Bartlett's Karys double UEC winner

Bartlett's Dan Karys is bound and determined to provide bulletin board material.

Normally that's not good. But this junior long and triple jumper, who for the past two weeks has extended either personal-best distances or school records, gets to see his name on the school leader board.

Thursday at the Upstate Eight Conference boys track meet, Karys out-did himself again, winning both events for a second straight week.

In long jump he extended his own school and personal record with a jump of 22 feet, 9½ inches.

In triple jump he landed at 43-5, just shy of the 43-6¼ he went at the DuPage County Meet which extended his own school record.

"We have a little bulletin board that's got the top-10 sheets," he said. "It's good to see your name on it."

Karys, who also placed fifth in the 400-meter dash and was part of a fourth-place 1,600 relay, jumped 21-2 at sectionals last year. Stymied under 22 feet until two weeks ago, he's on a roll.

"I was over 21 once up until County," he said. "I've jumped around 20 feet and like 5 inches. I've been consistent around there. Then I finally started feeling it again."

Coach Jeff Bral's Hawks took fifth in conference, which was won by Waubonsie Valley with Neuqua Valley in second.

Karys' jumper-in-arms, senior Cory Hrynyk, took third in high jump, though he was discouraged by his 6-0 height. He also scratched a 42-foot triple jump.

That's a lot to throw at a first-year track athlete, who's headed for St. Joseph's College to play basketball.

"Not really," he said. "If you're an athlete, then you can go ahead and do it. That's what I'm trying to be, is an athlete."

That's what Streamwood's Kyle Holder is, an athlete. Thursday he used his 6-foot-3 height to out-lean Waubonsie Valley's Tony Tucker to win the 200-meter dash at 22.51 seconds.

"That Waubonsie guy, he was good and fast," said Holder, who will play football at Harper College.

"He pushed me and everything, but at the last 1-yard line I'm pretty sure I came in first place. It was exciting.

"It feels really good. I'm blessed, and I thank God for this opportunity."

Streamwood, Elgin, Larkin and South Elgin brought up the bottom of the conference, but Elgin sophomore Adam Kuforiji showed the promise that Adam Freed's Maroons possess.

Kuforiji took third in the 400, an all-conference finish at 51.61 seconds.

"It's kind of a surprise. It feels pretty good, actually," he said.

"This year pretty much has meant hard work. If you work hard, what you put into practice is what you get out of meets."