Huntley runs away with sectional title
ROCKFORD - After finishing second in its sectional in each of the past 3 years, Huntley left no doubt this time that it had the best team.
The Red Raiders amassed 102 points to easily win the Guilford Class 3A boys track sectional in Rockford Thursday night.
Jacobs finished second with 62 points, narrowly edging McHenry and Grant, which tied for third. Cary-Grove's 50 points placed the Trojans fifth.
The win was a testament to Huntley's team depth. The Raiders qualified 13 athletes in 10 events for next week's state meet in Charleston. The win also capped off an undefeated season for the Red Raiders.
Brennan Bell qualified in both hurdle races, and Connor Boos advanced in the 100 and 200. Bell and Boos ran the final legs of the Red Raiders' winning 400-meter relay team. Boos made up ground down the stretch to just edge DeKalb at the finish line with a time of 42.06 seconds.
"Connor said from day one, 'We're going to win every track meet,' " said Huntley coach Jim Rolando. "Connor Boos is prophetic, we went undefeated. It couldn't have gotten any better. The 4 x 2 could have qualified, but we haven't run that in a month with injuries and everything else. If things hadn't gone well, Jacobs could have been right there with us. Grant was right there points-wise."
"We wanted to get as many people as we could down there (to state)," said Boos. "It's amazing how people could really bring their best effort tonight and kill it, and show everybody what we've got as Huntley."
Dubem Anikamadu and Aasem Awwad completed the 400-meter relay lineup.
"I can't say enough about Connor Boos, Brennan Bell, Aasem Aawad," said Rolando. "Those are the guys who are seniors."
Jacobs put on a strong showing. Josh Walker won the 200 after finishing third in the 100, and the Golden Eagles' 800 and 3,200-meter relay teams both won.
Walker had extra motivation in the 200 after missing state qualifying in the 100 but qualifying as part of the 800-meter relay.
"I just wanted to win because I didn't win the 100 and I thought I should have," he said. "I was a little motivated to win the 200 because I wanted to go in a single event."
Patrick Shannon in the high jump and Matt Goldby in the 800 will also represent the Eagles in Charleston.
Cary-Grove had a pair of double winners. Ricky Hurley won both the shot put (58-10) and discus (178-7). Michael Saxon won both hurdle races, taking the 110 in 14.65 and the 300 in 38.59.
Kyle Hedge of Crystal Lake South took second in the discus behind Hurley and also finished third in shot.