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Extra work pays off for WW South

Based on improvement over last year's outdoor opener, Wheaton Warrenville South's boys track team didn't get much rest over spring break.

At the 29th annual Wheaton North Best Four Invite on Saturday, the Tigers scored 61 more points than they did in 2013. The senior-based squad's 198.5 total points surpassed Lake Park's 168 and nipped at winner Wheaton North's 201 points.

"We've got a group of kids that are working hard," said Tigers coach Ken Helberg. "I wasn't sure what they would do over spring break because we kind of let them work out on their own. I think they showed me that they actually did their workouts, which is good."

"Great" is what WW South senior sprinter Ben Jackson called it. He lost his freshman and junior seasons to football injuries and his muscular 185-pound frame doesn't take to tight indoor turns. Plus, being outdoors "makes me feel better," Jackson said after finishing third in his heat of the 100-meter dash, second in the 200 and leading a victorious 800 relay with Luke Garceau, Dan Waskiewicz and Dan Sveen.

"I've been just focusing on my warm-ups and my starts," Jackson said. "Those were the two main things that's held me back. I still have a lot of work to do, and we just got fresh into the outdoor season. That's something I've been eagerly awaiting."

WW South was consistently top-three on each of the meet's four levels, aided by what Helberg called "hungry" seniors, including Carson Discher, Dan Noonan, Jon Callaway, Luke Schroer and, of course, Nolan McKenna.

The Tigers all-state distance runner teamed with Discher, Schroer and Dave Dillon to win the 3,200 relay, then helped both push and pull competing runners.

In the 800 Lake Park's Eric Dade hoped McKenna would go out quickly so Dade wouldn't absorb the brunt of 30-mph winds blasting the backstretch. Instead Dade assumed control early and won in 2 minutes, 57 seconds.

"I knew since he's a 2-miler he's got some legs, so he can run the (800)," Dade said. "I was kind of surprised that he ran the 4-by-8 and the '8,' so I guess that gave me some confidence that maybe he might be a little fatigued."

Neither McKenna nor Schroer showed fatigue in the 1,600, going 1-2. The duo pulled along Glenbard West junior Chris Buechner to an eight-second personal record, third in 4:28.49.

"I mean, you could still feel the wind behind them, but it definitely helped on the wind," Buechner said. "I knew they were going to run fast, so it's good to stick on those guys just because I knew they'd pace me to a PR."

Buechner's sprinter teammates, Devonte Dillon and Paul Selman, were among those out injured. Lake Park's Antonio Shenault missed with the flu, opening the 110 hurdles to Wheaton North's Steven Connor and the 300 hurdles to Naperville Central's Michael Jopes.

Also out were Willowbrook's top sprinters Jake Bloemke, Josan Murphy and reigning Class 3A 400-meter champion Matt Burns. A hamstring victim indoors, Burns missed a reprise against 400 runner-up Sam Bransby of Naperville Central, who in his first race of the year after his own hamstring pull, ran the fastest 400 of the day, 51.54 seconds.

"I'm kind of mad, I wanted to run against him today," Burns said, "but I'll see him three or four times again."

Bransby admitted it was probably best not having Burns in the field this soon because he might have pushed too hard. His 400 strategy didn't hurt him.

"I just need to get out a little slower than usual," Bransby said. "Obviously, I didn't use blocks because that explosion would have been bad. Other than that I just kind of ran my race after the first 100."

As for Don Helberg's winning Wheaton North Falcons, Connor also won his heat of the 400 and anchored a first-place 1,600 relay with Joe Kirby, Abel Abay and Noah Leach. The Falcons got field-event wins by Matt Contreras in pole vault and Devonte Pearson in high jump, tied with Glenbard West's Nate Abrams at 6 feet, 2 inches.

Along with a 173-foot discus throw by Lake Park's Mike Prestigiacomo, the day's gaudiest number was the 23-5ΒΌ long jump of Falcons sophomore Chico Jackson. The surprise 2013 state qualifier was motivated both by Lake Park all-stater Marcus Jegede, second at 23-0, and a scratch on his first attempt.

"It put the pressure on me. I do well under pressure," Jackson said. "It was the wind - the wind carried me. I felt like that was the main reason on my scratch, but then I moved my mark back a foot and I hit it on the second one."

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