Benet finds lack of pressure 'liberating' at big invitational
At last week's coed Gus Scott Invite at Naperville North, Benet coach Scott Brooks lacked big guns McKinzie Schulz and Katie Porada, off at a religious retreat until they dramatically reappeared late into the meet.
Without the two stars for all but a victorious 1,600-meter relay, Brooks had no illusions of stealing the meet from eventual champion Cary-Grove or powerful New Trier or Waubonsie Valley.
"We don't have a prayer to win this meet tonight," he said with candor. "Actually, it's kind of liberating."
The Redwings took what they could. One of the highlights was hurdler Jenny Bohac. She reached the finals of the 100-meter high hurdles and took fifth, behind winner Ayo Adewole of Waubonsie Valley.
Later, Bohac returned in the 300 hurdles simply hoping to do her best working a new technique that had to do with her steps between hurdles.
Again, she encountered Adewole. After the first 100 meters, however, Bohac was in position, and she kept coming, surging to victory.
"Oh, my gosh," she exclaimed after winning in 47.31 seconds.
"I knew when I had her on the corner I was like, 'Oh, I got this. She started yelling, 'No, no!' and I was like, 'Yes, I can do this!' She's dying and I've got some more left."
Speedy Halbi: Addison Trail's boys are centered around sprints. At the center of that speed is senior Matt Halberthal.
On April 11 at Glenbard South "Halbi" ran the 200 meters in 22.20 seconds. Last Friday at Leyden's Big Bear Invite, Halberthal blistered the 100 in 10.65 seconds.
The Blazers also won the 400 and 800 relays. Junior Robert Ellis took third in both the 100 and 200, while Frank Cervantes - in 2008 he went downstate in the 200, AT's first qualifier in years - won long jump.
Of Halberthal's 100 times, Addison Trail coach Bruce Kelsay quipped, "I guess it helps to be 145 pounds and running with the wind."
Young and old: St. Francis coach Scott Nelson describes his programs pretty much the same way on both the boys and girls sides.
"We're young, and we're going to have to earn our keep this year," the 22-year veteran said of the boys. "And then over the next couple years we're going to be pretty strong."
On the boys team distance leads the way, and there is experience. At Lisle Sean Montague ran a nice double of 9 minutes, 42 seconds in the 3,200 and 4:31 in the 1,600. Joe Giamberdino and Joe Germanos have handled the middle distance, and Nelson's own son, senior Andrew Nelson, is around in the hurdles and jumps to help offset eight sophomore starters.
One of them, James Ferguson, has gotten off to a good start in the hurdles. The Spartans also have some promising freshmen in field events.
On the girls side junior Kelly McShea has run well in the 1,600 and 800, while Katy Garcia is already at 5 feet, 2 inches in high jump, 16-9 in long jump. Senior Allison Cochrane is over 90 feet in discus.
As she has the prior three years, Sarah Torres does a little bit of everything. She's an accomplished hurdler, runs a decent 200 time and also competes in triple jump for the Spartans.
With help from underclassmen, Scott Nelson thinks the girls may give Walther Lutheran and Rosary something to think about.
"We've got a very young team, a very inexperienced team, but they're doing a good job," he said.