Record is music to Glenbard West's ears

Glenbard West's Ben Hecht performed a sterling rendition of the national anthem to officially launch his school's 35th annual Jim Arnold Boys Track Invite.

The encore was just as impressive.

Hecht anchored the Hilltoppers' all-senior 3,200-meter relay of Chris Buechner, Jake Jaskowiak and Nate Crail, who ran a meet-record time of 7 minutes, 51.31 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than Bloom recorded way back in 1981.

Hecht & Co. reprised one of last season's greatest hits, Glenbard West's 10th-place Class 3A finish in the 3,200 relay. It doesn't appear this fab four is a one-hit wonder.

"It was our first time in the outdoor season that we put together our fastest four guys," said Hecht, who sings in the Glenbard West choir.

"We ran a 7:54 indoors and that was our last time together," he said. "I was pleased with it, that we were able to get together and do that again."

Later at the 15-team meet, Hecht and Jaskowiak joined Andrew Lindstrom and Ross Andresik to finish third in the concluding 1,600-meter relay at 3:25.68.

"I was able to run a pretty good time," Hecht said of a 51.7-second split, "and we got us in position. We did a lot better than we expected, a big PR (personal record) this year."

It drew praise as "a good way to finish" by Hilltoppers coach Jon Schweighardt, acknowledged by meet announcer Bill Treest during the running of the 300 hurdles as the state record holder in that event.

Saturday's weather was acclaimed by all as the best this outdoor track season. Glenbard West capitalized with a fifth-place finish, best by a DuPage County team.

The Hilltoppers offered speed and distance - sprint finalists Jake Kravas and Mohamed Gborie, 3,200 runner-up Eric Neumann, 1,600 third-place finisher Buechner.

Class 3A trophy candidate Edwardsville won with 111 points, followed by Evanston (85), Oak Park (65), Batavia (55) and the Hilltoppers (47). Lake Park, St. Charles East, Lockport, Glenbard South, Bartlett and Wheaton North followed.

Wheaton North, buoyed by sprinters Ben Moore and Adam Terrini, lacked top sprinter-hurdler Steven Connor, nursing slight injury or, as Falcons coach Don Helberg said, "Naggy stuff that doesn't let you progress."

Lake Park thrower Mike Prestigiacomo progressed. After launching the discus 185 feet, 10 inches to place second, the Lancers senior threw the shot put 59-7½ on his last attempt, his best ever. Teammate Dylan Sheirich followed at 57-0½.

"I think this is the best day of my life," Prestigiacomo said of his throws, and that was despite Lake Ellyn threatening at the end of the discus sector.

"I didn't use my discuses that I usually use because I didn't want to lose them in that pond out there, so I ended up using a lower rim-weight discus. But everything went OK," he said.

Glenbard South senior Jack Curtis, Class 2A all-state in two events in 2014 and a qualifier in four, excelled against some of the best 3A talent in Illinois.

Curtis finished second in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes - 10.96 and 22.27 seconds, respectively - and third in high jump though all three top finishers soared 6 feet, 4 inches.

"We've been seeing a lot of 3A schools," Curtis said. "I think we're the only 2A (team at the Arnold), so good competition, getting ready for sectionals, county and eventually state. It was a great day."