Boys track and field: Naperville Central places third at Downers Grove North

Having already helped his team qualify for state in the 3,200 relay, Naperville Central junior Thomas Shilgalis was just hoping to do enough in the open 1,600 at Friday's Class 3A sectional to earn himself a trip downstate.

His mission was accomplished along with seven other runners as eight qualifiers came in under the state qualifying mark of 4:21.67 at the Downers Grove North meet. Sandburg's Dylan Jacobs built a big lead, maintained it and ran away with first place. Downers Grove North's Jacob Ridderhoff was second, Shilgalis third and five other runners earned trips to next week's state finals, including Naperville North's McLean Griffin.

"Honestly, I was pretty tired from the 4x800," said Shilgalis, who went downstate in the 3,200 relay as a freshman and barely missed a berth last spring in the 1,600. "We got that team to qualify for state so that was pretty exciting. Then I was looking to qualify for the 1,600. I wasn't really looking to win the race but more just to make it down, and then deal with all the competitiveness next week with state."

The Redhawks' quartet of Shilgalis, Seth Klein-Collins, Thomas Codo and Patrick Julian took third at 7:54.59 to qualify as one of four teams in the event to reach state. Sandburg won with a time of 7:47.75, while Hinsdale Central and Downers Grove North also advanced.

Naperville Central took third in a number of events - coming up short of the state cut in a few of them - but also took third in the team standings behind winner Romeoville and runner-up Lockport, marking the highest sectional finish in coach Steve Weisbrook's 15 years with the program.

"We've had some pretty good meets throughout the year but this was certainly one of the top ones," said Shilgalis, who will focus on the 1,600 next week while letting a teammate take his spot downstate in the 3,200 relay. "We got third and it was a such a big meet with a lot of competitive teams, so it was really exciting to get third."

It was a big night for distance runners as nine runners qualified for start in the 3,200 to go along with the eight milers who earned state berths. The host Trojans went 1-2 in 3,200 as the appropriately named Miles Christensen won the 3,200 with a time of 9:06.53. Teammate Jack Roberts was second, followed by Downers Grove South's Akhill Ghosh in third.

Mustangs sophomore Jayden Lambert won the triple jump with a 45-10 distance in his only attempt, and he also made state with a second-place long jump of 22-3.

In the 300-meter intermediate hurdles Hinsdale Central's Ethan Ruth was first at 39.93, with Benet sophomore Brendon Carter using a strong finish to take second and advance.

"I didn't feel my best," Carter said. "I didn't PR in the 110 but I did all right. Then I wasn't feeling that good (in the 300), but I don't know … there was a lot of good competition so that helped me."

Carter was shy of the state cutoff but moves on after taking second in the race.

"I actually thought I got third. At first around the curve I was pretty far in back. I always kick toward the end so I started kicking and I caught up to the guy … but it was really close. It felt really cool," he said.

Hinsdale Central's Cullen Fitzgerald won the sectional high jump title at 6-2.