Northwest/ Scouting the boys state track meet
By Jeff Newton
Daily Herald Correspondent
Scouting boys track and field
What: Boys track and field state championships
Where: Eastern Illinois University, Charleston; O’Brien Field
When: Thursday: Class 1A preliminaries; Friday: Class 2A preliminaries (10 a.m.), Class 3A preliminaries (noon); Saturday: Finals in all classes (10 a.m.).
The skinny — Here is an event-by-event breakdown of this weekends’ boys state track and field state championships:
3,200 relay — This event has often turned into a re-enactment of the North suburban sectionals and this year should be no different. Prospect is no stranger to this event and the Knights are back in an event they have medaled in nine times — and the last five years. Palatine, Fremd and Maine West will all battle for the medal stand on Saturday. St. Viator is a qualifier in 2A.
400 relay — Prospect has been here before, but a lineup minus current Ohio State-freshman Nick Batcha, is what brings them to Charleston. The hunger is there after a sub-par (by Knights’ standards) performance last week.
3,200 run — This could be one of the best races of the weekend. Barrington senior Erik Peterson and Conant senior Tyler Schneider headline a field that could see several runners under the 9-minute mark. The Butler-bound Peterson is a three-time MSL champ in this event while the Missouri-bound Schneider is one of the best in the state as well. Buffalo Grove’s Taras Didenko and Jereme Atchison, Schaumburg junior Evan Prizy, Palatine seniors Marcus Garcia and Peter Tomkiewicz, Prospect junior Quentin Shaffer, Hersey sophomore Andrew Philipose and Barrington junior Ryan Burgoon will also compete on Saturday.
110 high hurdles — This race should be very familiar to Conant senior Ben Bowers. This is the third trip to state for the Penn-bound Bowers and he has an excellent chance to medal again after he finished sixth last year. Dave Kendziera of Prospect makes his first trip to state. Davy Mellado of Fremd, Fernando Lozano of Elk Grove and James Vaughan of Hoffman Estates will also compete.
800 run — Very quietly, James Weaver of Conant has put together an impressive season in this event and he will need his best in a deep field on Friday. The senior continues to drop times each week with one of his best efforts coming last week at the sectionals.
800 relay — Prospect was oh so good in this event the last two years as the Knights have qualified each year and medaled in 2010. This group features Vito Anzalone, Chris Meersman, Nick Meersman and Sam Frasco should be right in the mix for a medal stand spot this time around.
400 run — The rest of the state will get a formal introduction with Elk Grove freshman Paul Ifianayi. Ifianayi stunned the field at Wheaton South last week, capturing the sectional crown in a personal-best 49.84. He is the only freshman in the field. Kendrick Cornelius of Palatine will race at state as an individual for the first time.
300 intermediate hurdles — Bowers is back for his second race of the day. He has medaled in this race each of the last two years. Kendziera and Barrington senior James Pajich will also race for medal spots.
1,600 run — As good as the 3,200 will be, this race could be just as good and maybe better. Schneider will try for the double and has one of the best times in the state indoors and outdoors this year. Schneider’s future Missouri teammate Dan Roe of Buffalo Grove, Tim Johnson of Palatine, Nolan Wojtowicz of Barrington and Robert Somary of Hersey will battle in what could be the fastest mile ever at state.
200 dash — Juwaan Richard of Schaumburg has come into his own this year in this event and seems to race better in the biggest races. Richard will be tested in a loaded and very fast field.
Shot put — Hersey’s Mark Balmes lets his throwing do the talking and he has had a lot to say lately. He is seeded second in the shot as he looks for his first state medal. Schaumburg’s Lee Duhs put the shot a personal best 51-feet plus last week and is looking for a medal in his first trip to state.
Discus — Balmes will compete in the shot and disc at state for the first time and his new PR of 171 feet at sectionals should put the Carthage recruit in a great spot for a medal. Nick Krumpholz of Prospect continues to improve each week and is coming off two weeks in a row of best throws.
Triple jump — AJ Scarbrough of Barrington has been looking forward to this weekend for a long time and now he is looking for his first medal. One of the top triple jumpers in the state, Scarbrough should be right in the mix for a medal. Cam Kuksa of Palatine will make his first state appearance.
High jump — This will actually be Bowers’ first event of a busy day. He will see a familiar foe in Buffalo Grove junior Kevin Newman.
Long jump — Fremd senior Connor Pfister has jumped a little farther each week, which bodes well for his first trip to state.
Pole vault — Fremd senior Nick Bednarek is back at state again and this year and has designs on the top spot. The Illinois State-bound Bednarek will be joined by Mellado and fellow MSL standouts Kody Cagwin of Rolling Meadows and Andy Selep of Schaumburg. Maine West senior Alec Polovchak will compete at state for the first time.