Boys track: Neuqua Valley wins Red Ribbon Classic

The 3,200-meter run truly was a battle of wills Saturday at Waubonsie Valley's Red Ribbon Classic boys track meet.

So was the 200 dash, discus, long jump, the 1,600 - basically all but pole vault, moved inside to avoid potential catastrophe due to low 40-degree temperatures in Aurora with winds that periodically blew the nonstop rain at acute angles.

"Determination," was the response Neuqua Valley's Isaiah Robinson gave after he anchored a winning 1,600-meter relay fronted by JaQuere Williams, Ryan Lukas and Tanner Karbonik, a senior coming back from a fractured fibula away from the sport.

Indeed, it was a war of attrition won by Neuqua Valley with 129.50 points, ahead of McHenry, Waubonsie Valley, St. Charles East and Lake Central, out of northwest Indiana.

By the time of the conclusive 1,600 relay four varsity teams and three frosh/soph squads were left on the track. Waubonsie Valley coach Kevin Rafferty had made it clear days before that if coaches felt conditions were too harsh they could pull their athletes, no hard feelings. Most of the 16 squads took him up on it.

Waubonsie Valley's Tyler Kirkwood finished his hurdles sweep at 42.49 seconds in the 300 hurdles, his 110-meter win at 15.04 seconds coming hours earlier. Kirkwood was aided by the starter's judicial restraint after he lost balance and tottered forward from his blocks before the gun.

"I couldn't feel my hands," said Kirkwood, who had been given the opportunity to bow out by Rafferty.

"I'd warmed up," the all-state hurdler said, and he followed through.

Neuqua Valley's Dan Gaynes took the 100 dash in 11.47 seconds and won the 800 relay with the team of Myles Gascon, Michael Duy, Josh Covarrubias and Lukas, enjoying a whale of a senior season.

The Wildcats swept the 3,200 and 1,600 with Josh Mollway and Connor Horn, respectively, with Waubonsie's Riley Miller behind Horn. They got typical big points in the throws by twins Tom and A.J. Cwiok, who finished second and third in shot put, respectively, and second and seventh in discus. Tom Cwiok ripped the disc 154 feet with a 153-footer on his last attempt.

Indoors, Wheaton Warrenville South pole vaulter Tom Ansiel matched his personal best at 15 feet, 1 inch, tying McHenry's Kevin Szamlewski for the top height but placing second on prior misses.

Waubonsie Valley's Wes York followed his plan in the 800-meter run to pursue and inevitably subdue the field in 2.00.93.

"For me," the sophomore said, "it's much easier for me to get on a guy and shoulder him - shoulder him, shoulder him, shoulder him. Get to about 200 meters to go, make the move to the outside shoulder and then with about 150 let it come down to who's more of a man, or whoever works harder, who's got the fight.

"I'd say I sit really well, and then execute."