2026 Pre-Season Track & Field Previews: Boys 4x800m

The Illinois high school track season has showcased elite endurance and teamwork in the distance relays, and the Top 10 ranked boys 4×800-meter relay teams across Classes 1A through 3A represent the premier middle-distance depth in the state. Demanding a balance of strength, pacing, and trust between teammates, the 4×800 m often sets the tone for championship meets and produces some of the most strategic races of the season. From disciplined leadoffs to fearless anchors closing under pressure, each team on this list has earned its ranking through consistency and strong performances against top-level competition. Together, they highlight the depth, strategy, and excitement of boys distance relay racing across Illinois high school track and field.

3A

1. Orland Park (Sandburg)

Mateo Ramiro-Garcia (Sr.) - 1:53.14

Matthew Miller (Sr.) - 1:55.95s

Gavin Smalarz (Sr.) - 1:57.06s

Jackson Canellis (Sr.) - 1:57.40

Hunter Covolo (Sr.) - 1:58.80s

Michael Krupa (Jr.) - 2:00.40

Brayden Gaffud (Jr.) - 2:02.14s

Jake Crotty (Sr.) - 2:06.87

2. Downers Grove North

Philip Cupial (Sr.) - 1:50.08

Will Surratt (Sr.) - 1:51.60s

Dylan Wood (Jr.) - 1:59.83

Luke Figliomeni (Jr.) - 2:02.67s

Brennan Hardy (Sr.) - 2:03.24

Matt Novak (Sr.) - 2:03.87

Stephen Cox (Jr.) - 2:04.05

John Newell (Jr.) - 2:05.09s

3. Plainfield North

Thomas Czerwinski (Sr.) - 1:55.04s

Gavin Hall (Sr.) - 1:56.99s

Jake Schmauderer (Sr.) - 1:58.74s

Aidan Kyrychenko (Sr.) - 1:59.31

Aidan Connors (Sr.) - 1:59.59

Logan Dodson (Jr.) - 2:03.37

James Maso (Sr.) - 2:04.78s

Dominic LaMontagna (Jr.) - 2:05.23

4. Naperville Central

Lukas Probst (Sr.) - 1:55.76s

Derek Williamson (Jr.) - 1:58.10s

Manny Najera (Jr.) - 1:58.10s

Toby Silder (So.) - 2:00.20

Gavin George (Sr.) - 2:00.30

Ryan Hendricks (Sr.) - 2:03.70

Sam Tupek (Jr.) - 2:05.40s

Vaughn Scherer (Sr.) - 2:05.50s

5. Elmhurst (York)

Patrick Hill (So.) - 1:56.99

Carter Olsen (Sr.) - 1:57.61

Anders Dochoff (Jr.) - 1:58.74s

Dylan Golomb (Jr.) - 1:59.89s

Thomas Gonzalez (Jr.) - 2:06.31

Harrison Manternach (Jr.) - 2:07.10

Kasen Kramer (Sr.) - 2:07.36

Ignas Zemaitaitis (Jr.) - 2:09.43

6. Arlington Heights (Hersey)

Mateus Salomao (Sr.) - 1:55.28

Elliot Baik (Sr.) - 1:56.67s

Brandon Rugg (Sr.) - 1:59.86

Aidan Korb (Sr.) - 2:01.74s

Gabriel Gronski (Jr.) - 2:03.17

Maxwell Sternburgh (Jr.) - 2:08.49

Johan Gonzalez (Fr.) - 2:09.31

Levi McEwen (So.) - 2:10.02

7. Chicago (Payton)

Tra'Monti Williams (Sr.) - 1:51.62s

Declan Slavin (Sr.) - 1:51.93s

Obree Fischer (Jr.) - 2:02.96

John Falciglia (Jr.) - 2:07.95

Gus Berlinghof (Jr.) - 2:10.04

Knox Winn (So.) - 2:15.90

Ethan Jackson (Sr.) - 2:17.00

James Barrios (So.) - 2:22.00

8. Bolingbrook

Jason Vervack (Sr.) - 1:55.30s

Isaac Stowers (Sr.) - 1:57.29s

Nikolas Maldonado (Sr.) - 1:59.70s

Andres Lopez (Jr.) - 2:02.48

Kenonte Steverson (Jr.) - 2:06.50s

Tyshawn Harris (Jr.) - 2:08.94

Justin Wilson (Jr.) - 2:08.90s

Edmond Ankomah (Jr.) - 2:10.26

9. Downers Grove South

John Clinton (Sr.) - 1:57.51s

Sam Axelson (Jr.) - 1:58.81

Conrad Saner (Jr.) - 1:59.13s

Will Miller (Sr.) - 1:59.45s

Chris Janota (Sr.) - 1:59.79s

Thomas O'Connor (Jr.) - 2:01.85

AJ Handy (Sr.) - 2:02.64s

Andrew Erdal (Sr.) - 2:04.87

10. Plainfield South

Dylan Buturusis (Jr.) - 1:54.35

Reid Maranowicz (Jr.) - 2:00.03

Austin Cory (Sr.) - 2:00.65

Noah Martin (So.) - 2:02.90s

Ethan Ensign (Jr.) - 2:04.30s

Nick Valenciano (Jr.) - 2:04.67

Kellan Hernandez (Jr.) - 2:05.61

Tyler Miller (Sr.) - 2:06.10

2A

1. Lincoln

Owen Cyrulik (Jr.) - 1:56.40s

Colin Crombie (Jr.) - 1:58.20s

Pierce King (So.) - 2:00.05

Henry Stoltzenburg (So.) - 2:01.50s

Preston Short (Jr.) - 2:05.13

Elijah Crawford (Sr.) - 2:08.56

Levi Allison (Sr.) - 2:09.62

Ryan Gowin (Sr.) - 2:24.92

2. Morton

Abe Martin (So.) - 1:55.04

Keyston Beyer (Jr.) - 1:57.90s

Campbell Akers (Sr.) - 2:01.40s

Joe Anders (Jr.) - 2:01.80

Owen Riesberg (Fr.) - 2:03.80

Isaiah Hartter (So.) - 2:04.74

Keenan Smith (Jr.) - 2:05.04

Luke Baker (Sr.) - 2:05.13

3. Dixon

Dean Geiger (Jr.) - 1:57.99

Averick Wiseman (Jr.) - 1:58.01

Keegan Shirley (Sr.) - 2:00.00s

Abram Garcia (Fr.) - 2:01.63

Ethan Carter (Fr.) - 2:04.82

Alonzo Bautista (Fr.) - 2:04.94

Kohlson Stumpf (Sr.) - 2:07.99

Westin Conatser (Sr.) - 2:11.50

4. Maple Park (Kaneland)

Gavin Smith (Jr.) - 1:57.38

Carson Kaiser (So.) - 1:59.84

Joey Schuch (Jr.) - 2:00.24

Evan Whildin (Sr.) - 2:01.55

Gavin Schnurstein (So.) - 2:03.51s

Nolan Reutimann (Jr.) - 2:08.86s

Nathan Kowalczyk (Jr.) - 2:14.08

Gianni Middona (So.) - 2:16.68

5. Mt. Vernon

Rowan Wilford (Sr.) - 1:58.70s

Trace Elliott (Sr.) - 1:59.20s

Jayden Jones (Jr.) - 1:59.96

Eli Johnston (Sr.) - 2:02.10s

Joel Hayes (Sr.) - 2:07.19

Carson Workman (Sr.) - 2:08.85

Liam Brandon (So.) - 2:09.99

Ethan Karch (So.) - 2:13.12

6. Bethalto (Civic Memorial)

Glenn Collins (Jr.) - 1:57.47

Tullio Zamperi (Sr.) - 1:57.56

Max Weber (Sr.) - 1:58.19s

Logan Kearbey (Jr.) - 2:04.55s

Landon Kearbey (Sr.) - 2:07.03

Jacob Cranford (Sr.) - 2:12.50

Demar Martin (So.) - 2:13.00

Boden Duffy (Fr.) - 2:15.24

7. Aurora Central Catholic

Ben Bohr (Jr.) - 1:59.20s

Jack Swiatek (Sr.) - 1:59.79s

John Reinbold (So.) - 2:00.50s

AJ Viveros (Jr.) - 2:02.90s

Bryan Lopez (Jr.) - 2:06.12

Cal Reinbold (So.) - 2:06.95s

Brecken Oester (So.) - 2:08.90s

Reece Voller (Jr.) - 2:11.62

8. Metamora

Zach Born (Jr.) - 1:55.48

Wilbert Eppenger (Sr.) - 1:59.91

Drew Hodel (Jr.) - 2:02.30s

Elijah Gerkin (Jr.) - 2:05.29s

Connor McDonald (Jr.) - 2:07.93s

Caleb Scheirer (Jr.) - 2:13.21

Kelvin Liu (Jr.) - 2:13.92s

Bradyn Hale (Jr.) - 2:16.18

9. Herrin

Mason King (Sr.) - 1:58.27

Nolen Frost (Jr.) - 1:59.86

Braden Davis (Sr.) - 2:01.35

Maddox Burks (Sr.) - 2:03.51

Miles Ellet (So.) - 2:06.07

Sam Jolliff (Sr.) - 2:08.62s

Zane Besson (Jr.) - 2:15.71s

Nathan Jones (So.) - 2:20.54s

10. Mahomet-Seymour

Augustus Gaudio (Sr.) - 1:54.43s

Henry McMurry (Sr.) - 1:57.26

Kiptyn Fan (So.) - 2:05.38

Tate Bode (Jr.) - 2:06.18

Adam Smigielski (So.) - 2:06.70

Tayten Gergen (So.) - 2:12.76

Henry Welch (So.) - 2:14.47

Jackson Koontz (Jr.) - 2:18.15

1A

1. Rockford Christian

Evan White (Sr.) - 1:56.20s

Joel White (Sr.) - 1:59.88s

Blake Lindberg (Jr.) - 2:00.49s

Julian Honeyville (Sr.) - 2:01.50s

Noah Myers (Fr.) - 2:08.03

Brendan McGonigal (Sr.) - 2:11.20

Liam Hattoon (So.) - 2:12.80s

Lukas White (Sr.) - 2:16.80s

2. Auburn

James Baisden (Sr.) - 1:56.30s

Jacob Barth (Sr.) - 1:59.03s

Hunter Piper (Sr.) - 2:02.10s

Wyatt Thurman (Sr.) - 2:02.13s

Elijah Scott (Sr.) - 2:06.85

Justin Alavazarez (Fr.) - 2:29.60

Beckem Hudson (Sr.) - 2:31.85

Lucca Dinardo (So.) - 2:44.85

3. Winnebago

Daniel Hodgdon (Sr.) - 1:58.87

Aiden Vazquez (Sr.) - 1:59.32s

Blake Linder (Sr.) - 2:02.55s

Joseph Erb Jr. (Sr.) - 2:03.33s

Hudson Pope (Sr.) - 2:12.15

Alexander Wyant (Jr.) - 2:12.81

Nolan Hodgdon (So.) - 2:18.27

Brennan Bull (So.) - 2:25.25

4. Elmwood

Darwin Herman (Sr.) - 1:56.74

Aiden Faulkner (Sr.) - 2:01.35

Sam Stevenson (Sr.) - 2:03.32

Garrett Webster (Sr.) - 2:11.20

Danny Sharp (So.) - 2:12.12

Danny Ellen (Fr.) - 2:12.79

Hason Hubbard (Jr.) - 2:13.70

Cole Cahill (Fr.) - 2:14.88

5. Somonauk

Gunnar Swenson (Sr.) - 2:02.98s

Caden Hamer (Jr.) - 2:03.15s

Landin Stillwell (Sr.) - 2:03.61s

Jackson Brockway (Sr.) - 2:04.30s

Karter Nelson (Sr.) - 2:14.96

Cole Gudmunson (Sr.) - 2:20.16

Porter Snider (So.) - 2:32.53

Patrick Short (Sr.) - 2:37.39

6. Pleasant Plains

Elijah Teefey (Sr.) - 1:59.95s

Jared Long (So.) - 2:00.09

Ty Copeland (Jr.) - 2:07.23

Joel Gove (Sr.) - 2:08.16

Ryan Driskill (Sr.) - 2:09.01

Mykah Bileck (Jr.) - 2:18.47

Braeden Galloway (Jr.) - 2:19.79

Toby Nass Helfer (Jr.) - 2:23.25

7. Glen Carbon (Father McGivney)

Liam Schmidt (Sr.) - 1:57.99s

Will Rakers (Jr.) - 2:02.55s

Gus Range (Jr.) - 2:06.80s

Connor Schmidt (Sr.) - 2:08.67

Eric Rybak (So.) - 2:16.51

Aidan Schmidt (Sr.) - 2:17.88

Eli Germann (Jr.) - 2:20.32

8. Glasford (Illini Bluffs)

TY Basham (Sr.) - 1:58.02s

Crew Fortin (Jr.) - 2:05.10s

Eric Pincock (Sr.) - 2:05.67s

Levi Thomas (Sr.) - 2:07.64s

Brayden Gillies (So.) - 2:10.50

Peter Stoltz (Sr.) - 2:20.44

Hendrix Seaman (So.) - 2:25.45

Matthew Burke (So.) - 2:34.73

9. El Paso-Gridley

Alex Lartz (Fr.) - 2:03.10

Elijah Webster (Jr.) - 2:03.85s

Israel Nowark (Sr.) - 2:04.32s

Weston Hodel (So.) - 2:05.39s

Roman Wenger (Jr.) - 2:07.40s

Drew Cooper (Sr.) - 2:12.26

Finn Zeller (So.) - 2:14.50

Hank Eastman (So.) - 2:15.61

10. Elgin (Harvest-Westminster)

Luca Bryja (Sr.) - 2:02.30s

Tyler Linta (Sr.) - 2:03.38

Lucas Pagan (Jr.) - 2:06.34

Immanuel Nunez (So.) - 2:07.39

Jack Welsh (Sr.) - 2:08.58

Caleb Gonzalez (Sr.) - 2:09.84

Ezra Gonzalez (So.) - 2:13.47

AJ Gomez (So.) - 2:14.34