Track taking Willowbrook's Hawkins where he wants to go
There's a reason Donnie Hawkins is a co-captain for the Willowbrook boys track team.
"He's multitalented," said Warriors coach T.J. Artman.
There's more. The four-year track athlete will run just about any sprint, hurdle or relay Artman and assistant coach Matt Clapper ask.
Saturday at West Aurora's 15th annual John Bell Invitational Hawkins' highlight was in the 200 dash, in which he ran the third-fastest preliminary time and matched it in the finals, at 23.22 seconds.
"I haven't ran a 200 that much, but my coaches have been pushing me in practice and I'm building on my speed, and I like it," Hawkins said.
His earnest efforts and versatility will have him running for Tennessee State.
"It paid off tremendously," he said. "It's getting me to where I want to be in life, and I really appreciate it. I give all the credit to my coaches. It got me into school and that's all that matters."
Versatility is a plus at Willowbrook, epitomized by another co-captain, Nick Eufrasio, and Jacob DeSalvo, who competed in shot put, triple jump and on the Warriors' 400 relay with Hawkins, Eufrasio and third-place open 400 runner Josan Murphy.
Another Willowbrook senior co-captain, Jimmy Funteas started his day placing third in the 3,200 and ended it in the 1,600 relay.
Finishing right ahead of Downers Grove North's Zac Christensen in the 3,200, Funteas tightened up late, no shock since he had strep throat in late March. To get where he wants to be Funteas must "get my miles back," he said.
"I was lowering them when I had my sickness and running on the elliptical, and now I'm going back and getting more miles outdoors," he said, a Spartan helmet tattooed on his chest to honor his Greek heritage.
Downers Grove North, third in the team standings behind Thornton and West Aurora, displayed its usual mix of speed, distance and field events.
A week removed from the big Arcadia meet in California, Ryan Clevenger battled West Aurora's Connor McCue in the 800, Clevenger's time of 1 minute, 56.86 seconds second to McCue's 1:54.42.
Trojans Jack Diamond and Alec Danner went 3-4 in the 1,600 and Anthony Giordano, Andrew Marszuski and Damian Margaritas were constants on top-three 400- and 800-meter relays.
Max Sale and Nick Janicki went 1-2 in discus at 163 feet, 8 inches and 159-6 in discus, respectively; Alex Graika placed third in shot put. Sale's mark was less than 3 inches off the meet record.
After lunch Downers North's throws squad practiced as a team, perhaps correlating to Sale and Janicki throwing more than 22 feet farther than anyone.
"We start when the meet starts and we finish early and then sit around, try to find ways to entertain ourselves," Sale said.