Blake, Freeman have banner days
CHARLESTON — While there was not a snowflake in sight on a near-100 degree day at O’Brien Field and Eastern Illinois University, it was Christmas Day for Jacobs senior Dom Blake.
In the prelims of the Class 3A 300-meter intermediate hurdles at the state track and field championships, Blake raced as one of the top seeds in the event with the goal of making it to Saturday’s finals.
Into the final hurdles, Blake and Wheaton North senior Brett Kohler were neck-and-neck. Over the last hurdle, Blake clipped the hurdle slightly which caused him to lose his balance. Blake dove over the finish line and edged Kohler by .01 for a spot in Saturday’s state finals, winning in 38.89.
“This is just like Christmas morning and this race was the package I have been waiting four years for,” Blake said, “only better.”
Blake will not race alone in the finals as the Golden Eagles’ 3,200 relay team survived one of the fastest 3,200 relay preliminaries ever to earn a finals berth. Nick Matysek, Pat Nerja, Ryan Ross and William Hennessy finished third in their heat in 7:52.54 and will race in the 10th spot in the finals.
It wasn’t quite a Christmas morning type day for Cary Grove senior Josh Freeman, but he hardly can complain after his first day in the shot put and discus. On his final throw in the shot, the SIU-bound Freeman, who already held a comfortable advantage, launched the shot 63 feet, 9.25 inches to take a commanding lead after day one.
“That last throw I didn’t think went that far which is a good sign for (Saturday),” Freeman said. “I feel like I have a lot more in me and I want to go get that (state record).”
Freeman wound up his day taking the lead in the discus on his final throw. His toss of 171-2 gave him a narrow 3-foot advantage over Brandon Lombardino of Grant (168-3) and Garrett Jensen of Edwardsville (168-5).
Another finalist for the Trojans came in the 400-meter dash where Tommy Rohn qualified with a second-place finish in his heat at 49.02. His teammate Michael Gleeson will race along with him in the finals finishing in 49.30 and eighth overall.
The Trojans’ 1,600-relay team that included Max Anderson, John Pearl, Alex Bussan and Rohn narrowly missed the finals running 3:20.89.
Joining Rohn in the 400 is the first finals qualifier for South Elgin. Storm junior Jeff Broger ran a personal best 49.11 to earn a berth in the 400 finals.
As busy as Rohn was for the Trojans, Burlington Central senior Clint Kliem was even busier during the morning Class 2A session.
The SIU-Edwardsville-bound Kliem started his day by anchoring the Rockets’ 3,200 relay team into the finals with a quick 7:55.45 clocking — third fastest overall. Kliem teamed with Mike Gulick, Matt O’Connor and Joe Gannon for a time that was six seconds faster than their sectional effort.
Kliem came back mid-meet to finish second and qualify for finals in his 800-meter run heat, narrowly falling to Macomb junior Darius Thomas in 1:56.58.
The day ended in the best possible way for the Kliem and the Rockets. He anchored a blistering 1,600-relay team that included Gulick, Ben Damish and Ryan Olsen. The foursome busted out a 3:22.26 heat win and a spot in the finals.
“I just tried to pace myself today with the heat,” Kliem said. “I knew in the 4 x 8 that I could go two-flat and get us through. In the 800 I would have liked to have won but I am happy that I got in.”
Central also raced in the 800 relay placing fourth in its heat and the 400 relay where the Rockets placed 6th in their heat. Gulick competed individually in the 800 meter run and senior Kyle Ingraham competed in the pole vault.
Crystal Lake South competed in the 3,200 relay with the team of David Lenzini, Duncan Henderson, Drew Kophman, Zach Awrey finishing seventh in their heat in 8:02.77. The Gators’ 400 relay team that included Brandon Madoni, Zach Balousek, David Callahan and Zach Boettcher ran six in their heat while Boettcher also competed in the 200-meter dash.
Elgin raced in the 400 and 800 relays narrowly missing the finals in each. The Maroon relay teams included Terrell Campbell, Dennis Moore, Devante King, and Derek Moorman.
Huntley competed in the 1,600 relay and finished in 3:25.95 for the team of James Davis, Tyler Schwartz, Mike Dollar, and Ryan Tharp. Red Raider senior Ryan Sheehan cleared 13-6 in the prelims of the pole vault but missed out on the finals.