Fox Valley could be showered in medals this weekend

The medal stand at the boys state track and field meet at Eastern Illinois University could be littered with Fox Valley area athletes this weekend.

Among the brightest hopes to win state titles in Class 3A are Elgin’s 800-meter relay team and Cary-Grove senior thrower Josh Freeman.

Elgin seniors Terrell Campbell, Devante King, Derek Moorman and Dennis Moore will attempt to win the first state track title for their school since Tony Adams won back-to-back 440-yard dash titles in 1978 and 1979, according to IHSA records. The foursome set the school record in the 800-meter relay at the St. Charles North sectional (1:27.83).

“Our goal is just to do our best,” Moore said. “If we do our best, we should at least be in the top three. As always, we want to get first. We’ll do the best we can to bring it home to Elgin.”

Elgin is the No. 4 seed. Collinsville (1:26.29) has the top seed time. Do the Maroons have a chance to lower their time and pull off a title?

“I think we do,” Elgin coach Kevin Cleveland said. “It’s possible. If everything goes good for us and everyone runs their best time, I think we have a good shot at it. We’ll see. Knock on wood.”

Freeman enters as the No. 1 seed in the shot put (60-11¾), ahead of No. 2 Mark Balmes of Hersey (59-1½). Freeman also boasts the state’s fourth-best sectional discus throw (170-5). Brandon Lombardino from Grant turned in the state’s top discus throw this season (180-11).

“I want to win both state championships. That’s been the goal all year,” Freeman said. “The big goal is to set the new state record in the shot put.”

The state shot put record of 66-5¾ was set at the 2011 state meet by Lake Park’s Jermaine Kline.

“I’ve been getting closer and closer in practice,” Freeman added. “I think the adrenaline of the state meet will factor into it.”

Bartlett senior Kevin Bauers could join Freeman on the medal stand in both throwing events. He enters seeded No. 7 in discus (165-8) and No. 11 in shot put (53-11).

South Elgin senior Jeff Broger could nab the first state medal in program history. He won the sectional in the 400-meter dash (49.32) and is the No. 4 seed at the state meet, just ahead of No. 5 Tommy Rohn (49.41) and No. 10 Michael Gleeson (49.55), both of Cary-Grove.

Rohn and Cary-Grove 1,600-meter relay teammates Max Anderson, Alex Bussan and John Pearl are seeded sixth. They won the sectional in 3:20.41.

Jacobs would medal in the 3.200-meter relay if seedings hold. The quartet of William Hennessy, Pat Nerja, Nick Matysek and Ryan Ross won the Hononegah sectional (7:51.56) and enter the state finals ranked ninth.

In Class 2A, Burlington Central could medal in three relays. The Rockets’ best chance lies in its 1,600-meter relay team of Clint Kliem, Mike Gulik, Ben Damisch and Ryan Olsen. The Rochelle sectional champs enter the state meet as the No 2 seed with a time of (3:21.70), however, No. 1 Cahokia (3:18.84) is a prohibitive favorite to win the state title in the event.

The Rockets are seeded fifth in the 3,200-meter relay, though the sectional time of Kliem, Gulik, Joe Gannon and Matt O’Connor (8:01.44) is within striking distance of No. 2 seed Normal (7:59.40). Cahokia (7:53.38) is the top seed.

Central senior Parker DeMoss is the eighth seed in the 100-meter dash. Wesley Sanders of Glenbard South has the time to beat (10.81)

Several more area competitors are within reach of an all-state finish (top nine) if they perform to the peak of their abilities.

In Class 3A, South Elgin’s 400-meter relay team of Zach Gross, Adolfo Pacheco, Tommy Asa and Broger won the sectional (42.42) and are seeded No. 14 in the event. Edwardsville (41.67) enters with the best time.

Streamwood sprinter Blake Holder won the 100-meter dash at the St. Charles North sectional (10.96) in a time that would have been good for eighth-place in last year’s state final. A junior, Holder qualified for state as a sophomore but did not qualify out of preliminaries. He is seeded No. 17.

Jacobs senior Dom Blake is ranked 12th entering the preliminaries of the 300-meter intermediate hurdles (39.05), but a decrease of .2 seconds could put elevate him to all-state status. Hennessy is seeded 19th in the 1,600 (4:19.28).

Huntley senior Ryan Sheehan is tied with multiple pole vaulters for the 19th seed. He cleared 13-9 at the sectional.

In Class 2A, Burlington Central senior 800-meter specialists Kliem (1:57.87) and Gulik (1:58.36) each have a chance to reach the medal stand in an individual event. Kliem had the state’s 12th-best sectional time, and Gulik (1:58.36) is seeded 14th.

The Central 800-meter relay team of DeMoss, Damisch, Olsen and Alex Johnson finished in 1:31.36 at the sectional to gain a No. 16 seed.