Kaneland sitting in good position after first day at state
CHARLESTON - What a difference a year - and a healthy limb - makes.
Kaneland's Taylor Andrews ran Friday's fastest preliminary time in the Class 2A 110-meter hurdles at the boys track and field state finals on another 85-degree day at Eastern Illinois University.
A year ago, Andrews failed to reach the 110 finals, or even compete in the 300s at state. He'd rolled an ankle playing basketball the week before sectionals and came up a tad late in the prelims. He scratched out of the 300s at the sectional, a race later won in Charleston in 2A-record time by teammate Logan Markuson.
"I went up for a block," Andrews recalled. When the junior landed he rolled his ankle.
"It feels good, actually, not to have a messed-up ankle. It feels good to come here and compete at 100 percent," said Andrews, who ran the 110s in 14.62 seconds but unlike Markuson, did not qualify for Saturday's 300 hurdles finals.
As for Markuson, the senior will try to defend his 300 title and continue to put his false start in last year's 110 finals behind him. The start wasn't great, but he made the final nine with a time of 14.83.
"When I got in the blocks I did have that feeling like I've been here, done that, with the false start last time," Markuson said. "I think I need to focus on the race rather than what's going on around me."
Kaneland focused sufficiently Friday to position the Knights for a state trophy. Their nine entries are tied with Oak Forest and Crete-Monee and sit just one behind the 10 of Cahokia and defending 2A champion Hillcrest.
"Right now we're sitting pretty good, because a lot of us have qualified for the finals," said senior Edgar Valle, who qualified along with Derek Bus in the open 800-meters and also joined Bus, Markuson and Tommy Whitaker in a qualifying 1,600-meter relay at 3:21.96, just .2 off the school record.
Nick Sinon, third last year in 2A high jump, made Friday's 6-foot-3 cutoff and the Knights also sent their 3,200 relay of Dominic Furco, Sean Paulick, Joe Levita and Trevor Holm into Saturday with a group personal record of 8:06.00.
Marmion's Zach Young went from fifth place in his heat of the 1,600 to battling for the lead with Sycamore's Tyson Kinsley. Young satisfied for second and the third-fastest 2A time, 4 minutes, 22.73 seconds.
"I might have had a little bit left," Young said, "but I figured we were qualified, so I played it safe so I'd be ready for tomorrow."
Also in 2A action, Aurora Central Catholic qualified its 3,200 relay of John Jochum, Jimmy Spencer, Dan Kottkamp and Matt Meyers, with a time of 8:13.26.
"We can go way faster," Jochum said. "Our best time so far is 8:12, basically what we ran, but we hope to go 8:08, 8:07. It's just a matter of putting everything together."
In Class 3A - where Neuqua Valley, Lake Park and East Moline United lead the team race with entries in 8 finals - Geneva's Frank Boenzi sits fourth in shot put at 57 feet, 2 inches, and seventh in discus at 167-11.
"I wanted 60 (feet) right off the bat and put pressure on the other guys. Now the pressure's on me," said Boenzi, seeking a higher finish than his all-state sixth the past two years. "I know I've got more, I've just got to get it tomorrow."
Leon Spears hopes to become West Aurora's second straight 200-meter state champion, following Josh Zinzer, and the senior won his heat at 21.81 seconds. The Blackhawks also advanced Tony Ellison in shot put, Aviance King in high jump and the 800 relay of Matt Souvannasing, Zach Woods, Jarick Phillips and Spears.
State preliminaries are also, unfortunately about those who do not qualify for the finals. Among those boys were Batavia's 800 relay of Dan Skinner, Emund Kabba, Scott Poulos and Jake Benner, St. Charles North sprinter Christian Ilunga and long jumper Daniel Washington, and St. Charles East's 3,200 relay of Tim Johnson, Jared Eads, Mike Decker and Jake Zahn.
"Our goal the whole season was to make it to state," Zahn said. "We finally made it here, and we made a new goal of making it to the finals. And it just didn't happen."
At least St. Charles North Oshay Hodges, who came up short in triple jump, has two more cracks at it. Hopefully still with his trusty Thomas the Tank Engine backpack.
"It was a real fun experience," the sophomore said. "I'm just happy to be down here."