Boys track and field: Peschke sets new county record
It certainly wasn't the most ideal conditions to pole vault.
But Crystal Lake South senior pole vaulter Sam Peschke was able to overcome the windy conditions at Thursday's McHenry County Meet held at Huntley High School.
Peschke's vault of 15-1 set a new county record previously held by South's Brandon Dahl and McHenry's Kevin Szamlewski who both vaulted 14-9 last season.
Huntley's Jacob Riese placed second (14-7) while Peschke's teammate Peter Polizos was third (13-1).
"Actually I was able to use the tail wind to my advantage," said Peschke. "I was able to get some good speed and get through the pole. It is very cool to set the county record."
The running events held at Huntley High School will begin Friday at 4:30 p.m.
The host Red Raiders are in first place after 6 events with 56 1/2 points. Crystal Lake South is second with 35 points.
Huntley's Alex Pitrone won the shot put with a throw of 52-6 1/2.
"I have really been working hard in practice to get better," said Pitrone. "It has been repetition after repetition in practice and it has paid off. My technique is getting better and I have thrown a lot better since the outdoor season. Tonight, I was ready to go and was able to throw just on adrenaline."
The Red Raiders got second place finishes from Eric Mooney (long jump. 20-7 1/2) and Ben Litwin (discus, 167-10).
Jacobs, who is eighth with 10 points, got a first place finish from Loren Strickland who won the long jump with a leap of 21-10 1/2.
"I felt really good with all my jumps," said Strickland. "I was to able to use the wind to my advantage."
Cary-Grove, fifth with 21 points, got a pair of third place finishes from Karl Rosch in the discus (155-7) and shot put (48-1 1/2).
Girls meet: Paige Groves, by her own admission, is more excited for the big meets.
That showed Thursday as the Cary-Grove senior won the shot put with a toss of 40-7 1/2. Groves edged Crystal Lake Central's Mary Stevens, who was the runner-up with a throw of 40-7 1/4.
"I do get a little more psyched up for the bigger meets like the county meet," said Groves. "I have been getting better and more consistent."
The Trojans, in first with 44 points, got 2 second place efforts from Tabor Gleason in the high jump (5-5) and triple jump (37-4).
Huntley, tied for third with Prairie Ridge with 33 points, got a third place effort from McKenzie Krich in the high jump with a jump of 5-3. Krich was followed in the event by teammate Morgan O'Connor (5-1) who was fourth.
The Red Raiders' Daryn Davis was third in the triple jump (37-3) while teammate Kendall Only (37-0 1/2) placed fourth.
Jacobs, who is currently in ninth with 8.5 points, got a fourth-place finish from freshman Kyra Cabusao in the shot put (36-8 1/2) and a fifth place effort by Rachel Holstein (high jump. 4-11).