As we look back on the boys high school track and field season, it’s time to hand down the Rockford Register Star’s track, and field, MVPs.
And it’s also time to name our Boys Track and Field All Area Team.
So as we reflect back, here is our 10-person Boys Track and Field All Area Team, leading off with our track and our field MVP:
Andrew Nuyen, Rochelle vaulter (Field MVP)
Nuyen was one of three Class 2A pole vaulters to clear 17-foot at state, a feat never before accomplished at the IHSA state meet. And he nearly pulled off the championship. He took second at state for the second year in a row, re-set the Rochelle school record for the third time, and his make at 17-feet-6 1/2 moved him up to No. 4 in the nation. “This was such a fun day,” he said at the state meet in Charleston on May 30.
Rockford Christian’s relay team (Track MVP)
Rockford Christian’s 4×800-meter relay team comprised of Evan White, Joel White, Julian Honeyville and Blake Lindberg rolled through the opposition and not only won the Rockford area’s lone state title, but did it in a Class 1A state-record time. “This team has been doing this all year,” Evan White said. “This was no surprise to any of us. None at all.”
Forreston relay team
Forreston’s foursome of Mercer Mumford, Hayden Vinnedge, Eli Ferris and Brody Schwartz, all juniors, hauled in a second place in the 1A 1,600 relay, holding off strong pushes from Rockford Christian (fifth place) and Dakota (sixth place). That same group of Forreston runners also placed third in the 4×200 relay.
Caden Bould, Belvidere
Bould took home a sixth-place medal from the 800 run after he was the lone 2A runner from the Rockford area to make it to Saturday’s finals.
Chase Cutler, Hononegah
While you didn’t hear this name called out during the postseason, he sure was one of the Rockford area’s best during the regular season. Then a lower leg injury knocked him out. Cutler, a senior, was the NIC-10’s best, and one of the state’s best, in the 200, 400 and 800.
Gannon Dunker, Lena-Winslow
Dunker is another one who will be back, and that’s after he placed fourth in the shot put for Le-Win, earning a sign as you enter town.
Tyson Hill, Harlem
Hill placed third in the shot put and sixth in the discus, bringing Harlem back to the forefront of Class 3A throwing.
Alec Schlichting, Lena-Winslow
Schlichting, who earned medals in each event last year, placed third in the 100 dash and fifth in the 200 dash finals this time around.
Myles Smith, Winnebago
Smith soared to a third-place finish in the 1A long jump, kickstarting things off for the Rockford-area contingent at state on May 30.
Janardie Turner, Jefferson jumper, hurdler
Turner wound up with his second straight third-place finish at state in the 110-highs, but he did not make the finals in the 300 hurdles, and failed to advance to state in the long jump. Still, he put up some crazy-good numbers during both the indoor and outdoor regular season, moving into the top-20 national rankings in the long jump and the hurdles. And he should be a force next season.
Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and 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: Check out our 10-person Boys Track and Field All Area Team, and MVPs
Reporting by Jay Taft, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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By Jay Taft, Rockford Register Star | USA TODAY Network
