Spartans double up at Yorkville
A pair of wins made for a sunny finish for St. Francis at the Matt Wulf Invite on Friday in Yorkville.
Mark Kachmer's victories in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes led the Spartans boys to the title of the eight-team coed meet.
The girls matched them, getting victories in the 800 and 1,600 by freshman Kelly McShea and big points in four events from sophomore Sarah Torres.
"Out of the boys, out of 18 events I think 14 of them (earned personal records) or equaled, even in this weather," said Scott Nelson, who coaches both squads.
"The girls did it in 14. You can't ask for more than that -- in this weather?"
The boys scored 131 points, 30 more than Westmont with Yorkville in third. The girls beat Yorkville 133-115, both ahead of Aurora Central Catholic.
Lisle placed sixth on the girls side, eighth for the boys.
Low 40s temps, wind blasting the homestretch, cold rain -- that's outdoor track in northern Illinois. St. Francis made do.
"It was rough," Torres said of the wind after her first-place turn in the 300 hurdles. She also placed second in the 100 dash and triple jump and fifth in long jump.
"I figured the first 200 would be fine because you're without the wind, and then the last 100's really rough."
Kachmer, squaring off for a second straight week against the likes of Aurora Central Catholic burners Steven Bohr and Nick Puscas, swept his three sprint events and took second in triple jump.
"I like the 100," Kachmer said of a race he won in 11.55 seconds. "It's short and sweet. It doesn't hurt. It's fun, I like it, it's fast."
Dave Cox, Mike Sahs and Dave Sufranski ran the first three legs of winning 400 and 800 relays. Workaholic Garrett McKnight was second in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.
Lisle couldn't field it's brother combo of freshman Mitch and senior Joe McCarthy in the 1,600 relay due to Joe's tender leg. They placed seventh and sixth, respectively, in the 400 dash.
The Lions boys got a fifth-place 200 finish from sophomore David Storme.
Lisle's girls got a winning 400 relay by Kelsey Wilhelm, Gracie Coletta, Allyson Corona and Megan Hannan.
Hannan, a senior, had a busy night. She finished seventh in triple jump, fifth in the 200 and third, just ahead of Wilhelm, in the 100.
No weather problem here.
"Once you run," she said, "you're not even thinking about the cold. Like, just move forward. When you're running you're like, 'OK, I've just got to beat this girl.' "