Boys track and field: Batavia's Hunt has productive day

Long into Glenbard West's Haake Invitatational, Batavia boys track coach Dennis Piron sat high in the bleachers, wondering what to do with Jay Hunt.

A high jumper who sprints? A sprinter who jumps?

Hunt was both on Saturday.

The junior set out to claim a new personal record in high jump, having cleared 6 feet, 7½ inches indoors March 4 at Batavia's Coach DiDomenico Invitational.

"I'm hoping to beat that today with a 6-8," said Hunt, tied for sixth last year in Class 3A. "It's a perfect day to break it, so I've got no excuses."

He needed none. As assistant coach and former Batavia state-champion pole vaulter Brooke Bernardoni provided counsel Hunt cleared 6-4 and 6-6 on his first attempts and 6-8 on his third. He had unsuccessful if quality attempts at 6-9.

"I'm hoping, obviously, since I had a great attempt over 6-9, I'm hoping for at least 6-9 or 6-10 before state. Hopefully even more at state," Hunt said.

Normally a sprint relay candidate when he hits the track, Hunt then went over to run his first open 100-meter dash of the season. His time of 11.06 seconds in the prime heat placed second to born sprinter Jake Kravas of Glenbard West.

"For the 100, same thing - I knew it was going to be a good day," Hunt said. "I haven't run a 100 in a while so I needed to get a really good time, just have a good start. I had a pretty good start."

And a good finish. Hunt returned in the 200 to again finish second to a speedy Hilltopper, Mohamed Gborie, 22.48 to Hunt's 22.51.

Hunt was not the sole Bulldog atop the leader board.

In triple jump, Will Akers claimed the win at 40 feet, 7 inches. Akers also finished second in long jump, just ahead of teammate Nick Stuttle. In pole vault, junior Nick Krella finished a close second at 13 feet, 6 inches, tying Wheaton North's David Bradley on the height.

Stuttle led a cavalcade of Bulldogs hurdlers, winning the 110s at 15.3 seconds.

"Coach D (DiDomenico) does a great job with these (hurdlers)," said Piron, among several who've done a great job with Hunt.