Willowbrook's Jordan sets the pace
Willowbrook senior Anthony Jordan realizes just about the only person stopping him from achieving his track and field goals is Anthony Jordan.
"I've got to stay out of trouble and everything and work hard at practice, come on time at practice. That's the main thing that's holding me back," he said.
Friday night at the 20th annual Pirate Indoor Classic at Proviso West's 200-meter track, Jordan proved that on the track few are his peer.
Running out of the second-slowest heat of the 400 dash, with a seed time of 56.21 seconds, Jordan ripped off a time of 51.28, well ahead of quality Glenbard South quarter-miler Garret Payne's 51.51 in the fast heat. Payne later won the 55 in a lean over Batavia's Emund Kabba.
Jordan didn't even bring a seed time to the 200 hurdles but attacked them to perfection to win at 26.31, ahead of Glenbard North sophomore Malcolm Heard and Lake Park's Larry Matthies, each in much faster heats.
This was Jordan's first full week of practice. Warriors coach T.J. Artman would like it to become a habit.
"I had fun with him this week," Artman said. "It's like, wouldn't he want to be doing this? I hope this motivates him."
Motivating efforts were many. Glenbard South's Nick Boesso went 48 feet, 8 inches to take the Raiders' sophomore record. Fenton's Michael Wojcik finished right behind Boesso in fourth with a personal-best 48-43/4.
"Today I was very pleased with the last throw," Wojcik said. "I just had a quicker release."
Winner Chad Bobbit of Palatine, who threw 50-11, just loves the crude upper deck facility.
"I think it's just an exciting place to be, especially with the atmosphere, with everybody yelling and then you're up here in a prisonlike cage. It's a fun atmosphere," Bobbit said.
Glenbard North had its second sub-10 minute 3,200 this indoor season when Garrett Gingras kicked it home. Later, the first Panther to go sub-10, Kyle Flores, won the 1,600 as well.
York entered only its sophomore and varsity 3,200 relays, the latter going 7 minutes, 55 seconds. That ranks 12th in the nation, Dukes coach Stan Reddel said.
Batavia had a couple key wins, Sam Stoner hustling past Palatine's Alec Bollman to take the 800, and Rob Mohr nipping Buffalo Grove's Mike Garrity in the 55 hurdles. On the cusp of the outdoor season, winning wasn't everything.
"We're leaving happy and healthy," said Palatine coach John Nalley. "That's key for us right now."
Glenbard North won the meet with 111 points, ahead of Glenbard South's 100 and 99 for East St. Louis.