Boys track and field: Grant finishes off North Suburban Conference in style
One final rendition of the North Suburban Conference boys track and field championships provided one final go-round for a very talented group of seniors from Grant.
Octavian Wells, Timmy Brundidge, Nick Peterson, Kemar Miller and Tyler Schaefer have seen their fair share of highs, along with some lows, in their four years wearning Bulldogs red and black.
So in this, their final conference meet in the final conference meet in the history of the NSC, the group led the Bulldogs in a memorable performance that resulted in another conference title for Grant.
Grant amassed 99 points to 83 for defending conference champ Lakes. This year's Lake Division champ, Warren, finished third with 66 followed by Vernon Hills and Lake Zurich, who tied for fourth with 60 points each.
The North Suburban will split into two new conferences starting next fall.
"We have our motto when we get to the championship season, and that is exceed your seed," said Grant coach Tom Evans. "We talked about doing what we can do and not trying to do too much, and we came out and did that tonight."
Wells captured a pair of individual wins for the Bulldogs. His 400-meter win in an all-star field amounted to his fastest time of the season as the Loyola-Chicago-bound senior prevailed in 48.24. Wells also captured the 100 in a season-best 10.90, just ahead of Ben Klett of Lake Zurich (10.96).
Brundidge also found himself in a very talented 110 high hurdles field that featured Iowa-bound senior Gavin Hoch of Lake Forest and Antioch junior Landon Keefover.
Brundidge got out fast and never looked back, winning in a conference-record 14.30.
"I know Gavin and Landon are great hurdlers and that my start isn't the best," Brundidge said. "My race is best after the fourth hurdle but I knew I had to get off to a fast start and I was able to get ahead of them."
Peterson placed second in the pole vault (14-1) while Miller and Schaefer contributed big points in the long and triple jumps. Senior Dylan Maranto placed second in the discus, and junior Henry Halverson tied for second in the high jump after clearing 6-3.
The runner-up Eagles closed out the meet with a bang. In the 1,600 relay, Cameron Ruiz, Brandon Thiel, Robert Kuhlmann, and Jordan Mercure ran a season-best 3:21.58 to erase a 47-year-old meet record set by North Chicago in 1969.
Ruiz earned a pair of individual titles, winning the long jump on his final effort with a best mark of 23-1.75. He also won the triple jump (45-1.5).
"It was a good day," the Northwestern-bound Ruiz said. "We didn't capitalize on all the chances we had but it was a learning experience for all of us and something we can build on for next week."
Illinois-bound senior Cooper Jazo defended his conference title, clearing 14-7 to win the pole vault.
Vernon Hills will leave the NSC altogether next fall for the Central Suburban League's North Division. But before they did, the Cougars put up their finest performance of the season. Their tie for fourth place finish was highlighted by three individual conference champions.
Tennessee-bound senior Noah Agnew captured the high jump by clearing 6-9. Senior Joshua Williams looked strong as he ran away from the field in winning the 200 in 22.39, and the Cougars' 3,200 relay took home top honors, running 8:11.11.
"Tonight was a good night and I think it sets us up well for next week," said Cougars coach Mark Whitney. "We are still trying to peak for the 2A sectional at our place next week, and for the week after, but I was real pleased with the performances across the board."
Junior Tim Krashevky was a workhorse for the Cougars. He anchored the 3,200 relay, ran a season-best 1:55.85 in his third-place finish in the 800 and ran on the Cougars' 1,600 relay team that ran seventh.
In front of his home crowd for the very last time, Colorado-bound Stevenson senior Jared Borowsky put on a show for his teammates and his friends who braved the chilly winds at Stevenson.
Borowsky ran a season-best 9:27.96 in winning the 3,200. He then came back and ran 4:26.73 in the 1,600, winning it as well.
"With my friends coming out and watching me here tonight helped me out a lot," Borowsky said. "I kind of did this one for my friends. They came out tonight knowing it was my last home race and supported me."
Top performances for Lake Zurich included runner-up finishes by Brian Griffith in the 800 meters (1:55.52) and in the 1,600 (4:29.02). Kyle Griffith ran second in the 3,200 (9:35.21).
Warren had runner-up finishes from Brandon Ellis in the high jump (6-3) and the 1,600 relay (3:22.10).