US#1 For Whittaker; Goranson Gets By Hilby To Win 2A Girls 800

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

DyeStat File Photo by Dominick Gramarosso

RESULTS/VIDEOS

Isaiah Whitaker broke the meet record in the pole vault at the 37th Illinois Top Times on Saturday morning when he cleared a US#1 height of 18-0.50. 

Whitaker's clearance is the first over 18 feet by a high schooler so far this year. The senior from Bloomington Central Catholic was already No. 2 all-time indoors behind Mondo Duplantis with the 18-1 that he jumped in 2025. 

After making the bar on his first try, Whitaker asked officials to raise it to 5.65m, which is 18-6.50. He missed three times at that height. 

Whitaker opened his season in early March and the Illinois Top Times at the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan was his fifth meet of the month. 

New Balance Nationals Indoor high jump champion Will Nohren of Shelbyville competed in Friday's 1A session and managed 6-6.25 for the win. He had the bar raised to 6-10.75 but missed three attempts. 

Victreze Thomas of Cahokia won the 2A boys triple jump with 46-6.25. 

State leader in the boys shot put, Logan Abrams of Cary-Grove, won the 3A competition with 61-1.25.

Mynard Blake of Evanston Township ran a state-leading time of 6.75 seconds to win the 3A boys 60 final. 

Zariah Burnett of Rockford (Guilford) won the 3A girls long jump with 18-2.50. 

In one of the most exciting track races of the meet, Klarke Goranson of Manteno lost the lead in the 2A girls 800 meters with 100 meters to go to Cecilia Hilby of Aurora (Central Catholic), but then on the final straightaway was able to make a late charge to take the win in 2:14.13 to 2:14.39. 

Goranson and Hilby finished in the same order at the 2025 ITT. 

Quaid Berger of Olney (Richland County) edged out Marion wins Raphael and Gabriel Greer in the 2A boys 3,200. Berger ran 9:03.07. Raphael Greer was next in 9:04.42 and Gabriel Greer ran 9:04.58. 

Max Weber of Bethalto (Civic Memorial) ran a season's best time of 4:18.54 to win the 2A boys 1,600. 

Reese Hoene of Effingham (St. Anthony) placed in the top four of three events in the 1A meet. She won the 400 meters in 58.20, took second in the long jump with 17-11.50 and was fourth in both the 200 (26.13). She also ran in the prelims of the 60 and 7.87 seconds. 

Abagail Baumann from Rockford (Lutheran) won the 2A girls 1,600 in 5:00.51 and the 3,200 in a personal best 10:41.26.

Ben Gorsage of Washington won the 3A boys 800 in 1:56.47.