By Michael Newman

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Here are some of the highlights from last week’s 2A Boys Sectional Meets.

Thornridge

The athletes in the sprint events took advantage of the high winds on Thursday evening qualifying past the IHSA automatic mark. Nine runners qualified in the 100 Meter Dash led by the 1-2 finish by Rich Central’s Sean Tyler (10.70) and Van Harvey Vance (10.76). Vance, the defending champion in the 400 Meter Dash, won that event (48.987) by a second ahead of Thornridge’s Davon Bolden (48.97). Vance came back to run 21.59 to win the 200 Meter Dash ahead of Brooks Prep’s Justin Houston (21.78). Five runners qualified for state in that event.

Tinley Park edged host Thornridge 95-92 for the sectional team title led by the individual win by Solomon Wilson-Smith in the 110 Highs. The senior ran 14.63 to win ahead of teammate Adell Hinson (14.68). Rich South’s Tyler Suddeth was a double winner throwing 51-2 to win the Shot Put and threw 153-1 to win the Discus.

Richmond-Burton

Freeport put themselves in position to repeat as the state champions by scoring 84 points to win the sectional title ahead of Marengo (75 points). Freeport qualified 9 (8 Individuals, 1 Relay) to Friday’s prelims in Charleston. Four of those spots belong to Deion McShane. The 300m Hurdle record holder won that event (37.66) as one of three wins in this meet. McShane also won the Long Jump (22-1.75) and the 110 Highs Hurdles with the fastest 2A time in the state.

One athlete that rose into the state spotlight was Marengo’s Finnigan Schirmer. The sophomore finished second in the 110 High just one hundredth of a second behind McShane (14.12). Schirmer came right to run 10.84 to win the 100 Meter Dash. Schirmer came back to run 21.91 in winning the 200 Meter Dash just three hundredths of a second ahead of McShane (21.94). Marengo’s Aaron Shepard cleared 6-7 to win the High Jump.

Dunlap

Metamora finishing ahead of Normal University in the 1600 Meter Relay was all that the Redbirds needed to do to win the sectional title. They did that finishing second behind Eureka (3:23.03). With that second-place finish, Metamora won the team title (92.50) by one point as they qualified 9 (7 Individuals, 2 Relays) to Charleston. Normal University with 91.50 points advanced 8 (6 Individuals, 2 Relays) to Friday’s Prelims.

Metamora’s Ethan Poston won two field events jumping 21-8.5 to win the Long Jump and clearing 6-3 to win the High Jump. Normal University will look to defend their 3200 Meter Relay crown as they ran 8:03.45 to finish ahead of Dunlap (8:03.45). U-High did not have Jared Shuckman and Matt Zacharais in the lineup but will be available this weekend. Shuckman ran 1:57.65 to win the 800 Meter Run. He then came back to finish second in the 1600 Meter Run as Zacharias ran 4:21.29 ahead of Shuckman (4:22.69). Richwoods’ Josh Diekhoff won both the 100 Meter Dash (11.07) and 200 Meter Dash (22.60). Jack Pompe of Dunlap tuned up for state by clearing 15-0 to win the Pole Vault.

Rantoul

Mahomet-Seymour edged Tolono Unity 75-74.5 for the sectional team title. The sectional winning Bulldogs qualified seven individuals for the state meet while Tolono Unity qualified eight (7 individuals, 1 Relay).

Unity’s Steven Migut qualified in three events while winning two. Migut won both hurdle races running 14.43 to win the 110 Highs and 39.41 to win the 300 Intermediates. Migut also qualified in the 200 Meter Dash. Decatur MacArthur’s Ronald Reed was a double winner in the 100 Meter Dash (10.68) and the 200 Meter Dash (22.12) by just seven hundredths of a second ahead of Migut (22.19). Nick Oakley of Charleston won’t have to travel far to run in the state meet. The senior ran 1:55.33 to win the 800 Meter Run and 4:29.45 to win the 1600 Meter Run.

Mahomet-Seymour picked up a pair of wins in the field events. Callan Whitehouse cleared 15-0 to win the Pole Vault while Hunter Hendershot had a 55-2 mark to win the Shot Put.

Salem

Mascoutah could be in position to win a trophy at this weekend’s state meet. The Indians qualified 7 (3 individuals, 4 relays) to the state meet winning the sectional title with 89 points. Mascoutah won all four relays starting with a close win in the 3200 Meter Relay (7:57.02) ahead of Waterloo (7:57.52) and Marion (7:58.23). The Indians then ran 43.01 to win the 400 Meter Relay and 1:29.91 to win the 800 Meter Relay. They finished Thursday night by running 3:24.37 to win the 3200 Meter Relay.

Harrisburg’s Niko Neal was a double winner in the hurdles running 14.36 to win the 110 Highs and 38.97 to win the 300 Intermediates. Edward Wilson of Mascoutah was a double winner in the 100 Meter Dash (11.15) and the 200 Meter Dash (22.37).

Carterville’s Austin Knight will be a runner to watch for this weekend. He was impressive in winning the 800 Meter Run (1:56.36) finishing just ahead of Salem’s Hayden Wimberly (1:56.91). Knight came back to run 4:22.22 in winning the 1600 Meter Run just edging Marion’s Michael Rutkowski (4:22.65). Charlie Parrish of Freeburg will be one of the favorites in the 3200 Meter Run. He advanced to state by running 9:38.84 to win the 3200 Meter Run.

Eli Badger of Mt. Vernon cleared 15-0 to win the Pole Vault. Zach Pluff of Freeburg cleared 6-6 to win the High Jump. Andra Ward of Cahokia has missed most of the outdoor season due to injury. He did qualify for the state meet by jumping 45-10 to win the event.

Genoa-Kingston

Marmion Academy and Dixon will be teams to watch this weekend. Marmion Academy won the sectional championship (96 points) qualifying 9 (8 Individuals, 1 Relay). Dixon finished second (91 points with 10 qualifiers (6 Individuals, 4 Relays). Four of the qualifiers for the Cadets belong to Seth Groom. The senior won four events in this meet. He started by jumping 22-4 in the Long Jump. Groom followed that up by jumping 46-8.25 to win the Triple Jump and clearing 6-3 to win the High Jump. The meet ended for Groom as he ran 22.41 to win the 200 Meter Dash.

Dixon swept both hurdle races starting with Brayden Forrest running 14.92 to win the 110 Highs with teammate Jared Harrison just two hundredths of a second behind. Harrison came back to run 38.96 to win the 300 Intermediates.

Trey Wideman of Sycamore threw 171-1 to win the Discus. Jacob Gebhardt of Sterling qualified in the 3200 Meter Run by running 9:27.85 to win by less than two seconds ahead of Sycamore’s Stephen Poorten (9:29.50). Daniel Chen of Illinois Math & Science Academy won the 1600 Meter Run (4:26.34) ahead of Marmion Academy’s Michael Ronzone (4:29.78).

Glenbard South

St. Laurence could take home a trophy late Saturday afternoon. The Vikings qualified 11 (8 Individuals, 3 Relays) by winning the sectional title with 125 points ahead of Montini Catholic (79 points). The sprint relays by St. Laurence could be tough. They ran 42.81 to win the 400 Meter Relay ahead of Montini Catholic (42.97). St. Rita had the edge in the 800 Meter Relay (1:30.75) just one hundredth of a second ahead of St. Laurence (1:30.76).

Alex Saunders of St. Laurence won two events jumping a 22-11.75 to win the Long Jump as well as jumping 43-8.50 to win the Triple Jump. Ridgewood’s Paawel Janezcek won both hurdle races with 15.45 in the 110 Highs and 40.51 in the 300 Intermediates.

LaSalle-Peru

The story of this sectional was what did not happen. Bret Dannis of Peru St. Bede was the defending 2A champion in the 110 Highs and had won the state title twice with one time in 1A. A hamstring injury was too severe, and he could not qualify in the 110 Highs.

Geneseo scored 86 points to win the sectional crown on Wednesday qualifying 7 (5 individuals, 2 relays) in the process. Reed Vanderheyden led the way qualifying in both hurdle races with wins in the 110 Highs (15.09) and the 300 Hurdles (39.18).

Teammate Nick Swartzendruber picked up wins in the 800 Meter Run and 400 Meter Dash. His 2:00.49 time won the 800 Meter Run. He led six qualifiers in the 400 Meter Dash as Swartzendruber ran 49.21 for the win.

Spencer Smith of Alleman qualified in two events winning the 3200 Meter Run (9:34.83) and the 1600 Meter Run (4:27.55). Nic Davy of Morris ran 10.94 to win the 100 Meter Dash and 22.48 to win the 200 Meter Dash.

Lincoln

This sectional held at Springfield Lanphier’s Memorial Stadium was missing East St. Louis-Senior. The Flyers season was ended by their school administration last Monday due to a fight in the stands in the Southwest Conference Meet. It was a close team battle as Troy Triad scored 87 points for the team title just ahead of Lanphier (83 points). The Knights qualified 7 (4 Individuals, 3 Relays) to this Friday’s prelims.

Jordan Hawkins had the top field event performance throwing 181-10 to win the Discus. Jay Detmer of Breese Central qualified in two hurdle races winning the 110 Highs (15.49) and 300 Intermediates (43.12). Lincoln’s Blake Jones also had two wins in the 800 Meter Run (1:59.36) and the 1600 Meter Run (4:40.23).

Chicago Clark

Noble School ITW Speer won the team title with 141 points ahead of Northside Prep (81 points). Lake View’s Harvey Montgomery was a double winner in the Long Jump (19-10) and the Triple Jump (38-11). Ethan Breen of Lake View was the meet’s other double winner in the 800 Meter Run (2:06.15) and the 1600 Meter Run (4:43.89).

De La Salle

De La Salle hosted and won this sectional Friday at Hanson Stadium scoring 149 points. Daniel Cervantes of Lindblom Academy won both the 3200 Meter Run (10:06.98) and the 1600 Meter Run (4:48.93). Issak McKay of Perspectives IIT Math and Science won the High Jump (6-3) and the Triple Jump (39-7.75). Perspectives IIT Math and Science also was impressive in the relays running 43.86 to win the 400 Meter Relay and 1:30.67 to win the 800 Meter Relay.