Marmion's Groom wins 3 titles at Top Times classic
BLOOMINGTON - Before Saturday, Marmion Academy junior Seth Groom never cleared higher than 6-foot-3 in high jump.
During Class 2A boys competition for the annual Top Times Indoor Classic at Illinois Wesleyan University, Groom cleared 6-4, then 6-5, then 6-6.
And he won.
Groom then won his other two events - long jump with a 21-8 1/2 from his first attempt and triple jump with 46-7 3/4.
"It's really nice actually. I didn't really expect it because I was only (seeded) first in triple jump," Groom said. "A little bit of both (surprise and shock) honestly. It's a good feeling. I'd say high jump (feels best) because that's probably my worst event."
Kaneland's big day in 2A was led by senior Nicole Sreenan, whose 25.21 seconds won the girls 200-meter dash by .01 over St. Viator senior Elizabeth Drab, who earlier won the 400.
Sreenan didn't even run the 200 indoors until conference March 25 to earn a berth to the meet.
"I don't really know what I was expecting but I didn't think I was going to win. Elizabeth is a really good runner," Sreenan said.
Earlier, Sreenan fittingly was second in the 60 (7.77) by .20. While part of Kaneland's 2016 2A state champion 1,600 relay and co-state championship team, she also was second in the 400, 100 and with the 400 relay.
"I was like, 'I cannot win,' so this (200 title) is crazy," said Sreenan, who will compete at Grand Valley State.
At 2016 state, Groom, a Batavia resident, was third in triple jump with a lifetime-best 46-8 1/4 behind two seniors.
"It's the beginning the season and I almost got a personal best (today)," Groom said. "I'm pretty amped (for outdoors), obviously. I'm ready."
Kaneland's Richtman family also excelled. Junior Matt was awarded first in the boys 2A 3,200 in 9:34.70 after the race winner runner was disqualified afterwards for cutting in too soon.
Senior Becca Richtman and freshman Rachel Richtman joined senior Sara Daley and sophomore Grace Purcell in taking second in the 2A girls 3,200 relay in 9:46.69 to Freeburg's 9:46.27. Personal-best splits of 2:20 and 2:21 by Becca and Rachel helped the Knights post their second-fastest indoor time to last year's school-record 9:42.55 at the meet with Becca and Daley.
"Matt ended up getting first by default but it was fun to watch him," Becca Richtman said. "Doing the 4-by-800, it was so much fun. It's one of those races where it's not just you running. You're running for your team."
Kaneland junior Clayton Hannula's 55-2 was second in boys shot put to the 2A meet-record 62-8 1/2 by Carbondale senior Sam Sikon. Kaneland junior Cierra Kuipers' 11-3 shared fourth in girls pole vault.
Also second were Aurora Central Catholic senior Abby Fioresi's 2:17.68 in the 2A girls 800, .16 from first, and St. Charles North senior Luke Sutherland's 50.39 for the 3A boys 400, .27 from first.
Illinois Math and Science Academy senior Dominique Anderson was third in 2A girls triple jump at 36-0 1/4. Marmion junior Michael Ronzone was third in the 2A boys 1,600 in 4:25.46.
For 2A Rosary, junior Claire Hengesbaugh was third in the 1,600 in a lifetime-best 5:13.26 and contributed to the sixth-place 1,600 relay. Bridget Buckley, Hengesbaugh, Megan Ronzone and Brooke Delahanty were fourth in the 3,200 relay (9:53.63).
In other 3A action, St. Charles East senior Kennedy Gift cleared 11-0 for fourth in girls pole vault. St. Charles East senior Colton Weber and St. Charles North senior Cam Wright finished 4-5 in boys pole vault, both clearing 14-6.
Geneva senior Brian Kuehl was fourth in the 800 in 1:58.72, .39 from second, and senior Tyler Dau was sixth in the 1,600.
West Aurora senior Rajiah Andrews was sixth in the 60 hurdles finals.