Boys track and field: Kaneland's Hannula, Richtman make their Class 3A mark

Clayton Hannula and Matt Richtman were in unfamiliar territory Thursday night at the Class 3A St. Charles North boys track and field sectional.

But Hannula, third in Class 2A last year in both throwing events for third-place Kaneland, and Richtman, who followed up a runner-up 3,200-meter run performance last spring with the Class 2A cross-country state championship earlier this school year, were unfazed.

Hannula set a new personal record in the shot put with his winning effort of 59 feet, 9 inches after earlier claiming the discus in 170-9.

Richtman was equally unassailable in the 3,200 run, cruising to victory in 9 minutes, 17.1 seconds.

"This meet was more about getting down to state," Hannula said. "I have been at 3A for a while. I think (class elevation) is great for my team. I am ready to go now, to compete against some of the best athletes in the nation (at the state finals next weekend in Charleston)."

For the third consecutive year the team race came down to Hoffman Estates and Batavia.

But the former, with two-time defending sprint champion Declan Rustay, winning the 100 and 200 dashes while also running instrumental legs on two other sprint-relay champions, denied the defending champion Bulldogs 89-81.

Kaneland was a distant third with 51 points, followed by St. Charles East (50.5), West Aurora (48) and South Elgin (47).

St. Charles North pole vaulter Gil Braglia turned back Grant Wilk to win on criteria at 14-0.

But Braglia continued a remarkable streak for Kaneland: the Knights have produced a state qualifier in the event for 37 straight years.

As has been the case in recent years, West Aurora dominated the three jumping events.

Two-time defending high jump state champion Camron Donatlan eased past reigning state runner-up Peter Willis of the host North Stars to win at 6-8.

The Wyoming-bound Donatlan narrowly missed twice at 7-1.

"I have been at 7-1 all season," Donatlan said. "I just need to get more reps in at practice. It's coming."

There were 19 total qualifiers in the three jumps as the Blackhawks' Kevin Sylvester and Moshe Rogers prevailed, respectively, in the long jump and triple jump at 23-1 and 45-7.

There was not a dearth of standouts on the track as well.

For Batavia, Sam Conger and Adam Kennedy were the mainstays.

Conger swept the 110 high and 300 intermediate hurdles for the Bulldogs in times of 14.35 and 38.89.

"I am looking pretty solid for placing at state," Conger said. "The 300s was weird. I stumbled two times."

Kennedy pulled out a come-from-behind anchor-leg victory for the Bulldogs in the 3,200; the sophomore also won the open 800 and ran on the Bulldogs' qualifying 1,600 relay.

"You have to believe that you are the best runner," Kennedy said.

St. Charles East senior Charlie Wade is a leading state contender in the 400 after another impressive win in 49.66; the Saints' Campbell Koch and Aidan King swept the metric mile.

"Going into state this felt like a good shake-off race," Wade said. "I am really pumped for what can happen next week."