Photo: Declan Rustay is back to defend his 100 & 200 titles with Marcellus Moore within an eyelash of him (Laura Duffy Photo)

By Michael Newman

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Moore vs. Rustay. Rustay vs. Moore.

It does not matter in what order you put Marcellus Moore of Plainfield North and Declan Rustay of Hoffman Estates in. The only thing that will matter is who crosses the line first in Charleston this May. Moore, only a sophomore, could be the best sprinter ever to come out of this state by the time he graduates. For this season at least, he will have to get by Rustay.

While Moore was achieving some fantastic marks last spring, Rustay was just waiting in the shadows for the right moment.

That happened at state where the two finished within an eyelash of each other in the Friday prelims in the 100 Meter Dash with Rustay getting the nod. The finals were different with Rustay winning his first state title by 11 hundredths of a second. The same situation occurred in the 200 Meter Dash as both were timed in 21.73 in the same preliminary heat. Moore had the edge in that race. In the finals, it was all Rustay as he won his second state title while Moore had to settle for fourth.

Both hate to lose. Both are within hundredths of a second of each other with their personal bests.

However, there can only be one state champion. That’s unless the two cannot be separated when the officials go to the photo to determine the winner. That’s possible.

That is why this 2018 sprint season will be a cannot miss especially when we get to Charleston.

Here is a look at each of the five 3A individual events that will take place this season. Previews of the three sprint relays are also included.

100 METER DASH

Top Returnees

Notes – Marcellus Moore has already started his season strongly improving his 60 Meter Dash time from 6.97 last year to a quick 6.85. We will get an idea on Declan Rustay when he runs at Rockford Auburn on Saturday. Both these runners have the same personal best (10.40) achieved at last year’s state meet. Either one of these runners could surpass Josh Eiker’s State Meet record of 10.34 sometime during the season. If the conditions are right on State Final Saturday, we could see a time close to 10.30 achieved.

Surprising as it may seem, it may not be those two runners that gets that record. AJ Henning was in the shadows of these two as he finished third as a freshman last May. His personal best of 10.67 should fall. He helped Lincoln-Way East win a state football title last November. He could be after some individual hardware this spring.

Two other runners that earned all-state accolades could be factors tis spring in this event. The one to particularly watch is Dubem Anikamadu of Huntley who finished eighth in the finals. The senior did achieve a 10.58 personal best at this distance. He could be in the mix up front. Bobby Nuzzo of Mundelein finished eighth in the finals and could also play a factor.

14 runners returning under 10.8 is one of the highest amounts that we have seen in recent years. This could be one of the fastest years at this distance that we have seen. Myles Gascon of Neuqua Valley and Jermarrion Stewart of Collinsville were 10.7 or under and could be threatening for a state final spot. Tre’Von Petty of Waubonsie Valley, Cedric Rowzee of Wheaton-Warrenville South, Jersuseun Adeyiga of Homewood-Flossmoor, and Jackson Torok of Yorkville are some of the runners that I would keep an eye on.

200 METER DASH

Top Returnees

Notes – This event is Rustay vs. Moore Part 2. Declan Rustay returns as the defending champion at this distance. He achieved his regular seasonal best (21.57) in winning the state title. He lowered that down to 21.12 in winning the USATF Junior Olympics Regional Meet. Marcellus Moore ran 21.28 early in the season at Belleville West and then 21.85 to finish fourth in the state finals. Moore ran 21.29 in the post season at the USATF Youth National Championships at the end of June.

Dubem Anikamadu will be the third wheel in this event but having the talent to win in Charleston. He ran 21.70 during the season, 21.79 in the state finals to finish third. I would not count Anikamadu out this season. We could se him in the low 21’s by the end of the season.

Three runners are also back that were all-state in 2017. Courtney Lindsey of Rock Island finished sixth, Cortez Sawyer of Zion-Benton finished seventh, and Micah Amerson of Normal West finished eighth at state. All will be in the mix for a finish in the top five.

Joshua Bridges and Jesuseun Adeyiga of Homewood-Flossmoor, Jermarrion Stewart, and Bobby Nuzzo all were under 22-seconds last season. They should be watched along with George Cervanka of Riverside-Brookfield, Anijiel Jones of Hoffman Estates, and Gavin Vernell of Oswego East.

400 METER DASH

Top Returnees

Notes – Only two hundredths of a second separated Luis Cossio of Barrington and Deonte Anderson of East St. Louis-Senior at the finish of the 3A 400 Meter Dash last year with Cossio capturing the title. Both athletes are back but will be in different races. East St. Louis-Senior has moved into 2A so Anderson and Cossio will not be facing off. Neither will Gavin Jaimie who finished sixth in the finals as Providence Catholic also moves to 2A.

Cossio is not a lock to repeat but will be the runner that all eyes will be on at this distance. His junior year included running under 49 seconds three times during the regular season including a 48.23 in his preliminary state race. In the 47’s is a possibility by the end of the season for this Barrington senior.

Jermarrion Stewart finished fifth and Wei Chen of New Trier placed eighth in last year’s finals. They are the only other returnees besides Cossio. Brandon Adams of Minooka is one of the runners that could challenge Cossio. Adams was hampered by injuries all indoor season going into the outdoor campaign. He made it to state but missed the finals running 49.23 in the prelims. He dropped his personal best down to 48.70 at the end of June at the USATF Youth Nationals. Adams has showed that he is ready for his senior season running 49.20 at the University of Arkansas in January.

Quemarii Williams of Danville ran 48.70 to win his sectional race but did not make it to the state finals. His time is impressive especially since he did it in his sophomore season. He could be applying the heat up front this season. And what about Declan Rustay? The state champion at 100 and 200 meters did run 48.76 in the regular season and was impressive in relay work during the summer campaign. He is a possibility in this event. It will depend on how well the Hoffman Estates sprint relays perform before the state series.

There are several runners that could be under 49-seconds in the mix for 2018. Charlie Wade of St. Charles East, Tyler Roberson of Homewood-Flossmoor, Nikolay Kravtsev of Vernon Hills, and Brady Heller of Glenbard West are some of the runners to watch for this outdoor season.

110 METER HIGH HURDLES

Top Returnees

Notes – Travis Anderson dominated this event for the past two years, but his graduation opens a chance for others this 2018 season. The 110 High Hurdles is wide-open. The top seven finishers from last year’s finals are graduated and gone. So, who steps up this season?

Matthew Lewis-Banks of Homewood-Flossmoor paced eighth in the final and is the lead returnee with his 2017 14.41 personal best. Batavia’s Sam Conger made the finals placing ninth having run 14.57 during the year. Albert Yen of New Trier, Donovan Turner of Neuqua Valley, and Victor Olaitan of Schaumburg all ran 14.7 or under last year and will be in the hunt for the state title. I would also keep an eye on Victor Cameron of Crete-Monee, Jaden Jackson and Ben Konopka of Fremd, Lukas Bolas of Huntley, and JT Lowder of Oak Park-River Forest. 16 runners are back that ran 15.2 or better in 2017. It is anyone’s guess who steps into the spotlight at Charleston. It could be someone that is not even mentioned here. That is what makes track & field so much fun to watch.

300 METER HURDLES

Top Returnees

Notes – Opportunity is all around this event especially with Travis Anderson graduated. Only three all-state placers from last year are back led by second-place finisher Jaden Jackson of Fremd. His personal best of 38.06 in the state finals is more than half a second better than the rest of the field. How low in the 37’s will Anderson go this season?

Albert Yen finished eighth while Peyton Frankenreider of Yorkville finished ninth last year. Both have the talent to challenge Jackson. Joe Zubak of Wheaton-Warrenville South, Matthew Lewis-Banks, Jermaine Maegdlin-Ferguson of Jacobs, and Nate Rittenbacher of Lincoln-Way Central all ran under 39.5 last season and are ready to make the state championship theirs.

Ethan Ruth of Hinsdale Central, Xavier Armand of Lyons Township, and Tim Szylak of Rolling Meadows are some of the other runners that I would watch for.

4x100 METER RELAY

2017 Top Lists

Notes – Homewood-Flossmoor was a power in this event last season running 41.78 to win the 3A title. The balance of power might stay with the Vikings again this season as their entire quartet is back led by Joshua Bridges and Marcell Ellis.

East St. Louis-Senior down to 2A this season opens this relay up a little bit. Yorkville was a surprise when they finished second last year. They do return three from that team led by Javell Moore. Plainfield North finished fourth last season and only return two from that team. When one of those runners is Marcellus Moore, you know the Tigers will be among the teams in the front.

Huntley, who finished eighth last year, has a good nucleus back led by Dubem Anikamadu. The Red Raiders did run 41.97 during the season and should be a threat. Schools also to keep an eye on include Hoffman Estates with Declan Rustay, Glenbard West, and Proviso East.

4x200 METER RELAY

2017 Top Lists

Notes – Not too many people figured that Batavia would be the champion of this event at the beginning of last season. The Bulldogs came through nipping Hoffman Estates and East St. Louis-Senior at the line to win by five hundredths of a second. Batavia only has Jeremiah Evers back from that team. Their sprint squad has continued to improve over the past few years, so I would not count out this team.

Homewood-Flossmoor could be in the same position as they are in the 4x1. They finished fourth in the finals but return all their runners. Hoffman Estates has Declan Rustay and Anjiel Jones back from last year’s second place tea. They will need to fill in two spots during the 2018 campaign.

Deerfield and Proviso East were finalists last year and return two from those teams. Plainfield North just missed the finals but should be in the hunt especially with Marcellus Moore running some amazing anchor legs like he did in 2017. T.F. South, Oak Park-River Forest, Glenbard West, Zion-Benton, and Crete-Monee are some of the teams to watch for.

4x400 METER RELAY

2017 Top Lists

Notes – Defending champion East St. Louis-Senior would have been the BIG favorite this year in 3A. The move opens the final event of the day in Charleston. Again, it could be Homewood-Flossmoor that is on top like the other two sprint relays. The Vikings finished fourth a year ago but are loaded with three runners back. Lyons Township, who finished sixth, also returns three and should challenge for the win. 2017 Finalists Bloomington, Batavia, and Proviso East all return two runners from those teams.

Minooka did not make the finals last season but do return their entire quartet led by Brandon Adams. Barrington, Oak Park-River Forest, Glenbard West, and Wheaton North are some of the teams to keep an eye on.