Guilford sprinter Messiah Tilson advances to state in four events, to lead area boys stars

The boys track and field season is headed down the backstretch, and this week's sectionals across the northern portion of the state laid the groundwork for the Rockford-area stars to shine at state next week.

Only the top two from each event, and those that eclipse the state standard times and distances, extended their seasons one more week. Those are the ones who made it to the final week of the season, and the IHSA state boys track and field meet, set for Charleston from May 23-25.

More boys track and field: Sprinters, jumpers, relays shine: Here's what we learned from boys conference track meets

The Rockford area got off to a solid start to the boys sectionals on Wednesday when the defending Class 1A state triple jump champion from Durand/Pecatonica, Max Milbrath, advanced in triple and long jump, this time up in 2A. Guilford sprinter Messiah Tilson advanced to state in 3A in four events, while East's Mechai Docket-Lewis and Belvidere North's Braeden Brown were among those who made it in three events.

"Something clicked a couple of weeks ago, and I've been jumping really good ever since," said Milbrath, now headed to state for the third time in a row. "And coming off a state championship can be kind of tough, it puts some pressure on you, for sure. But I think, now, I'm ready."

Then on Thursday, Lena-Winslow sprinter Alec Schlichting flew to state in all four of his events in 1A, and Rochelle sophomore Andrew Nuyen was the lone 2A Sycamore Sectional champ from the Rockford area as he soared above the rest in the pole vault. Winnebago's Supreme Muhammad led the way with four state qualifications out of Friday's 1A Winnebago Sectional as well.

"I'm just happy to be going to state, and I'm just going down there to give it my all," Rochelle's Nuyen said, "and have some fun."

Here is a complete breakdown of who advanced out of sectionals and onto state from the Rockford area:

Class 3A Huntley Sectional

Seven sprinters from the Huntley Sectional advanced to state in the 100-meter dash alone, led by Tilson, who took first in 10.82, and Docket-Lewis, who came in second in 10.83. Guilford's Jaidyn Nguyen and Auburn's MyNes Murray advanced to state on time. Murray also won the long jump with a flight of 23-feet-2 3/4, and East's Javius Catlin took second, just over a foot behind.

Tilson also advanced with a sectional-winning time of 21.83 in the 200 dash, and he was part of Guilford's two sprint relay teams that made it down state as well. Docket-Lewis helped East's two sprint relays advance as well.

Belvidere North's Brown made it to state by easily winning the 400 run in 50.60, and by sparking the 4x400 relay crew to first in 3:24.16. He also took third but advanced to state with a make at 6-2 3/4 in the high jump. His teammate Jackson Johnson cleared the same and advanced as well.

His teammate Jesse Kramer, who sparked North's 4x800 to the win in 7:55.91 and on to state, placed third but got the time he needed to advance in the 1,600 run. That's where Harlem's Dylan Malmgren placed fifth but also had a time good enough to get to state in the mile.

Jefferson's Janardie Turner took second and advanced in the 110 high hurdles, while Belvidere North's Joseph Brown placed second and advanced in the 300 hurdles. Hononegah's Coen Lee advanced in the 300 hurdles on time.

Auburn's Patrick Dubose Jr. and Harlem's Connar Penney placed fourth and fifth, respectively, but they both advanced to state in the shot put on distance. Guilford's Aiden Gasmund took third but advanced on distance in the triple jump.

Guilford, East and North all advanced to state in the 4x100 relay on time, while East, Guilford, Auburn and North all made it to state in the 4x200 relay. Hononegah got a second in the 4x400 to keep its season alive.

Class 2A Norridge Ridgewood Sectional

Milbrath won the triple jump sectional title with a leap of 43-7 1/4, and he placed fourth, but advanced on distance, in the long jump.

"That was good enough for now," Milbrath said. "But next week I'm going to need to be at my best. I know that. I'm ready for that."

Boylan's Rasheed Johnson took second and advanced to state in both the 100 and 200 dashes, taking second behind North Chicago's Matthew Brooks in each. Brooks has the state's fastest 200-dash time in 2A headed into state, while Johnson has the fourth fastest.

Boylan's Joseph Fiorenza won the 800 run in 1:58.64 to move on, and his teammate Nolan Coen took second and advanced to state in the 3,200 run.

North Boone's 4x100 relay team ran a 43.24 to take first and roll onto state, and we will see them all, at least one more time, next week in Charleston.

Class 2A Sycamore Sectional

Rochelle's Nuyen was the lone Sycamore Sectional champ from the Rockford area after he soared over the bar set at 14-8 1/4 to win the pole vault. He cleared 15-1 earlier this year, which is the third best of the season in 2A, and which broke a 41-year-old school record.

"This season has had some ups and downs," Nuyen said, using a pole vaulters' pun. "But I feel good now, and I'm ready for this. This is a great opportunity for me."

Rochelle's Landon Mickley threw his shot put far enough for third place, and for a bid to next week's 2A state meet in Charleston. Byron's Sam Gentz took fifth, but he also threw his shot far enough to get to state. Mickley did the same thing in the discus event: He placed third, but moved on to state on distance.

Byron sophomore Tim Stalwart came in fifth place in the 1,600, but he still made it to state on time, by nearly five seconds.

Class 1A Erie Sectional

Lena-Winslow, which won the conference and sectional team titles, had three athletes that advanced to state in more than one event out of the 1A Erie Sectional on Thursday, including Alec Schlichting, who made it in all four of his events. The Panthers will also have four throwers at state.

Schlichting motored to state in both sprints, posting a 10.88 to place second at sectionals in the 100, and a 22.95 to take third, but make it on time, in the 200. He has run a 10.78 this year, which is sixth fastest in 1A, and he has a 22.44 in the 200, which is 10th best in 1A this year.

"This season has been better than I expected," Schlichting said, "and now I want to go out and finish it off better than I expected. I know what I need to do."

Schlichting was also a key part of Le-Win's 43.30 in the 4x100, good for second place and a state berth. Milledgeville also got in with a strong third-place time. And then Schlichting was anchor for the 4x200 relay team that also took second and advanced to state. Again, Milledgeville placed third but made it to state on time.

Le-Win's Ryan Pieper placed second and advanced in the 1,600 run, and took second and advanced in the 3,200 run. And Jake Schumacher won the 110 high hurdles in 15.77, took second and advanced in the 300 hurdles, and he helped power the 4x400 relay to state with a strong third-place time. Milledgeville's Parker Krogman advanced in both hurdles as well, taking first in the 300s at 42.16, and second in the 110 highs.

Le-Win's Gage Dunker won the shot put with a put of 51-7, and his younger brother Gannon Dunker made it to state with a third-place toss that was good enough to beat the standard. And Le-Win's Tanner Kempel and Odin Stabenow both went far enough to place fourth and fifth, respectively, in discus, both advancing to state with their distances.

Class 1A Winnebago Sectional

Winnebago's Supreme Muhammad is looking to finish the season just the way he started: by winning, everything he enters. Muhammad won all four of his events Friday night, and in impressive fashion. He's clearly ready for state.

First he blasted to a 10.87 to win the 100 dash, while Lutheran's David Ballard took second in 11.49. Then Muhammad won the 200 in 21.74, beating out Oregon's Aidan Guida, who had a 22.84 for second. Muhammad also powered Winnebago to wins in both sprint relay events.

Winnebago's Nicolai Martino won the 1,600 run with a strong 4:28.98, and he won the 3,200 run in 9:44.55, also a powerful time. Winnebago's Myles Smith won the long jump with a flight of 21-10 3/4, while Winnebago's Brandon Wiggan won the triple jump by soaring 44-9 1/2.

Rockford Christian's Andrew Kurien won the 800 run in 2:02.26, and led his 4x800 relay team to a first, and a state bid, as well. His teammate Suubi Kyobe won the high jump with a clearance of 6-2 3/4, while Nate Thomas made it downstate with a second in the 400 run.

Oregon's Daniel Gonzalez took second in the 800, and a pair of Oregon throwers advanced in the shot put — Briggs Sellers and Evyn Carreno. Oregon's pole vaulter, Leo Cardenas, also won, with a make at 12-7 1/2.

A pair of Forreston hurdlers — Lucas Nelson and Eli Ferris — made it down in the 110 highs, and Ferris also won the 300 hurdles, while Oregon's Kooper Meier took second. Forreston's two sprint relays made it to state with runner-up finishes at sectionals, and the Cardinals' 4x400 relay team won and advanced as well.

Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @JayTaft. Sign up for the Rockford High School Sports Newsletter here at rrstar.com. Jay has covered a variety of sports, from the Chicago Bears and Blackhawks to local youth sports, since the turn of the century at the Register Star.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Here is the list of all the Rockford-area stars who advanced to state track