Batavia repeats Western Sun indoor title

The Batavia Bulldogs boys track and field team earned their second straight Western Sun Conference indoor track title at Sycamore Thursday night, placing first in five of the 15 events en route to scoring 119 points.

Host Sycamore was second with 92.5 points, Geneva was third with 91.5, and Kaneland was fourth with 75.

Two of the Bulldogs first place finishes belonged to J.R. Kabba, who won the 55-meter dash and the 200. In the 200, Kabba used the first 30 meters to find his comfort zone, but then exploded for the final 170 meters to capture the title.

Because the 200 is a longer race, runners might have the tendency to pace themselves, but Kabba said he relies on his endurance and training to avoid that mistake.

"When you run the 200, you have to go all out," Kabba said. "The 55 is all about your block start, but you have to go all out to win the 200. The way you'll lose it is if you don't have enough endurance or you don't run it all out."

Adam Svoboda won the 400 and Brandon Moffatt placed first and third in the triple and long jump, respectively for the Bulldogs. The team of Emund Kabba, Svoboda, Kevin Perkins and David Voland also won the 800 relay for Batavia.

Emund Kabba also finished second in the 55 and third in the 200, Sam Stoner was second in the 800, and Drew Dienslake was third in the 400.

Senior Andrew Nelson of Geneva won the 800, which the Northern Iowa-bound distance runner said was to help get in some speed work before the outdoor season.

"I was trying to get in a little speed work before the season turns over," Nelson said. "I'm hoping to concentrate on the mile (1,600) this year, but right now I'm working on my distance and speed work."

Geneva's team of Drew Hickey, Eric Blake, Kevin Sparks and John Yelle won the 3,200 relay, while Jeff Foster was second in the 400. Tom Frederick was second in the 55-meter hurdles.

Kaneland's Logan Markuson took first in the 55-meter hurdles, anchored the Knights' first-place 1,600 relay team, and even found enough time to wrap up another first place in the pole vault.

"There were a lot of great people out tonight, so I was just trying to do the best I could and things fell into place for me tonight," Markuson said. "I was just coming off the four-by-four (1,600 relay), and then I had to do my last vault, and that was just exhausting."

Kaneland's 1,600 relay team was formed by Lucas Ross, Hayden Johnson, Edgar Valle and Markuson. Nick Simon also won the high jump for the Knights.