Lakes fields another Prairie winner

It may be just one phase of the track season for Lakes and coach Kurt Rowells, but it’s a phase the Eagles have seemingly mastered.

Since joining the North Suburban Conference’s Prairie Division, the Eagles have won the division title every year but their first, in 2005.

Lakes extended their streak of consecutive division titles against the same team it started against — Grant.

In much the same fashion and by the same exact score, Lakes captured its fifth consecutive division crown 85-61 over the visiting Bulldogs on a chilly, windy afternoon in Lake Villa.

“When we won it the first time, things just started to snowball after that for us,” Lakes coach Kurt Rowells said. “This is a phase of our season that we are now through and we have to get ready for the next phase on the schedule.”

Before the Eagles could look ahead, they clearly could look back on a fine afternoon led by a host of seniors.

Brown-bound senior John Pfeiffer won a great battle in the discus, edging Grant senior Kyle Lombardino on his last throw by half an inch. Pfeiffer’s best effort was 162 feet, 1 inch.

In the shot, Lombardino got the best of Pfeiffer, throwing his season best of 52-10½ to edge Pfeiffer by 4½ inches.

“I like facing good competition,” Pfeiffer said of his battle with Lombardino. “When the meets get bigger and the competition better, that’s when I like to compete.”

Lombardino was still solid a week after breaking the school record with a toss of 172-10. His best mark of 162-0½ on Monday was still over state qualifying.

“The competition really makes me push myself,” said Lombarino, who is currently choosing between Illinois State, Western Illinois and Wisconsin-Oshkosh for his college choices.

“When I see great competition like this, it makes me want to throw harder and farther.”

On the track, the Eagles captured two wins in the 3,200-meter relay (8:51.9) and the 1,600 relay (3:34.7). Sophomore Ryan Prais captured event wins in the 800 (2:04.4) and the 1,600 in 4:54.9.

The banged-up Bulldogs battled through to capture two sprint relays led by senior Leo Minne. Minne, along with Sean Wells, Dillon Waters and Matt Spears took the 400 relay in 44.2. Minne won the 100 dash and proceeded to help the 800 relay team that included Keion Miller, Waters and Spears to a win in 1:33.1.