Wheaton North's 4 just wins more and more
Wheaton North's blend of top-end talent and depth is tailor made for its own Best 4 Invite.
"Everybody's got their blue chippers, so it's those No. 3 and No. 4 kids (that make the difference)," said Falcons boys track coach Don Helberg.
At Saturday's 30th annual Best 4, Wheaton North earned 225 points to Glenbard West's 170 and Plainfield South's 152.5, winning all four levels.
In this format Falcons such as sprinter J.P. Forcucci, hurdler Jack Riley and versatile Michael Bloss, soaring a personal-best 20 feet, 8 inches in long jump, were as important as No. 1 flight winners Chico Jackson, Steven Connor and Ben Moore, who took both the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
"I think our depth showed today," Helberg said.
Their skill, too. Jackson, who as a freshman qualified for state in long jump, is back in triple jump after a two-year hiatus. It seemed he never left, winning at 44 feet, 2 inches. He won long jump at 21-8¾.
"I came out here wanting way bigger than I jumped, but it's a good start," Jackson said. "I know that I have some things to work on in the season coming up and it's just the beginning."
Glenbard West, its 10th-place Class 3A 3,200-meter relay of Ben Hecht, Chris Buechner, Nate Crail and Jake Jaskowiak returning intact, racked up big points from 800 meters on up.
Another Hilltoppers distance runner, Paul Christian, looked to have the 3,200 to himself until Naperville Central's Josh Toby challenged. With 400 meters left they were shoulder to shoulder.
"I learned that it can be a little intimidating going out with some of the elite guys, but you've just got to stick with them and they'll take you with them to the fast times," Toby said.
Three times over the last 400 meters Christian had to hold off the junior.
"I'm not a sprinter," Christian said, "except at the end of 2 miles."
Kyle Hilton's 300 hurdles win aided Naperville Central's bump to fourth place from fifth last year at the Best 4. Wheaton Warrenville South, Lake Park and Willowbrook completed the field.
WW South's Brandon Bell ran 400 meters two seconds faster than anyone else, while Andrew Ives placed second overall in high jump and won his pole vault flight coming off a torn MCL (football) and knee ligaments (wrestling).
Out of the fourth flight Willowbrook's Elijah Rochel threw the day's second-best shot put, 48-5, but when it comes to depth in the throws no team beats Lake Park.
Headed by Mike Prestigiacomo's 179-8 discus and Dylan Scheirich's 56-5 shot put the Lancers won five of the eight flights.
"The competition's outstanding," Scheirich said. "We keep pushing each other farther and farther and just keep getting farther distances, which is what we want."