Ready for the next step

It's grueling, this business of maximizing potential.

Saturday's Peterson Prep Invitational boys track meet at Kaneland High School was the latest stop on that journey for Fenton, Wheaton Academy and Driscoll athletes.

Coming off a personal record hard work remains right around the next turn.

Wheaton Academy's Mike DeRenzo cut four seconds off his 1,600 time, to 4 minutes, 48.3 second clip.

"He's pretty pumped," said Warriors coach Bill Bickhart.

DeRenzo, four seconds faster than his normal pace through 400 meters, is ready for the next step.

"What I'm hoping to do over the next two weeks is to work on my speed for the race," the sophomore said.

"The last 200 I started to get a little weak in the legs, so that's what I'm going to try to work on, so I can start to kick it in instead of just maintaining."

Wheaton Academy's Jake Jones cleared 5 feet, 8 inches to tie for ninth in high jump.

Fenton senior Frank Postelnick, who has sights on a downstate berth in the 800-meter run, will need to cut some time to reach the 1:57.5 Class AA qualifying time.

At Kaneland he took one for the team, running a 2:02 lead leg of a fourth-place 3,200 relay that also featured Raul Rosas, Jack Morrissey and Justin Smith.

Postelnick came back to run the 800 though unaccustomed to that double. His time of 2:11.3 -- converted sprinter Smith ran it in 2:04.9 -- leaves work to be done.

"Hard training," he said. "Training through most meets, working as hard as I can. Make sure I'm hitting all my times and giving a little extra effort -- maybe doing a little extra after the practice."

Bison shot putter Francisco Ochoa placed eighth at 45-3¼. Nathan Smith ran ninth in the 3,200 at 10:15.6. Hurdler Larry Garrett and sprinter Jason Lobojko showed promise for the Metro Suburban Conference meet.

Driscoll had a perplexing day. Juniors Jeremy Wilk and Joey Calabrese finished a respective fifth and seventh in the 800 and the triple jump, but Pierre Washington-Steel, a 100-meter qualifier and probable 200 qualifier, left for a sophomore football camp.

Wilk anchored the Highlanders' 3,200 relay and returned, still winded, for the 800. He ran a personal-best 2:01, chopping off six seconds.

"I found out that what I just ran would have been state-qualifying, so I was really happy with that," Wilk said. "I'm going to make sure I work hard at practice so I keep my times down."

Geneva won the meet with 109 points, followed by West Aurora (82) and Dundee-Crown (53).