2026 Clutch Sports Media Boys Track and Field All-Area Team: 97 athletes earn honors

The Peoria and Bloomington/Normal area left a big imprint on the blue oval at the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals with numerous state champions. 

The area boasted many of the state’s top athletes, and even some of the best in the entire country. A trio of state champions in the 800 meters — Washington’s Ben Gorsage, Metamora’s Zach Born and Illini Central/Delavan’s Corie Green — led the way while Metamora used great performances in various events to win its first Class 2A state championship in program history. El Paso-Gridley also came home with a state trophy after taking third in Class 1A.

Morton, Eureka, Normal Community, Normal West, Limestone and Elmwood/Brimfield were just a sampling of other teams that had strong seasons in the area and many schools in Central Illinois boasted several state qualifiers and various record-holders. 

Athletes from the 39 schools in the Clutch Sports Media coverage area surrounding Peoria and Bloomington/Normal were eligible for CSM’s first boys track and field All-Area teams, which feature a total of 97 honorees.

Check out CSM's 2026 Girls Track and Field All-Area teams here.

Clutch Sports Media will also have a Coach of the Year and a Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, which will both be announced shortly. All of the All-Area nominees below are listed by type of event, then alphabetical order.

Clutch Sports Media All-Area First Team

Jaiduan Cranford, senior, Metamora - Sprints

Cranford was the biggest spark for Metamora winning its first state title in program history, as well as Mid-Illini Conference and Class 2A Galesburg Sectional championships. The senior anchored Metamora’s 4x200 that won a Class 2A state title in 1:27.08 and its 4x100 relay that placed fourth. Cranford also won sectional and Mid-Illini titles in the 100 and 200, finishing fourth and 12th, respectively, in those events at state. His best 100-meter dash time of 10.58 was the fastest in the area this season and his best 200 time of 21.67 ranked third. Cranford will play football at Northern Illinois in college. 

Braden Gibson, junior, El Paso-Gridley - Sprints

Gibson was a state finalist in three events for El Paso-Gridley, leading the Titans to a third place finish in Class 1A. The junior finished second in the Class 1A 100 meters after winning the event in every other meet he had ran in this season. He also took fourth in the 200 with a personal best time of 21.79 and anchored EPG’s 4x100 to an eighth place finish at state. Gibson’s best time in the 100 (10.61) was the second-fastest in the area and he also anchored the Titans’ 4x200 that qualified for state. 

Logan Smallwood, senior, Limestone - Sprints

Smallwood finished as the Class 2A state runner-up in the 400 meters for the second consecutive season and qualified for state in three other events. He won the Mid-Illini and Class 2A Galesburg Sectional in the 400 and posted an area-best time of 48.50. Smallwood was also the Mid-Illini runner-up in the 100 and finished 12th at state. The Rockets senior also ran on their 4x100 and 4x400 relays that both qualified for state and finished third in the Mid-Illini in the 200. Smallwood will continue his career at Butler University.

Zach Born, junior, Metamora - Distance

Born now has three all-state finishes in the 800 meters to go with two all-state campaigns in cross country after winning the Class 2A state title in the 800. He ran a personal best 1:51.18 in the state finals to edge out IVC’s Aiden Duhs and boost Metamora to a Class 2A team title. He finished as the runner-up in the 800 at the Mid-Illini Conference Meet and the Class 2A Galesburg Sectional. Born, who was a CSM Boys Cross Country First Team All-Area selection and also plays basketball at Metamora, additionally anchored Metamora’s 4x400 that finished sixth at state. 

Corie Green, junior, Illini Central/Delavan - Distance

Green made it back-to-back state titles in the Class 1A 800 meters and won the event in all seven times that he ran it in the 2026 outdoor season. Green’s state finals time of 1:51.83 was just two-hundredths off his personal best and he anchored Illini Central/Delavan’s 4x800 to a ninth place finish. The junior, who also played baseball for Delavan during the spring and was a CSM Boys Cross Country First Team All-Area selection, excelled in a variety of events, winning the Tomahawk Conference title in the 400 and the 3200, as well as the Sangamo Conference championship in the 800. He also won three times in the 1600 and once in the 200. 

Ben Gorsage, junior, Washington - Distance

Gorsage headlined a loaded Central Illinois group of stars in the 800 by winning the Class 3A state title in a then-personal best time of 1:49.88. The Washington junior was a first team all-Mid Illini runner after winning conference titles in the 800, 1600 and anchoring its 4x400 that took first place at conference and sectionals before finishing 28th at state. His best time in the 800 ranked first in the area and his best time in the 1600 (4:19.62) ranked sixth. Gorsage was also a CSM Boys Cross Country First Team All-Area selection in the fall. 

Trae Brickner, senior, Peoria Christian - Hurdles

Brickner was a master of all trades for Peoria Christian and capped off an illustrious high school athletics career with his second consecutive Class 1A state title in the 300 hurdles. He won 19 straight times in that event dating back to the 2025 season and whittled his personal best time down to 37.87 in the state finals race. Brickner, who was a CSM First Team All-Area selection in soccer and earned CSM All-Area Honorable Mention in boys basketball, also won eight times in the 110 hurdles and finished third in Class 1A. Brickner was the Inter-County Conference champion in the long jump and high jump and also competed in the 100, 400, shot put and discus during the season. He will compete in the decathlon at Cedarville University. 

Jamari Randolph, junior, Bloomington - Hurdles

Randolph owned the area’s top times in the 110 hurdles (14.35) and 300 hurdles (36.57) and was an all-state honoree in both events. He was the Class 3A state runner-up in the 300 hurdles after placing second at sectionals and took seventh at state in the 110 hurdles. The Purple Raiders junior won Intercity and Big 12 Conference championships in both hurdles events and anchored Bloomington’s 4x100 and 4x400 relays that both qualified for state with the latter finishing eighth. Randolph also won the Intercity crown in the 200 meters. 

AJ Ioerger, sophomore, Metamora - Throws

Ioerger’s throwing ability helped diversify Metamora’s strength across the board as the sophomore was a Class 2A state finalist in the shot put and discus. Ioerger finished sixth in the discus and ninth in the shot put after finishing as the runner-up in the shot put at sectionals and the runner-up in the discus at the Mid-Illini Conference Meet. He won a total of 11 times between the two events and had personal bests of 53 feet and one-quarter inch in the shot put and 165 feet, seven inches in the discus.

Patrick Peterson, sophomore, Dunlap - Throws

Peterson made a meteoric rise as a sophomore and won a Class 3A state title in the discus while finishing as the state runner-up in the shot put. His best shot put throw of 67 feet, seven inches at the Gib Seegers Track and Field Classic was the fifth-best mark by a high schooler in the country in 2026 and set a Peoria area all-time record. His best throw in the discus of 201 feet, five inches came at the Class 3A State Finals and was the 16th-best mark in the nation. Peterson won a total of 24 times, including taking sectional and Mid-Illini Conference titles in both events.

Isaiah Whitaker, senior, Bloomington Central Catholic - Pole Vault

Whitaker’s legacy needs little introduction as he became just the second boys track and field athlete in IHSA history to win state titles in all four years of his career. After winning three consecutive Class 1A state crowns, Whitaker won the Class 2A state championship in the pole vault with a height of 17 feet, 8.5 inches. That mark set a new state meet record not just in Class 2A, but across all classes. His season-best mark of 17 feet, 11.25 inches came at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on April 3 and was the second-best mark by any high-schooler in the country this season. Whitaker will compete collegiately at Kentucky. 

Makai Hill, senior, Manual - Jumps

Hill became Manual’s first state medalist since 2019 after placing fifth in the triple jump at the Class 2A State Finals. His finals mark of 44 feet, 11.5 inches came on the heels of a personal best 45 feet, 1.75 inches that he used to win the Class 2A Galesburg Sectional. He posted six marks that exceeded the Class 2A state-qualifying standard and finished second in the triple jump at the Peoria All-City Meet and fourth at the Big 12 Conference Meet. Hill will play football in college at Western Illinois University. 

Malik Johnson, senior, Peoria High - Jumps

Johnson used an all-time clutch performance to win the Class 3A state title in the triple jump and in doing so, became the first Lion to win a state title since 2013. The Peoria High junior led the triple jump until the final round of the state finals, where his mark was beat by half of an inch. Johnson responded with a personal best jump of 48 feet, 4.5 inches to win by over one foot and set the top distance in Illinois this season. Johnson also won Big 12 Conference and Class 3A Moline Sectional titles in the long jump and won the Peoria All-City Meet in both the long jump and triple jump. He will continue his career at Eastern Illinois.

Xander Scray, junior, Normal U-High - Jumps

Scray was the area’s top high-jumper, finishing second in Class 2A with an area-best height of six feet and eight and one-quarter inches. He won the event six times in 2026, including the Class 2A Pontiac Sectional and the Intercity Meet. He posted 10 marks that exceeded the Class 2A state qualifying standard of six feet, two inches and also won three meets in the triple jump. 

Clutch Sports Media All-Area Second Team

Nick Glisson, senior, Illini Central/Delavan - Sprints

The Delavan senior who competed for the new IC/Delavan co-op was a strong competitor in several different events, including the 400 where he finished fourth in Class 1A. That performance came with a personal best time of 49.27, just beating out the time he clocked to win the Sangamo Conference title in the event. Glisson also qualified for state in the high jump, finishing 12th and owning a personal best mark of six feet and six and three-quarters inches. Additionally, the senior won the Tomahawk Conference Meet in the 200 meters. 

Damir Harris, junior, Normal West - Sprints

Harris excelled in the 100, 200 and 400 meters for Normal West, helping lead the Wildcats to an Intercity title. The junior finished eighth at the Class 3A State Finals in the 200 meters and had the area’s best time of 21.37 in the event earlier in the season. He was the Intercity champion and Big 12 Conference runner-up in the 100 with a PR of 10.72 and won another Intercity title in the 400. Harris also ran on two state-qualifying relays for Normal West, helping its 4x400 finish seventh and its 4x100 take 13th. 

Kylan McMillen, senior, Metamora - Sprints

McMillen played a key role in the strength of Metamora’s sprinters and helped the team and its 4x200 relay win state titles. The senior finished eighth at the Class 2A State Finals in the 200 meters and took 10th at state in the 100. He was the sectional runner-up in both events behind teammate Jaiduan Cranford and was the Mid-Illini runner-up in the 200. McMillen also ran on two all-state relays for Metamora, including its 4x100 that placed fourth. McMillen will play football in college at Roosevelt University.

Maxwell Carter, junior, Morton - Distance

Carter was an all-state finisher in the 1600 meters, placing ninth in Class 2A. His personal best mark of 4:16.54 was the second-best in the area while his personal best in the 3200 (9:21.27) led all runners in the area. Martin, who was a 2025 CSM Boys Cross Country Second Team All-Area selection, won a Mid-Illini Conference title in the 3200 and placed 10th in the event at state. 

Aiden Duhs, junior, IVC - Distance

Duhs was part of a loaded group of stars in the 800 around the area and placed second in the event at the Class 2A State Finals. He ran a personal best 1:51.28 to win the Class 2A Galesburg Sectional and won the 800 six other times, including at the Illini Prairie Conference Meet. Duhs also guided IVC’s 4x800 relay to an Illini Prairie title and a 28th-place showing at state. 

AJ Ince, senior, Normal Community - Distance

Ince finished his strong career by being one of the area’s best runners in the 800 and 1600. He finished 19th at the Class 3A State Finals in the 800 and carried a personal best time of 1:54.74. He was an Intercity and Class 3A Bloomington Sectional champion in that event, as well as the Big 12 runner-up. Ince also won Intercity and Big 12 titles in the 1600, where his best time of 4:19.04 ranked third in the area. Ince, who was a 2025 CSM Boys Cross Country Second Team All-Area selection, also ran on Normal Community’s 4x400 that placed 27th at state and its 4x800 that won a sectional title and also qualified for state. He will compete at SIU-Edwardsville in college. 

Alex Carter, senior, Normal West - Hurdles

Carter still made his mark despite competing in a conference and a sectional loaded with strong hurdlers. His strength was the 300 hurdles, an event where he finished 10th at the Class 3A State Finals. Carter posted a personal best time of 37.87 in the 300 to finish second at the Big 12 Conference Meet and took fourth in sectionals. He added a pair of runner-up finishes at the Intercity Meet by taking second in the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles. Carter also ran the anchoring leg on Normal West’s 4x400 that won an Intercity championship and finished seventh at state. 

Crew Martin, sophomore, Morton - Hurdles

Martin’s top times in both hurdles events ranked among the top five in the area and the sophomore capped his season by finishing second in the 110 hurdles and fifth in the 300 hurdles at the Class 2A State Finals. Martin was a two-time Mid-Illini Conference champion after posting personal bests of 14.85 in the 110 and 38.85 in the 300 at the conference meet. He placed second at sectionals in both events. 

Greg Mahle, junior, Morton - Throws

Mahle owned top-five marks in the area in both the shot put and discus and finished 15th at the Class 2A State Championships in the shot put. He threw a personal best distance of 55 feet, 11 and one-quarter inches to win the Class 2A Galesburg Sectional title in the shot put. Mahle finished second in the Mid-Illini in the shot put and fifth in the discus. His personal best in the discus was 152 feet, eight inches. 

Westin Mayfield, senior, Heyworth - Throws

Mayfield was one of the most consistently strong discus throwers in the area and set a school record with his personal best throw of 167 feet, 11 inches. The senior finished 13th at the Class 1A State Championships and took second at the Heart of Illinois Conference Meet. He won seven meets in the discus and posted 12 marks that exceeded the Class 1A state qualifying standard. Mayfield also placed fifth in sectionals in the shot put. 

Owen Stoller, senior, Eureka - Pole Vault

Stoller wrapped up his senior year with an all-state campaign, finishing eighth in the pole vault at the Class 2A State Finals with a season-best mark of 14 feet, five and one-quarter inches. He won the pole vault at seven different meets, including the Class 2A Galesburg Sectional and Heart of Illinois Conference Meet, helping boost the Hornets to a conference title. 

Cam Gunn, senior, Peoria High - Jumps

Gunn gave Peoria High another all-state finisher as he tied for fifth in the high jump at the Class 3A State Finals. There, he matched his personal best height of six feet, six inches. Gunn won five meets, including the Peoria All-City Meet, during the regular season and was the runner-up at the Big 12 Conference Meet and the Class 3A Moline Sectional. He will compete at Eastern Illinois in college. 

Jayvion Maxon, junior, El Paso-Gridley - Jumps

Maxon was a weapon in the high jump and on several relays for an El Paso-Gridley squad that placed third at the Class 1A State Finals. The junior placed 12th in the high jump at the Class 1A State Finals and won the event at the Heart of Illinois Conference Meet and Class 1A El Paso-Gridley Sectional. He boasted nine marks that exceeded the Class 1A state qualifying standard, including his personal best of 1.95 meters. Maxon also ran on EPG’s 4x100 that finished eighth at state and its 4x200 that came in 17th. 

Kaden Powers, senior, Morton - Jumps

Powers came on strong late in the year for the Potters and finished 14th in the long jump at the Class 2A State Finals. His personal best mark of 23 feet, two inches ranked second in the area and gave him the Class 2A Galesburg Sectional title. He won the event four other times during the season and finished as the Mid-Illini Conference runner-up. Powers also ran on Morton’s 4x200 relay that qualified for state and took third at sectionals in the 200 meters. 

Clutch Sports Media All-Area Honorable Mention

DJ Brooks, sophomore, Limestone - Sprints 

Evan Brown, freshman, Tri-Valley - Sprints 

Chris Bunting, junior, Eureka - Sprints 

Brayden Cox, sophomore, Metamora - Sprints 

Luke Eganhouse, senior, Normal Community - Sprints 

Ayce Hawks, junior, Richwoods - Sprints 

Ethan Martin, senior, Farmington - Sprints 

Kyle Miller, senior, Farmington - Sprints 

Ben Meyer, junior, Bloomington Central Catholic - Sprints 

Nathan Owens, senior, Illini Bluffs - Sprints 

Jude Rogers, junior, Morton - Sprints 

Isaak Roley, junior, Washington - Sprints

Andrew Aldeman, sophomore, Normal U-High - Distance

John Baker, junior, Peoria Notre Dame - Distance

Ty Basham, senior, Illini Bluffs - Distance

Keyston Beyer, junior, Morton - Distance

Jacob Bosch, junior, Princeville - Distance

Drew Cooper, senior, El Paso-Gridley - Distance

Dax Duffy, senior, Peoria Notre Dame - Distance

Aiden Faulkner, senior, Elmwood/Brimfield - Distance

Eli Hartman, freshman, Bloomington - Distance

Everett Henderson, junior, Tremont - Distance

Darwin Herman, senior, Elmwood/Brimfield - Distance

Drew Hodel, junior, Metamora - Distance

Weston Hodel, sophomore, El Paso-Gridley - Distance

Sean Kaeb, senior, Normal U-High - Distance

Maxwell Kirby, junior, Peoria Notre Dame - Distance

Abe Martin, sophomore, Morton - Distance

Adam Perry, freshman, Eureka - Distance

Thomas Seneca, freshman, Morton - Distance

Danny Sharp, sophomore, Elmwood/Brimfield - Distance

Gavin Stalter, senior, Eureka - Distance

Kam Stevenson, senior, Elmwood/Brimfield - Distance

Isaiah Willis, junior, Normal West - Distance

Jaylen Bishop, sophomore - Normal West - Hurdles

Luca Hilst, junior, Pekin - Hurdles

Paul Reason, junior, Metamora - Hurdles

Juan Rojas, senior, Normal Community - Hurdles

Noah Perfetti, junior, Pekin - Hurdles

Cade Walcott, junior, IVC - Hurdles

Zach Borne, freshman, Normal Community - Throws

Payton Bridgeman, senior, Pekin - Throws

Collin Carruthers, junior, Princeville - Throws

Brayden Eplin, senior, Fieldcrest - Throws

Jace Lott, junior, Washington - Throws

Collin Lowery, senior, Princeville - Throws

Harlin Toillion, sophomore, El Paso-Gridley - Throws

Leon Castaneda, senior, Normal Community - Pole Vault

August Cross, freshman, Tri-Valley - Pole Vault

Ryan Helle, senior, Farmington - Pole Vault

Cameron McPhail, junior, Dunlap - Pole Vault

Asher Mirock, junior, Tri-Valley - Pole Vault

Henry Rhoades, freshman, Metamora - Pole Vault

Brek Thompson, senior, Eureka - Pole Vault

Will Alvey, senior, Illini Bluffs - Jumps

Micheal Beckett, senior, Fieldcrest - Jumps

Owen Bergquist, senior, El Paso-Gridley - Jumps

Kaden Eklund, senior, East Peoria - Jumps

Tyler Hammond, junior, Limestone - Jumps

Marvin Jordan III, sophomore, Dunlap - Jumps

Jeffrey Klawitter, junior, Heyworth - Jumps

Brock Monk, senior, Eureka - Jumps

Dylan Nowaskie, senior, Olympia - Jumps

Kaleb Powell, senior, Limestone - Jumps

Brecken Pyles, sophomore, Henry/Midland - Jumps

Seth Shekomba, junior, Normal Community - Jumps

Nathan Silomba, senior, Limestone - Jumps

Brett Ulrich, senior, Metamora - Jumps

Elijah Webster, junior, El Paso-Gridley - Jumps