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Boys track and field: Prospect's LeComte bounces back with authority

CHARLESTON - It almost wasn't meant to be for Prospect senior Karsen LeComte.

Prior to the start of this season, LeComte was battling nagging back issues and even went through one diagnosis of a stress fracture in his lower back.

Countless visits to doctors and tireless training allowed LeComte to finally get a green light for this season - and did he ever take advantage.

LeComte qualified for the Class 3A finals of the state track and field championships at O'Brien Field and Eastern Illinois University in two events and made the most of his opportunities.

As the anchor leg of the Knights' 3,200 relay, LeComte battled back to earn the Knights a third-place finish (7:48.90).

He teamed up with Luke Filipic, Matt Cozine and James Riordan for the Knights' 12th medal in school history in the event.

He later took on a loaded field in the 1,600 and much like he has all season, the Nebraska-bound LeComte battled again.

Through the high winds and heat, he muscled to a fifth-place finish in 4:19.24.

"Going into the season I never expected any of this," LeComte said. "Just to have all of this happen it's very surreal to me. Not sure when this will all sink in."

LeComte's efforts helped lead the Knights to a 14th-place finish in the 3A team standings. East St. Louis won the team race with 54 points to 42 for defending champion Edwardsville. Sandburg, which set a national mark in winning the 3,200 relay (7:37.36) was third (40 points).

Cahokia won its sixth consecutive 2A title, edging out Geneseo. Downstate New Berlin captured the 1A title.

LeComte wasn't the only Knights athlete to ascend the medal stand.

Junior Billy Matzek used his final throw in the shot put to move into eighth place. His 57-6 put was a personal best by nearly 2 feet.

"To have a PR on my last throw of my junior year is just amazing," Matzek said. "This was such a deep field. For me to get a PR and medal is just a surreal experience."

Freshman Michael Shafis also made things interesting in the high jump. Early misses didn't seem to deter Shafis as he tied his personal best of 6-foot-5 in a fifth-place finish in the event.

Hoffman Estates senior Jelyn Hill finished in a tie for ninth after clearing 6-3.

Just a couple of spots ahead of Matzek in the shot put was Barrington junior John Stefan.

With each passing meet, Stefan continued to get better. His best put on Saturday of 58-9½ broke his own school record and earned Stefan his first state medal with a sixth-place finish.

Hoffman Estates sophomore Declan Rustay was still a bit giddy after his efforts on Friday in the sprints.

But it hardly slowed him down.

Rustay went out against arguably the best sprints field ever assembled at the state meet and raced to third place in the 100 in 10.68. He also medaled in the 200, running 22.78 to finish ninth.

"I am just enjoying all of this," Rustay said. "This whole experience has been awesome and I am trying to take advantage of every bit of it."

Another area sophomore, Jaden Jackson of Fremd, took full advantage of his first finals appearance with a sixth-place finish (39.06) in the 300 hurdles.

In Class 2A, St. Viator senior Denzel Downing was able to put the disappointment of a tough Friday behind him and channel that into his 300 hurdles race on Saturday.

Stuck in lane one, Downing wasted little time in moving up the pack.

By the time the runners hit the turn, Downing was near the front of the pack. As he crossed the line, Downing had secured his best finish at the state meet with a third-place effort (38.44).

"I had to refocus after yesterday," said Downing who is considering Miami (Fla.) for his future track endeavors. "My dad just told me to get out and go catch everybody, and that's what I went out and did."

Other area athletes that competed in the finals on Saturday included Shiv Patel of Hoffman Estates, Dan Garcia of Palatine and Ethan Hanson of Fremd.

  Hoffman Estates' Declan Rustay leans across the finish line to secure third place in the Class 3A 100 meter-dash Saturday during the boys track and field state finals at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Stadium. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Prospect's Luke Filipic runs with the leaders in the Class 3A 3,200-meter relay Saturday during the boys track and field state finals at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Stadium. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Jaden Jackson clears a hurdle halfway through the Class 3A 300-meter hurdles Saturday during the boys track and field state finals at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Stadium. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Prospect freshman Michael Shafis competes in the high jump Saturday during the boys track and field state finals at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Stadium. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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