Boys track: Prospect's process earns Knights MSL indoor championship
It's a process that Prospect coach Frank Mirandola has in place for his Knights track team.
The process simply involves the Knights getting better every day and every meet.
Saturday, at the 41st annual Jim Nagel/Mark Saylor Mid Suburban League boys track and field indoor invitational at North Central College, Prospect started and finished the way a championship contender should.
The Knights began the meet winning the 3,200 relay and closed with a win the 1,600 en route to its first MSL Indoor title since 2011.
Prospect collected 98 points to defeat Fremd (70) and Hersey (53).
The MSL East division placed three teams in the top four spots in the team race.
"Today was really about focusing on the process and getting better as a team," said Mirandola who is in his second and final year as head coach of the Knights. He will become assistant principal at Prospect next season.
"It's about getting all the puzzle pieces to fit together while teaching out kids to be fearless competitors," he added
The team of Mackenzie Bach, James Riordan, Teddy Eckhardt and Luke Filipic took home the 3,200 relay in 8:07.93.
The Knights closed out the title with Andrew Shafis. Matt Cozine, Karsen Lecomte and Filipic running 3:32.54 in winning the 1,600.
In between, Lecomte took down his second school record in successive weeks when he took the 1,600 in 4:21.81.
"It's still early in the season and it doesn't mean a whole lot yet, but it's a nice indicator for how the outdoor season will go," Lecomte said. "At the beginning of the year my goal was 4:16 or 4:17 but now I am going to have to rethink my goal."
Cozine took top honors for the Knights in the 800 (1:59.57) and James Estrella took the top spot in the pole vault (13-0) to account for the other Prospect wins.
Now that the heavy lifting indoors is done, Buffalo Grove senior Kevin Salvano can set his sights on a nice relaxing future.
"I'm tired and ready for some downtime," Salvano said of his upcoming spring break. "I like Mountain Dew and Cheetos so I think I am going to enjoy that for a few days."
Before he could crack open a Dew or a fresh bag of Cheetos, the Notre Dame-bound Salvano put up another scintillating performance in the 3,200-meter run. After setting the meet record in 2014, Salvano broke his own mark winning in the event (9:09.41) in his final indoor meet.
That clocking is the fastest time indoors in Illinois this spring.
"I usually do a lot of workouts by myself so when I was out in front of the pack - it was hard but I was able to keep on pace," Salvano said. "I just kept telling myself 30 seconds left and I am done at the end."
Runner-up Fremd showed signs of a program back on the rise.
In particular, the shot put event, which has been a strong suit for the Vikings in their storied history.
That field event looks to be back again in the form of junior Ethan Hanson.
In second place after the prelims, Hanson saved his very best for his final throw.
He launched the shot for a personal best and invite winning throw of 55-0.
"I know a lot about the history and I am fortunate to work with a great coach like coach (Jim) Aikens," Hanson said. "He knows how to keep me focused and motivate me."
Fremd also earned an invite win in the long jump where junior Tyler Faust jumped 21-1.5.
Other individual winners included Dakari Ferguson of Schaumburg taking the high jump (6-3), Declan Rustay of Hoffman Estates winning the 55-meter dash (6.49) and the 200 dash (23.14) and Jared Polfuss of Hersey taking the triple jump (43-0.5).
Palatine took top honors in the 800 relay with the foursome of Joe Roy, Courtland Cournelius, Zion Oluleye and John Elischer running 1:32.96.
Mat Zieba of Rolling Meadows won the 400 (51.82) and Ross Bravo of Barrington claimed the 55 hurdles in 7.90.