Records fall at Hodge meet

Team scores weren't officially kept but several meet records were shattered during Saturday's annual Batavia/Les Hodge boys track and field meet.

The host Bulldogs received a record-breaking individual performance from senior J.R. Kabba in the 400 (49.09), who returned to anchor the 1,600 relay team to another new meet standard (3:27.52).

"I was most proud of the 400 because last year I pulled my hamstring and I wasn't able to run," said Kabba, who also knocked a few fractions of a second off his previous personal record in the 400. "To start off with 49.09 - that's the best I've started out any season.

"I'm already on my way to hopefully running better times this year. I've got to keep training hard but it's definitely a good starting point for the rest of the season."

Kabba, who teamed with sophomore brother Emund, Drew Dienslake and Andy Thomas in the day's final event, overtook St. Charles North's Steven Miller on the final turn to help the Bulldogs claim the 1,600.

"I kept pace where I was slowly gaining on him," said Kabba. "He's (Miller) a good runner. He won the 800 and is well on his way to running a state time so I had to give some thought to it."

St. Charles North also broke the previous meet record while placing second (3:28.65).

"I really didn't mind too much at all," Miller said of being passed by Kabba. "It's just an honor to race against him actually."

Earlier in the day, Miller enjoyed his record-setting effort while capturing the 800 (1:59.05).

"I took it out aggressively," said Miller, who had set the previous meet mark (2:00.0) a year ago. "My plan was to go out the first 600 meters and then see how I could finish."

Batavia's Drew Schmitt rallied past Geneva's Drew Hickey to win the 1,600 (winning time of 4:32.68).

The North Stars' Andrew Carlson tied the meet mark and his personal record while winning the high jump (6-4).

"It's a great way to start the season," he said. "At times, I've nicked the bar and it has stayed up but today I was way over it and I felt good."

Geneva junior Frank Boenzi, who placed sixth in the shot put at the state meet a year ago, was a double-event winner in the shot put (54-1/4) and discus (146-3.5), while teammate Andrew Nelson captured the 3,200 (9:36.90), ran a leg on the Vikings' victorious 3,200 relay (8:18.78), placed second in the 800 (2:01.74) and was a member of the third-place 1,600 relay team.

"I'm very happy with what they've done today," said Geneva coach Gale Gross. "Frank has been very consistent, which is very important for him.

"And Andrew is being a workhorse today and doing a great of it. He quadrupled for us."

Burlington Central displayed its sprinting strength with wins in the 400 relay (43.84) and 800 relay (1:32.18). Kyle Kita added a pair of victories in the 100 (11.12) and 200 (22.90), while Trey Llanes won the 110 hurdles (15.72) and Joe Manzie took first in the pole vault (12-6).

"Last year, we had a very strong relay team and we lost Danny (Hagberg) but we've just replaced him with Kyle Kita," said Mitch Plum, who ran on both the 400 and 800 relay squads. "This was my first relay this year because I was injured (sprained neck suffered in a hockey game last month) so I was kind of nervous going into it. But our team is strong so there's really nothing to worry about."

Batavia coach Dennis Piron came away pleased from his team's first outdoor invite.

"I'm very happy with where we're at as a team," said Piron. "Last year at a few of those early meets I think we got a little too excited at times, and I don't think I did a real good job of managing the early season stuff.

"Now we're worrying more about the workout and less about the competition."