Sophomore Albert Anastasio crosses the finish line of the Class 1A 3,200-meter finals behind Jeremy Reel of Stewardson-Strasburg. Anastasio (10:14.09) placed 23rd out of 39 runners. Gargoyle photo by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

CHARLESTON — Senior Malcolm Taylor ended his stellar Uni sports career today by placing third in the IHSA Class 1A 400-meter state finals.

Taylor, the defending state runner-up, sprinted more than half a second faster than he did in last year's title race, but he lost out to defending champ Ben Asmus of Heyworth and new runner-up Jordan Thomas of Oregon.

Asmus, a junior, set the pace with a blistering time of 48.56 seconds, followed by Thomas, a senior, who crossed the finish line in 48.85.

Taylor clocked in at 49.21. Senior Zebe Zebe of Tolono Unity was fourth with a time of 49.49.

Last year Asmus won the race in 49.11, followed by Taylor in 49.74.

One other Illinek competed in today's state finals at Eastern Illinois University's O'Brien Field.

Sophomore Albert Anastasio ran the 3,200 in 10 minutes, 14.09 seconds for 23rd place out of 39 runners.

With such a large field, the 3,200 was run in two sections. Anastasio finished seventh out of 19 competitors in his section.

Sean Smith, a senior from Winnebago, won the title by covering the two-mile distance in 9:36.72.

This was Anastasio's first appearance at the state track finals and Taylor's fourth consecutive.

The University of Illinois-bound senior made state in his freshman year as a member of the 4x800 relay team. As a sophomore, he qualified in both the 4x800 and 4x400. As a junior, he made it in the 4x800 and 400.

IHSA CLASS 1A boys track state final results at a glance

Boys 400 Meter Dash 1A Finals
1 Ben Asmus (Jr.), Heyworth 48.56
2 Jordan Thomas (Sr.), Oregon 48.85
3 Malcolm Taylor (Sr.), Urbana (University) 49.21
4 Zebo Zebe (Sr.), Tolono (Unity) 49.49
5 Wes Ertmer (Sr.), Lena (L.-Winslow) 50.00
6 Trevor Unzicker (Jr.), Fisher 50.37
7 Nick Blakey (Sr.), St. Joseph (S.J.-Ogden) 50.53
8 Jake Lytle (Jr.), Amboy (Coop) 50.74
9 Corey Hammon (Jr.), Glasford (Illini Bluffs) 50.77

Boys 3,200 Meter Run 1A Section 1
1 Scott Janusick (So.), Spring Valley (Hall) 9:56.45
2 Tom Shimp (Sr.), Henry (H.-Senachwine) (Coop) 10:01.48
3 Wade Reeves (So.), Sparta 10:04.86
4 Carlos Huicochea (Sr.), Harvard 10:05.26
5 Ryan Brown (Sr.), Shelbyville 10:11.17
6 Jeremy Reel (Jr.), Strasburg (Stewardson-S.) (Coop) 10:13.77
7 Albert Anastasio (So.), Urbana (University) 10:14.09
8 Garrett Wasson (Sr.), Kankakee (McNamara) 10:15.02
9 Shane Hoerbert (So.), Petersburg (PORTA) (Coop) 10:18.83
10 Tyler Jansen (So.), Macomb 10:22.73
11 Ray LaFree (Fr.), Seneca 10:25.26
12 Ryan Jepson (Jr.), Rockford (R. Christian) 10:26.87
13 Kiefer Heiman (Jr.), Nashville 10:29.04
14 Pat Rodgers (Sr.), Fisher 10:35.15
15 Drew Bonner (So.), Carterville 10:37.91
16 David Steckel (Sr.), Carrollton 10:39.20
17 Laramie Immel (So.), Carmi (C.-White County) 10:44.59
18 Alex Hargus (Jr.), St. Joseph (S.J.-Ogden) 10:51.64
19 Matt Duesterhaus (Fr.), Mendon (Unity) 11:03.95

3,200 Run Section 2
1 Sean Smith (Sr.), Winnebago 9:36.72
2 Blake DeLong (Sr.), Hillsboro 9:39.44
3 Chris Nied (Jr.), Rockford (Christian Life) 9:46.14
4 Jared Summers (Jr.), Teutopolis 9:46.27
5 Brad Overcash (Jr.), Pecatonica (Coop) 9:47.74
6 Kevin Barnacle (Jr.), Westmont 9:48.66
7 Will Cross (So.), Delavan (Coop) 9:50.25
8 Tom Pacey (Jr.), Paxton (P.-Buckley-Loda) 9:50.82
9 John Levin (So.), Chicago (F.W. Parker) 9:51.53
10 Bo Muzikowski (Jr.), Chicago (C. Hope Academy) 10:01.16
11 Ike Muzikowski (So.), Chicago (C. Hope Academy) 10:03.06
12 David Lawson (Sr.), Elmwood (Coop) 10:04.84
13 Lucas Loots (Sr.), Staunton 10:07.29
14 Henry Arndt (So.), Westmont 10:08.52
15 Chase Coffey (So.), Farmington 10:09.44
16 Austin Viano (Jr.), Carlinville 10:10.64
17 Chase Sanders (Sr.), Byron 10:15.07
18 Chase Marlow (Sr.), Monmouth (M.-Roseville) 10:27.10
19 Nathan Davis (Jr.), Lewistown 10:33.64
20 Gatlin Marlow (So.), Monmouth (M.-Roseville) 10:46.84

3,200 Run Finals
1 Sean Smith (Sr.), Winnebago 9:36.72
2 Blake DeLong (Sr.), Hillsboro 9:39.44
3 Chris Nied (Jr.), Rockford (Christian Life) 9:46.14
4 Jared Summers (Jr.), Teutopolis 9:46.27
5 Brad Overcash (Jr.), Pecatonica (Coop) 9:47.74
6 Kevin Barnacle (Jr.), Westmont 9:48.66
7 Will Cross (So.), Delavan (Coop) 9:50.25
8 Tom Pacey (Jr.), Paxton (P.-Buckley-Loda) 9:50.82
9 John Levin (So.), Chicago (F.W. Parker) 9:51.53
10 Scott Janusick (So.), Spring Valley (Hall) 9:56.45
11 Bo Muzikowski (Jr.), Chicago (C. Hope Academy) 10:01.16
12 Tom Shimp (Sr.), Henry (H.-Senachwine) (Coop) 10:01.48
13 Ike Muzikowski (So.), Chicago (C. Hope Academy) 10:03.06
14 David Lawson (Sr.), Elmwood (Coop) 10:04.84
15 Wade Reeves (So.), Sparta 10:04.86
16 Carlos Huicochea (Sr.), Harvard 10:05.26
17 Lucas Loots (Sr.), Staunton 10:07.29
18 Henry Arndt (So.), Westmont 10:08.52
19 Chase Coffey (So.), Farmington 10:09.44
20 Austin Viano (Jr.), Carlinville 10:10.64
21 Ryan Brown (Sr.), Shelbyville 10:11.17
22 Jeremy Reel (Jr.), Strasburg (Stewardson-S.) (Coop) 10:13.77
23 Albert Anastasio (So.), Urbana (University) 10:14.09
24 Garrett Wasson (Sr.), Kankakee (McNamara) 10:15.02
25 Chase Sanders (Sr.), Byron 10:15.07
26 Shane Hoerbert (So.), Petersburg (PORTA) (Coop) 10:18.83
27 Tyler Jansen (So.), Macomb 10:22.73
28 Ray LaFree (Fr.), Seneca 10:25.26
29 Ryan Jepson (Jr.), Rockford (R. Christian) 10:26.87
30 Chase Marlow (Sr.), Monmouth (M.-Roseville) 10:27.10
31 Kiefer Heiman (Jr.), Nashville 10:29.04
32 Nathan Davis (Jr.), Lewistown 10:33.64
33 Pat Rodgers (Sr.), Fisher 10:35.15
34 Drew Bonner (So.), Carterville 10:37.91
35 David Steckel (Sr.), Carrollton 10:39.20
36 Laramie Immel (So.), Carmi (C.-White County) 10:44.59
37 Gatlin Marlow (So.), Monmouth (M.-Roseville) 10:46.84
38 Alex Hargus (Jr.), St. Joseph (S.J.-Ogden) 10:51.64
39 Matt Duesterhaus (Fr.), Mendon (Unity) 11:03.95

Source: IHSA