Just a matter of time

Adam Harris, the former Wheaton North track star now sprinting at Michigan, figured he'd succeed at a national level.

At the NCAA Division I Indoor Championship finals Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark., the junior placed fourth in the 60-meter dash. His time of 6.62 seconds was a tick higher than the Big Ten record 6.61 he set on March 2.

"I worked hard over the summer. I got here and already I feel myself faster than I was the year before, so I figured I'd break my records," Harris said.

"I been waiting for it, pretty much. Since high school I've known I was going to get to nationals eventually."

Harris, the only Illinois athlete to win both the 100 and 200 dashes and the 110 high hurdles at state in the same year -- he did it in 2004 and 2005 -- now heads to the outdoor track.

His goals are simply to run faster than the 10.35 he's gone in the 100 and the 21.18 in the 200. He'll also run in a sprint relay and compete in long jump, another event he won at the Big Ten meet in a personal-best 24 feet, 10½ inches.

Harris, up to 185 pounds by adding 15 pounds of muscle since high school, may also attempt to qualify for the Olympics, which will have its trials in Oregon this summer.

At the Big Ten indoor meet Harris ran into Purdue sophomore Adetayo "Tayo" Adesanya. At Waubonsie Valley and then Naperville North, Adesanya was known as "Junior," a loose and lanky high jumper.

Adesanya won that event at the Big Ten meet, going 7-0¼.

Harris admitted he's "had a couple issues" with the Michigan people by cheering former Illinois athletes as opposed to his college teammates first and foremost.

"It's always nice to see people I competed with in high school," he said. "It's nice to see they're still really competitive and doing great."

Overachievers

How big were the upset wins by St. Francis' boys basketball team in the Class 3A playoffs?

Let Aurora basketball analyst Charlie Essig count the ways.

The final "Essig Report" rankings, which heavily weigh strength of schedule, have the Spartans at No. 65 in Class 3A.

St. Francis' regional final victim, St. Joseph, finished No. 11 according to Essig. Crane, which fell to the Spartans in a sectional semifinal, pulls in at No. 23.

Incidentally, Class 4A Elite Eight qualifier Neuqua Valley was listed close to the top at No. 14 -- two spots back of 4A champion Richards. Evanston, Farragut, Whitney Young and Zion-Benton were Essig's top four in 4A.

Take a hike

The University of Illinois Fighting Illini football team will conduct a scrimmage at Lemont High School at 1 p.m. April 12.

It's the second time the Illini have hit the road in the spring. Last year they scrimmaged at St. Rita.

"There are so many fans and alumni in the Chicago area, and it's difficult for them to make it down here for a spring practice," explained Illinois associate sports information director Cassie Arner.

Chips off the old Block

Lake Park graduate Scott Block, the 2003 Class AA shot put champion, placed sixth at the Division II Indoor Championships Saturday in Mankato, Minn.

The junior at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville put a 16-pound shot 55 feet, 10½ inches.

Two days prior, at the Upstate Eight Conference meet, Lake Park junior Dan Block, Scott's younger brother, went 59-1½ with the 12-pound sphere to claim the indoor title. He's the reigning Class AA discus champ, fourth in shot.

In the wings is freshman Greg Block, whose heave of 38-3 placed eighth in shot put in the Upstate Eight frosh-soph indoor meet, nearly 4 feet farther than the next-best freshman.

What's up…

…Missy Mazur

This Roselle resident is headed to Iowa on scholarship after a junior softball season in which she went 26-4 with a 0.89 earned run average on the mound and also hit .464 for sectional finalist Lake Park. Mazur is dedicating her senior season to a friend who passed away and to her father, Mick, recently diagnosed with a third occurrence of cancer.

How many pitches to you throw?

"Seven: fastball, changeup, curve, screw, drop, rise and drop curve."

How fast is the fastball?

"Like 63 (mph), somewhere around there. It's like in the 90s in baseball."

How do you feel when you hit someone with a pitch?

"Terrible, because I don't mean it. I'm like, 'Oh, my gosh!' "

You pitch right-handed, yet you bat left-handed. How'd that happen?

"I've never batted right-handed. I picked up a bat for like the first time, had my hands right and everything. They turned me around to go righty and I said no, and turned back around and went lefty. It pretty much stuck."

What's the silliest thing you've ever seen on a softball field?

"When I was little, like in tee-ball, this one kid was really excited to hit the ball. And he ran and touched the pitching rubber (instead of first base)."

What do you like to do away from softball?

"I sleep a lot and eat a lot, so that's pretty much my life -- is softball, eat and sleep."

Is Missy your given name?

"It's Melissa. I've been called Missy forever. I think people started calling me that when I was 1. Melissa doesn't really fit me. It's too much of a quiet name. I'm a goof."

You're dedicating your season in part to your father?

"He is battling with cancer. He was just diagnosed two weeks ago. … Hopefully I can hit a few home runs for him."