Boys track and field: Prospect captures sectional title at Hoffman Estates

Shea Lewis led the way with victories in shot put and discus as he qualified for his first state meet in both events, and Prospect claimed the overall win with 154 points at the IHSA Class 3A sectional in Hoffman Estates on Thursday.

It was an event filled with athletes clinching trips to Charleston next week. For Lewis, it was something he had been working toward for four years.

“I kind of had a chip on my shoulder,” said Lewis, a senior, after hitting 17.54 meters in the shot put and 52.95 meters in the discus. “I know last year I was just barely off on state qualifying. So I’m just in the mindset of hunting to keep getting better and better with each throw.”

“It means a lot of hard work (and) process just all paid off in the end,” Lewis added with a grin.

He will be joined by teammate Nathan Cichy, who qualified in the 200 meters, placing third in the race.

Cichy will be joined in that event by Micah Pickett of Hoffman Estates, as well as Niko Kokosioulius of Maine South. Pickett won with a blistering 21.53 pace, while Kokosioulius trailed him at 21.73 seconds.

Both Pickett and Kokosioulius also qualified for Charleston in the 100-meter sprint. Pickett narrowly edged Kokosioulius in that race as well, winning with a 10.59 compared to a 10.72 from Kokosioulius.

“I've been working on block start recently, and then just that transition from drive phase to acceleration,” Pickett said.

“It's exhilarating. It’s my first time actually being able to run in it, and I’m just grateful,” Pickett added of making his first state meet.

Kokosioulius competed in Charleston last year as part of a relay team, and he is hoping that experience will pay off as he makes his individual debut on the big stage.

“To do it by myself definitely meant a lot, and I'm excited to just keep competing and getting better, and I know I could win it,” he said. “It's been a lot of hard work training with the team and (also) just doing stuff on my own.”

While the bright lights of the state meet will be new for some competitors, Jack Jennings of Fremd will be no stranger to the pressure of Charleston. The junior ran a 9:11.05 time while claiming first place in the 3200 meters, punching his third straight trip to state.

“Just tapering for May is usually the way I go about it,” Jennings said. “That's the only thing that matters is the end of season result — I can't wait to compete with the many great runners across the state.”

While he took home the victory today, he felt pressure from Luke Robinson of Prospect, who also qualified for state with a 9:13.93.

“It was a good race. I know Robinson from Prospect was closing in on me at the end, but yeah, he's a runner that I see like weekly and he's been great all season,” Jennings said.

Brody Cushing of Prospect also qualified for the 3,200 state race with a time of 9:20.48.

Arman Lepuzanovic of Rolling Meadows leapt 7.06 meters in the long jump as he will make a return trip to Charleston as well.

The senior will be headed there for the second time, as he qualified as a sophomore, but was hurt last season as a junior.

“It feels good knowing that it should have been last year, but everything happens for a reason,” Lepuzanovic said. “The journey's the best part, not the destination. It's always about the journey.”

He will be joined by Drake Gay of DeKalb, who qualified with a 6.94 meters result, as well as Anthony Say of Schaumburg, who set a 6.85 mark.

Say’s teammates Ray Black and Israel Pedroza will both head to Charleston with him.

Black placed fifth in the 110-meter hurdles with a 14.74 time, as well as first in the 300 hurdles with a 38.98 time, while Pedroza set a 14.62 in second place. It will be Pedroza’s first trip to state.

“I want to show out,” said Pedroza, a sophomore for the Saxons. “Just because of age or, like, how short I am, (or) my weight, like, that doesn’t define who you are. I feel like if you're motivated to do it, you can do it.”

It was redemption for Pedroza, as he was battling inconsistency after DQing during the conference meet last week.

“I was totally out of it. I was totally out of it and I wanted to come back stronger,” he added.

Three sport Elgin standout Coreyon Johnson cleared 6-foot-6 in the high jump as he took first place in the event. He has been steadily building toward the mark all spring.

“It’s really just the consistency of never giving up, never being tempted by the laziness and apathy that may be around him, but just staying focused on being the best that he could be every single day,” said Maroons coach Anthony Mason.

Mason believes his star jumper will have a shot at taking home the top prize in the state next week.

“Absolutely,” Mason said. “Right now, he is sitting third or fourth overall going into state. I think he's capable of going 6-10.”

Among the many other state qualifiers were Jack Kruer of Prospect in the pole vault (4.19 meters), JMari Jackson of Hoffman Estates in the triple jump (14.08), and Justin Czepiel of Conant in the 800 (1:54.80).

While Czepiel, a senior, will run again next week, the meet marked the end of many track careers.

Czepiel was joined by his teammate, Milo Pineda, who set a personal best in his final race with a 2:05.43 pace, winning his heat by over 12 seconds.

Pineda spoke for many athletes who pushed themselves to their limits for four years and was proud of his effort to peak in his last race.

“Something I've struggled with the whole season is my kick at the end,” said Pineda, who got shifted to the 800 a few months ago. “Today I feel like, you know, the stars just aligned and I was able to give it my all.”

“I didn't really start running the 800 until outdoor season. I think my debut was like 2:12,” Pineda said. “I was really able to just, like, you know, break past.”