Dundee-Crown's Prom improving

Dundee-Crown senior Nathan Prom is on a mission.

The Chargers' half-miler missed qualifying for state last season by one-tenth of a second, but Prom is hovering around the at-large time this year after clocking a 1:57.54 in the 800 on Saturday at the Mike VanDeveer Invitational in Geneva.

"Today I was really working to get a good time," Prom said. "The wind was wicked. I just wanted and tried to hammer out a good time."

The Chargers, who tied Burlington Central with 54 points apiece, had Patrick Livengood providing a charmed life in the high and long jump. The senior was runner-up in both events, and Max Kittle contributed with a third-place effort in the 110 highs.

Michael Gulik ended the meet in style for Central when the sophomore ran an explosive anchor leg in the 1,600 relay to resuscitate the Rockets' fortunes with their only championship.

"I just kept going, 'Sprint, sprint, sprint,' " Gulik said. "(My sixth-place finish in the open 400) gave me motivation."

"We were a little nervous (Gulik) wouldn't be able to finish going out that fast," Central coach Mike Schmidt said. "We want to beat them up now, so we will have them ready for the end of the season."

Tre Llanes' second-place result in the triple jump led the Rockets' field performers.

Lamont Norwood scored the lone point for short-handed Larkin in the triple jump as well.

With consistency across the board, Geneva won the eight-team invitational with 112 points. McHenry had five more points than Niles North to finish second.