How this rare five-sport athlete from Pekin won an IESA track state title by himself

Dave Eminian, Journal Star
·4 min read
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Pekin Edison 8th-grader Dylan Anderson is a five-sport athlete who won three state championship track events, finished second in a fourth, and accumulated enough points to give Edison an IESA state team championship even though he was the only athlete on the team in late May, 2023.
Pekin Edison 8th-grader Dylan Anderson is a five-sport athlete who won three state championship track events, finished second in a fourth, and accumulated enough points to give Edison an IESA state team championship even though he was the only athlete on the team in late May, 2023.

Dylan Anderson has become accustomed to first-place finishes as an emerging one-of-a-kind athlete.

The eighth-grader led Pekin Edison Junior High School to an Illinois Elementary School Association state track and field team championship in May, winning three individual events and taking second in another in the Class 3A eighth-grade boys meet in East Peoria.

His dominating performance came literally as a team of one — the only player Edison rostered for the meet.

"After the first day, I was winning and only had one more event left," Anderson said. "I had enough points that I only had to place in the final event on the second day. I was just going to have fun. But I ended up with a personal best in the 200 and winning the event and it was just a great finish to the meet."

'Just amazing': One baseball family a big part of small-town team's run to state title game

And the beginning of what could be a really special athlete heading into high school.

'I'm going to play them all'

Pekin Edison 8th-grader Dylan Anderson is a five-sport athlete who won three state championship track events, finished second in a fourth, and accumulated enough points to give Edison an IESA state team championship even though he was the only athlete on the team in late May, 2023.
Pekin Edison 8th-grader Dylan Anderson is a five-sport athlete who won three state championship track events, finished second in a fourth, and accumulated enough points to give Edison an IESA state team championship even though he was the only athlete on the team in late May, 2023.

Anderson is a 5-foot-10, 150-pound multi-sport athlete. He is a track star. He also plays baseball as a center fielder, right-handed pitcher and catcher. In football, he is a quarterback, receiver and safety. He is a forward in basketball, and in hockey, he is a center.

And Anderson has plans to play all five in high school starting next fall. Already, he says he has been elevated to the Pekin sophomore football team.

"I'll be doing baseball, hockey, basketball, track, football, I've always loved all these sports," Anderson said. "I wanted to continue playing them. I did all of these for seventh and eighth grade. I'd say hockey or basketball are my favorites. But in high school, I'm going to play them all."

Pekin Edison 8th-grader Dylan Anderson is a five-sport athlete who won three state championship track events, finished second in a fourth, and accumulated enough points to give Edison an IESA state team championship even though he was the only athlete on the team in late May, 2023.
Pekin Edison 8th-grader Dylan Anderson is a five-sport athlete who won three state championship track events, finished second in a fourth, and accumulated enough points to give Edison an IESA state team championship even though he was the only athlete on the team in late May, 2023.

He is part of a Pekin hockey travel team program, the only of the sports he plays that is not an official high school program.

"My grandfather (Greg) got me into hockey," Anderson said. "My dad (Brant) played baseball and basketball, so I followed him there."

He did all these things while maintaining a 3.8 grade point average in school, too. And as anyone with kids in sports knows, his family has a strong commitment to his daily schedule.

On track for a title

Pekin Edison 8th-grader Dylan Anderson is a five-sport athlete who won three state championship track events, finished second in a fourth, and accumulated enough points to give Edison an IESA state team championship even though he was the only athlete on the team in late May, 2023.
Pekin Edison 8th-grader Dylan Anderson is a five-sport athlete who won three state championship track events, finished second in a fourth, and accumulated enough points to give Edison an IESA state team championship even though he was the only athlete on the team in late May, 2023.

Anderson qualified for the IESA Class 3A state track and field championships at Eastside Centre in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump in late May.

He finished second in the 100 with an :11.50 effort. Then he won the state title in the 200 at :23.77, the fourth-best time among all Class 3A Illinois athletes in the state last season, according to athletic.net. And took the state title in the 400 at :52.48, the best time in the state all season. And leaped to the state title in the long jump at 20 feet, 3 inches. He had a sectional jump of 20-6 that was the second-best in 3A in the state all season.

The list: Here is every one of the 240 IESA track and field state champions for 2023

"I felt more of the pressure this year," Anderson said. "Last year, I got second in state. I wanted to be better than that, get there and try to compete and win again.

"The preparation during the season was everything. That's where the pressure and the intensity and expectations came from. So in the end, it's very rewarding."

Anderson was not alone in dominating performances — even in his own hometown.

Pekin Rankin athlete Amiya O'Neal also won three IESA state championships, leading Rankin to the Class 1A seventh-grade girls crown with three state championship wins in East Peoria. She won the 400, 800 and high jump and teamed to take second in the 4x100 relay.

As for Anderson, he won six individual championships in two years, finished runnerup twice, and now led Edison to its first team championship since 1972, according to Pekin coach Dom Dalfonso.

Dylan Anderson and his father, Brant, with the Pekin Edison IESA state championship plaque in May, 2023.
Dylan Anderson and his father, Brant, with the Pekin Edison IESA state championship plaque in May, 2023.

Making a name for himself

Anderson has grown up watching Brooklyn combo guard Seth Curry in the NBA. He keeps his eyes on Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson in the NFL. His must-watch in major-league baseball is Javier Baez. Former Blackhawks star Patrick Kane is his favorite NHLer to watch.

And in track, of course, legendary Usain Bolt.

Now Anderson wants to make a name for himself as high school sports approach.

"The varsity coaches for all of my sports at Pekin have met me, watched me," Anderson said. "I'm excited to play for them. I want to be a five-sport athlete in high school."

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Pekin Edison athlete Dylan Anderson leads school to IESA track title

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