Davenport picks six at Carlin Nalley Track and Field Invitational

Let's hear it for the benefits of positive thinking.

"When I woke up this morning, it just felt good," said Waubonsie Valley's James Davenport. "I don't know how to explain it."

It is hard to explain a 6-inch improvement in high jump, Davenport's boost at the 42nd annual Carlin Nalley Track and Field Invitational, on Saturday at Benedictine University in Lisle.

In the dual-class boys meet the junior won the large-school high jump at 6-feet, 4 inches, exploding past his prior best of 5-10.

"I meant to do it to stay in shape for basketball," Davenport said. "But I turned out better than I thought I would."

He helped the Warriors, in their last year at the Nalley before moving to the DuPage County Meet, to a fourth-place big-school finish.

Matt Havlik, Michael Lorenz, Craig Huhtala and Emmett Lorenz were set to run a school record in the 3,200-meter relay but came up a second short with the still sharp time of 7 minutes, 53.89 seconds.

"We've had individuals run better than that," Huhtala said, "and I think that we're ready to go faster."

The Warriors got a second-place finish in the 110 hurdles by Miguel Gonzales and another second in shot put by Andrew Szott.

Benet's John McLaughlin, Jackson Jenkins, Matt Dickey and David Gorenz won the last track event, the 1,600 relay, in the Redwings' season-best 3:26.04.

Jenkins was among the busiest, running two relays and reaching the finals in both the 100 and 200 dashes.

"I'm tired, I'm exhausted, but through it all this has been the best part of my week," Jenkins said. "I love the sport of track. This is the biggest sense of accomplishment I get all week."

Wheaton Academy's Mike DeRenzo dropped time in the 1,600, to 4:37.89, as he eyes a possible Class 2A state berth.

"That's what I'm still aiming for," he said. "About seven seconds (to cut), and I have about two more weeks to get a little more speed training in."

Rolling Meadows won the large-school title with 80.25 points, ahead of Bolingbrook (67), Romeoville (62) and Waubonsie (59).

Fourth-place Lisle (36) had the best local small-school finish behind Oregon, whose 139 points earned a sixth straight Nalley title. Walther Lutheran (127) and Westmont (92) followed.

Lisle's breakout was by Brandon Harris, who placed third in the 200, fifth in the 100 and with third-place high jumper Shepherd Smith also helped the Lions score in the 400 and 800 relays. Spencer Twaddle took second in discus.

Timothy Christian got a win by two-time state qualifier Rob Stein in shot put, at 49-6. The Trojans' Maurice Green finished third in the 400 and led off a third-place 400 relay.

Driscoll's Jeremy Wilk ran a courageous 800. He took it out hard and held off a late surge to win in 1:59.56. Joey Calabrese finished third in triple jump in a personal-best 40-71/2, and Pierre Washington-Steel finished second in the 100, sixth in the 200.

"My school's closing, it's going to be the last time I'll be at this meet forever in a Driscoll uniform," he said. "I'm looking it at it like I've got to do my best."