Lakes makes it happen at Prospect's Wanner Invite
When Lakes boys track and field coach Kurt Rowells found out in January that his team had been invited to the prestigious Knights Wanner Invite at Prospect, he could barely contain his excitement.
"It's almost like going to the state meet a few weeks early," Rowells said back then. "Hopefully we can put on a good show."
Following their performance Friday night at the 47th edition of this great meet, the Eagles' first visit will be one they will never forget.
Lakes proved from the very beginning of the day to the last race of the night that it belonged, showing it most demonstrably in the team race. Lakes amassed 137 points to capture the team title, edging out second-place York (102) and third-place Schaumburg (79).
"You try and expose them to the best, and we have been waiting 10 years to get into this meet," Rowells said. "For our guys to show like they did - from Cameron (Ruiz), to Cory (Hertz), to our relay there at the end, I mean - what can you say?"
The stars always seem to shine brightest at this meet, and the Eagles' didn't disappoint.
Ruiz got it started by shattering the school record in the long jump with a top-five Illinois effort of 23-1.75. He later contributed to a 1,600 relay team that featured Robert Kuhlmann, Brandon Thiel, and Jake Balliu who won the final event of the night in a season-best 3:20.96.
"We came in tonight and broke records and showed what we can do," Ruiz said. "I'm happy for the seniors and juniors and for all the guys that helped us win this tonight."
The Northern Iowa-bound Hertz turned more than a few heads on the big stage, particularly in the 400-meter dash. Hertz broke away from the field in and hit the turn in a blazing 21.9. He finished by breaking a 44-year-old meet record in 48.03 - the fastest outdoor time in the state so far this spring.
"I told my coach before that I was going to PR in the 400," Hertz said. "I just knew that this was the meet to do it at."
Other event winners for the Eagles included Ryan Mullen in the discus (163-03) and Cooper Jazo in the pole vault (13-9). Mullen and senior Steve McVicker finished 2-3 in the shot put, with McVicker tossing a personal best by 3 feet (54-1). Mullen was second in 54-11.
While he hasn't quite warmed up to the nickname, "The Horse," York senior Matthew Plowman is at least starting to embrace it - and why not? With the performance he put forth Friday night, soon they may be calling him a state champion.
The Michigan-bound Plowman anchored a state-best effort in the 3,200 relay - the signature event of the meet. He along with Charlie Kern, Max Denning, and Nathan Dale ran 7:45.60 to put the prominent Dukes 2-mile relay back on the main stage.
"It's been a while since we have put together a race like that," Plowman said. "There is so much pride and tradition in that race for us, it's nice to be back."
Prospect put together its best 3,200 relay of the season, finishing second as the team of Matt Cozine, Greg Suarez, Mike Anderson and Luke Filipec ran 7:48.94.
Plowman closed his night running in the best race of the day - the 1,600. His time of 4:13.52 was good for third in an event that saw 13 runners run under the state qualifying cut of 4:22.
York senior Alex Teague held off a great field in the 200 to win in 21.66.
Though he ran as a non-scoring competitor, Conant senior Zach Dale set a meet record in 4:09.72. Bryce Richards of Mundelein ran 4:13.66, also as a non-scoring runner.
For Illinois State-bound Schaumburg senior Shandall Thomas, it's been a whirlwind of sorts over the last month. But for one night, he was able to put it all behind him.
A win in the 100-meter dash in (10.80) started the night, but it was his anchor leg on the Saxons' 800 relay that sealed the nearly perfect evening. As a member of the state champion relay last spring, Thomas along with Jarman McMillon, Zach Merkendorfer and Jack Wagner won in a season-best 1:29.59.
Schaumburg sophomore Dakari Ferguson jumped a personal best 6-4 to win the high jump.
Libertyville senior Keith Wilson won't soon forget his final Wanner Invite, and especially the way it ended for the Wildcats. While Wilson produced one of two Libertyville wins in the triple jump (45-9), it was the 1,600 relay that his team thought most about. Max Roberts earned the other win, taking the 300 hurdles in 39.72
"We knew we could put together a special performance tonight," Wilson said.
And he wasn't kidding.
Wilson, along with Max Roberts, Pat Quinn, and Quade Kayle shattered the school record with a blistering 3:21.71. It bested the existing mark by more than 2 seconds.