So far, Willowbrook’s Porter has no peer
Chemise Porter was not to be denied last Saturday at Glenbard West.
The Willowbrook junior has only been defeated one time at 200 meters the last two years, in the Class 3A state finals last spring.
Porter captured the event at the Sue Pariseau Invitational with a blistering time of 24.53 seconds. Earlier in the day, Porter won the 100 dash in 12.12 seconds.
“I think she is right there with (Waubonsie Valley junior Morolake) Akinosun and the Lincoln-Way (East) girl (defending 100-meter champion Aaliyah Brown) at 200 meters,” said Naperville North coach Chuck Hoff.
On the leader board:Titus Davis has people. They hit the Internet to see where the Wheaton Warrenville South senior ranks nationally in long jump.Davis jumped 23 feet, 11 inches at the Tigers#146; own Red Grange Invitational on Thursday. After the weekend#146;s action, the track and field website Dyestat had Davis tied at No. 23 nationally in long jump, though four marks were noted as being wind-aided. Davis#146; distance of 23-7 during the indoor season ranked 12th in the country. His teammates will surely keep him posted.#147;After the weekend they check Dyestat every day, and they tell me where I am in the country,#148; said Davis, who will play wide receiver for Central Michigan#146;s football team.#147;It doesn#146;t really faze me, I don#146;t care about it. I come out here and try to do my best every time. I don#146;t care where I#146;m placed in the country.#148;Broncettes: At Oregon last week, Montini#146;s girls placed fourth out of the 16 teams there. A few juniors led the way.Ericka Laviste won the 3,200-meter run in a time of 11 minutes, 36.83 seconds. That set a school record, faster than the 11:39.24 Laviste clocked last spring at the Class 2A Glenbard South sectional.In the 3,200 relay Brittany Fisher, Alex Briggs, Catherine Kitz and Theresa Connelly, Broncos coach Pete Connelly#146;s daughter, ran a time of 10:16.45. That#146;s off the 2A qualifying standard of 10:05.04, but without Laviste.Montini#146;s juniors were heavy hitters in the throws. Bianca Maduko won the shot put competition at 34 feet, 6frac12; inches, while Claire Biederman took second in discus at 95-9.Brothers in arms:Just a freshman, Wheaton Academy#146;s Nathan Lopez set a school discus record Saturday at Kaneland#146;s Peterson Prep Invitational.Should Lopez ever need advice help is a brief drive away. His brother is Loyola freshman Deven Lopez, a former three-year captain for the West Chicago Wildcats. Deven currently leads the Ramblers in both discus and shot put and owns the second-best javelin mark.While Nathan Lopez set Wheaton Academy#146;s boys discus record, fellow freshman Jenna Thiel did the same in girls shot put. In fact, Thiel broke the existing record then broke her own mark again later last week.On the track for the Warrior boys, coach Bill Bickhart is encouraged by his young sprint relay group of Matt Ruff, David Leffler, Justin Sergeant and Joel Swick. #147;For freshmen and sophomores, these guys are rolling,#148; Bickhart said.Wrist issue:It was easy to identify St. Francis#146; Jeff Rutkowski on Thursday at the Red Grange Invitational. He was the one running and jumping with a cast on his right wrist.Proving sand is not as soft as it looks, Rutkowski broke his wrist playing beach volleyball.#147;I think I fell on it, I#146;m not sure,#148; said Rutkowski, who hopes to get the cast off by late May. #147;I didn#146;t go to the doctor until two weeks after. I thought it was a bruise.#148;At WW South the junior competed in the 200-meter dash, the 800 relay and long jump. He said he had difficulty using his arms to help propel him forward in long jump, #147;but the adrenalin came through.#148;In the 200 dash he must put his left hand down rather than get in the starting blocks with both hands on the start line. Having played running back on the Spartans football team, familiarity with a three-point stance helps his balance, at least somewhat.#147;But, I mean, a start#146;s a start,#148; Rutkowski said. #147;It all depends on how I wind up.#148;Distance demons:There is a growing sense the girls 3,200-meter relay could see groundbreaking results by the time the state series commences.WW South coach Rob Harvey said the nine-minute barrier could be broken under the optimum conditions and elite competition.#147;I think there are four or five teams that could break (Barrington#146;s state record of 9:04.14), and someone might be able to get below nine minutes,#148; Harvey said.Schaumburg has three returning members from its reigning 3A champion in the relay, but Downers Grove North has posted the lowest time this year, 9:27.1, with the foursome of Gabbie Hesslau, Stephanie Urbancik, Gaby Effrein and Jillian Kothanek.York returns all four runners from its runner-up crew that had the seventh-fastest time in state history last year, the 9:10.91 of Rebecca Zaiter, Stephanie Huster, Kayla Spencer and Michelle Frigo.WW South could be the ultimate wild-card, though.#147;I#146;m not saying we#146;re going to be one of them,#148; Harvey said of the Tigers#146; potentially combustible group of half-milers led by McKenna Kiple, Mikayla Kightlinger and Hope Schmelzle.Ÿ Kevin McGavin contributed to this report.