Malcolm Taylor at Friday's Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Classic. The senior won the Class A 400 dash and led Uni to the state title in the 4x400 relay. Photo by DyeStatIL (click to enlarge)

[April 2 update: Malcolm Taylor was named The News-Gazette's male Athlete of the Week for his performance in the 400.]

BLOOMINGTON — Led by senior Malcolm Taylor, the Uni boys won Class A state titles in two events Friday night at the 18th annual Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Classic: the 400-meter dash and the 4x400 relay.

Taylor entered the meet as the Class A favorite in the 400, and he didn't disappoint. He won the event in 50.98 seconds, which turned out to be the second-fastest 400 time at the meet overall. Only Class AAA winner Eric Oliver of Homewood-Flossmoor was faster, with a time of 49.55.

Among the 16 Class A runners, Blake Doane of Monticello (51.31) finished second, while senior Isaac Chambers of Uni was 12th (53.71).

The IPTT Classic, which took place at Illinois Wesleyan University's Shirk Center, is the concluding event of the indoor track season and is considered the unofficial indoor state championship meet. Athletes must qualify to participate.

For the Illineks, the biggest surprise of the long evening came in the 4x400, thanks to a tremendous performance by Taylor in the anchor position.

The Uni squad of Chambers (first leg), senior Kareem Sayegh (second), junior Eric Fritzsche (third), and Taylor (anchor) ran the event in 3 minutes, 35.38 seconds, edging Eureka (3:35.84) and Monticello (3:35.93) for the top spot out of 17 teams.

"The 4x4 was definitely the highlight of the night," Chambers said. "Although Malcolm won the 400, he got boxed in, slowing down the time a little. His anchor finish to the 4x4 was amazing. He narrowed a gap of maybe 30 or more meters to pass a couple of other teams down the straightaway home. Interestingly we weren't even in the fast heat, but we still won."

"We knew we had a shot [in the 4x400]," said Taylor. "It was a long shot but if we all ran well, we knew we could do it. And we did it."

Uni athletes also competed in the 4x800 relay. Taylor (first leg), junior Langston Allston-Yeagle (second), junior Nathan Smith (third), and Chambers (anchor) recorded a time of 8:37.69, placing fifth out of 13 teams.

"A lot of people were disappointed with fifth place," said Allston-Yeagle. "We have a lot of room for improvement, but I personally felt really good."

On the girls side, junior Tuli Bera (55 dash) and senior Lizzy Warner (400 dash) earned invitations to IPTT but didn't compete.

Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Classic Results at a Glance

Boys Class A 400-Meter Dash

IPTT Record: Zach Glavash, Chillicothe Illinois Valley Central, 50.62 (2002)

1. Malcolm Taylor, UNI HIGH, 50.98

2. Blake Doane, Monticello, 51.31

3. Ian Vanantwerp, Annawan, 51.50

4. Corey Hammon, Illini Bluffs, 51.59

5. Matt Cyrier, McNamara, 51.60

6. Zebo Zebe, Tolono Unity, 51.60

7. Elliott Barney, Seton Academy, 52.69

8. Anthony Urbanski, Spring Valley Hall, 52.89

9. Jonathan Moos, Williamsville, 52.90

10. Josh Rives, Carlinville, 53.19

11. Chris Ault, Tolono Unity, 53.65

12. Isaac Chambers, UNI HIGH, 53.71

13. Josh Jones, Herscher, 54.13

14. Austin Goldstein, Altamont, 54.16

15. Alec Dorathy, Rock Falls, 55.49

16. Dan Kapolnek, Champaign St. Thomas More, 56.58

Boys Class A 4x400-Meter Relay

IPTT Record: Harrisburg, 3:27.93 (2001)

1. UNI HIGH, 3:35.38 (Isaac Chambers 1st leg, Kareem Sayegh 2nd, Eric Fritzsche 3rd, Malcolm Taylor anchor)

2. Eureka, 3:35.84 

3. Monticello, 3:35.93

4. St. Joseph-Ogden, 3:36.88

5. Farmington, 3:37.14

6. Tolono Unity, 3:37.77

7. Herrin, 3:38.78

8. Pleasant Plains, 3:39.24

9. Rock Falls, 3:39.39

10. Olympia, 3:40.07

11. St. Thomas More, 3:40.25

12. Herscher, 3:40.52

13. Carthage, 3:41.43

14. Rochelle, 3:41.46

15. Rockford Christian, 3:43.86

16. Annawan, 3:46.29

17. Bushnell-Prairie City, 3:49.19

Boys Class A 4x800-Meter Relay
IPTT Record: Monticello, 8:00.15 (2006)

1. Rochelle, 8:25.07

2. St. Joseph-Ogden, 8:25.68

3. Tremont, 8:27.53

4. Rockford Christian, 8:29.92

5. UNI HIGH, 8:37.69 (Malcolm Taylor 1st leg, Langston Allston-Yeagle 2nd, Nathan Smith 3rd, Isaac Chambers anchor)
6. Hillcrest, 8:38.18

7. Aurora Christian, 8:38.24

8. Winnebago, 8:40.49

9. Oregon, 8:41.69

10. Fieldcrest, 8:42.98

11. Eureka, 8:44.30

12. Beecher, 8:44.36

13. Monticello, 9:06.09