Geneva takes first at Kaneland's Peterson Prep Invitational

Geneva's second-place finish at Kaneland's Peterson Prep Invitational boys track meet in 2007 sure was nice.

But nothing can top first.

The Vikings, using Andrew Nelson's meet-record finish in the 1,600 and numerous double-scoring efforts, won the 21-team invite Saturday with 109 points.

Geneva flip-flopped places with last year's winner, the West Aurora Blackhawks.

"It means a lot to us," said Geneva coach Gale Gross.

"Last year we came in second, which was a huge thing for us. We told the kids, hey, next year we do nothing but go up, so let's go for the win."

Nelson heard it loud and clear. He battled Burlington Central's Ryan Phebus in the 1,600, took the lead shortly after the midway point and closed hard down the homestretch to finish in 4 minutes, 17.04 seconds to snap a 31-year-old record by five seconds.

After running the first 800 meters in 2:10, Nelson had designs on the mark.

"Through 800 we slowed a little bit, so the third lap I really had to kick it in," he said. "I took control just after the 800. I knew I was really going to have to push the last lap, so I set myself up well for that last kick."

Along with Joe Augustine's 400-meter win the Vikings got solid points in the 100 and 200 from John Wilger, a win in shot put and runner-up in discus by Frank Boenzi.

They got double-scoring efforts by Kevin Sparks and Evan Ehrhardt in the 3,200 and by Storm Obuchowski and Drew Hickey in the 800.

Durable Augustine won the 400 victory in a personal-best 49.78 seconds, earned a second-place triple jump and was fourth in long jump.

He came back with his second 49-second run of the day to anchor a winning 1,600 relay with Hickey, Obuchowski and Tom Niedbala.

"I love the 400, it's my favorite race," Augustine said. "I think it's the best race in track."

Others might favor the 100 dash. On Saturday probably not West Aurora's Josh Zinzer, who in preliminaries false-started in an event he may well have won. Teammate Leon Spears did the same in the finals.

Zinzer did win the 200, and with Spears, Kendall Peoples and Joel Vincent helped set a meet record in the 400-meter relay at 43.04.

Tony Knight, Alex Tovar and Colton Winston joined Peoples for another win in the 800 relay. Later, Winston went 43 feet, 7 inches to win triple jump.

Seeing those false starts erase sure points, Winston said, "When Leon and Zinzer scratched, that means we've got to come with it, bring points, try to win."

Kaneland's Phil Christensen, who in 2007 had a self-described "horrible" discus session at this meet, won the event at 167 feet, 9½ inches.

He was rewarded by a long chat with North Central College assistant coach Tom Roderick.

Which was better, winning or being recruited?

"It's tough to tell," Christensen said. "It just feels good."