19 years and counting, DVC title stays in Wheaton

Any time, anyplace.

Wheaton North shrugged off Friday's postponement and venue shift to West Aurora from Glenbard East to claim its second straight DuPage Valley Conference boys track title, keeping the title in Wheaton a 19th straight year.

"It doesn't matter where we go, where we run, it's not going to affect the outcome of this meet," Falcons coach Don Helberg had told his troops. "We're going to step up and we're going to perform well. Nothing rattles them."

Wheaton North, whose 159.50 points topped West Aurora (101), Naperville North (88.50) and Wheaton Warrenville South (86), went 1-2 in the 100-meter dash with Ivan Tamba and Mike Trumpy and in the 110 hurdles with Trumpy and C.J. Jossell. James Waterman won the 3,200, Matt Shatswell the 300 hurdles and Jon Frano took the 400 and anchored a victorious 1,600 relay.

Trumpy successfully defended his 2008 hurdles title with a fully automated time of 14.77.

"It means a lot, not only to me but to Coach Helberg," Trumpy said of the old hurdler. "I care a lot because I know he cares a lot. I know it means a lot to him -- as happy as I am, he's just as happy. He's excited, I'm excited."

Naperville Central's Russell Petty was Mr. Excitement. He won high jump, long jump and triple jump all for a second straight season, outdueling West Aurora's Aviance King at 6-foot-8 in high jump and fending off brother Kalen Petty in triple jump. Kalen followed Trumpy and Jossell in the 110 hurdles.

"I'm trying to push him to go farther," Russell said as proud father Emmett sat in the stands. "I want him to beat me. He's good competition for me, especially in triple jump."

Few offer better pole vault competition than Glenbard North's Tom Stacey Jr., but West Chicago's Matt Kubik edged Stacey to became the Wildcats' first DVC outdoor titleist since 2007. Both reached 14-3. Kubik got there first with his 14-foot, 6-inch, 160-pound pole and the techniques of vault coach Paul Omi.

"Really," Kubik said, "it's just about a good, nice, hard drive into the pit. It allows you to work the pole, get quicker and faster, and to get more push off the top."

Like Stacey, WW South's Charlie Pinedo, Naperville North's Tyler Jermann, Glenbard East's Luke Chvatal, Wheaton North's Kevin Volkema and WW South's versatile Kevin Piraino, Glenbard North 300 hurdler Bobby Withington excelled in a top-three finish.

The ailing Withington sought a 39-second time yet still attained a personal record at 40.82 -- with a handicap.

"I can't breathe through my nose," he said. "I've been swallowing phlegm all day."

Near the end, Naperville North pushed past WW South with a 3-4 finish in the 200 by Reilly Breese and Antonio Owens, then Kyle Gibson and Mike Herbert went 1-4 in the 1,600.

Gibson won the 800 handily and survived a surge by WW South's Aaron Peck to win the 1,600 at the end.

"I came in a little short, but that's all right," Peck said. "Kyle Gibson and Herbert and Jake (Waterman) are heck of competitors, so it was a great race."

And it sets up more great races.

"I feel like a lot of my racing -- the final kick and just the mental part of track -- has been kicking in these last few weeks," Gibson said. "It's good timing for that."