Boys track and field: Burlington Central leaves Kishwaukee with title
Six weeks ago, Anthony Farmer couldn't eat or attend school because of a broken jaw.
The courageous Farmer, a junior for Burlington Central, amazingly defied the odds and won the 1,600 at Thursday's Kishwaukee River Conference meet held at Richmond Burton High School.
Farmer's efforts helped the Rockets win the KRC team title with 167 points. It was the last KRC meet for Central as it will move to the Fox Valley Conference next season.
The Central sophomore was clocked in 4:46.37 edging Marengo's Robert Lopez (4:46.78) at the finish line.
"It was really hard to watch my teammates compete at the indoor state meet and early in the outdoor season," said Farmer. "I came back April 10 and have been able to run in 3 meets. I feel strong and hope to qualify for state next week."
Central coach Mike Schmidt appreciates Farmer's perseverance.
"Anthony is a phenomenal kid," said Schmidt. "To lose 20 pounds and come back and run at a high level and win the conference 1,600 is amazing."
Schmidt's other highlight of the night was watching his freshman son Zac win the conference crown in the 400 with a time of 52.66.
"You don't see a lot of freshmen win conference championships," said Schmidt. "It is exciting and enjoyable to watch Zac perform so well in a big meet."
Other individual winners for the Rockets were Adam Kries (800, 2:01.77), Jake Borman (shot put, 44-2) and Hunter Hulke (pole vault, 11-6)
Kries was followed by teammate Tommy Zettl who was second in 2:03.33.
"Tommy and I really push each other in practice and it really helps in big meets," said Kries. "The wind was a factor but I was able to finish strong."
Central swept the 4 relays. The 400 relay team of Jimmy Badillo, Yavant Hausler, Jacoby Haynes and Connor Wagner placed first in a time of 44.45 while the 3,200 relay squad of (Logan Andersen, Cody Schrock, Schmidt and Farmer) won the KRC title in a clocking of 8:27.21.
Comprising of Haynes, Schrock, Zettl and Schmidt, the Rockets' 1,600 relay crossed the finish line in a first place time of 3:32.76 while Central won the 800 relay (Badillo, Hausler, Haynes, Matt Pearson) in a time of 1:32.70.
Placing second for Burlington other than Zettl were Hausler (200), Wagner (110 hurdles), Eric Metz (discus) and Davis Dunham (shot put, 42-11 ½).
Schmidt believes his team is prepared for next week's Class 2A Sterling sectional.
"It is a very tough sectional with a lot of good teams and a lot of good individuals," said Schmidt. "We hope to qualify 3 relays and 5 or 6 individuals."