Prospect's scoring strategy nets MSL title
The indoor season in track and field means that there is one less event on the agenda for each meet. After all, it would be a little hard to throw a discus indoors.
But even with the subtle difference, the game plan for Prospect and coach Mike Kamedula is the same as it has been since Kamedula took over the program 9 years ago.
"We try and go out each meet and score in each event," Kamedula said. "We try and win every event, but we try to make sure that we score in each even just as much."
On Saturday at the Jim Nagle Mid-Suburban League Indoor Invitational at Lewis University, the Knights scored in all but three events and cruised to the team title with 91 points. Hoffman Estates showed that it will be a force when the outdoor campaign starts in two weeks, finishing second with 74.5 points. Defending indoor and outdoor champion Palatine was third (67 points).
"I don't think I ever expected us to do this," Kamedula said.
"We were down some guys and some others weren't healthy but it's a credit to the kids that stepped up."
Prospect started the meet impressively by taking the 3,200-relay in a meet record time of 8:10.2. Prospect junior Albert Ciolek came from behind to catch and pass runners from Palatine and Schaumburg to help his team to the win. Kenny Halloran, Pat Ford and Ryan Lynch were the other three legs on the Knights relay.
Senior Chris Hayek, despite running at far less than 100-percent, dominated the 800-meter run to win in a meet record time of 1:57.6. Marlen Hamilton of Hoffman Estates (1:59.5) and Sam Zielke of Hersey took the next two spots.
The only other event win for the Knights came in the shot put. Senior Matt Babicz tossed an indoor-season-best 52-feet, 10-inches to hold off a pair of throwers from Fremd. Jack Kanopka tossed a personal best 51-21/2 followed by teammate Christian Lombard (48-101/2).
The runner-up Hawks got the day started right with an impressive run by junior Kyle Gonzalez. Gonzalez dropped more than 14 seconds off his seed time to win the race in 9:34.0. Chano Bernard of Palatine and Erik Rodriguez of Wheeling finished second and third, respectively.
Hoffman earned its other event win by taking the triple jump. Cory Smith outleaped Alvin Augustine of Hersey with a best effort of 43-6.
The defending MSL champion Pirates looked sharp in the sprints on Saturday led by senior Chris Norman. Norman captured the 200-meter dash (23.50) and was just a whisker behind the winner in the 55-meter dash placing third in 6.6. The Pirates' other win came in the pole vault, where senior Dan LaRocca cleared 13 feet.
Barrington was a victim of spring break, but the Broncos still managed a fourth-place team finish. Jason Taylor got the Broncos going with a 1-2 finish in the 55-meter high hurdles. Taylor also took the 55-meter low hurdles to complete the sweep.
Wheeling, which hosted the event, had sensational days from Weston Ross and Jarrett Austin. Austin cleared an indoor personal best 6-6 to win the high jump, while Ross was second at 6-0. Ross then took the long jump competition, edging out Smith of Hoffman with a leap of 21-4. The Wildcats' Ross, Austin James Kurtz and Max Osipov captured the 800-meter relay in 1:36.50.
Fremd earned a pair of wins by taking the 1,600-meter relay and the 400-meter dash. Justin Fujii, Spiros Angelakos, Alex Rourke and Ben Bodicott ran a season-best 3:35.80. Rourke also won the open 400 in 52.50.
Pat Lesiewicz was the lone Schaumburg winner, taking the 1,600 impressively in 4:27.70.