Burlington Central hopes to have what it takes
Burlington Central's boys track team would like to get back to the top of the mountain.
The Rockets, one of the area's most consistently strong teams throughout the years, last won the Big Northern Conference outdoor title in 2008.
Central along with defending conference champion and Class 1A state runner-up Winnebago are two of the favorites heading into today's BNC meet at Richmond.
“Winnebago should dominate the sprint events and we should be strong in the distance and hurdles,” said Central coach Mike Schmidt. “Relays and field events may decide the conference champion.”
The Rockets have a number of conference title contenders, including the likes of senior Tre Llanes (110 high hurdles and triple jump), junior Clint Kliem (3,200 and 1,600), junior Mike Gulik (800) and senior Michael Kellenberger (300 hurdles). Llanes has gone 45-1 in the triple, 22-0 in the long jump and has run 14.6 in the 110 hurdles — all marks that are in the Top 8 in Class 2A, according to one outlet. Kellenberger's 39.39 in the 300 hurdles ranks second in Class 2A, while Kliem has run 9:35.4 in the 3,200, 4:28.2 in the 1,600 and 1:59.2 in the 800 (all Top 10 times). Gulik also has run a 1:59.2 in the 800.
Central's 3,200 and 400 relays are also strong. Kliem, Gulik and juniors Joe Gannon and Mason Creal have gone 8:06.6 (Top 5 in Class 2A), while Kellenberger, Llanes, senior Tyler Panariello and junior Parker Demoss have run 43.7 (Top 12 in the state).
Hampshire sports a young team, paced by the likes of Jared Butler (4:44 in winning the 1,600 at the Rockford Auburn invitational), Peter Sonnefeldt (38-10 triple jump) and Jarret McArdle (39-0 shot put and 117-6 discus).
“We are a very young team,” said Hampshire coach Steve Bruhn. “We re just starting to get some of our best times. We are getting better with each meet. We hope to score some points in a very competitive track conference.”
UEC Valley: Bartlett and South Elgin will head to Lake Park for the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division meet where depth-laden Lake Park and Neuqua Valley are the team favorites.
Bartlett features the likes of seniors Brian Polubinski (53-10 shot put), Femi Oyewole (6-4 in the high jump), Tynan Johnson (22-6 long jump), Kevin Bauers (142-10 discus) and Mark Pszczolkowski (142-1 discus).
The Hawks' 3,200 relay team of seniors Nasir Almasri and Kevin Kibler, along with junior Vince Zipparro and sophomore Connor Rachford have run 8:20 this season.
“The 4 X 8 team have been great competitors on the track,” said Bartlett coach Eric Kramer, who has also been pleased with the team's field events.
South Elgin has enjoyed a number of successes this season. Junior Francisco Gonzalez set a school record in the 3,200 this year (10:10), while senior Sean Duncan (800) and sophomore Jeff Broger (400) have excelled in their running events.
South Elgin's 800 relay team won the UEC indoor title. That team is comprised of Brad Birchfield, Zach Gross, Broger and Greg Griffin.
“When I put kids in an event, they will battle and fight all the way to the end of an event,” said South Elgin coach Anthony LaRue, who has been pleased with the progress of his 3,200 relay team of Duncan, Matt Swanson, Gonzalez and Vient.
UEC River: Elgin, Larkin and Streamwood will be at the UEC River Division meet at Geneva Thursday.
Larkin is led by Kane County triple jump champion Lamonte Norwood (45 feet at conference meet; over the state-qualifying mark). Jalen Griffen took sixth at the county in the 100, while the Royals' 400 and 800 relay teams were in the Top 5 in the county. Both teams featured Griffen, Chris Skonecieny, Kendall Lawton and Brent Cooks.
Streamwood is led by the likes of Blake Holder (10.86 in the 100 and 22.65 in the 200) and Steven Sandoval (40.68 in 300 hurdles).
“Both should be all-conference this year and contend for the top position within their events,” said Streamwood coach Weert Goldenstein.
Streamwood's 400 relay team (Terrell Campbell, Sandoval, Sean Patterson and Holder) won the Kane County title in 42.89 and are less than a half-second off state time. The 800 relay team of Campbell, Justin King, Patterson and Holder has run as low as 1:31.8.
Goldenstein said the likes of Geneva, St. Charles North, St. Charles East and Batavia will be contenders for the top position in the conference based on “the ability to score points across the board, which makes them favorites for conference.”
Fox Valley Conference: Area Fox Valley Conference teams will convene at Prairie Ridge Friday for the league meet. Crystal Lake Central comes in as the meet favorite, while McHenry also has been mentioned as a top-tier contender.
Dundee-Crown produced a county champion last week in senior Andrew Knapik, who won the 3,200 title in 9:27.40. D-C was without Wisconsin-bound Anthony Manfrin due to injury. Knapik was third in the county in the 1,600 at 4:30.99.
Junior Ardian Asani was second in the county in the long jump at 21-10 ¼. He also went 6-1 in the high jump. Miles Adkins was fourth in the county in the 200 at 23.33, while Max Kittle has gone 15.02 in the 110 hurdles and 39.74 in the 300 hurdles.
D-C coach Tom Smith noted his 3,200 relay team of Nate Kirchhoff, Jon Keable, Robert Medina and Ryan Smith (8:13.34) will be in the mix for the conference title.
“We hope to have our best showing of the year Friday night,” said Smith. “Every year we want to be at our best at this time. We hope that will be the case again this year. We are just now coming around have having some of our best performances of the year.”
Cary-Grove finished third at the McHenry County meet this year. Seniors Anthony Golowach (6-8 high jump, 20.08 in 200 and 48.44 in 400) and Josh Freeman (165-4 in discus) lead the way.
“We believe we are a Top 3 team in the Fox Valley Conference,” said Cary-Grove coach Layne Holter. “Our guys must raise their expectations and performances to match the moment. We have not reached our potential and have yet to match our expectations in large meets. This Friday we must come focused, hungry and determined.”
In addition to Golowach and Freeman, seniors Max Anderson, Ryan Borys and junior Tommy Rohn are key parts to Cary-Grove's relay puzzles. Those three and Golowach run the Cary-Grove 1,600 (3:26) and 400 (44.0) relays, while Borys, Golowach, sophomore Michael Gleeson and Rohn run the 800 (1:31.0) relay.
Youthful Huntley is led by junior James Davis, who tied the school record in the 100 and 200 in recent weeks (10.8 in 100 and 22.6 in the 200).
“He is getting into good late-season form,” said Huntley coach Jim Rolando.
Ryan Sheehan has gone 13-6 in the pole vault, while sophomore Trevor Obecny is improving in the 800. Senior Nathan Kennedy has run 51.2 in the 400.
Crystal Lake South's 3,200 relay team has run 8:10 with the likes of Matt Biederwolf, John Sullivan, David Lendini and Brian Roesslein. The 1,600 relay team has gone 3:47 with Biederwolf, Michael Hernandez, David Callahan and Kenny King.
“Those relays are major strengths,” said South coach Rich Eschman.
Biederwolf has gone 1:58.2 in the 800, while King has gone 50.2 in the 400.
Jacobs finished eighth at the McHenry County meet earlier this season. Senior Joey Cieniewicz in the 800 (1:57.5) and 400, junior William Hennessy in the 800 (1:58.3)) and senior Nick Ellingson in the 3,200 (4:29) all are looking to place high and qualify for state next week. Cieniewicz won the 400 at the Carlin Nalley Invite last weekend.
Others: Westminster Christian already competed in the Northeastern Athletic Conference meet at Rockford Christian where Josh Beachler set a conference record in the 200 with a winning time of 23.03. He also won the 100 in 11.36. Steven Hoeflich won the 400 at 53.24, while Ian Dutcher won the shot put competition with a throw of 41-9.