Neuqua's fast feet overcome drop
Just how fast are some of Neuqua Valley's relay teams?
The 800-meter relay struggled mightily with a couple exchanges - and still topped the field at Saturday's Red Ribbon Classic at Waubonsie Valley. Later, the anchor runner for the Wildcats' 1,600 relay dropped the baton and had to backtrack a little to pick it up.
Despite the drop, however, Neuqua speedburner Aryan Avant managed to recover just fine, blazing a 51.9 leg that not only allowed the Wildcats to hold off runner-up Thornwood but also turn in a meet- and course-record time of 3:19.5.
"This definitely wasn't our best day," said Avant, who was fourth in the state last spring in the open 400. "All the handoffs were bad today, and in the 4x400 I dropped the baton. I still don't know how that happened."
When you're as talented Neuqua is, you don't have to be perfect, even in a meet featuring some tough competition from the likes of Wheaton Warrenville South, Danville, Thornwood and the host Warriors.
Wildcats coach Mike Kennedy, with his sights set more on the upcoming postseason than on winning an invite on May 1, had Avant and some star teammates sit out the open races. That decision, coupled with several strong efforts by the Tigers, enabled WW South to pull out the team title with Neuqua settling for second place at the 12-team meet.
But Kennedy always expects the most out of his relays and hopes his runners learned a thing or two at the meet. The Wildcats took second to Danville in the 400 relay and third in the 3,200 relay - to go along with victories in the 1,600 and 800 relays.
We tried some different guys in open events," said Kennedy, whose team picked up a boost from Thaddeus Johnson, who overtook WW South's Kevin Piraino late to win an exciting 200-meter final. "In the 4x400 Jamere (Morrison) had such a lead that he kind of fell asleep and he went high 49s."
The coach also wasn't thrilled to see the baton drop but couldn't complain much after the way Avant recovered and dashed his team to the relay title.
"He actually had to go back, stop and pick it up," Kennedy said with the same amazement that was shared by anyone who witnessed the day's final event. "After all that he still runs a 51."
WW South, meanwhile, was solid throughout the meet and highlights included Matt McAndrews' 9:35 PR to win the 3,200 and Lukas Looby's 14-0 winning effort in the pole vault that signaled the Tigers vaulter's continued progress after a knee injury appeared the threaten his senior campaign.
"The first mile was kinda slow, but I guess I know I can outrun these guys the last mile," McAndrews said of the 3,200 in which Neuqua's Jaffar Mahmoud took second. "I let (Mahmoud) handle the wind and I was drafting the first mile and a quarter. Then at the end I was going so hard I didn't feel the wind."
Waubonsie Valley was strong in the field events, where Owen Saldana and Alex Kampf went 1-2 in the discus, Kampf won the shot and Rickie Walls came away with first place in the triple jump. James Davenport added a second in the high jump for the Warriors.