2026 Pre-Season Track & Field Previews: Boys Shot Put
- Carson Vittorio
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read

The Illinois high school track season has showcased elite power and precision in the throwing events, and the Top 10 ranked boys in the shot put across Classes 1A through 3A represent the top strength athletes in the state. Requiring a blend of explosive power, balance, and technical execution in the ring, the shot put has produced some of the biggest marks and most competitive battles of the season. From consistent series throwers to athletes who rise under championship pressure, each competitor on this list has earned his ranking through strong performances against elite competition. Together, they highlight the depth, strength, and excitement of boys shot put across Illinois high school track and field.
3A
Logan Abrams (Sr., Cary-Grove)
PR - 60'5.25"
5th at IHSA 3A State Meet
Huntley Sectional Champion
Fox Valley Conference Champion
Gavin Pecor (Sr., Batavia)
PR - 61'5"
7th at IHSA 3A State Meet
DuKane Conference Champion
DuKane Indoor Conference Champion
Owen Fors (Sr., Barrington)
PR - 57'0"
8th at IHSA 3A State Meet
Hoffman Estates Sectional Champion
Rodrigo Gonzalez (Sr., Roselle [Lake Park])
PR - 56'8"
USATF Illinois Champion
9th at IHSA 3A State Meet
DuPage County Champion
Joseph Michelini (Sr., Roselle [Lake Park])
PR - 57'5"
14th at IHSA 3A State Meet
Lake Park Sectional Champion
Jonathan Sibley-Diggs (Sr., Oak Park-River Forest)
PR - 57'1"
6th at AAU Junior Olympics
AAU Central District Champion
17th at IHSA 3A State Meet
St. Ignatius Sectional Champion
WSC Silver Conference Champion
WSC Silver Indoor Conference Champion
Tyson Hill (Jr., Manchesney Park [Harlem])
PR - 56'7.5"
12th at IHSA 3A State Meet
Runner-Up at Illinois Indoor Championships
Gavin Stukenberg (Sr., Edwardsville)
PR - 54'11.5"
13th at IHSA 3A State Meet
Francis Sessenou (Sr., East Moline [United])
PR - 56'2"
25th at IHSA 3A State Meet
Cooper Kowalczyk (Sr., St. Charles North)
PR - 54'2.75"
21st at IHSA 3A State Meet
2A
Will Rosenow (Jr., Sycamore)
PR - 56'2"
Runner-Up at IHSA 2A State Meet
Rochelle Sectional Champion
Interstate 8 Conference Champion
Casey Thomann (Sr., Olney [Richland County])
PR - 53'9.25"
7th at IHSA 2A State Meet
Little Illini Conference Champion
Luke Barnhart (Sr., Carterville)
PR - 55'9"
8th at IHSA 2A State Meet
SIRR Conference Champion
Owen LaSage (Jr., Dixon)
PR - 53'9.75"
9th at IHSA 2A State Meet
Anthony Beckman (Sr., Williamsville)
PR - 54'1.25"
30th at IHSA 2A State Meet
Sangamon County Champion
Sangamo Conference Champion
Sangamo Indoor Conference Champion
Braden Wittum (Jr., Harvard)
PR - 52'11"
16th at IHSA 2A State Meet
Marmion Academy Sectional Champion
Kishwaukee River Conference Champion
McHenry County Champion
Henry Riley (Sr., Glen Ellyn [Glenbard South])
PR - 52'11"
21st at IHSA 2A State Meet
Ridgewood Sectional Champion
Gavino Munoz-Ripley (Jr., Sterling)
PR - 50'6.75"
19th at IHSA 2A State Meet
Bryce Van Tieghem (Sr., Troy [Triad])
PR - 51'9.75"
22nd at IHSA 2A State Meet
Mississippi Valley Conference Champion
Colton Maltby (Jr., Rochester)
PR - 52'7.25"
27th at IHSA 2A State Meet
Civic Memorial Sectional Champion
1A
Graham Meister (Jr., Dwight)
PR - 63'0"
State Champion at IHSA 1A State Meet
Seneca Sectional Champion
Tri County Conference Champion
Illinois Top Times Champion
Gannon Dunker (Jr., Lena-Winslow)
PR - 53'3"
5th at IHSA 1A State Meet
Rockridge Sectional Champion
NUIC Conference Champion
Collin Lowery (Sr., Princeville)
PR - 54'10.75"
6th at IHSA 1A State Meet
Kewanee (Wethersfield) Sectional Champion
LTC Conference Champion
Maddax Stine (Sr., Catlin [Salt Fork])
PR - 54'6"
Vermilion Valley Conference Champion
Carson Murrah (Sr., Johnston City)
PR - 51'11.25"
8th at IHSA 1A State Meet
Fairfield Sectional Champion
Alex Rodriguez (Sr., Granville [Putnam County])
PR - 51'10.5"
9th at IHSA 1A State Meet
Kale Holzhauer (Sr., Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley)
PR - 51'10"
10th at IHSA 1A State Meet
El Paso-Gridley Sectional Champion
Heart Of Illinois Conference Champion
Ozzie Maddox (Sr., Virden [North Mac])
PR - 52'2"
Macoupin County Champion
South Central Conference Champion
Cooper Adcox (Jr., Mt. Sterling [Brown County])
PR - 51'8.25"
12th at IHSA 1A State Meet
Pleasant Plains Sectional Champion
Connor Powell (Sr., Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin)
PR - 49'8.25"
14th at IHSA 1A State Meet

