Barrington handles elements, relay foes
It's only two weeks into the outdoor track season, but the Barrington boys track team has seen plenty of adversity already. From early season injuries to going through an entire year without the use of its home track, the two-time defending Mid-Suburban League outdoor champions have had more than an occasional roadblock.
So when Barrington arrived at Stevenson for the 37th annual Patriot Relays on Friday, facing the inclement weather conditions was just another of the many issues the Broncos have had to deal with this season. But much like the other problems, Barrington somehow seems to find a way to overcome them.
By rolling up 94 points in the driving rain and cold, the Broncos captured the team title, holding off Lake Zurich (92 points) and host Stevenson (87 points). This came despite the Broncos being disqualified in both hurdles races. Barrington would have won each race and garnered another 20 points.
Warren finished fourth (70) followed by Grant (59), Carmel (54), Cary Grove (48) and Round Lake (18).
"We have had so many things to deal with this season, but each time the kids have been able to step up and adjust," Barrington coach Todd Kuklinski said. "By winning, despite losing those 20 points, that says a lot. I am happy for these kids."
The most important win for Barrington came to close out the meet and in the 1,600-meter relay. Barrington was awarded the decision after Carmel and Cary-Grove were both disqualified.
The Corsairs and Trojans were ahead of the pack and pulling away from the field in what looked to be a comfortable win for Jordan Nasenbeny and Carmel relay. But an official ruled that a Carmel runner and a Cary-Grove runner both cut in too soon on the second lap, forcing both relays to be disqualified. Though a video later seemed to show that both runners were legal, the ruling was not overturned and the race went to Carmel.
Barrington captured one field event relay win and two track event wins. Juniors Sam Ojuri and Kevin Crowley paced the long jump team to a win while Crowley anchored the Broncos' 400 relay team to an event win in 44.7. The distance medley relay provided Barrington's other event win.
"With the bad weather we had and the DQ's, we had to concentrate on not only getting first but seconds as well," Crowley said.
Lake Zurich knows a little about facing adversity. The Bears were hit hard by graduation and runners not choosing to return this season, but that didn't slow the Bears at all on Friday. Lake Zurich captured five event wins, including the both hurdle relays led by senior Joe Fanta.
Other wins for the Bears included the triple jump relay, the frosh/soph 3,200 relay, and the frosh/soph 1,600 relay.
The Patriots used strong efforts in the field events and a good start to the meet in the 3,200 relay to finish third. The high jump and shot put relays both garnered top finishes while the 3,200 relay team of Tyler Bartlow, Oliver Rose, Johan Laker and Ben Kluvers battled Cary-Grove and wound up second.
Cary-Grove's team of Dan Fallon, Dan Bartz, Kai Rikardsen and Phil Fairleigh ran to a season-best 8:15.7.
"I thought the kids did a great job of competing and not letting the weather bother them," Cary-Grove coach Layne Holter said. "Last week we ran 8:16 at our place and today, in bad weather we come back and go faster -- I liked seeing that kind of improvement."
Junior Carson Greene gave Warren its only event win by taking the mile. Bouncing back from an injury that haunted him during cross-country season, Greene battled through the mile winning in a season-best 4:32.9. Grant senior Derek Hall ran a season-best 4:34.4 to finish third.
Grant football standout Pavel Zurkowski led the Bulldogs to their only event win, taking the discus with a combined team total of 399-feet, 4 inches.
Despite the controversial disqualification to the 1,600-relay team of Nasebeny, James Halford, Joe Jeka and Socrates Kaitson, Carmel still showed signs of the dominant Corsairs from a few years back.
Kaitson, Halford, Nasebeny and Jim Miller ran a very quick 1:32.4 in winning the 800 relay.