Burlington shines at Freeport sectional
The Burlington Central boys track and field team overcame its recent rash of sickness and injuries to shine at the Class 2A Freeport sectional Friday night.
The Rockets qualified four individuals and two relay teams for next weekend's state meet in Charleston, and scored 58 points to finish fourth in the sectional field. Kaneland won the meet with 99 points, Sycamore was second with 66 and Freeport third with 60.
The Rockets had one running champions as senior Nick Smith won the 200-meter dash in a time of 22.95. Central's Mitch Plum ran a state-qualifying time of 50.74 in the 400, good for third place.
Central's Paco Wleklinski set a school record with his 14 foot, 9 inch pole vault, which was also good for second place and a berth in the state finals.
Tre Llanes took second in the triple jump for the Rockets with a leap of 42-63/4.
BC's 400-meter relay team won the sectional title in a time of 43.46. Team members were Kyle Kita, Plum, TJ Pasia and Smith. Tom Gast then replaced Plum on the 800 relay team that finished third in a state qualifying time of 1:31.88.
"I'm very happy," said Central coach Mike Schmidt. "Our relays have been a mess the last couple of weeks with sickness and injury so for them to get it together and get downstate is a great accomplishment for those kids."
Hampshire also had one state qualifier as sophomore Ray Quesada finished second in the 300 hurdles in a time of 41.34.