Boys track/Fox Valley state preview
On paper, plenty of Fox Valley-area boys track and field athletes could be walking away with state medals this weekend.
A total of 12 area individual athletes and relays are seeded in the top 12 heading into this weekend’s state finals festivities at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium in Charleston.
That long list includes Streamwood sophomore Blake Holder, who is seeded fourth in the Class 3A 100 dash. He ran a sectional-championship 10.85 time last week.
“It’s definitely been because of my block work,” he said. “Everybody’s 100 time is going to go down, but my block work has been a big help in getting me to the state meet. If I didn’t put in a lot of block work in practice I don’t think I would be where I am with the 100. It’s a big part of the race. If you are able to get a good start, you are going to be happy.”
Holder works out in practice with teammate Terrell Campbell.
“His starts are better than mine,” Holder stated. “I do as many starts as I can before or after practice. I’ll get him and we’ll come of the blocks together. If you don’t get a good start in a race like this (state), people are too fast there. You can’t get anywhere on just pure speed.”
Holder, who is part of Streamwood’s 400 relay team that qualified for state, would like to break the school record of 10.6, which has stood since 1988.
“I want to run as fast as I can,” Holder said. “If that’s fast enough to make the finals, I’ll be excited and proud. As long as I run to my potential and give it my all, I’ll be happy.”
Holder is part of a 400 relay team seeded eighth after a 42.12 showing at the sectional. Belleville West is seeded first with a sectional time of 41.49.
Larkin’s Lamonte Norwood, who is enjoying a tremendous campaign, is seeded third in the triple jump. He went 45-6 at the sectional.
Bartlett’s Tyan Johnson heads into the state meet seeded 11th in the long jump after going 22-7 at the sectional.
Brian Polubinski, Johnson’s teammate, is back at the Class 3A state meet in the shot put. Polubinski, who won a sectional championship last week, has thrown as far as 54-6 ¼ this season.
“This weekend I want to try and get the school record (55-9),” he said. “I want to hit 56.”
Speed has been on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville football recruit’s side this season.
“I try to get across the ring as fast as I can,” he noted. “The more speed you can get, the better off you will be. I try and glide across to get more speed. Pretty much all that matters is to get one throw. If you do everything right with your technique, the shot is going to fly.”
South Elgin’s Zach Gross rounds out the U-46 contingent at state. He’ll run in the 200.
In other 3A action, Cary-Grove’s Anthony Golowach and Josh Freeman will be busy in Charleston. Golowach is seeded eight in the 400 (48.80) and 11th in the high jump at 6-5, while Freeman is seeded ninth in the shot put (55-3) and will also throw the discus.
Golowach also is a key part of Cary-Grove’s 1,600 relay team, which includes Max Anderson.
“I have absolute confidence that everyone on this team works hard,” stated Anderson, who lauded the recent performance of Michael Gleeson in the relay. Ryan Borys is another key contributor in the 1,600 squad’s success.
Anderson noted the other relay team members have an unmovable presence to them before races.
“Unlike me, we have some very confident guys before we run,” he said. “I’m a nervous Nelly. A guy like Tommy (Rohn) will say he’s going to break 50 (seconds) straight up and he’ll do it. Every time I improve or PR, it seems these guys improve by double. They are awesome.”
The personable Anderson is thrilled to be part of the state team. He’s a celebrity of sorts around school. He finished last at this past fall’s Class 3A cross country state finals in Peoria. He was felled with bronchitis.
“I was dead last,” he laughed. “It was not a good experience. I have that last place legacy. I get made fun of all the time. I’m having much more fun in track.”
Huntley’s James Davis also is no stranger to the blue track in Charleston. He’s back for another crack at it this weekend (he qualified in the 100 last year) in both the 100 and 400.
“I’ve probably gotten better with my start. It’s way better,” Davis said. “Most of the race is on the start. That’s how you get a solid 100. I do a lot of drills and do a lot of block work.”
Davis, who has tied the school record in the 100 (10.8) and holds the school record in the 200 and 400, likes to think of the 100 as a warm-up for the 400.
“The prelims in the 100 are pretty spread out,” he said. “It would be tough to go from the 200 to the 400, though. Strength-training has helped me and pushed me all the way through. I know when to turn on the speed and when to ease up and conserve energy.”
Jacobs senior Joey Cieniewicz is making his third state finals appearance (800 run this year). He’s participated in five state finals events since he was a sophomore.
Cieniewicz attributes his advancement in the 800 this year to running cross-country in the fall.
“I was in football and switched to cross-country,” he explained. “I really wanted to work on a weakness and at the time it was endurance. I needed to get that up. I ran miles after miles. The 800 is one of the hardest races to run. You have a full sprint in there and a little distance.”
Cieniewicz, who is looking at Eastern Illinois and UIC as places to potentially continue his track career, would like to get to the finals this weekend.
“If you look at the list, everyone is really close with their times,” he said of the 800 seedings in Class 3A. “I have to stay focused and give it my best.”
Cieniewicz’s teammate William Hennessy also will run in the 800.
Dundee-Crown qualified Adrien Asani (long jump), Andrew Knapik (3,200) and Max Kittle (300 hurdles), along with its 3,200 relay.
Crystal Lake South’s Matt Biederwolf will run in the 800, while Kenny King will compete for the Gators in the 400. South’s 1,600 and 3,200 relays also will run in Charleston.
In Class 2A, Burlington Central standout Tre Llanes is seeded seventh in both the long jump and 110 hurdles and ninth in the triple jump, while Clint Kliem is sixth in the 1,600 and 11th in the 800. Mike Kellenberger is seeded 11th in the 300 hurdles for coach Mike Schmidt’s Rockets. Central’s Mike Gulik will run in the 800. The Rockets also qualified their 400 relay team.
St. Edward’s 400 relay team will compete in the Class 1A state meet, which begins today.