2024 DGS Mustang Relays Preview

20th edition of this meet could produce state leading times

By Michael Newman

Last year’s opening of the DGS Mustang Relays excited the capacity crowd inside the RES-Rec Center at North Central College when both meet records were broken in the 4x800 Meter Relay. There could be a different story in this meet starting at 6:30 PM on Monday.

Prospect will look to win the Girls 4x800 Meter Relay for the third year in a row. The rest of the meet could be high level intensity in deciding the other five event winners.

Here is a look at the six relay events that will take place in this meet.

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Girls 4x800 Meter Relay

Meet Record – 9:04.68 – Mt. Prospect (Prospect) – 2023

2024 Illinois Best – 9:39.44 – Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West

Preview – Prospect will look for their third win in a row in this event. The Knights did with style last year breaking the old meet record by 16 seconds and winning in the race by 23 seconds. They have not run their full line-up in this season. Prospect will on Monday night with Veronica Znajda, Sophie Fransen, Lily Ginsberg, and Meg Peterson. All four athletes have put up some great times in different distances in February. The question could be how close they get close r go past their meet record?

One thing to watch is how many teams go under the state leading time of 9:39.44 that Glenbard West ran to win last Thursday at the NCC Cardinal Classic. That meet produced the top five state leading times at that moment. Downers Grove North last Saturday at York ran IL #2 9:46.10. Lily Eddington ran in that race and is expected to run in the quartet on Monday. Ava Gilley has one of the top times in the state in the 800 Meter Run. She could push the Trojans closer to the front in the final section of this event. This will be the first time that the York Girls team will compete in this meet. The Dukes will push for a top position in this race with seniors Katherine Klimek, Magge Owens, and Anna McGrail along with Sophia Galiano-Sanchez, a sophomore.

Naperville Central will run a full lineup for the first time this indoor season led by Lola Satre-Morales and Liv Phillips. St. Ignatius College Prep could be the surprise in this race. The Wolfpack have a strong quartet led by Annika Swan. The sophomore last Saturday at Lakes ran 2:16 for 800-meters and 5:00 for 1600-meters. She could create a special moment along with her teammates. A number of teams that could challenge for a top five finish including Yorkville, Hinsdale Central, Plainfield North, and Lane Tech.

Boys 4x800 Meet Relay

Meet Record – 7:45.73 – Hinsdale (Central) – 2023

2024 Illinois Best – 8:12.09 – Winnetka (New Trier)

Preview – I think the question in this race is how many teams could surpass New Trier’s time in this event. This could be Plainfield South’s to win. Dylan Maloney and Camyn Viger lead this quartet that also has Gavin Borger and Joaquin DeAlba in the group. This race could be a tune-up for Viger and Maloney who will race in Boston at New Balance Indoor Nationals next weekend. Naperville Central has a good group led by Foster Shelbert and Patrick Clune that could challenge for the win.

Downers Grove North should not be a dark horse in the final section but rather one of the favorites. Ryan Eddington might anchor and could bring the Trojans from behind. I would not count them out. Lane Tech has a solid duo of Will Kozlowski and Amann Bauman that are coming from great races last Saturday at Gately Park. The Champions should be challenging for the win when the gun goes off. Whitney Young has a solid quartet that could run away for the win. Plainfield North and Glenbard West could surprise in this race.

Defending champion in this event, Hinsdale Central, is in the second of three sections. Keep an eye on Aden Bandukwala who is expected to be their anchor for their quartet. The 3-time state champion has already run 1:53 indoors this season.

Girls 4x200 Meter Relay

Meet Record – 1:41.03 – Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) – 2016

2024 Illinois Best – 1:44.27 – Chicago (Whitney Young)

Preview – This could be a great event even though list leaders Whitney Young and Homewood-Flossmoor  are not in this meet.. There are six quality teams in the final section that could come up the winner. Batavia has the IL #3 time of 1:44.88 and the best time heading into this race. York is among the final six in this race and have the talent to run in the 1:43’s. Lincoln-Way East’s Kyra Hayden is only running two races in this meet. She will help the Griffins chase down a win in this race. Prospect has a good group led by Charlotte Deines that could contend from the top squad. Don’t forget Neuqua Valley who will have defending 200 Meter Dash Champion Zawadi Brown anchoring for them. She brough the Wildcats from behind to finish third overall. Plainfield North and Bolingbrook will run in Section 5 and could finish among the top four overall. Downers Grove North will run in Section 4 and could set the time standard for the final two sections in this event.

Boys 4x200 Meter Relay

Meet Record – 1:30.50 – Plainfield South – 2011

2024 Illinois Best – 1:30.02 – Burbank (St. Laurence)

Preview – This has been one of the toughest meet records to break even though the record stands at 1:30.5 from 13 years ago. Teams run under 1:30 in recent years indoors, but not in this meet. Just as in the 4x8, Plainfield South should be the team to beat. The Cougars tuned up for this meet running 1:31.75 (IL #3) at Gately Park on Saturday. Crosstown rival Plainfield North sharpened up by running 1:31.99 on Saturday at the Armory at the U of I and will be in the mix for the win. Bolingbrook and Minooka are two teams to watch in the final section. Only five sections in this event instead of six. Lane Tech or Glenbard West could be the lead teams after four sections.

Girls 4x400 Meter Relay

Meet Record – 3:54.72 – Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) – 2016

2024 Illinois Best – 4:04.27 – Chicago (Whitney Young)

Preview – The final section of this event is only separated by two seconds on the six teams. That means we could see fireworks in the final race of the Girls meet. Lincoln-Way East enters this meet at #3 in the state (4:07.09) having run this last week on this track. They could be tough to beat led by Kyra Hayden and freshman Alaina Steele who ran 58.66 on this track last week. Prospect will load their quartet in this event for the first time this year with Charlotte Deines and distance stars Znajda, Ginsberg and Peterson. WSC-Silver teams Downers Grove North and York have the quality in their quartets and will challenge for the win. Neuqua Valley needs to stay close to the front of the race when they give the baton to their anchor Zawadi Brown who could get their team the win.

Minooka has run 4:08.58 (IL #7) this year but are in the fourth section. This section is loaded with teams like Batavia, Plainfield North, and St. Charles North able to finish among the top five teams overall.

Boys 4x400 Meter Relay

Meet Record – 3:22.63 – Plainfield (South) – 2011

2024 Best – 3:28.88 – Flossmoor (Homewood-F.)

Preview – Naperville Central ran 3:30.13 (IL #4) a week ago at Huntley and enters this event as the favorite. Plainfield North ran 3:30.33 last week at Champaign and will be the team pushing the Redhawks. Yorkville is listed #19 in the state with their quartet led by Owen Horeni. Bolingbrook, Lane Tech. and Whitney Young are the other teams in the final section. The other four sections are up for grabs.