Boys track and field: Prospect sends 9 individual entries, 2 relays to state

For the 16 high schools competing in Thursday's Class 3A Loyola boys track and field sectional, there was one simple goal: to qualify as many individuals as possible for next weekend's state meet at Eastern Illinois University.

Featuring some outstanding individual and team efforts, 14 athletes representing a trio of Mid-Suburban East teams assigned to Sachs Stadium in Wilmette earned the honor to compete for one more weekend.

Evanston Township High School took home the team title by a 51-point margin (110-59) over second-place New Trier on the strength of seven first-place finishes.

Next came MSL East champion Prospect (54.5) in third place. The Knights will send nine athletes to O'Brien Stadium a week from Friday and had a pair of sectional championship efforts.

"It's a solid team performance. We were able to get some good results out there," Prospect coach Jay Renaud said. "It's been great seeing our guys get their season bests today."

Those bests from the Knights came in both track and field events.

Led by the trio of juniors Michael Shafis and Tim Zalinski and sopohomore John Moellenkamp, Prospect had a dominant performance in both in the two shortest reiay races.

Partnering with sophomore Will Horvath, they took top honors in the 4 x 200 meter relay in a time of 1:32.63, besting Glenbrook South (1:33.35).

Then, with senior Anthony Burkhardt in the 4 x 100, a 44.08 effort earned them a state-qualifying second-place finish that came five-tenths of a point shy of first-place Evanston.

Shafis joined a five-way tie for first in the high jump with a state-qualifying mark of 6-2.

Tommy Morton closed out the Prospect list of qualifiers with a season-best 154-8 in the discus, placing him third, just ahead of teammate Cade Lussow (148-10).

Shafis was pleased by not only his own successes, but more importantly those of his squadmates.

"We were hoping to get a lot of our guys to make it through," the junior said. "We ended up getting a lot of PR's, even from those that may have not made it (qualified). I am so proud of my teammates and the effort and support they gave today."

Wheeling (42 points) placed fifth, 6 points back of Maine South.

Sophomore Jordan Teran captured the 800 in 1:58.43, edging out Evanston's Logan Singer by 3 tenths of a second.

Strong efforts from seniors Lawrence Knish and Angel Villegas earned them invites to Charleston.

Knish earn a pair. He placed second to Evanston's Gabe Cheeks in the long jump with a mark of 21-8¾. The Marine reserve recruit who will head to USMC bootcamp this summer added a berth in the high jump by joining Shafis in the 6-2 club.

"Honestly, it's a great feeling," Knish said. "I'm glad that I was able to qualify when you look at the level of competition that was here."

Senior Angel Villegas' runner-up finish in the pole vault with a height of 13-0 gave him his state meet berth, as came in second to Loyola's Declan Ritzenthaler (15-3).

For Teran, his 800 meter triumph was the culmination of the continued pursuit of self-improvement.

"It's great to be able to see yourself grow from the beginning of the season," Teran said. "It's crazy to be in this position."

"It's really good to be able to get Lawrence, Angel, and Jordan in," Wheeling coach Tom Polak said. "Looking at both Angel and Jordan, you could see the both of them gaining confidence with every meet. And with Lawrence, he has setting the pace in terms of his leadership. It has been so invaluable."

Both of Hersey's state qualifiers came in the 3,200, with sophomore Josh Methner (second, 9:13.64) and senior Ryan Theisen (fourth, 9:21.93).

Day 1 of the state meet starts next Friday morning at O'Brien Stadium with the finals next Saturday.