Burlington Central going for more hardware in Charleston

Last week Burlington Central's boys' track team accomplished a main goal that led to another goal being met.

The Rockets qualified 6 individuals in 7 events plus 2 relays for Friday's Class 2A state meet in Charleston. Those numbers propelled Central to a sectional team championship.

Now, the Rockets hope the same formula works its magic again - this time qualifying as many athletes and relays as possible for Saturday's finals with the fallout of that being a chance to snare a second team state trophy in a row.

The Rockets took third last year and are looking for their third team trophy under longtime coach Mike Schmidt. Central also took second in 2001.

Heading into Friday, Central has top seeds in three events. Hurdles stalwart Lucas Ege is the top seed in both the 110 highs and 300 intermediates. Ege, headed to Stanford, is the defending Class 2A state champion in the 300s and took third in the 110s last year.

Ege ran a Class 2A-best sectional time of 38.11, a full second ahead of Freeport freshman Deion McShane (39.11). Ege ran 37.34 at state last year.

Ege also holds the top seed in the 110s where he ran 14.45 at the sectional. Cahokia senior Korrion Session ran 14.68 at his sectional and is seeded second. That 14.45 is lower than Ege's 14.49 effort at state last year. Session finished fifth in the state in both hurdles races last year.

Ege has the top 300 hurdles time in Class 2A this season according to Dyestat (www.dyestatil.com) and the second-fastest 110 hurdles time (both done at the Kane County meet). His 300 hurdles time of 38.08 this season ranks 92nd in the country according to Dyestat.

"For sure, that's the goal," Ege succinctly said when asked about the possibility of winning both hurdle races. "I feel good. My legs feel fine and I'm pumped up to race. For me a big thing will be, and this has never been too much of an issue for me, but sometimes at state if someone gets ahead, you start to freak out and then your form gets worse trying to catch up to them. I'm focusing on running my own race and running as well as I can. I don't worry too much if someone is ahead of me."

Ege knows Cahokia's Session will bring plenty of competition. "I have to be ready for Cahokia," he said.

Central's 1,600 relay team of Drew Kries, Kyle Neubauer, Nick Harvey and Ege also owns the top seed in Class 2A after a 3:22.54 sectional showing. Cahokia, a front-runner for the Class 2A state team title this weekend, ran 3:22.59 at its sectional. Central has the second-fastest time in the state this season in Class 2A.

"We haven't lost yet this year," Harvey noted about the 1,600 relay team. "We work well as a team and we know each other's strengths. We are a sound relay team all-around."

Harvey, who has run a 51.0 split in the relay this year, said the Rockets are well aware of the challenge the aforementioned Cahokia brings to the table. "Cahokia will be a strong team," he said. "Our goal is to win it. We don't want to take second. We are going for the win and we strongly believe we can do it. Everyone is going to have to hit their PRs. If you hit your PRs you win races, that's all there is to it."

Harvey added it's a major strength having Ege anchoring the relay. Last year Ege led it off and handed off to Neubauer.

"It's nice to know that he's there," said Harvey. "We are going to try and take pressure off him on those first three legs."

Ege, who Harvey noted has run a split in the 48s (Neubauer in the 49s), welcomes competition during the last leg of the race. "I'm sure Cahokia will be near us or in front," he said. "I'm excited about running against them and hopefully we can bring home a win. My teammates will give me a chance. We have a great set of guys on this relay who run fast. We're all amped up for this race."

Central's 3,200 relay team of Josh Peets, Neubauer, Harvey and Clay Musial is seeded fifth (8th fastest time in the state), while sophomore Dionte Smith is seeded eighth in the triple jump. The Rockets also have a host of individuals seeded on the fringes of the Top 12. Neubauer is seeded No. 12 in the 400, while Harvey is seeded 13th in the 800. Jared Trupp is seeded 14th in the pole vault. Musial is Central's other individual state qualifier in the 1,600 run.

Hampshire qualified a trio of individuals for the Class 2A meet in long jumper Doug Stuehler, 3,200 runner Jacob Oury and 300 hurdler Andy Pederson, who is seeded 14th in that event.

Pederson said some simple advice helped him lower his times this season. "The girls' coach, Mrs. (Patti) Nihells told me at the beginning of the season to work on my endurance," he said. "I started running with distance one or two times a week to help get me where I need to be. I pushed myself and worked hard in practice all the time."

Pederson would like to take that No. 14 seed and move it to a lower number. "I want to get to the finals (Top 12)," he said.

Stuehler, a sophomore, has followed along the same lines as Pederson this season. "I've been training harder and lifting more," he said. "I've increased my steps from seven to an eight-step approach. It all comes down to the approach. I like the eight-step. You have more time on the runway and it helps me pick up more speed."

Stuehler is thrilled to be in Charleston after a near miss last year. "I was very close last year," he said. "I scratched at sectionals by not even one-quarter of an inch. I'd like to get to the finals and it being my first year I want to get a good feel for the meet so I can try and make it again next year."

The Class 1A meet starts Thursday in Charleston with the finals being held on Saturday.

St. Edward qualified its 800 relay team for the second year in a row. This year's version includes the likes of Albert Lopez, Henry Mancera, Dwayne Allen and Alec Uscila.

"Our coach does a great job of getting us riled up and pumped up," said Mancera, a senior. "We are so close and we have a lot of determination. We had to make it to state this year. Our motivation and determination helps us keep pushing each other."

Lopez, the lone returning member of last year's state-qualifier, said the relay team has benefitted from practicing on a track at Prairie Knolls school in Elgin. St. Edward does not have a regulation track on campus.

"Working out at the track has helped us to bond together," Lopez noted. "We're out there talking to each other and you get a more personal feel for the guys on the team."

Improved handoffs also have made a difference for the Green Wave. "Handoffs are a major deal," Lopez said. "We have a new member of the team, Dwayne, who plays football. He's majorly helped us. It's just a matter of us getting our timing down."

Westminster Christian's Zach Anderson will compete in the shot put competition and is making his first trip to state.

"I've worked on my explosive movement," the junior said. "Moving fast in the circle had been an issue before for me. I watched some of the good throwers from the bigger schools and watched on YouTube (German shot-putter David Storl). I'm keeping myself closed until the front of the circle when I can open up my hits and get my whole body into the throw."