2008 – Coaches Johnson, Rohn, Hess, and Fitton. The 2008 Central boys track and field team had a pretty good season, especially towards the end when they won both Twin City and Sectionals. The team was led by twelve seniors: Peter Hackley, Stan Adkisson, Steven Kessler, Kyle Kibler, Phillip Yoo, Reggie Pace, Sunga Mkwzalamba, Kevin Kaplan, Steven Lessaris, and team captians, Kurt Kibler and Russell Wetzel, and the team's MVP Quantrel Hedrick. Thirteen team members, including underclassmen Ian Well sand Gabe Ramirez, also were recognized as All-Conference.
2007 – Coaches Shultz, Johnson, Rohn, Hess, and Fitton. The 2007 boys track team had a successful season with a record of 3-2. They placed 5th at the Big 12 meet and 4th at sectionals. Although no one made it to State, the future looks promising. Senior captains were Neville McKinnie and Stanley Adkisson. Unfortunately, Josh Stanner and Drew Sharick missed much of their seasons when they both broke their legs. All the seniors will be greatly missed, but the returning classes show amazing capabilities that should be useful for 2008.
2006 – Coaches Shultz, Johnson, and Hess. The 2006 season was an amazing year for the Central boys' track team. The team was lead by an impressive group of thirteen seniors. They finished the season with a record of four wins and only one loss. They also won the Twin City Championship for the second year in a row. Next year looks promising with many strong runners and two state qualifying relay teams returning. Both the girls' and boys' teams were led by the same amazing group of coaches.
2005 – Coaches Iles and Johnson. It was a history-making season for the 2005 Central boys track team. They performed well in every meet they attended. The team won two major meets and placed very high in three others. The boys also won the Twin City Championship. Captains Chris Brown, Max Mkwezalamba, Graham Tennant, and Eric Greenstein led the team to a 1st place ranking in the Big 12 Conference where they placed high with a team record of 5-0 and a Conference record of 3-0. Next year's team will have alot to live up to, but with the enormous amount of talent returning, the future looks good.
2004 – Coaches Smith, Iles, and Johnson, qualified 6 boys to State: Chris Brown for Long Jump, 4x800 relay made up of Graham Tennant, Thomas Broadrick, Michael Kesler, and Andrew Chisholm, and Maxwell Mkwezalamba for 400m dash, Ian Winston one of the few upperclassmen on team to jump six feet, five inches in the High Jump
2003 – Coaches were Iles, Sanders and Johnson. The boys’ track team was led by a group of middle distance runners and a fine group of young sprinters and jumpers. The 3200 m relay dominated the competition, winning Conference for the second year in a row. This strong relay made up of Andy Eheart, Graham Tennant, Brian Kesler, and Eric Brown qualified for the State Meet. The other major highlight of the year was Jeremy Krudenier’s State Title in the 800 m.
2002 – Coaches Stirrett & Johnson. The boys’ track and field team was led by a fine group of seniors along with several promising underclassmen. The highlight of the season was the group of middle distance runners led by the 3200m relay squad, which placed 3rd at the Illinois Indoor Top Times meet, 1st at Conference and Sectionals, and 4th at State. Eric Brown, Colin Cain, Adam Dye, Jeremy Kruidenier, and Nick Stirrett made up the legs of the relay.
2001 – Coaches Dike Stirrett, Tom Richards, and John Sanders. The boys’ track and field team was a young and inexperienced team. A group of young middle distance runners provided the nucleus for the team that recorded high finishes in the distance relays. The 1600 meter relay, run by Jeremy Kruidenier, Adam Dye, Lamar Riddle, and Pat Phillips, finishes 2nd in the Big 12 Conference. However, the highlight of the season was the 800 meter run by Jeremy Kruidenier and Adam Dye who both qualified for the State meet. Jeremy finished 4th, receiving All State Honors
2000 – Coach Dike Stirrett, Tom Richards, and Chris Saunders, made up of mostly underclassmen, played an important role, the 4x800M and 4x400M team won at the Freshmen/Sophomore conference meet, Jeremy Kruidenier went to state in the 800M, Pat Phillips went to state and placed 9th in the 400M, captains Pat Phillips and Eric Kesler
1999 – Coach Tom Richards. Pat Phillips earned 4th in the 100m dash at Sectionals and won the 400m dash at the Fr./So. Outdoor Conference. Andy Williamson got 1st at the Fr./So. Outdoor Conference for the mile run. The 4X800m relay team finished first at conference and 3rd at sectionals. The boys’ track team had many young runners that stepped up to the competition and performed well. The Outdoor Conference gave many of the younger runners a chance to prove themselves and showed the potential of the team.
“We have potential and are ready to use it!” ~ Jacob Goran
1998 – Coaches
Richard, Fields, & Grizzard. Devin
Quarles made it to state in the shot put and discus. He placed 9th at state in the
discus. Jacob Goran took 1st
place in the two mile race for the Freshmen/Sophomore conference. The 4X800m took first place in the
Freshmen/Sophomore conference. That same
group took third place in the outdoor conference. Nick Voss placed among the top in the
conference and sectional meets. The team
won in
1997 – Coaches Thomas Richards, J.R. Wilson, and J. Brad Spencer. Robert Gardner qualified for the State Meet in the 34200 M Run. The boys track team had a rebuilding year, but showed perseverance. The young athletes were willing to practice hard and work out late. The coaches appreciated all the effort and dedication.
1996 – Coach Thomas Richards. Asst. Coaches J. R. Wilson and Brad Spencer. Central’s boys’ track team began the season with a rocky start due to absences and an almost entirely new coaching staff. Despite these setbacks, they managed to become competitive by focusing on their strengths and pushing each other to do their best. Many continue to train hard even in the off season.
1995 – Coach John Woods. Asst. Coaches Tom Richards and Nehemiah Thomas. Nate Smith was the News-Gazette Athlete of the Week, and placed first in the triple jump at the Honor Roll Meet. The 1600m Relay team, which was made up of William Summerville, Cedric Davis, Chris Phillips, and Terrayel Cartmill, was also a state qualifier. This was a very good learning and growing experience for the coaching staff as well as the team. The team became unified by the first of May, which brought much success to Central’s boys’ track team.
1994 – Coach
1993 – (2-4)
-Coaches
1992 – (4-2) Coaches Powers and Washington. The 1992 boy’s tract team had a fair season (4-2), and they also enjoyed many individual successes. Qualifiers for state included Jason Sempsrott who finished 3rd in the 800 meters, Maurice Howard who set a new record in the high jump, Bryant Quarels in the 200 meters, and the 400 meter relay team consisting of Derek Pruitt, Thomas Parker, Kevin Ward, and Shawn Toney. Some of the team enjoyed winning the 1600 meter relay at the Freshman/Sophomore Big 12 meet, these team members being Pete Billhymer, David St. Peter, Eugene Boatright, and Maurice Howard also setting a new track record in that event.
1991 – Captains Brian
Rempe and
1990 – The 1990 boys’ track team was lead by team tri-captains Rich Gibas, Pat Stines, and Clyde Mize. Injuries and the absence of field event participants hurt Central’s dual meet record, but they were competitive in big meets, posting a 21-21 record. Rich Gibas, a standout senior, was voted most valuable players.
1989 – The 1989 Boys’ Track Team was led by seniors Matt Meyer, Perry Williams, and team point leader Shad Shepston. Central’s young team had a building season under head coach Tony Moreillon and his assistant coach Lester Washington. They finished a disappointed 9th in the Big 12 Conference Meet.
“We had good depth in
distance runners.”
~Coach Moreillon
Shad Shepston and Pat Stines, who both ran under
1988 – Coaches Stirrett,
Quinlan, and Goran. Under these coaches
the team moved up two placed from its 1987 7th place finish, to 5th
in the Big 12 Conference Meet. The team
enjoyed success in dual meets by beating
1987 – The track had a fairly successful season this year. Dennis Thomas led the team to a six-four dual met record. There were nine returning letterman this year. Dennis Thomas, Tim Cochrane, and Darrel Boysaw all qualified for State.
1986 – Coach = Shine. Led by MVPs – Dennis Thomas and Hester Williams, the boys track team had a fairly successful season. With nine lettermen returning, next season looks very bright.
1985 – Coach =
Dike Stirrett. Central’s boys track team
sent a relay team consisting of Tim Cochrane, Terry Napper, Brax Miller, and
Paul Rusicka to state. In addition to
the relay team, Greg Boysaw also qualified for state. The relay team ran the 1600 meter relay and
had a time of
1983 – Coach Gene Ward.
Dana Anastasic jumped 13’0”.
Brian Mulcahy set a record in shot put and Bill Fisher in discus. Placed 6th in the
1982 – Coaches Dike
Stirrett and
1980 – Coaches Stirrett,
Ward and Harris. Central’s track team
had a good season. The highlights of the
season were sending two men to State, and setting three new school
records. Bryon Clark went to State for
the 880 yard run, and Steve Swartzendruber rant he two mile run. The three school records were set by
Swartzendruber and Bob Dublin.
Swartzebduber had an impressive time of 9?34 in the two mile run, which
was also a
1978 – No write-up, just pictures.
1976 – Central’s
strong track team showed a lot of talent.
The juniors dominated the team which had only 4 seniors. In dual meets Maroons were undefeated with
only one tie. They came in 2nd
in the Decatur Open; and, for the 1st time, won the Champaign
Outdoor Meet. At
1973 – (4-2)
Coaches Ward, Stirrett and Carrodine.
Although getting off to a bad start by losing their first 2 meets, the
track team made a great comeback by winning their next 4 and placing high in
Conference and District. Pat Carter
surprised everyone by getting 3rd in the State Finals of the high
jump. According to him: “I just wandered over to the high bar one day
and made a 5’8” jump.” Coach Ward kept
the men in shape by making the sprinters run 5 miles and the distance runners
10 miles a night. Mr. Dike Stirrett, one
of the assistant coaches, accompanied the trackmen on these excursions around
1972 – (2-3)
Coaches Gene Ward and Dike Stirrett. The
track team led by captains Mike Sullivan and Mike VanMatre, ran to a 2-3 dual
meet record. Season highlights were 2nd
place in both Conference and District and 1st place in a meet with
1970 – (1-14) Coach Gene Ward. Central cindermen ended their rebuilding season 1-14. This was quite a good season considering the fact that the cindermen were mostly underclassmen. Seniors Paul Andrew and John Levanti excelled in the weights, and Tom Murray was an outstanding footman. The spirit of the team never faltered and neither did the enthusiasm. The hard work of the team was not revealed in the season record, but Central did participate in some big meets and came up with many 2nd and 3rd place finishes.
1969 – Coaches Paul Seaman, Coleman Carrodine and Fred Schooley. Renewed enthusiasm coupled with promising talent made this year’s track squad a strong contender in the Big 12 title race. Coach Seaman relied on lettermen Paul Andrew, Chuck Bayne, Bruce Garrett, and Tom Good, along with veterans Marc Cutright, Dave Henry, Terry Tanner, and Jackie Vonner to pace the cindermen into Conference and District contention. Seaman was pleased with the great interest shown by sophomores and comments that there is great promise among them. Early spring training, the great amount of enthusiasm, and the talent from both veterans and newcomers made this year’s track team a satisfying one for Central mentor, Paul Seaman, and assistants Coleman Carrodine and Fred Schooley.
1967 – (5-1)
Coach Howard Jester. As a farewell from
the role of head track coach at CHS, a position which he occupied for 14 years;
Coach Harold Jester received a reward from a team of dedicated, inspired young
athletes. It came in the form of an
outstanding season on the cinders. The
thinclads racked up in most of the dual meets; although losing to a powerful
1966 - (5-3) Coach Harold Jester. Took 5th and 3rd in Conference and District meets respectively. Captain John Johnson proved to be a consistent double-winner for the Maroons. Johnson placed 1st in both the high and low hurdles in almost every meet. Showing tremendous improvement towards the end of the season, John succeeded Mike Butler by becoming the state’s high hurdles champion. He equaled the state’s record with a 14.2 clocking. Along with senior miler Jeff Mills, underclassmen Steve Brown, Jim Lindsay, Mark Koster, Bob Gillespie, Steve Flewelling, Mark Flora, and Vern Hampton were other main point producers for the Maroons.
1964 – (5-0)
Coach Harold Jester. The 1964 Maroon
track squad turned in a very successful season, highlighted by the Urbana
District victory, winning the Mattoon Relays, and sweeping all of the dual
meets with Stephen Decatur, Danville, Urbana, Decatur MacArthur, and Rantoul
for a perfect season mark.
1963 – Coach Harold
Jester. The 1963 track team gave Coach
Jester his 3rd consecutive Conference track title, making the 7th
time in the last 11 years that the Maroons have taken that crown. The squad had many individual performances,
but most notable was the consistent excellence of sophomore cinderman Bill
Huston. At most meets Huston managed to
compete in four or five events, and could always be counted to win points. Captain-elect John Ingleman, the only junior
to letter, ran the 440, often bringing back a 1st; a leg of the
tough mile relay; and at the end of the year, tried the half-mile. His time of 1:59.7 was good enough to tie the
existing CHS record. Seniors Bill
Blackwell and Roger Capan also tampered with school records. Blackwell posted a 53’ 2 ½” effort for a shot
put record, and Capan threw the discus 170’ 6 ½” to establish a new mark. Out of the outstanding crop of sophomores,
Mike Butler tied the 180 low hurdles mark with a time of 20.1. In dual meets the Maroons dropped only one, a
61-57 squeaker to Decatur MacArthur. The
Maroons picked up a 3rd at the Woodruff Relays and a 2nd
in the Mattoon Relays. In 3 other big
meets the CHS cindermen garnered 3 blue ribbons, the District, the Conference, and the Shelbyville Open (tie
with
1962 – (5-0-1) Coach Harold Jester. A 2nd straight conference crown was won by the track team. The Maroons added a 2nd in the district meet, but, although CHS was represented by 8 men in 8 events, were unable to place in the state meet.
1961 – Coach
Harold Jester considered the 1961 Maroons his finest. Captained by Allen Hart, they were never
lower than 4th in their 7 big meets; only in state did the Maroons
drop below 4th. To open the
season several of them traveled to the Oak Park Invitational, traditionally the
last meet of the indoor season for the Chicago and Suburban schools. Here the Maroons placed 3rd in
Class B competition, as the 8 lap relay, indoor equivalent of the mile relay,
set a relay record in Class B competition.
The cindermen’s 1st outdoor meet, the Decatur Open, was won
by
1960 – (3-2)
Coach Jester and Mann, slow start in first 2 meets, set many school records
when they beat
1959 – (3-2)
Coach Howard Jester. At
1958 – (3-1)
Coach Harold Jester. Strengthened by 11 returning lettermen the track team had
one of the best records for many years.
Took Big 12 conference title, and the championship of four other
meets. Took 6th and 2nd
respectively at the Oak Park Relays and the Urbana Open. Won the Decatur Open over 30 other
schools.
1955 – (2-2)
Coach Harold Jester. Started the season
with 8 returning lettermen. In the
1954 – (3-2)
Coach Harold Jester. In the 2nd
meet of the year, Jerome Cook broke his own discus record which he had set in
1953 of 141’ 5” to 143’. As in the past
two years,
1953 – (3-0) Coach Harold Jester.
Captain Larry Hopkins. All early signs
indicated that the CHS track team would have a good season. They began slowly and made great progress
during the season. In the 17 team Normal
Relays, Jerome Cook set a new school record in the discus with a throw of 141’
4”. Ray Wise took 1st in the
high and broad jumps. Other 1st
were Chuck Oliger and the pole vault; the mile relay team; Gene Darnall’s 220
of :22.3, and his 100 of :10.5; Bennie Williamson’s 1st in the
440. The men were aiming for the Big 12
title, and came through in the traditional
1952 – Coach Harold
Jester. There were 50 candidates along
with 6 returning letterman at the 1st practice. They took 3rd in the Normal Relays
with
1951 – (1-6) Coach Harold Jester, Top Performers for the Maroons was Dale Foster and Larry Foster.
1950 – Harold Jester. Bob Kable, Dick Barham and Dale Foster shared scoring honors. Captain Larry Dunlap, Van Thompson, Dale Foster and Bob Kabel went state. There were 13 letter winner this season.
1949 – (2-2) Coach Harold Jester, Only Kabel and McDermtt qualified to enter the Big 12 meet, neither placed
1948 – Coach
Harold Jester, Almost pulled the upset against rival
1947 – Coach Jester, Booby Clark and Zeke Bryant led the team to a 3rd place victory in the Decatur Open. 3rd in the district, 5th in the state.
1946 – Coach Jester - The Champaign Trackmen had a very successful season in 194 capturing the District and Mattoon Relays for the 3rd consecutive year and winning the Danville, Rantoul, Decatur and dual meets. They finished 3rd in the Urbana Relays and the Big 12. Finished 4th in the state
1945 – Coach Jester - Big 12 Champions, 1st in District, and winners of the Urbana Relays, Mattoon Relays and their dual, triangular and quadrangular meets. This was their first Big 12 title in the school’s history with a large group of letterman returning.
1944 – Coach
Jester – Listed as an orphan sport, Coach Jester spoke to his basketball and
wrestling athletes to come out for track. In his first season, the team was 2nd
in the Big 12, 8th in the state, won every dual meet, first in the
1942 – Coach Elzie Myers, only 4 lettermen from previous year, fell short of the Big 12 Championship, highlights include Urbana Relays, Monticello District, and the State and Big 12 meets, 5 qualified for State: Larry Keener, Steve Edwards, Johnny Ruyle, Buddy Walters, and Frank Weldon
1941 – Coach
Elzie Myers won 3 out 4 dual meets, a triangular conquest over Tuscola and
1939 – Coach Clark (4-1), finished 7th in the Big 12 and Urbana Relays. Chuck Gerdes was the only state qualifier from CHS and he finished 4th in the mile. After the season, Coach Clark resigned and Elzie Myers replaced him.
1938 – Coach Clark, 8th in the Urbana Relays, 1st in the Monticello Quadrangular, 6th in the district
1937 – Coach Clark, 5th in the Urbana Relays, 2nd in the District, 7 boys qualified for the state meet.
1935 - Coach Clark; because of the bad weather, practice was delayed and the team won very few meets. Letters were awarded to those boys placing in one big meet or acquiring a 15 point total in smaller meets.
1934 – Coach Clark; because of the basketball team being eliminated from state competition, the track team started late with only one week before the first meet.
1932 – Coach
Clark, 1st place in quadrangular meet against
1931 – Coach Clark’s
track team won two quadrangular meets and lost a close dual meet to
1930 – Coach
Clark; District meet, Broad Jump was won by Hall and Lewis came in second. In
the 100 yard dash, Lewis won with a 9.9, 200 yard dash won by Pickens and the
relay was won by
In the conference meet, Pickens came 3rd in the
220 yard dash, Lewis 4th in the 100 yard dash, Hall 2nd
in the broad jump and
1929 – Coach Clark, 4th place in the 440 yd. relay, 3rd place in the Wesleyan meet, Russell, Lewis, Hall, Pickins, 1st in the 880 yard relay (New Record)
1928 – Coach Clark; 2nd in the Big 12, 2nd in the District and Russell came in 5th in the 100 yard dash at the state final.
1927 - Coach Clark; Porter 1st in 100 yard dash, 2nd in the broad jump and 4th in 50 yard dash.
Strode, 1st in shot-put;
1926 – Coach Johnson.
1925 – Coach Osborn, placed 3rd at the Illinois Athletic Club Meet but disqualified because one member fell before finishing, most of the team will be back the next year, experience gained this season
1924 – Most successful team since 1921, won every meet in which it entered, won State
1923 –
1922 – The track
season begun with the Bradley Polytechnic meet which
1921 – The first
meet started with the Bradley Polytechnic which the boys dominated. Pickens set
a new record for the 440 yard dash and the relay team lowered the previous
record by 3 seconds. At
1920 – In
February, a series of preliminary and final contests in track events was held
at Barlett gymnasium, at the
1919 – On April
26, the Maroon Track squad journeyed to
1918 – At the request of the Illinois State High School Athletic Association (ISHSAA), track was dropped because they were asked to devote all of their spare time after school and Saturdays to garden and farm work.
1917 – Coach Milne, The track team set the following records:
440 yard - 52 2/5 seconds, David Brown
Half Mile - 2 minutes and 8 seconds.. David Brown
High Jump for
One Mile Relay, 3 minutes, 42 2/5 seconds, Bruder, Gantz, Brown and Roy
Two Mile Relay, Georgetown Relay Carnival, 8 minutes and 47 seconds
One Mile Relay, Georgetown Relay Carnival, 3 minutes and 52 seconds
440 yard run in Stagg’s Interscholastic meet at Chicago, David Brown
880 yard run Stagg’s interscholastic meet at Chicago, David Brown
1915 – Coach Milne, records set:
Pole Vault (
Pole Vault (
Shot Put - 47’1” (
Discus - 113’7” (
3rd place in the Interscholastic meet at U of I
1st honors in the Eastern Illinois State Normal
meet at
Grand Prairie Seminary meets with 22 points
Equaled high jump record of
50 yard dash of Charleston 5 3/5 seconds
1913 – Coach Milne, records set:
100 yard dash - 10 2/5 seconds, Largent
220 yard dash – 23 3/5 seconds, Largent
220 yard hurdles – 28 3/5 seconds, Branch
Quarter mile run – 53 3/5, Largent
Half Mile run – 2 minutes and 3/5 seconds, Percival
Mile run – 4 minutes and 36 seconds, Percival
Shot – 44 ft, 10 ¾ inches, Nickerson
Discus – 108 ft, Nickerson
Hammer – 158 ft, Nickerson
Running broad jump – 21’4”, Branch
Running high jump – 5’5”, Branch
Pole vault – 10’7”, Kirkpatrick
Coach Milne is undoubtedly the best high school track coach
in
1912 – Coach
Milne. Two interscholastic meets, one at Onarga and the other a the
1911 – Coach
Milne. The prospects were not a bright for
1910 – Coach Milne,
The first event was the tri-county meet at the Fair Grounds and
1909 – Coach
Milne. This was considered a failure season. There was lack of suitable place
to train the runners. The only place to train was the Fair grounds in