Lakes embraces NSC victory

As the Lakes boys track team gathered at the north end of its oval for a final meeting Thursday, coach Kurt Rowells had a surprise for his athletes:

Blue and red T-shirts, with a list of the season's accomplishments.

Mostly that meant victories, which now includes another biggie - North Suburban Conference champions.

While Rowells was admittedly nervous about printing the shirts ahead of time, his team backed up his confidence. The host Eagles scored 122 points and took down numerous conference records as they defended their conference crown. NSC Prairie rival Grant finished second (79), followed by Warren (69) and Lake Zurich (54).

"Again, this is about those seniors," Rowells said. "It's about (Jake) Balliu, it's Corey (Hertz), it's Ryan (Mullen) - it's those guys that have been with us since the beginning. It's the way they do it and the way they approach it, even on their home track for the very last time."

The Northern Iowa-bound Hertz came up big again for the Eagles as he captured three individual titles and a relay victory. Hertz won the 100 meters (10.82), the 200 (21.88) and the 400 (48.06). In the 400, he win broke conference mark set back in 1985.

Hertz teamed with Robert Kuhlmann, Cameron Ruiz, and Balliu in a school-record 43.03.

Afterward, Hertz revealed the real key to his success.

"My dad wanted the newspaper to know that I got my speed from him, and not my mom," Hertz said. "I came in wanting to break records and help my team win the conference, and I'm happy I got to do that."

Ruiz took top honors in the long jump, winning with a leap of 22-1.

Mullen was the another double event-winner for the Eagles, as he defended his conference crown in the discus (170-11) and won his first conference title in the shot put (55-11.5).

One other conference champion delivered a record-setting performance. Junior Cooper Jazo broke the NSC mark in the pole vault with a school record effort of 15-4. Lakes captured the final event of the night by winning the 1,600 relay in 3:23.03.

"When I cleared 15 feet for the first time, I looked at my dad and he reminded me to stay focused," Jazo said. "Once I cleared 15 feet I was real excited and real confident to get 15-4."

Mundelein senior Bryce Richards also reached the top of the medal stand twice, with victories in the 800 (1:54.97) and in the 1,600 (4:21.26). But it was the 800 where the Kansas-bound Richards impressed most. His quick pace also helped produce personal best times from Lake Zurich sophomore Brian Griffith (1:55.52) and Kuhlmann (1:57.86).

"Because of a lot of the endurance stuff I did this past winter I have a lot more confidence in my kick in that race," Richards said.

The runner-up and rival Bulldogs dominated again in the hurdles with junior Timmy Brundidge taking the top spot in the 110 highs (14.70). He edged out Antioch sophomore Landon Keefover, who ran a personal-best (14.97).

Grant junior Nick Peterson vaulted a school record 14-6 to finish second.

A pair of relay wins paced Warren. The Blue Devils opened the meet with a win in the 3,200 relay as Nathan Campbell, Alex Delgado, Julian Ruiz and Jakob Martinez ran 8:05.60. Warren also looked strong in the 800 relay, edging out Lakes in 1:30.50.

Noah Agnew of Vernon Hills took top honors in the high jump (6-7), and Keith Wilson of Libertyville won the triple jump (45-5).