Mission accomplished: Lakes wins sectional

Kurt Rowells recalls the exact date he and his Lakes boys track and field coaching staff discussed the No. 1 goal for their team this spring.

And now the Eagles head coach has another date to commit to memory.

May 21, 2010.

More than four months after Lakes' coaches sat down on Jan. 5, the first day back after the holiday break, and made winning a Class 2A sectional their top priority, their athletes delivered on a cool Friday evening that was perfect for running.

Led by hurdler/jumper Marcell KirkmanBey and throwers John Pfeiffer and Bill Brinser, Lakes totaled 105 points at Grayslake Central on Friday to outdistance runner-up Crystal Lake Central by 12 points and capture the first sectional championship in its five years as a varsity program.

"Top to bottom, it was just a special night," said an emotional Rowells, who was hoisted in the air by his athletes and given a short victory ride.

Added KirkmanBey: "It just shows all the hard work and dedication that's been put into this program since it hit the ground."

KirkmanBey, who noted how Lakes was at the "bottom of the barrel" when it started up, wore one of the bigger smiles on the team, and he had every reason.

He made state in the 110-meter hurdles (second, 14.79), high jump (tie for second, 5-11) and long jump (third, 21-8.5).

He earned redemption in the 110s, a year after being called for a false start in the finals at sectionals.

"To this day, I believe I did not false start junior year," KirkmanBey said. "But it's in the past. I shook it off as soon as it happened and said I got to look beyond to next year. Today I made it in three events. I had to make up for the past two years not making it in hurdles."

Rowells couldn't have been prouder of freshman Ryan Prais, who qualified for state in the 800 (1:57.25, third) and missed by less than a second in a fast 1,600 that saw seven runners clock state-qualifying.

"Even though he didn't qualify in the mile, it takes a lot of guts to run a 4 by 800 (3,200 relay), an (800) and a mile (1,600)," Rowells said.

The Eagles' 400 relay placed third but went a state-qualifying time of 43.81 with Mike Beckman, Mike Pfeiffer, Donte Arnold and Tyler Swindle.

John Pfeiffer and Brinser placed 1-2 in the discus with throws of 160-3 and 152-4, respectively. They were 2-3 in the shot put with Brinser splashing sand at 55-3 and Pfeiffer 54-10.

Lakes' other state qualifiers were Beckman in 200 (second, 22.61), Swindle in the 400 (third, 50.38) and Arnold in the 300 hurdles (second, 41.41)

Said Rowells: "When you look at the senior leadership that we have with Nick Lillig, Marcell, Bill Brinser, Joel DeGrave, and the way they teach these younger kids how to be a part of this program ... it's just special."

Grayslake Central's Jahard Nelson had himself a special night.

The junior might have been the meet's most impressive sprinter, as after not making it downstate last year, he went 4-for-4.

Nelson anchored the runner-up 400 relay (Dan Hsu, Mike Katona, Vinnie Culhane; 43.39) and the victorious 800 relay (Culhane, Jordan Bustos, Katona; 1:29.45), and also won the 100 (11.25) and 200 (22.4) dashes.

"The best race? Probably that right there," Nelson said after edging Beckman in the 200. "I thought I was going to catch a cramp (near the turn)."

He didn't, however, and the rest was history.

"If I get my straightaway," Nelson said, "I'm gone."

Before anchoring Grayslake Central's runner-up 1,600 relay - which also included Bustos, Will Reed and Matt Mohrfeld - Rams senior Ryan Seiffert secured the first state berth of his career. He was elated after running a qualifying time of 1:57.87 (fifth) in the 800. That, after he shaved four seconds off his previous best time.

"Relief," Seiffert said when asked to describe his emotions. "If I didn't qualify (for state) my senior year, I felt like my four years of running was kind of a waste. But it's all worth it now."

Grayslake Central, which finished third with 81 points, also got through Chris Makey in the pole vault (second, 13-3) and Bryant Jennings, who Rams coach Brent Pitt said "came out of nowhere" to win the triple jump (44-7).

"It was a good meet all and all," Pitt said. "The kids came to perform."

Vernon Hills junior Evan Spencer qualified for state in the 100 (second, 11.27) but just missed in the 200. The Cougars also got through Andrew Thompson in the 1,600 (fourth, 4:25.75).

Antioch's Brandon Ginter made state both in the shot put (fifth, 51-4) and discus third, 150-6).

At Huntley: Grant qualified two competitors for the Class 3A state meet. Sophomore Sean Wells made it through in the 110 high hurdles (third, 14.67), and junior Kyle Lombardino advanced in the discus (second, 149-6).

Round Lake sophomore Antonio Farley won the 400 (50.84) to earn a state berth.