Benet, Glenbard East enjoy the party at Hinsdale South
Benet, Glenbard East and host Hinsdale South all brought something to the track party that was the annual Mike Yavorski Invite.
Downers Grove South? It held its own party on Friday - a prom. The only Mustangs seniors in Darien were thrower Tyler Rocco, 100-meter winner Jeremy McNeal and 800-meter man Spencer Zidarich.
"We're the only seniors, kind of representing our team. So we were just going to go out and perform as best as we could and have fun," said Rocco, still throwing with his teammates 45 minutes after shot put was done. Perhaps that's why Downers South double-scored in both discus and shot, Rocco winning each at 159 feet, 8 inches and 52-31/2, respectively.
Before everyone starts taking potshots, yes, he could get a date to the prom. Girlfriend Shannon didn't want to go either.
"I went last year and I missed this meet," Rocco said. "I decided I didn't want to go this year and I'd rather compete."
Benet Academy competed on both ends of the spectrum. Jerry Olp fought off a 25-mph wind to win the 3,200-meter run, and the Redwings' Paul Clifford finished second to Glenbard East's Luke Chvatal in the 800.
The Redwings also used their speed to win the 400 and 800 relays. Benet got a break in the latter, finishing second by a nose to Downers South, which was disqualified for passing the baton out of the exchange zone.
"I didn't know that we'd won. I found out a couple minutes afterward that they got DQ'd," said John Kawka, who joined Mike Gallo on both winning relays. Jackson Jenkins and Matt Dickey ran the 400; Elliot Howe and Kevin Doyle were in the 800 relay and also combined for 23 points spanning long, triple and high jump.
Glenbard East won the two distance relays, Jim Peters running on both 3,200 and 1,600 squads which also splintered off titlists Chvatal in the 800 and Brad Magnetta in the 400. Ram Matt Kapustka won the 110-meter hurdles.
When the dust cleared, though, Hinsdale South won the meet with 144 points, scoring in all but one event. The hosts got titles from Dominique Abiogom in the 300 hurdles, Ryan Johnson in high jump, a booming 46-foot, 8-inch triple jump by 2009 all-stater Devin Lee and a surprise 200-meter win at 22.3 seconds by freshman Tavaris Binion, ahead of McNeal and Hornet Kevin Miller.
A football running back and safety, Binion called track "just a secondary sport." He may have to audible.
"It just keeps me in shape for football, and now that I'm having success in it I wouldn't even mind having it as a career," he said.