Northwest boys track sectional preview
Class 3A Loyola sectional
When: Today; Field events, 2 p.m.; finals, 3:30 p.m.
What to watch for: The challenge for Prospect and Hersey will be just as fierce as either team will see at the state meet next week. The Knights come into the sectional with one of the top sprinters in junior Nick Batcha, who will race in the 100-and 200-meter dashes and will join an already explosive Prospect 800 relay team. Batcha will also compete in the long jump, where his 22-1 is right on the edge of state qualifying. The Knights and Huskies are loaded in the 3,200-relay. Both teams figure to earn state spots, particularly the Mid-Suburban League champion Huskies, who hold the second-fastest state time this spring at 7:55.0. Prospect, just behind at 8:00, features a solid lineup that includes state meet veteran Albert Ciolek. He highlights a loaded field in the 1,600. Hersey's best chances for other qualifiers will come in the throws, where sophomore Mark Balmes has an excellent chance in the shot put and discus.
Class 3A Palatine sectional
When: Friday; Prelims and field events, 4:30 p.m.; finals 6:30 p.m.
What to watch for: Don't blink. If you do, you will miss some of the best sprint events of any of the Class 3A sectionals. Stevenson, Lake Zurich, Zion-Benton, Waukegan and Fremd bring some of the best sprinters in the state, with each event figuring to be a wire-to-wire battle.
Stevenson junior Brandon Stryganek will face his toughest tests to date in the 100-and 200-meter dashes and in the 400-and 800-meter relay. The 100-meter dash field should be outstanding with Stryganek, Ryan Darcy of Buffalo Grove and Christian Williams of Lake Zurich among the favorites. The sprint relays will also be ones to watch, with Lake Zurich headlining the 400 and 1,600 relay, while Stevenson will be the one to catch in the 800 relay along with Wheeling. The host Pirates boast one of the best distance runners in the state in senior Alec Bollman, who will compete in the 3,200 relay and in the 1,600. Also in the 3,200 relay, Fremd has surged late in the season led by senior Spiros Angelakos. (He will compete in 3,200 relay, the 800 and the 1,600 relay.) The Vikings raced to a season-best 3:25.5 at the MSL conference meet last week and figure to be among the best in that race. Mundelein and Lake Zurich will both contend in the 3,200 relay. Fremd should also see qualifiers in the hurdles where senior Mike Varela is among the states best, and the throws where junior Brian Bobek stands an excellent chance to qualify in the shot and discus. Palatine seniors Chad Bobbit and Tyler Jones will also be shot and discus contenders. The most competitive race figures to be the 800, where Lake Zurich has a 1-2 tandem in Francisco Soto and Alex Brend that both are under the state mark and should qualify in a loaded field. Xavier Suarez of Warren and Gian Carlo Vassalo of Mundelein also stand and excellent chance of qualifying.
Streamwood sectional
When: Friday; field events, 4:30 p.m.; finals, 6:30 p.m. finals.
What to watch for: If you think you are seeing double, you are probably right. Rolling Meadows twins Angelos and Photis Karkalis will look to qualify in the 3,200 and 1,600 and a possible 800-meter race could be in the mix as well for the Mustangs seniors. Senior Jared Diaz returns to the scene of his best discus throw of the year. Conant sophomore sensation Ben Bowers is a likely three-event qualifier. He is the top seed in the 110 high hurdles and a serious threat in the 300 hurdles. His clearing of 6-7 in the high jump last week at the MSL meet puts him in position to qualify there. The Cougars' 3,200 relay will be a threat to make it downstate, led by Kevin Reddington. Senior David Goings is a two-event qualifier waiting to happen in the 200- and 400-meter dashes and as a valuable leg on the 1,600-relay team. Success for Schaumburg will rest on the hamstring of senior Dionte Hackler. One of the top 400-meter runners in the state, Hackler didn't get a chance to race last week in the event because of a hamstring injury. A little TLC could mean a big night for Hackler and the Saxons. The 1,600 relay team would then have an excellent shot at state. Senior Pat Lesiewicz will qualify in either the 3,200 or 1,600 meter run, as will Connor Prizy in the 800. Hoffman Estates is loaded in the hurdles with Shawn Lascalles, Steve Grajek and Mike Denight. Marlen Hamilton is also a likely qualifier in the 800 for Hoffman, as is Kyle Gonzales in the 3,200.
Huntley sectional
When: Friday; prelims and field events, 4 p.m.; finals, 6 p.m.
What to watch for: Barrington will put its considerable depth on the line with an excellent shot at the 3,200 and 1,600 relays. The 400 relay led by Taylor Calacci could also earn a trip downstate. Sophomore distance standout Erik Peterson should see his hard work the last few weeks pay off in the 3,200-meter run. Senior Eric Peterson is a likely qualifier in the 800 and he could end up downstate in the 400. With Alex Kuznicki and AJ Scarbrough in the triple jump, Barrington could get multiple jumpers at state again. Round Lake and Grant will look to get qualifiers through. The Panthers and senior Isaiah Thomas - who just signed with Mississippi Valley State, will look to get through in the sprints, while Sean Wells has a good shot in the 110 hurdles.
Class 2A Grayslake Central sectional
When: Friday; field events, 3:30 p.m.; finals, 6 p.m.
What to watch for: Lakes and Grayslake Central have been among the more consistent performers in Class 2A this spring. The Rams have put together one of the better and deeper sprinting groups in Lake County, led by talented juniors Jahard Nelson and Vinnie Culhane. The depth extends to the 400-meter dash and 1,600-relay, where Jordan Bustos figures to pay a key role. Chris Makey is another potential qualifier in the pole vault. Lakes has put together another fine season with a brilliant blend of sophomores, juniors and seniors and a spunky freshman that could do some serious damage this weekend. Ryan Prais has sparkled this season going all the way back to the Top Times indoor meet in March. Prais will race in the 1,600 for sure and may contribute to the Eagles' 3,200 relay team. Marcel Kirkmanbey looks to get the monkey off his back in the 110 high hurdles. Kirkmanbey qualified as a freshman but has not been downstate since. Bill Brinser and John Pfeiffer also figure to earn state trips in the throws. Antioch senior Brandon Ginter and Wauconda senior Bradon Prate also should qualify in the discus. Mike Beckman of Lakes, Andrew Thompson and Even Spencer of Vernon Hills should also earn qualifying berths.