Block's best gets a little bit better

"I love where I'm at," said Lake Park's Dan Block.

Surpassing his Illinois-best discus mark of 201 feet, 8 inches three times, the legendary senior looks to take Charleston as the event's top seed with the nation's third-best mark for 2009, 208-11 on Friday at the Class 3A Lake Park sectional.

"It definitely made up for the season," said Block, figuring to add a No. 1 seed in shot put at 65-71/2 and joined by teammate Jermaine Kline. "I won't say it was a disappointing season, but it was not a great season by any means. It definitely made up for it."

The defending shot put champion and 2007 discus champ, Block was among the safe-bet qualifiers in Roselle, athletes like Wheaton North's Mike Trumpy, Ivan Tamba and hurdler Matt Shatswell, Glenbard North pole vaulter Tom Stacey Jr., double-qualifying Downers Grove South weight man Tyler Rocco, Benet hurdler/jumper David Gorenz, Wheaton Warrenville South high jumper Dan Hohenstein.

Also: York's Steve Sulkin, down in the 3,200 and 1,600, Dukes 800 men Patrick Morgan and David Way, long jumper Jimmy Sullivan and Khara Williams, who qualified in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and, like Tamba and Trumpy, made it in both the 400 and 800 relays.

"I was pretty nervous coming in," said Williams, one of York's 12 qualifiers, who flew 200 meters in 21.68 seconds to help York win its 15th sectional in 16 years. "As my coach (Stan Reddel) said, if you're not nervous, something must be pretty wrong with you. I just had to perform."

Two-time York all-stater John Fox, behind the 8-ball all season after a hamstring injury, won't get a chance to repeat the 100 and 200.

Glenbard East's Luke Chvatal, however, overcame an indoor soccer injury to reach the 400 and led off the Rams' 3,200 relay, one of five qualifying teams to match the 400 relay contingent.

"I was thinking about scratching out of the 400 because I was pretty tired," Chvatal said. "But I decided to run it. Hard work counts."

Benet's Jerry Olp gained confidence to make the time in the 3,200 after breaking the standard the last two weeks; Wheaton North's C.J. Jossell shook off having his iPod stolen this week by making it in the 110 hurdles, one of 10 Falcons qualifiers including the Waterman twins, James and Jake, in the 3,200.

"I knew I just wanted to go to state," Jossell said of his motivation sans musical therapy.

Then there's Mr. Sectional. In 2008 Wheaton Warrenville South's Kevin Piraino bounded from nowhere to qualify in triple jump. After myriad 43-foot efforts this year, on Friday the junior popped for 45-10.

"It just happened once," Piraino said, "and I'm happy for that."