Distance relays, discus among locals' most promising odds in Charleston

In the sport of track and field, the discus conjures up images of a device hurled by ancient athletes blessed with uncommon strength.

Not much has changed since in either the mythology or the transcendence of the event.

Two weeks ago at the Upstate Eight Conference championship, defending Class AA state champion Dan Block of Lake Park and reining runner-up Brett Einbecker of Waubonsie Valley put on an exhibition still being talked about in local circles.

Einbecker had the third longest throw in state history -- almost 198 feet -- and was not even crowned the league champion as Block eclipsed the magical 200-foot barrier for the second time this season.

As the boys two-class state track and field finals commence today in Charleston, the two throwing events are dominated by area athletes.

Kaneland senior Phil Christensen wants in on the action.

"It's been an amazing year in the discus this year," Kaneland coach Eric Baron said.

Block and Einbecker exceeded 190 feet in their respective sectional-championship performances to snare the top-two seeds, but Christensen was right there -- with one slight drawback.

Two of the throws landed barely out of bounds at the base of the Rock Island fence.

"We measured the fence, and it was 190 feet from the ring," Baron said. "We were afraid (Christensen) was going to throw out of the zone of the field."

Christensen had to "settle" for a winning sectional throw of 171-10.

The IHSA only recognizes state records from the Friday preliminaries and Saturday finals, but the existing record in the discus -- 192-1 by Mike Minton of Salem in 1992 -- seems especially vulnerable this weekend.

"I wholeheartedly believe Brett will throw over 200 feet next week," Waubonsie Valley coach Brian Beyers said after Einbecker won the West Aurora sectional title with a distance of 190-7 last Friday.

Block, who is also the top seed in the shot put at 61-11, threatened 197 feet at Palatine.

But Christensen served notice earlier this spring when he set a new benchmark at the Kane County meet with a throw of 184-11.

"He has the capability to throw in the 190 range," Baron said. "It should be an interesting competition."

West Aurora senior Juan Perez ended a season-long slump in the shot put when he bettered his sectional-seed distance by four-plus feet to earn the sixth seed in the state finals.

"He was coming off an injury from wrestling," West Aurora coach Cortney Lamb said of Perez. "He's been capable of doing that for the past couple of weeks. Juan definitely has his form back from last year."

Teammate Kevin Costin is another threat for the Blackhawks in the shot put.

"To make the state finals in any event, it's going to take your best effort of the season," Lamb said.

Geneva sophomore Frank Boenzi is having one of the most memorable underclass three-sport seasons in recent years.

Recognized as one of the top football recruits in his class, Boenzi made the state finals as a heavyweight in wrestling and punched a ticket to Charleston in the shot put last Friday.

Marmion junior Joe Webber eked out the final local berth in the shot put when he qualified as the fifth at-large thrower out of West Aurora.

The 3,200-meter relay is also shaping up as the premier event on the track for the local athletes making the trip to Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Stadium.

St. Charles North has designs on a finals berth after being denied a season ago, while Geneva was the indoor state champions in the event; St. Charles East also made the field.

"We learned last year you just can't take anything for granted," St. Charles North coach Kevin Harrington said. "What happened last year never happened prior. It was just lightening in a bottle, and it went against us. It's water under the bridge."

The North Stars' quartet ran a preliminary time that had never failed to reach the finals, only to be on the sidelines for the Saturday finals.

St. Charles North is the third seed in the event behind the quartet of Scott Speare, Steven Miller, Max Clink and Chris DeSilva.

Miller and Clink are also representing the school in the open 800 meters; DeSilva is a leading contender in the open mile.

St. Charles North has a pair of 3,200 runners -- Mike Strasser and Rhett Morici -- to showcase its stable of middle- and long-distance runners.

"We don't like to worry about places," Harrington said. "You can't control what other people are doing."

St. Charles East has the all-senior quartet of Pat Matthews, Tyler Dettro, Joe Mushrush and Dave Arends vying for a Saturday appearance in the 3,200 relay.

"It's going to be tough (to make finals)," St. Charles East coach Ben Provencher conceded. "There are a lot of schools who are going to run 7:52 or 53. We'll see if we can get there."

Marmion miler Josh Stein is another distance runner with eyes on a finals berth.

St. Charles East sprinter Keenan Sellers has designs on the 100-200 sprint double.

Josh Zinzer is gunning for a finals berth in the 200 meters, and the West Aurora junior is state-savvy after back-to-back Saturday runs in the mile relay the last two seasons.

Zinzer also anchors the Blackhawks' 800 relay.

Tony Knight is not only also returning for West Aurora in the 1,600 relay; the senior is in the open 400 meters, too.

Lamb is particularly hopeful for Joel Vincent in the triple jump after the Blackhawks' standout won the event last Friday at home.

"Joel will be in the best flight of the triple jump, and I think we have a good chance with AV (Aviance King) in the high jump," Lamb said.

Kaneland sophomore Logan Markuson continued the Knights' unrivaled string of excellence in the pole vault when he cleared 13-9 at Rock Island last week.

"This is the 25th year in a row we've qualified a vaulter to the state meet," Baron said.

Kaneland rounded out its state contingent with the 800 and 1,600 relays earning berths.

In addition to Boenzi and its 3,200 relay, Geneva has a two-event qualifier in Joe Augustine (high jump and 400 meters) as well as junior Andrew Nelson in the 1,600.

Batavia suffered a blow when junior standout Bai Kabba was injured in the Bulldogs' 400-meter-qualifying-relay.

It proved to be the only event Batavia qualified.

"He would have qualified in the 400, the 200 and the 4-by-2," Batavia coach Dennis Piron said.

Juniors Brandon Oest and Dylan Melody carry the hopes of Class A Aurora Christian in the high jump and 400 meters, respectively.