Boys track and field: Fremd features new uniforms, fast times
CHARLESTON - When the Fremd boys track team arrived at its hotel for the boys track and field state championships at Eastern Illinois, retiring coach Jim Aikens had promised the state qualifiers that he had a surprise for them.
"We were excited," said senior Ed Worthem. "But with coach, you never know what that surprise could have been."
There, on a bed in a hotel room, were new uniforms - just in time for the state meet.
The shirts featured a big Vikings head on the front, with the school spelled out on the back.
"These are so sweet," said senior Danny Peterson. "We were so excited and I love the Viking head."
What Aikens had to love was the way his team performed in the prelims on Friday.
It started in the 3,200 relay and never seemed to slow down from there.
Peterson and Worthem teamed with Luke Vogelgasang, and Jack Buban to run a season-best 7:51.48.
The time was third-fastest of the day, just edging out conference rival Prospect (7:51.49).
"It's so much fun to have somebody close by that is going to compete with you like Prospect," Peterson said. "Other teams don't get to race against great competition like we do when we get to race at the state level against a team like Prospect."
The momentum carried over to the shot put ring.
Missouri-bound senior Ethan Hanson is currently second to John Meyer of Lockport after his throw of 62-7.25. Joining Hanson in the finals is senior teammate Matt Bilek, who earned his spot in the discus with a throw of 157-11.
Back on the track, junior Jaden Jackson bounced back from a tough 110 high hurdles race to collect a spot in the 300 hurdles final for the second straight year. Jackson ran a season-best 38.17 and is seeded fourth into the finals.
"The first hurdle felt good, but I lost my form a little bit on the third hurdle," Jackson said. "I regained my form from the fourth hurdle on and my finish is what got it done for me."
Jackson will see a familiar face in the final heat in Palatine senior John Elischer. Elischer finished second in his heat and is seeded sixth in finals.
Much like the sun rising in the East every morning, the Prospect 3,200 relay team makes the finals.
The Knights have earned a medal in the event 12 times and in eight of the last nine state meets.
The team of James Riordan, Nate Cozine, James Terry and Jeff Snell saw to it that the streak will continue.
"I knew if our other legs were close to the Fremd guys, we would have a good time," Riordan said. "We knew that if (Fremd) was up there that we would be around where were supposed to be."
Prospect has also had a strong tradition in the throws and Illinois-bound senior Billy Matzek kept it going. Matzek had his best collective day of the season with a strong performance in the shot, 55-7.75. He followed that with a personal-best effort of 173-1 in the discus to earn finals spots in both events.
Sophomore Michael Shafis, fresh off his fifth-place finish in the high jump last year, cleared the necessary 6-4 to earn a spot in the finals.
Not to be outdone was Barrington junior Louis Cossio.
One of the top 400-meter runners from the indoor season, Cossio is not a fan of losing his favorite race.
So when he fell behind in the prelims of the 400 on Friday, he quickly stepped into gear and secured a spot in the finals.
Cossio won his 400-meter race in a personal best 48.23.
"This is such a relief to get this over with," Cossio said. "It doesn't matter too much what time you run in the prelim, it's all about getting to the final."
The Broncos will also be well-represented in the shot put finals as the dynamic duo of John Stefan and Brad Warman did their part.
Stefan bounced back from a bad case of the flu at sectionals to throw 57-6.25. Warman said he struggled but still earned his shot at a medal with a put of 54-2.75.
You can't blame Hoffman Estates junior Declan Rustay if he never wants to leave O'Brien Field. After his performance last season, Rustay was yearning for a return to state, and his efforts have the Hawks in position for a run at a state trophy on Saturday.
Rustay has the top time in the 100, having produced a staggeringly fast 10.40. He followed that up by helping the relay team that included Danny Banahan, Anijel Jones, and Dylan Kreuzer to a season-best 1:26.64 in the 800 relay.
His full day finally ended with a very quick 21.73 in the 200.
"Oh I love it here," Rustay said. "The wind is beautiful, the sun is out, can't complain."
The Hawks also earned a qualifier in the high jump, as Fynn Alade could provide key points in the wide-open race for a trophy in Class 3A.
Lawrence Knish of Wheeling and Dakari Ferguson of Schaumburg also earned finals spots in the high jump as both cleared 6-4.
The Wildcats' 800 relay team of Knish, Jason Shannon, Sinai Rodriguez and Blake Greenberg qualified for finals running 1:28.11.
Buffalo Grove senior Arturo Bautista took advantage of his first trip to state by running a personal best 1:55.51 to make the finals in the 800-meter run.
Other athletes that competed Friday included Cordell Griffin of Palatine, Grant Wagner of Hersey, Dimitri Lomnick of Buffalo Grove, Marshall Davis of Hoffman Estates, Zach Gunger and Tim Szylak of Rolling Meadows, Ross Bravo of Barrington, Victor Olaitan of Schaumburg, James Estrella and Kevin Sherwood of Prospect, Jim Leahy of Fremd and Michael Steadman of St. Viator.