Who's going to state? Meet the Springfield area's 2023 state qualifiers for boys track
Countless Springfield area athletes earned a spot in the IHSA boys track and field state finals at Eastern Illinois University following Wednesday and Thursday’s sectional meets.
From each sectional, the top two placers and qualifying performances advanced to the main event.
Here are the state qualifiers who will compete at O’Brien Field in Charleston beginning Thursday, May 25 through Saturday, May 27, listed by sectional.
CLASS 3A
AT EDWARDSVILLE SECTIONAL
1,600: Finn Loken, senior, Springfield High (4:29.21)
110 hurdles: Grant Tode, senior, Chatham Glenwood (15.38)
300 hurdles: Tode, Chatham Glenwood (40.50)
4x100 relay: Chatham Glenwood (Brady Rayl, Grant Marcordes, Sal Sgro, Jaden Saunders) 42.68
4x200 relay: Chatham Glenwood (Grant Marcordes, Sal Sgro, Carter Downen, Jaden Saunders) 1:29.90
4x400 relay: Chatham Glenwood (Jaden Saunders, Eli Morsch, Will Patzia, Drew Verenski) 3:26.20
4x800 relay: Chatham Glenwood (Van Schneider, Drew Verenski, Will Patzia, Eli Morsch) 7:52.00
What to know: Chatham Glenwood qualified for each of the relays and finished as high as second place in the 4x800 relay. That group included seniors Drew Verenski, Eli Morsch, sophomore Will Patzia and freshman Van Schneider. Senior Jaden Saunders qualified in the other three relays for the Titans. Tode finished third in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles and fourth in the 110-meter high hurdles. Senior Finn Loken took second in the 1,600 for the Senators.
CLASS 2A
AT EAST ALTON-WOOD RIVER SECTIONAL
100: James Harris, senior, Lanphier (11.03); Cam’Ron Mitchell, junior, Jacksonville (11.06)
200: Harris, Lanphier (21.91)
1,600: Owen Morgan, junior, Taylorville (4:29.43)
3,200: Jesse Sloan, junior, Taylorville (10:23.90)
300 hurdles: Nolan Mrozowski, junior, Rochester (41.22)
4x100 relay: Lanphier (James Harris, Austin Robinson, Le’Jon Holmes, Travon Brown-Sanchez) 43.17; Jacksonville (Rodney Reed, Elijah Owens, Darius Armstrong, Cam’Ron Mitchell) 43.45
4x200 relay: Lanphier (Le’Jon Holmes, Austin Robinson, Jacorion Haliberton, Travon Brown-Sanchez) 1:31.85; Southeast (Karon Edwards, Byron Walker, Braimah Kanu, Chase Turner) 1:31.94
4x400 relay: Southeast (Keyon Day, Seth Doss, Karon Edwards, Chase Turner) 3:27.45; Lanphier (Austin Robinson, Victor Smith, Le’Jon Holmes, James Harris) 3:27.53
4x800 relay: Taylorville (Jack Chesser, Brenton Good, Owen Morgan, Will Turvey) 8:09.83
Pole vault: Evan Alexander, senior, Rochester (13-12); Drake Howard, sophomore, Taylorville (13-12)
What to know: Lanphier senior James Harris won the 200 by a smidgen over East St. Louis’ Kenneth Buchanon. He crossed the finish line in 21.91 and won by 1,000th of a second. Harris earned second in the 100 just .03 seconds behind Buchanon while also qualifying in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays to boot. Jacksonville’s Cam’Ron Mitchell was right behind Harris in the 100 for third. Rochester senior Evan Alexander claimed first place in the pole vault at 4.26 meters (13 feet, 12 inches) while Taylorville’s Drake Howard was second with the same height. Taylorville’s Owen Morgan qualified with two runner-up finishes in the 1,600 and 4x800 relay.
AT MATTOON SECTIONAL
200: Kani Carson, junior, Lincoln (22.25)
1,600: Brenden Heitzig, senior, Lincoln (4:31.63)
4x200 relay: Lincoln (Brady Cane, Ki’on Carson, Ethan Dehner, Kani Carson) 1:30.24
4x400 relay: Lincoln (Brady Cane, Luke Jones, Ben Crombie, Jude Toft) 3:30.64
4x800 relay: Lincoln (Ben Crombie, Luke Jones, Jude Toft, Brenden Heitzig) 7:55.81
What to know: Lincoln senior Brenden Heitzig beat out the qualifying time in the 1,600 for fourth place. He took third place in the event at last year’s 2A state finals. He will also help defend the 4x800 state title that also returns Jude Toft. That relay team crushed the qualifying mark by nearly 25 seconds for first place despite the graduation of 800-meter state champion Garrett Slack.
CLASS 1A
AT BEARDSTOWN SECTIONAL
400: Will Bateman, senior, Virginia (51.73); Nathan Dahl, senior, Pleasant Plains (51.90); Zac Laird, junior, Athens (52.03)
800: Nolan Bates, senior, Williamsville (1:57.67); Tyler Bickerman, senior, Rushville-Industry (1:58.98); Cole Payne, sophomore, Pleasant Plains (2:02.27)
1,600: Avery Glasgow, senior, Williamsville (4:32.85); Elijah Teefey, freshman, Pleasant Plains (4:34.94); Isaac Crumrine, junior, Riverton (4:38.11)
3,200: Crumrine, Riverton (9:58.18); Haven Gronewold, junior, Petersburg PORTA (10:06.90)
110 hurdles: Danny Skelton, junior, Pleasant Plains (15.98)
300 hurdles: Jean Luc Aplogan, sophomore, Beardstown (41.55);
4x100 relay: Pleasant Plains (Cayden Donnelly, Tyler Conn, Barnett Glisson, Danny Skelton) 43.39; Beardstown (Michael Sevilla Torres, Owen Quigley, Christy Domitien, Jean Luc Aplogan) 44.14
4x200 relay: Pleasant Plains (Barnett Glisson, Danny Skelton, Tyler Conn, Cayden Donnelly) 1:31.54
4x400 relay: Pleasant Plains (Cayden Donnelly, Nathan Dahl, Barnett Glisson, Cole Payne) 3:29.27; Rushville-Industry (Charlie Terry, Dylan Koch, Andrew Fairchild, Tyler Bickerman) 3:31.39; Williamsville (Drew Farnsworth, Drew Mirabile, Avery Glasgow, Nolan Bates) 3:31.91
4x800 relay: Williamsville (Drew Mirabile, Daniel Giacomini, Avery Glasgow, Nolan Bates) 8:07.13; Pleasant Plains (Elijah Teefey, Garrett Beebe, Hunter Tabb, Nathan Dahl) 8:27.10; Petersburg PORTA (Haven Gronewold, Justin Zimmerman, Daxton Trueblood, Quincy Stuhmer) 8:28.72
Shot put: Afton Clark, senior, Rushville-Industry (47-2 ½); John Layman, senior, Williamsville (47-0 ½)
Discus throw: Clark, Rushville-Industry (147-5 ¾); Ephriam Vuwa, junior, Rushville-Industry (146-4)
High jump: Isaac Rennecker, freshman, Petersburg PORTA (6-1);
Pole vault: Charlie Terry, senior, Rushville-Industry (12-8)
Long jump: Michael Sevilla Torres, sophomore, Beardstown (19-5 ¾)
Triple jump: Rennecker, Petersburg PORTA (41-2); Tank Hill, senior, Athens (41-0 ¼)
What to know: Pleasant Plains captured its seventh straight sectional title and 10th in the last 11 years (excluding the canceled 2020 season) after nearly sweeping the four relay events. The Cardinals won the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays. Senior Barnett Glisson and junior Cayden Donnelly participated in each of those winning relays. The Cardinals took third place overall as a team at last year's 1A state finals. Senior Zach Powell, last year’s 1A state champion in the 400, was a scratch. Williamsville’s Avery Glasgow and Nolan Bates each won their long-distance events in addition to the 4x800 with teammates Drew Mirabile and Daniel Giacomini. Petersburg PORTA freshman Isaac Rennecker won both the high jump and triple jump. Rushville-Industry senior Charlie Terry soared well beyond the qualifying mark of 9 feet, 1 inch for first in the pole vault while senior teammate Afton Clark demolished the shot put qualifying mark of 35-5 for gold.
AT GILLESPIE SECTIONAL
200: Adam Hernandez, senior, Pawnee (23.23); Landon Williams, senior, New Berlin (23.35)
400: Williams, New Berlin (51.55)
800: Jacob Barth, freshman, Auburn (2:02.24); Ben Hermes, senior, New Berlin (2:02.72)
1,600: Camden Quarton, junior, Litchfield (4:32:83); James Baisden, freshman, Auburn (4:38.08); Chaz Oberkfell, freshman, Gillespie (4:38.98)
3,200: Quarton, Litchfield (9:45.79)
110 hurdles: Jackson Kern, senior, Auburn (15.07); Hernandez, Pawnee (15.65); Brayden Fowler, senior, Hillsboro (15.88); Nathan Barth, senior, Auburn (16.26)
300 hurdles: Jackson Kern, Auburn (39.33); Hernandez, Pawnee (41.10); Fowler, Hillsboro (41.69)
4x100 relay: North Mac (Kevin Bricker, Zane Hogan, Jacob Bolletto, Kaden Brown) 44.09; Staunton (Michael Matesa, Ethan Rantanen, Trace Trettenero, Braden Buffington) 44.58
4x200 relay: North Mac (Kevin Bricker, Zane Hogan, Jacob Bolletto, Kaden Brown) 1:32.77; Staunton (Michael Matesa, Ethan Rantanen, Nathan Oller, Trace Trettenero) 1:33.42
4x400 relay: Auburn (Nathan Barth, Jacob Barth, Carter Hunley, Jackson Kern) 3:27.97; Lutheran (Mason Kooi, Miles Kaufmann, Carter Matteson, Ethan Theilen) 3:32.24
4x800 relay: Auburn (Jacob Barth, Elijah Hoehn, Clayton Kessler, James Baisden) 8:38.41; Gillespie (Cadyn Oberkfell, Collyn Oberkfell, Chaz Oberkfell, Leo Page) 8:46.94
Shot put: Cooper Starks, senior, North Mac (51-0 ¼); Blaze Helton, senior, Hillsboro (46-1 ½)
Discus throw: Joe Reinhart, senior, North Mac (147-5 ¼)
High jump: Mason Kooi, senior, Lutheran (6-8); Keagan Greff, junior, North Mac (5-11)
Pole vault: Jeffrey Sharp, senior, Auburn (13-2); Mason Gilpin, sophomore, Carlinville (12-8); Cade Wellman, senior, New Berlin (12-8); Tanner Clayton, senior, Hillsboro (12-2); Jackson Painter, junior, Litchfield (12-2)
Long jump: Kooi, Lutheran (21-0)
Triple jump: Kooi, Lutheran (43-5 ¼); Keenan Powell, junior, Litchfield (41-10 ¾)
What to know: Lutheran senior Mason Kooi, the defending 1A state champion in the high jump and triple jump, swept the jumping events. He also qualified on the second-place 4x400 relay. Auburn senior Jackson Kern will also return to the state finals as the defending 1A state champion in the 300 hurdles. He won both hurdles at the sectional in addition to the 4x400 relay. The Trojans additionally claimed the 4x800 and won the sectional title as a team. Freshman Jacob Barth was on the latter relay and won the individual 800. Senior Jeffrey Sharp rounded out the winners for Auburn in the pole vault. Litchfield’s Camden Quarton swept the long-distance events. Other area winners included Pawnee’s Adam Hernandez in the 200 and New Berlin’s Landon Williams in the 400. North Mac’s Cooper Starks, committed to the Vanderbilt University football team, dominated the shot put while the Panthers took the 4x100 and 4x200 relays.
AT EL PASO-GRIDLEY SECTIONAL
300 hurdles: Chase Paskach, junior, Mason City Illini Central (43.06)
Triple jump: Dane Olson, senior, Havana (39-11 ½)
What to know: Only two area athletes qualified but won their respective events: Chase Paskach with a personal best in the 300 hurdles and Dane Olson in the triple jump.
AT TUSCOLA SECTIONAL
400: Sam Sims, sophomore, Pana (52.38)
Discus throw: Connor McGlauchlen, junior, Pana (152-2)
Pole vault: Isaiah Harbert, sophomore, Pana (12-2)
What to know: Pana generated three state qualifiers.
Contact Bill Welt: 788-1545, bill.welt@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/BillWelt
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: IHSA boys track and field: Springfield area state qualifiers for 2023
