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Boys track: Neuqua Valley's Hughes makes the leap

Behold the wonder of the boys track sectional.

Neuqua Valley senior Tyler Hughes had never surpassed 6 feet in high jump, much less the Class 3A qualifying standard of 6-3. He'd gone 5-7 and 5-5 his last two meets.

Before Thursday's Neuqua Valley sectional, Wildcats coach Mike Kennedy gave Hughes a no-safety-net ultimatum - enter the competition at the qualifying height.

"We knew he could jump 6-3, there was no doubt about it," said Kennedy, hosting the school's first boys track sectional. "But we had to show him that he needed to see that doorway so he could walk through it."

Hughes cleared 6-3 on his third attempt to claim a berth in next week's state meet in Charleston.

"I've been nervous all day," he said. "It's been a real disappointing year, frustration after frustration. So to be able to put it all together today was just a blessing."

Naperville Central's Matthew Meier would say the same thing. Stuck all year around 21-5 in long jump, his second effort Thursday was a 13-inch personal best of 22-7½ to win the event.

"This landing, I just kind of worked on getting more extension, and I think part of it's the weather," said Meier, who then joined Peter Villanova, Tyler Hampton and Thomas Shilgalis on a state-bound 3,200-meter relay. "I just felt good, it's a perfect day to compete and I just went out and popped one and felt confident doing it."

Neuqua, which finished second overall to Minooka, qualified nine positions downstate as the Wildcats aim to build off last season's Class 3A second-place tie.

They had another surprise qualifier in sophomore triple jumper McKenzie Mitchell but otherwise advanced returners Connor Horn in the 3,200 and in the 1,600 by .11 seconds; teammate Isaiah Robinson in the 800; and Tommy Cwiok in discus.

On Cwiok's final throw in finals he sent the discus 173 feet, 10 inches to break one of Neuqua's longest-standing records, the 170-10 mark of O.J. Oshinowo in 2001.

"It couldn't have come at a better time," the big left-hander said. "If it was going to happen, that was the last chance I had."

He said he couldn't be happier. Neither could Waubonsie Valley all-stater Tyler Kirkwood, who qualified in both the 110 and 300 hurdles.

"To me it's a lot of pressure because it's so important to qualify and your mind's doing a lot of things," the Iowa recruit said. "But once you get through this meet, everything's chill."

Naperville North didn't advance a position though junior sprinter-jumper Barry Cate set the stage for a good senior season, and senior E.J. Vaughn twice set new standards in triple jump.

"He's just a huge leader," Huskies coach Mike Beese said of Vaughn. "He'll be missed on the team, that's for sure."

  Tom Cwiok of Neuqua Valley throws the discus during the Neuqua Valley boys track sectional Thursday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Daniel Bumpus of Naperville Central completes the last leg of the 4x100 rely at the Neuqua Valley boys track sectional Thursday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Matt Boelke of Naperville North runs the 3200 meter run during the Neuqua Valley boys track sectional Thursday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Connor Horm and Scott Anderson of Neuqua run the 3200 meter run during the Neuqua Valley boys track sectional Thursday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Matt Lehmann of Naperville Central runs the 100 meter dash during the Neuqua Valley boys track sectional Thursday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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