ILXCTF – Mike Newman – News – Illinois High School Track & Field Highlights

Illinois High School Track & Field Highlights – April 21, 2025

Photo: Cooper McGinnis of Neuqua Valley and Thomas Woodard of Batavia over the final hurdle at Saturday’s #SmithStrong Invitational at Minooka (Kevin Dorsey Photo)

By Michael Newman

Only one meet was cancelled this Easter weekend. Calm conditions produced some great performances in every event. Hopefully, this becomes a trend as we head in the next month as we head to Charleston and the IHSA State Meets.

Here are highlights of some of the meets that took place over the past weekend.

Recaps/Videos – Bruce Ritter Invitational (4/17) | #SmithStrong Invitational (4/19)

Bud Mohns / Bob Cohoon Invitational @ Downers Grove South – Some high-flying times happened Saturday on Downers Grove South’s new track. Lincoln-Way West edged York 113-102 for the team title with Lake Park scoring 96 points to finish third. Austin Rowswell of Lincoln-Way West had the big day with two fast races in the longer sprints. Rowswell ran the state’s fastest time (47.48) to win the 400 Meter Dash. It bettered his outdoor personal best by almost a second. Bruce Duncan III of Bolingbrook ran 48.83 to finish second ahead of Brian E Smith II of North Shore-Country Day who lowered his personal best down to 49.15 (IL #8). Rowswell helped his team run 42.77 to win the 4×100 Meter Relay finishing ahead of Sterling (43.24) and Maine South (43.52). Rowswell later in the meet ran a personal best of 21.82 (IL #7 tie) to win the 200 Meter Dash.

Payton Prep made a huge statement on their way to defending their Class 2A State title in the 4×800 Meter Relay. The Grizzlies with Vaughn Collier, Declan Slavin, Tra’Monti Williams, and Preston Ellis ran a state leading time of 7:47.18 to win the race in this meet. Berwyn-Cicero Morton also made a statement running 7:52.21 (IL #2) to finish second. Five teams ran under 8:10 with York finishing third (8:03.75) ahead of Hinsdale Central (8:07.59) and Downers Grove South (8:09.68). Two seconds separated the top three runners in the 3200 Meter Run. Nicholas Dui of Lincoln-Way West ran 9:37.66 edged Patrick McGrail of York for the win (9:37.76. Wojtek Gilarski of Hinsdale South ran 9:39.61 to finish third. Preston Ellis of Payton Prep came back from the 4×800 Meter Relay to run 1:55.79 (IL #6) for the win in the 800 Meter Run. Hunter Spee of Lincoln-Way West ran 1:56.53 to finish second ahead of Bolingbrook’s Jason Vervack (1:58.82 and Isaac Stowers…