The 100 Meter Dash at the Festival of Miles promises to add a new dimension of speed to the Festival of Miles. Here are some names we hope to see on the guys side.
Participants of all races will not only be facing off with great competetion, but they will receive a free Under Armour uniforms. Entry is FREE and it takes no time at all. If you have a time under 11 seconds for boys or 12.5 you can enter here. The top 8 entrants will be announced on May 26th (out-of-town participants may be notified earlier for travel arrangements.)
Cole Henderson, Pekin, JR
We begin with someone who is already signed up to race at Festival of Miles. Henderson was the 2A Champ this winter at the Illinois Top Times meet. He got right to it in outdoors running a state best 10.53 at the Metamore Invitational in early April. Since then he has run a handful of times in the 10.8 range as well as a quick 21.91 in the 200m.
Jonathon Boey, MacArthur, SR
Another champ from the Illinois Top Times meet, Boey claimed the fastest time in Illinois for indoors with a swift 6.79 60m. His outdoor season started out hot as he ran 10.59 at the Harold Jester Early Bird. He followed suit with a 10.77 three days later before pulling up in the 100m at the Urbana Invite. If healthy, Boey is one of the top sprinters in the state – possibly nation. With the state series starting next week only time will tell what Boey is ready to go for the remainder of the season.
Raymond Wingo, SLUH, JR
If Wingo were to enter he would be running on his home track at St. Louis University High. Younger brother to a former State Champ and Arkansas running back, Raymond has had a great spring to make a name for himself. He is currently one of the favorites to win the State Meet after his 10.64 clocking at Belleville West where he beat a couple of top sprinters from Missouri and Illinois. He’s also notched wins at the Gary Parker Invite in the Kansas City area as well as The Dale Collier/Kirkwood Invite.
Tavaris Binion, Hinsdale South, SR
The reigning outdoor champ in Illinois, Binion is starting to heat up at the right time. The Hinsdale South senior blistered a 10.66 to grab the victory at a competitive McCarthy Memorial Invite this past weekend. He also ran a quick 10.84 the week before to win at the Mike Yavorski Invite.
Devante Wilerson, William Chrisman, JR
We will be out at Wilerson’s district meet to watch a solid matchup between him and Truman Senior, Roy Bay. Willerson made the finals at Kansas and finished a solid sixth place. Since then he has gained wins at the Rockhurst Relays and his conference meet. He will be facing Bay for most likely three weeks in a row now. With strong competition for the two hopefully we will see some even faster times.
Odell McFarland, Downers Grove South, SR
Binion squeaked by McFarland at the McCarthy Memorial Meet with McFarland losing by only three one hundredths of a second. His time of 10.69 set a new best for the senior who claimed the 200m title at the Top Time Meet.
Conner Larson, St. Charles North, SR
Another runner who got off to a quick start – Conner Larson blazed a 10.72 100m early on in the season at the Les Hodge Invitational. He was recently spotted winning his County Meet showing he is ready for conferences and the state series.
Michael Wells, Cleveland NJROTC, JR
Another man already signed up for the 100m at Festival of Miles, Wells’ season is unfortunately familiar to a couple people on the list. He had a lights-out indoor season winning the Big River Indoor Championship. He ran a quick 10.73 in his first meet before pulling up with a hamstring injury very early in the season. He is back at it with wins in the 200m at Kirkwood and a solid 100m/200m double at his district meet.
Chris Wiggins, O’Fallon, SR
Wiggins has teammates who have entered at the meet (Alex Riba and Patrick Perrier in the mile). He has recorded a personal best 10.75 this season as well as a 21.89 200m. It would have been nice to see him face Raymond Wingo at the Belleville West Invite in the 100m, but he just competed in the 200m. With O’Fallon looking for some points any and everywhere, Wiggins co could help his team with some great places at the State meet in a couple of weeks.
Trey Story, Cahokia, SR
Another guy from right across the river, Story has been up against some tough competetion as of late. He was second at Marion Freeman, second at St. Clair County Championship, and second at the Collinsville Invite. His season best 10.75 comes from his county meet where he lost to Wiggins by only .006 (six one thousandths of a second!).
Roy Bay, Truman, SR
The Truman senior has had another great spring after finishing 4th last year. He only has two loses this season – one to Wingo when he came to Kansas City and one to Kenzo Cotton at the Kansas Relays. Besides those two loses he has been on top all year including a 10.79 in his last meet. He has one of the best PR’s among the Midwest with a 10.58 time from last year.
Craig James, Edwardsville, JR
James was second to Wingo at the Belleville West Invite where he ran his best time of 10.84. He has taken the reigns at a strong Edwardsville Program after Bennett Gray has had a couple of struggles to start the season. James also has a solid 38.68 300H PR to go along with his 10.84 clocking. Alum from his school, Stephen Pifer, is listed to run in the elite mile race.