By Michael Newman

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Here are the ILXCTF Illinois Boys Athletes of the Year in the three classifications in the Field Events. Congratulations to all the athletes that were recognized for these honors.

3A Boys

How can you differentiate Zachery Bradford of Bloomington High School and John Meyer of Lockport Township in this category?

Both dominated an event in this state in the past year. When athletes stepped into a competition that either athlete was involved in, the battle was for second-place as we all knew that Meyer or Bradford was going to win. When watching these two compete, it was a matter of whether a record was going to be broken.

Meyer was a king again in the Shot Put. He was untouchable in all 14 Shot competitions he was during the 2018 season. He threw an All-Time Illinois indoor best of 70-4.25 at his indoor conference meet. He threw an all-time Illinois Best of 70-6.5 at his outdoor conference meet. Meyer threw an all-time State Meet Record of 68-8 in Charleston. 11 of his throws were better than 67-feet.

Bradford was just as dominating. He cleared 17-feet in 12 meets this spring. He went over 18-feet three times clearing 18-0.5 to win the indoor national championship at the New Balance Indoor Nationals, and then an all-time Illinois Best of 18-2.5 twice. His first time was at the United States Junior Nationals and then again at the IAAF U-20 World Championships.

Both raised the standards in Illinois. Both are worthy in this category.

Congratulations to Zachery Bradford, a senior at Bloomington High School in Bloomington, and John Meyer, a senior at Lockport Township High School in Lockport, as the 2018 ILXCTF Illinois 3A Boys Co-Field Event Athletes of the Year.

2A Boys

We did not think that we would see Seth Groom of Marmion Academy compete during his senior season. A back injury slowed him down until the middle of the outdoor season. His state meet was one to remember as he won state titles in the 2A Boys Long Jump and Triple Jump as well as finishing second in the High Jump. He was one of the reasons why his school Marmion Academy won the 2A Boys State title.

A pair of Mahomet-Seymour athletes were also considered. Callan Whitehouse had a great senior season culminating with a state championship in the 2A Boys Pole Vault. Teammate Hunter Hendershot went over 60-feet as the sophomore threw a four-foot personal best of 60-3.25 to win the 2A Boys Shot Put. With two more years of prep competition, Hendershot could threaten the records that Meyer set. Time will tell.

Groom’s successes at state was the main reason of this honor in this category.

Congratulations to Seth Groom, a senior at Marmion Academy in Aurora, as the 2018 ILXCTF Illinois 2A Boys Field Events Athlete of the Year.

1A Boys

There were six individual winners in this classification at the state meet. It makes choosing an AOY in this category that much tougher.

Hunter Woodward of Tuscola threw 60-4.50 to win the Shot Put by over four feet ahead of Warsaw’s Andy Bird. Jorden Tedford of Warrensburg-Latham surprised some by clearing 6-8 to win the High Jump. Kyle Kruhtoff of Erie was just as dominating clearing 15-6 to win the Pole Vault.

The athlete that we selected was Tate Walcott of Colfax-Ridgeview. The junior jumped 24-0.25 on his final jump to win the 1A State title. Walcott jumped over 23-feet in five meets this season and was one of the reasons why his school won the 1A team championship.

Congratulations to Tate Walcott, a junior form Colfax-Ridgeview High School in Colfax, as the 2018 ILXCTF Illinois 1A Boys Field Events Athlete of the Year.