Whips' Walker gearing up for postseason
Hampshire senior boys track standout Quinn Walker isn't one to rest on his laurels.
Walker brought home 2 state medals from last year's Class A state meet, finishing third in the 110 hurdles and eighth in the 300 hurdles.
"I'm not really satisfied with a third or an eighth," said Walker. "I'm ready to go get first. It was a good accomplishment to go down there, but I want to do better."
So Walker hit the weight room in the off-season to get stronger. He participated in a Hampshire High School weightlifting program (spearheaded by longtime Hampshire football coach Dan Cavanaugh) and became a member of the 700-club (three different type of lifts adding up to 700 pounds). Walker said he was in the 600s neighborhood when he started the program.
And that added strength is something Walker feels will help him continue to lower times as the season heads into the home stretch over the next few weeks.
"Coming out of the blocks, it's being more explosive and coming out faster," said Walker. "I've been working on my block starts and attacking to the first hurdle and working on form. I've got better speed getting out of the blocks faster. I'm getting a good pace and having good form."
Hampshire coach Steve Bruhn has noticed a difference.
"His biggest thing is he has improved on his strength," said Bruhn. "He spent time in the weight room. One of the things we've been working with him on is getting out faster and being the first one to the first couple of hurdles. There's no doubt he's very talented, but he had been playing catch-up in some of the races. We've been working with him to get him out in front."
Walker, who said he will run track next season at Downstate Lincoln College, will compete in the Genoa-Kingston invitational Saturday and then will head off to the Big Northern Conference meet next Thursday at Burlington Central.
"Our conference has good competition in the hurdles," said Walker, who ran the second-fastest 100 time in school history on his first-ever attempt (Adam McCarthy has held the record since 1997).
"Harvard's got a good kid. Burlington Central's guy is a good kid (Dan Hagberg) and North Boone has a pretty good kid."
Walker's overall focus is getting his times low enough so he can punch another ticket to Charleston in 3 weeks.
"I'm just trying to get my times good and get ready for sectionals so I can go Downstate," said Walker, who finished second in the state indoors earlier this year in the 55 hurdles.
Bruhn is looking forward to seeing what these next few weeks bring for Walker.
"I'm excited to see what he can do on his senior farewell here," said Bruhn.
Kane County boys: One of the area's most competitive regular-season boys meets occurs tonight when the annual Kane County meet is held at Geneva High School.
Burlington Central is the defending champion (winning its first-ever KC crown last year) in a field that coach Mike Schmidt feels is loaded with top-tier talent.
"Batavia and Geneva and West Aurora I would say are the favorites and it's Batavia's meet to lose," said Schmidt. "And I think we're right there with teams like Dundee-Crown and the two St. Charles schools in that top tier, as well. There are eight or nine really good teams. You never know how things will map out."
Central will be led by standouts Ryan Phebus (800) and Dan Hagberg (hurdles). Schmidt has been pleased with his 1,600 relay unit of sophomore Mitch Plumb, Hagberg, Phebus and senior Scott Knewitz.
Pole-vaulting juniors Joe Manzie and Paco Wleklinski have both cleared 12-feet and will help the Rockets in the field events.
"We'll be competitive," said Schmidt. "We saw a lot of these same teams at the Peterson Prep (Kaneland). Geneva won it and West Aurora and Dundee-Crown were ahead of us. I think we can do well. We've come together as a team."
This meet is one D-C coach Tom Smith has circled on the calendar every year.
"As you know, the county meet is one of my favorites and one of the most competitive we go to all year," said Smith.
Smith echoes Schmidt's sentiments on what always turns out to be a loaded field.
"We would like to be in the Top 5," said Smith. "We know that will be a challenge with Geneva, Batavia, St. Charles North and (St. Charles) East, West Aurora and Burlington Central. We want to compete at a high level (and) see where we are at leading into the FVC meet and the upcoming sectional."
The Chargers have a number of strong point-scoring areas. Matt Cutinello and Aaron Reams are accomplished jumpers, as is Garret Minaglia (high jump). Reams and Tyler Jones give D-C a very solid 1-2 punch in the hurdles. Anthony Manfrin and Connor Kustief head up a talented distance unit.
"We do feel we have some areas where we can make a solid showing," said Smith.
Smith also likes how his relay teams have developed, as well as the prospects of Paul Smith (3,200), Nathan Prom (800), Ian Salvatini (100, 200), Matt Hellyer (200) and Pat Livengood (high jump).
"We know medals and points will be tough to come by and will be well-earned," said Smith.
Elgin will bring a skeleton crew due to prom, but sophomores Ricardo Mancha (distance), Adam Kuforiji (sprints), Hector Hernandez (throws) and freshman Will Wood could make an impact.
"It would be nice to bring 4, 5 or 6 guys to county and still score points, which I think is a distinct possibility," said Elgin coach Adam Freed. "Two of our top 3 scorers are sophomores and 5 of our top 10 are either sophomores or freshmen."
Larkin girls: Britney Whitehead continues to move closer to the state-qualifying standard in the 300 hurdles (48.2).
"She's getting close," said Larkin coach Jeremy Bloomberg. "She's gotten better all year long. She's worked really hard and she's worked on her own. Hopefully it will pay off for her at conference and at sectionals."
Throwers Taylor Ryberg (freshman) and Hilary Ottaviano (sophomore) continue to make progress in the discus for the Royals.
Bartlett update: The Hawks have no shortage of talent in the high jump this year. Established jumpers Ian Campoli and Cory Hrynyk have both gone 5-8 this season. Freshman Chris Baumann threw his name into the hat with a 5-10 effort. And multi-sport athlete Josh Hasenberg (football quarterback, club swimmer) has also gone 5-10 since joining the team 3 weeks ago.
Bartlett coach Jeff Bral has also been impressed with triple-jumper Dan Karys and his 1,600 relay team of Jasen Massey, Josafat Gonzalez, Julius Aguas and Karys. Hasenberg is an alternate on that team.
Bartlett will compete in the DuPage County invitational Friday at York in Elmhurst.
Streamwood boys: Both Nick Milne (shot put) and David Shaw (400) have performed at or under state qualifying standards this year.
Shaw has gone 49.7 in the 400.
"Davis is a hard-worker and he's talented," said Streamwood coach Weert Goldenstein. "He comes out here and does what he's supposed to do. He really wants to go to state."
South Elgin update: Junior DeAnton Failla has been a consistent presence for the Storm this season. Failla runs the 200 and is part of South Elgin's 400 and 800 relay teams.
"He's been by far our most consistent this year," said South Elgin coach Dale Schabert.
Freshman Brad Birchfield and senior Josh Guth have also excelled of late for the Storm.
Prairie Ridge boys: David Carbajal established a new school record in the shot put at the McHenry relays (57-9). Prairie Ridge's throw relay teams of Carbajal, Brett Ramirez and Sean O'Conner won the disc and shot relays at McHenry and then won the disc relay and finished third in the shot relay at Palatine.
The eighth-place and 33-point efforts were team highs for the Wolves under coach Judd Shutt.
Prairie Ridge girls: Prairie Ridge is looking to continue to build momentum after finishing fifth at the McHenry County meet earlier this season.
"Our girls have worked extremely hard and have been battling injuries all season," said Wolves coach Matthew Lewis. "The coaches and I are very pleased with the young girls that have stepped up and filled in to help out the team. They have really come together as a team and I believe this will lead to a solid performance at the Fox Valley Conference meet (next Thursday). "We are in a position to battle for third if we run, throw and jump to our capability."
South Elgin girls: The Storm finished second in a recent Upstate Eight Conference triangular against St. Charles North and Elgin.
"That felt good," said South Elgin coach Kari Turcan.
Turcan is preparing her team for the stretch run.
"Last week our girls had definitely hit their plateau and hopefully with our tapering this week they will break out some fast times and long distances," said Turcan.
Jacobs girls: Pole vaulting star Sarah Ross went 11-0 at the Palatine relays, helping Jacobs place second in that relay event.
Jacobs boys: Jacobs coach Jason Borhart lauded the recent efforts of Tim Constant at the Palatine relays. Constant won the 400. "Tim has been very solid for us this year both on the track and as a leader," said Borhart.
St. Edward track: The St. Edward girls 3,200 relay team of Megan Venlos, Nadia Suarez, Karoline Kelly and Ashley Lucas is closing in on the school record in that event.
"They still need to drop 5 seconds, but any one of them can do that," said St. Edward coach Bill Lucas.
Lucas has also been pleased with his boys 400 relay team of Eric Guerrero, Matt Ardiente, Ryan Gilbert and Nick Kerger.
Huntley boys: Huntley was rained out of the Crystal Lake Central invitational last week, but not before discus star Marcus Popenfoose threw 179-feet to break the invite record (the discus event was completed prior to the meet being canceled).
Red Raiders coach Jim Rolando also liked how his group ran at the recent Palatine Relays. The 3,200 relay team of Justin Cassidy, Casey Popenfoose, Sal Torrison and Todd Farbiak won the event, while the 1,600 team of Cassidy, Farbiak, Popenfoose and Josh Sivila finished second. Farbiak ran his best 800 at Palatine in 40 mile-an-hour winds and finished third behind Palatine standout Matt Smoody who clocked in the high 47s for his leg of the 1,600 relay.
Upcoming: The girls season moves into the sectional phase next Friday, while the boys head into conference meet action.
The Fox Valley Conference boys meet will be hosted by Jacobs but held at Huntley next Friday. The Jacobs Athletic Stadium is undergoing renovations (new press box, concession stands, visitor bleachers and seat tops on the home bleachers). Huntley will host a girls sectional the following day.
The Upstate Eight Conference meet will be held next Thursday at St. Charles North, while the Big Northern Conference meet will be hosted by Burlington Central next Thursday as well.
The Suburban Catholic Conference meet will be held Monday, May 12 at Marmion, while the Independent School League meet will be held this Friday at Lake Forest Academy. The Private School League meet will be held next Friday at Chicago Christian. The SCC girls meet is at Rosary on Monday.