Evan Massey is a regular contributor to WGIL. He is a retired Galesburg High School girls basketball coach and one of the most successful coaches in Illinois history.
Over the last 75 years, Galesburg High School has had only three boys track head coaches — C.C. VanDyke, Jerry Albright, and Craig Hillier. Coach Hillier shares a preview of the 2026 Streaks boys track season.
About Coach Hillier
Craig Hillier attended Knoxville High School and Augustana College. This is his 22nd year as boys head track coach at GHS and his 31st year coaching track at some level since joining the district.
Coaching Staff
Assistant coaches: Brad Gross (sprints, hurdles, sprint relays), Blayze Purchase (throws), and Kobe Ramirez (jumps). All three assistants competed in track and field for Galesburg High School.
Last Season
The Streaks finished sixth in the WB6 Conference and third at the sectional.
Last Year’s State Qualifiers
Reed Schleich (400m), Josiah Carter (high jump), Gilbert Lemus (shot put — sixth place state medalist), Gilbert Lemus (discus), and the 4×400 relay team of Praise Nwagbo, Demetrius Watson, Isaac Jasper, and Reed Schleich.
Key Returners
Reed Schleich, Praise Nwagbo, Demetrius Watson, Rahkim McCellan, Derrick Curtis, Daxton Eastburg, Kevin Phillips, and Brayden McGuire.
Indoor Highlights
High jump: Antwon Walker, 6 feet 3.5 inches. Long jump: Rahkim McCellan, 21 feet 6.75 inches. 60m: Kevin Phillips, 7.21 seconds; Reed Schleich, 7.26 seconds. 4×200 relay: Phillips, Schleich, Weston Anderton, and Corey McGee, 1:35.14.
Three Things That Need to Happen to Be Successful
- Be healthy in May.
- Be relentless in our pursuit of the podium.
- “How we do anything is how we do everything.”
Must-See Meets
Streak ABC Invite — April 17, 2026
IHSA Sectional at Galesburg — May 21, 2026
Follow the Team
The full Streaks boys track schedule and results are available at Athletic.net.
