Crystal Lake South's Lenzini runs to 800 win

David Lenzini's plan was simple.

Run smart. And his tactics worked.

The Crystal Lake South senior, who was fourth entering the final lap of the 800 meters, sprinted past the field to win the race in a school record time of 1:55.24 at Friday night's Class 3A Huntley boys track and field sectional.

"The last couple of races I went out too fast and didn't have enough left at the end," said Lenzini. "I took the lead with 300 meters left and I had a good kick at the end. I ran smart and it worked. I have great coaches and great teammates and I am very happy to be going to the state meet next weekend."

The Gators also took top honors in the 3,200 relay in a time of 7:57.04. The foursome for South included Lenzini, Drew Kopfman, Jon Prus and Kyle Radosevich.

Kyle Hedge was fourth in the shot put with a qualifying throw of 54 feet, 5½ inches.

DeKalb scored 75 points to win the team title while the host Red Raiders were second 2 points behind.

Brennan Bell (300 hurdles, 39.38) and Connor Boos (200, 21,91) were first place finishers for the Red Raiders.

Bell's time was a personal best.

"There was great competition and I had to wedge myself in between some other hurdlers to win,," said Bell. "I have no words to describe how I feel."

Boos also qualified for next weekend's state meet at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston in the 100 with a second place time of 10.88.

Huntley also performed well in the distance races as sophomores Keagan Smith (1,600, 2nd, 4:21,3) and Seth Conroy (3,200, 3rd, 9:25.67) qualified for next weekend's festivities in Charleston.

"It is quite exciting," said Conroy. "I knew I had to run 70s to qualify for state. I had enough kick at the end."

Huntley's 400 relay team with Bell, Boos, Tim McCloyn and Aasem Awwad finished second with a clocking of 42.49. The 800 relay foursome with Awwad, McCloyn, Boos and Ben Marsh was also runner-up with a time of 1:28.81. Issac Jimenez's fourth-place throw in the discus of 156-09 was enough to qualify for the state meet.

Cary-Grove got a first-place effort from Ricky Hurley (discus, 180-04), Hurley, who was bothered by a sore wrist, qualified for the state meet in the shot put with a fifth place throw of 53-1.

'My wrist is really sore," said Hurley. "I may not throw the shot at state. I just have to get healthy."

Cary-Grove's Brad Wolter was second in the 400 in a time of 49.37.

"All the running in the snow and in the cold weather is all worth it," said Wolter. "My goal since day one of practice was to make it to state. It's a great feeling."

Junior Michael Saxon will join Hurley and Wolter in Charleston after a second-place effort in the 300 hurdles in a time of 39.51 and a runner-up placing in the 110 hurdles (14.79)

The Trojans' 1,600 relay team with Saxon, Wolter, Daniel Speer and Robbie Gleeson was second in a time of 3:22.57.

Jacobs' Josh Walker qualified in the 100 with a third-place time of 10.94.

"I was disappointed I didn't make it to state last year," said Walker. "I was really focused and got off to a great start."

The Golden Eagles were second in the 3,200 relay with Corey Albrecht, Zach Johnson, Matt Johnson and Matt Goldby in a time of 7:57.44.

Jacobs was fourth in 800 relay with a qualifying time of 1:29.64. The foursome included Walker, Adam Anyu, Josh Yonker and Nick Gierlak.

Johnathan Wells led the way for Grant with three individual wins.

Wells, the defending state champion in the high jump, leapt to first place with a jump of 6-9.

"There is a little pressure to win state again," said Wells. "I just need to focus. I have jumped 7-2 this year and I know I have to be at my best next week."

Wells also won the 110 hurdles in a time of 14.56 and the long jump with a leap of 23-5¼.

Kyle Hatton was second in the 800 in a time of 1:56.13 and Jake Bychowski was the runner-up in the shot put (54-10 ½).

Grant was third in the 800 relay with Octavian Wells, Billy Sullivan, Johnathan Wells and Jeremy Bredwood in a time of 1:29.15.

Lakes' Corey Hertz raced to the title in the 400 in a time of 49.09.

The 1,600 relay quartet of Jake Balliu, Alex Murray, Brandon Thiel and Hertz took top honors in a time of 3:21.86.

Other qualifiers for Lakes were Devon Cedzidlo (long jump, 2nd, 22-10¾), Cooper Jazo (pole vault, 3rd, 13-9), Cameron Ruiz (long jump, 3rd, 22-5) and Ryan Mullen (shot put, 6th, 53-0).