LARRY WILLS knew teammate MCKENZIE DOE III was going to do big things at Chatham Glenwood.
Doe was a budding track and field star at Christ the King, where he won elementary state titles in the high jump and the 110-meter hurdles.
“He’s been good since forever, honestly,” Wills said.
Doe has recently notched two school records in the high jump and the 300-meter hurdles at Glenwood. He has reached considerable heights in the former.
Everything just shifted into place during one particular May 1st meet and his ascension to 6 feet, 11 ¾ inches not only ranks tops throughout the state but also No. 24 nationally, according to athletic.net.
“I guess it’s the way I grew up at Christ the King,” Doe said. “I’ve kind of been noted to be one of our highest jumpers. I took that and ran with it.”
Doe certainly displayed a profound itch for jumping at Christ the King.
“I started hurdling because I was able to jump over one of the cafeteria tables and I got in trouble for that,” Doe said, “so I started hurdling and after that I picked up high jumping because I liked jumping over stuff and I went to state my first year and then I ended up winning state when I was in eighth grade.”
Wills remarkably eclipsed Doe in the Central State Eight Conference meet at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, May 14. He attained 6 feet, 10 ¾ inches for the second-best jump in the state.
But Wills said he was largely there just to push his teammate.
“I love giving him the competition,” Wills said. “I care a lot about him and I want him to do great things, especially when he becomes a senior. He’s only a junior, he’s got so much more potential.”
The elder Wills will undertake football and track at NCAA Division II Henderson State University after the spring.
He hails a couple school records himself in the long jump (23-5) and the 4×200 relay (1:27.28) with Cruz Evans, Blake Lehnen and Colton Ladage.
Wills considers the long jump his primary event after breaking the initial record as early as last season. But Wills is gaining momentum in the high jump “because I feel like I’m progressing a lot and I’m figuring things out now at the end of the season.”
Both require meticulous attention to detail.
“The long jump you really got to get that distance, especially with the technique that you have in the air and off the ground,” said Wills, who plays cornerback in football. “Your approach matters a lot. The high jump, it’s hard to get that form and all that, but just jumping high can take it a long way.”
Having Wills is another bonus for Doe, who additionally plays soccer. Both emphasized they want to provide as many points as possible for the team at the Class 3A Bloomington Sectional on Wednesday, May 20 and the coveted state finals in Charleston.
“I feel like we can do great things,” Wills said of the team. “We’ve got a lot of potential and we’ve just got to make the most of it.”
Other top performers around Springfield
Here are other top boys track and field performers to watch, listed alphabetically by school. State rankings are based on results available at athletic.net.
James Baisden, Auburn
Baisden’s 4×400 and 4×800 relays each rank inside the top 5 in Class 1A. His 1:57.48 ranks eighth in the individual 800.
Jacob Barth, Auburn
Barth and Baisden are poised to defend last year’s Class 1A state title in the 4×400 relay that also includes Hunter Piper and Sam Talavera. They achieved 3:22.41 at the Rocket Invitational in April for the best time in 1A. Barth, a senior, also went 49.41 in the individual 400 for the fourth-best performance in 1A.
Colton Ladage, Chatham Glenwood
The senior wields the individual school record in the 200-meter dash at 21.77 seconds, plus the relay records in the 4×100 (41.69) and 4×200 (1:27.28) that also includes Cruz Evans, Blake Lehnen, Trystin Decatoire and Larry Wills. Ladage, who will run at Grand Valley State University, set a personal best in the 100-meter dash at the CS8 meet in 10.62 seconds. Each mark would qualify for the Class 3A state finals.
Chaz Oberkfell, Gillespie
The repeat Class 1A cross country state champion will vie for his first outdoor track and field state title. The senior carries the best times in the 1600 (4:14.83) and 3200 (8:59.34) in 1A. He is also second in the 800 at 1:53.73.
Darren Henry, Jacksonville
The sophomore tied his personal best 6-6 from last season in the high jump in April. The mark ranks eighth in Class 2A.
Owen Cyrulik, Lincoln
The junior won the 800-meter run at the CS8 meet in 1:57.71. His personal best 1:55.47 ranks 10th in Class 2A. He also anchors a 4×800 relay that holds the best 2A time at 7:48.48 on May 9.
Alec Roach, Litchfield
The senior posted a couple of top 10 times in Class 1A at the Rocket Invitational in April, including sixth in the 200 at 21.98 seconds.
Jeramy Daniel, Lutheran
The junior summoned 45-8 in the triple jump in April. The mark ranks fourth in Class 1A.
Nick Glisson, Mason City Illini Central
The senior will undoubtedly contend for multiple state medals in Class 1A. He ranks fourth in the 200 (21.56), sixth in the 400 (49.55), sixth in the high jump (6-7) and third in the 4×400 relay (3:26.62).
Coriell Green, Mason City Illini Central
The junior also belongs in the 4×400 relay with Glisson and particularly shines in the individual 800 with the top time in Class 1A after ushering 1:51.81 on May 15. He also ranks fifth in the 400 (49.51) and seventh in the 1600 (4:25.65).
Isaac Rennecker, Petersburg PORTA
The senior ranks as high as third in the triple jump (46-3 1/5) and fifth in the high jump (6-7). He owns four outdoor school records that also includes two relays. Fellow senior Kade Parker is sixth overall in the 1600 at 4:25.
Kadyn Harmony, Pleasant Plains
The junior touts the eighth best time in the 200 (22.05) in Class 1A. He also anchors three sprint relays that each rank inside the top 5, including as high as second on the 4×200 (1:29.54) with Nathan Frey, Judah Estill and Braylon Heredith, who is seventh overall in the 300 hurdles at 40.31.
Elijah Teefey, Pleasant Plains
The senior possesses the third best time in the 3200 in Class 1A at 9:28.34.
Gradyn Hartlaub, Riverton
The junior ranks third in the 300-meter hurdles (40.04) and fourth in the pole vault (14-3) in Class 1A.
Dylan Durocher, Rochester
The junior ranks sixth in the discus throw (171-11) and ninth in the shot put (55-0 ¾) in Class 2A. He was runner-up behind Springfield High’s Trey Sutton at the CS8 meet. Fellow sophomore Macklin Nelson was third in both events.
Tristan and Jack Stanton, Rochester
The senior twins each won a CS8 event. Tristan captured the triple jump at 45 feet, while Jack claimed the pole vault at 14-3. Tristan was also second in the long jump (22-9 ½) and 4×100 relay (42.15) with Hugo Hunter, Elliot Riedel and Khordell Gregory. He ranks fourth in the triple jump and sixth in the long jump in Class 2A. The 4×100 also boasts the sixth best time.
Brody Brush, Rushville-Industry
The senior pole vaulter reached 14-4 on May 8 and ranks third in Class 1A. Fellow sophomore Jude Eveland is ninth in the pole vault at 13-6.
Ian Escapa, Rushville-Industry
The senior produced 45-7 ¾ on May 8 to ascend to fifth place in the triple jump in Class 1A. Fellow junior Carter Fretueg is sixth in the long jump at 22-5 ¾.
Kamri Sales, Southeast
The senior traveled 47-1 ½ at the Boys City meet on May 6 for the best triple jump mark in Class 2A. He earned second at the CS8 meet with a distance of 44-11 ¼.
Deandre Brown, Springfield High
The senior literally dove across the finish line to win the 4×400 relay by .01 seconds at the CS8 meet. The team, which also includes Deanthony Brown, Kai Rinaberger and Jacob Greco, finished in 3:23.08. Brown also won the individual 400 in 48.90 seconds. According to athletic.net, Brown has helped set school records in the three sprint relays over his career.
Trey Sutton, Springfield High
The sophomore swept the shot put (52-5) and discus throw (164-7) at the CS8 meet. He ranks among the top throwers in SHS history, including second in the shot put.
Liam Bettis, Taylorville
The junior posted 9:05 in the 3200 at a meet in April for the third-best finish in Class 2A.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: See the top 25 boys track and field performers so far around Springfield
Reporting by Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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