | SR | Sycamore | | 9:45.39. | | Paul Zeman | SO | Belvidere North | | 9:48.34. | | C.J. Elward | JR | Peoria Notre Dame | | 9:50.76. | | Jon Richards | SR | Streator | | 9:55.04* | | Trent Ross | SR | Troy Triad | | 9:55.14* | | Brad Walwer | SR | Springfield | | 9:57.04* | | Campbell Walters | SR | Mt. Vernon |
The distance runners have 2 seasons of the new 3 class system under their belts, so the switch will
not be that dramatic. The 800 appears to be wide open with Brandon Stewart of Springfield, Jeff Wooldridge
of Jersey, Kasey Ferrigan of Dixon, Lucas Junk of Galesburg, and James Clay of Normal University all with
a shot of bringing home the gold medal. Timothy Hird , the AA Cross Country Champ this past fall, will be
the prohibitive favorite in the 3200, but will have company in the 1600 with Matthew Gilmer of Sycamore, Ferrigan,
Ryan Todd of Jersey, and Mark Phillips of Wheaton Academy all pushing him. The 3200 relay could be interesting,
with Dixon, Salem, Belvidere North and Bloomington all having the talent to push for the title.
| | 110 Meter High Hurdles | | | | 14.34* | | Marcel Kirkmambey | JR | Lake Villa Lakes | | 14.34* | | Maurice Lyke | SR | Country Club Hills Hillcrest | | 14.64* | | Bernard Chalmers | SR | Chicago Harlan | | 14.64* | | Jameson Wilson | JR | Country Club Hills Hillcrest | | 14.74* | | Dominique Hall | SR | Belvidere North | | 14.94* | | Kary Dorethy | SR | Metamora | | 14.99 | | Brandon Phillips | SR | Mattoon | | 15.02 | | Lorenzo Sallis | SR | Decatur MacArthur | | 15.04* | | DeAnthony Henderson | JR | Cahokia | | 15.14* | | Mike Ranos | SR | Chatham-Glenwood | | | 300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles | | | | 38.59 | | Maurice Lyke | SR | Country Club Hills Hillcrest | | 39.83 | | Dominique Hall | SR | Belvidere North | | 39.84* | | Danny Harris | SR | Country Club Hills Hillcrest | | 40.11 | | Logan Markuson | JR | Maple Park Kaneland | | 40.23 | | Brandon Phillips | SR | Mattoon | | 40.34* | | Kary Dorethy | SR | Metamora | | 40.34* | | Jameson Wilson | JR | Country Club Hills Hillcrest | | 40.41 | | Charles Nunn | SR | Rock Island | | 40.57 | | Jerraco Johnson | JR | Rock Island | | 40.64* | | Tim Colby | SR | Burlington Central | | 40.84* | | Bernard Chalmers | SR | Chicago Harlan | | 40.84* | | Neil Houlihan | SR | Springfield | | 40.94* | | Greg Garrett | JR | Chatham-Glenwood |
Maurice Lyke of Hillcrest could hurdle his way to the 2 hurdle races in May. He will have company in the 110's in
Marcel Kirkmamby of Lakes and Dominique Hall of Belvidere North with the speed and technique to challenge
Lyke. Also watch for DeAnthony Henderson of Cahokia to be pushing as well. In the Intermediates, Lyke has the
fastest returning time by a second and a half. Watch for Hall and teammate Danny Harris or Jameson Wilson to
push him here.
| | Long Jump | | | | 23' 1" | | Jeshiah Campbell | SR | Bloomington | | 22' 9.25" | | Laderrick Ward | SO | Cahokia | | 22' 6" | | Derrick Wilkerson | SR | Springfield | | 22' 5" | | Ryan Frederking | SR | Chatham-Glenwood | | 22' 3.25" | | Jimmie Hunt | JR | Cahokia | | 21' 11" | | Julian Mayfield | SR | Rock Island | | 21' 7.75 | | Brian Gaines | JR | Dunlap | | 21' 6" | | Dequaris Johnson | SR | Rock Island | | 21' 4.75" | | Cameron White | SR | Antioch | | 21' 3" | | Trevor Worsham | SR | Taylorville | | | Triple Jump | | | | 47' 6.5" | | Julian Mayfield | SR | Rock Island | | 45' 9.25" | | Sodiqu Alliu | SR | Bloomington | | 45' 0" | | Vernon Carter | SO | Cahokia | | 45' 0" | | Jameson Wilson | JR | Country Club Hills Hillcrest | | 44' 2.5" | | Tevarrias Stanley | JR | Marion | | 44' 1" | | Davin Dollison | SR | Champaign Centennial | | 43' 6" | | Dallas Tankersley | SR | Chatham-Glenwood | | 43' 5" | | Patrick Ivy | SO | Cahokia | | 43' 1.5" | | Brent Jones | SR | Antioch | | 43' 1.25" | | Sam Russell | JR | Country Club Hills Hillcrest | | 42' 11" | | Ikechi Nnamani | SR | Normal University | | 42' 9.5" | | J.J. Jones | SR | Troy Triad |
Julian Mayfield of Rock Island would be the favorite in the AAA Triple Jump if he were competing
there. His improvement last season puts him in a position this season to be flirting with
50 feet. In the Long Jump, Mayfield will be in the hunt for a high place, but watch for Jesiah Campbell
of Bloomington, Laderrick Ward of Cahokia, and Derrick Wilkerson of Springfield all to have
the possibility of winning here.
| | High Jump | | | | 6' 10" | | Cheldon Brown | SR | Springfield Lanphier | | 6' 6" | | Laderrick Ward | SO | Cahokia | | 6' 4.25" | | Ikechi Nnamani | SR | Normal University | | 6' 4" | | Dominique Hall | SR | Belvidere North | | 6' 4" | | Titus Hughes | JR | Springfield | | 6' 4" | | Ismill Lindsay | JR | Peoria Central | | 6' 3" | | Bailee Ricketts | JR | Galesburg | | | Pole Vault | | | | 15' 5.75" | | Logan Pfibsen | JR | Streator | | 13' 9" | | Logan Markuson | SR | Maple Park Kaneland | | 13' 9" | | Colton Van Kirk | SR | Rochelle | | 13' 9" | | Zach Siegmeier | SR | Crystal Lake Central | | 13' 6" | | Eric O'Shea | SR | Bloomington | | 13' 3" | | Paul Folts | SR | Champaign Central | | 13' 3" | | Joe Manzie | SR | Burlington Central | | | Shot Put | | | | 52' 9" | | Terron Armstead | SR | Cahokia | | 52' 5.5" | | Quay Hall | SR | Bloomington | | 51' 2.5" | | Jared Mills | SR | Dixon | | 50' 3.5" | | Bill Brinser | JR | Lake Villa Lakes | | | Discus | | | | 159' 1" | | Tyler Woolard | SR | Antioch | | 150' 3" | | Jollie Odele | SR | Springfield |
In the High Jump, all eyes will be upon Cheldon Brown of Springfield Lanphier. Brown has the talent
to go over 7 feet this spring. In the Pole Vault, Logan Pfibsen of Streato may be the big favorite here...
no one is within a foot and a half clearance of him.
The weight events are a little mirky here. It will be nice to see some new faces in here develop as the
season progesses. The one man to watch in both of the weight disiplines should be Terron Armstead of
Cahokia, who has already thrown over 57 feet in the Shot this winter. |
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