Boys track and field: Pendleton Jr., Grayslake Central sprint to NLCC crown
After losing to Lakes by a half a point for the Northern Lake County Conference title last year, Grayslake Central's boys track and field team was ready to regain the NLCC crown Friday night at Grayslake North.
The Rams took home first place with 123 points followed by Antioch (101 points) in second, Lakes (82.67 points) in third, and Wauconda (69.33 points) in fourth. North Chicago edged Grant 66-65 for fifth place.
Grayslake Central got first-place finishes from Ken-Ye Pendleton Jr. in the 100-meter dash in a school-record 10.49 seconds, Adan Cordova in the 3,200-meter run (10:05.65), and Daniel Sachuk in the 110 and 300-meter hurdles.
The Rams' 4x100 relay team of Pendleton Jr., Ray Ray Wright, Everett Ciokajlo, and Andy Monzanga took first place in 42.14 seconds. The Rams' 4x400 team of Kiokajlo, Wright, Sachuk, and Ryan Schroer won in 3:26.73.
"It was simply unbelievable (setting the school record). I put in a lot of work for this so I'm flabbergasted," said Pendleton. "Honestly I'm seriously excited to do this, and for the next two weeks we're going to be focused and totally prepared."
"Pendleton ran really well. He's looking good in the 100 and the relays," said Grayslake Central coach Brent Pitt. "The 4x100 team had a PR. It was the first time all season we got that team together, and they have to count on each other to make state."
Antioch senior Carson Lanners won the 800-meter run in 1:57.60 to edge Wauconda's Mason Reigner by .23 seconds. Antioch's 4x200 team of Damion Johnson, Gavin Stone, Logan Lennon, and Alan Sakalowski won in 1:30.43.
"He (Lanners) has been one of our leaders all year, and we doubled him in the 800 and 400," said Antioch coach Chris Bailey. "They (4x200) ran well, the handoffs were crisp, and our freshman anchor (Sakalowski) had a heck of a finish to catch two guys in the end."
Lakes senior Jordan Phelan won the shot put with a throw of 18.55 meters and the discus with a throw of 50.09 meters. Seniors Dylan Gates (4.26 meters) and William Mercure went 1-2 in the pole vault for the Eagles. Lakes' Drake Callear won the 400 in 51.27 seconds.
"He (Phelan) got 60 feet in the shot put in his last throw, and he got a PR in the discus," said Lakes coach Jacob Buddell. "They (Gates and Mercure) didn't want to overdue themselves because they wanted to get ready for the sectionals next week."
Grayslake North sophomore Jaylen Newkirk won the high jump competition with a jump of 1.83 meters. Wauconda's 4x800 team of Ethan Vo, Levi Coburn, Liam Veugeler, and Liam Pierce won in 8:43.14. Grant's Nathan Kempf won the 1,600 in 4:29.76.
Johnson took second in the long jump and 110 hurdles while Grayslake North's Elijah Fajimi took second in the triple jump. Wauconda's Carter Roby placed second in the high jump while Antioch's Harrison Victor took second in the discus. Also taking second were Grayslake Central's Sam Ullrich (shot put), Antioch's Jacob Yeager (300 hurdles), and Pendleton Jr. (200).