Grant makes sectional history

ROCKFORD — A lot of things have happened since 1936.

Grant qualifying a boys relay team for the state meet had not been one of them until Friday night’s Class 3A Rockford Guilford sectional meet.

The Bulldogs’ 400 relay team led by Leo Minne’s anchor leg took first (43.02) to advance to next weekend’s state meet in Charleston. Grant qualified in a total of 6 events marking the most successful day in school history, with the Bulldogs just missing out of a team sectional title when Rockton Hononegah edged them out 70-69 with two races left in the meet.

“They’ve been running better as a team since the weeks have gone on,” Bulldogs’ coach Kurt Rous said. “Leo Minne ran our anchor leg and he ran like a man possessed. He grabbed the baton and blew by the other kids.”

The Bulldogs were behind Hononegah and Rockford Jefferson when Minne took over the final leg. He sprinted past the competition to propel Grant into first place.

After missing out on qualifying last year in the 100, he also made amends by taking first (11.06) narrowly edging out Huntley’s James Davis (11.08).

Sam Wells used the momentum he gained in the 400 relay to carry over into his two hurdling events.

Wells (14.67) placed second to Machesney Park Harlem’s Cory Householder (14.46), who has one of the fastest times in the state. Wells (38.71) rebounded to beat Householder (38.78) in the 300 hurdles in one of the night’s marquee races.

“It was such an extra motivation, this is what I’ve worked for all year,” said Wells, who got a PR in the race. “After the 400 (relay) I got a lot of adrenaline and it carried on.”

Dundee-Crown’s Max Kittle also benefited from the quick competition. Although he finished third in the race, Kittle ran a 39.83, which is under the state qualifying time. The quick times helped him get under 40 for just the second time this season.

“I really wanted to stay with the other guys until the final 150 and than kick it in,” Kittle said. “I only got under 39 in one other race, but it wasn’t as much fun as this one.”

The shot and discus were also strongly contested events with Grant brothers Brandon and Kyle Lombardino and Cary-Grove’s Josh Freeman battling it out. All three advanced to state in the discus and Kyle Lombardino (56 feet) and Freeman (55-03) placing first and second in the shot put, respectively.

Sophomore Brandon Lombardino won the discus with a 157-07 throw. Brother Kyle placed second (155-03) and Freeman threw a state-qualifying throw (155-02) despite have some mechanical struggles.

“I scratched a bunch of pretty big throws,” said Freeman, who is a first time double qualifier. “I had one that looked like it could have been 180 feet. I wasn’t getting my hips through.”

Several schools mad runners qualify in multiple events.

Cary-Grove senior Anthony Golowach won the 400 (48.80) leading a pack of four area qualifiers. Round Lake’s Antonio Farley (49.30) Davis (49.57) and Crystal Lake South’s Kenny King (49.85) all run under qualifying times and will advance to the state meet.

Golowach qualified in the high jump (second, 6-5) and as member of the first-place 1,600 relay team (3:21.67).

“The plan was to make state qualifying (in the high jump) and then rest for the 400,” said Golowach, who also qualified last year in the high jump. “Once I got 65 (feet), I stopped.”

Jacobs’ Joey Cieniewicz (1:56.69) with South’s Matt Biederwolf (1:56.77) and Jacobs teammate William Hennessy (1:56.82) all advanced in the 800.

“I was kind of nervous about the 800,” Cieniewicz said. “There wasn’t guy that was going to take it. It was kind of a mess. I’m glad me and my teammate could qualify.”

After placing second in the 800, Biederwolf was anchor of the second-place 1,600 relay team (3:23.24) and the championship 3,200 relay team (8:05.45).

“The hardest race was the 800,” Biederwolf said. “When you have people out there pushing you it makes you run faster. My coach thought it was going to be a sprinter’s race.”

Dundee-Crown advanced Andrew Knapik in the 3,200 (third, 9:28.97), it’s 3,200 relay team (second, 8:05.98) and long jumper Ardian Asani (second, 22-06.5).