Boys track and field: Geneva’s Konkey caps return from injury by sprinting to two state titles

CHARLESTON — Geneva junior sprinter Bennett Konkey quietly excited O’Brien Field late Saturday afternoon.

His exit was vastly different from his awe-inspiring performance.

As Konkey turned his back away from the blue turf, he reached for the gates only to find a big throng of supporters awaiting him to celebrate his historic accomplishment at the Class 3A state track and field meet at Eastern Illinois University.

A standout wide receiver with 16 offers, Konkey is set to open the door to a future filled with endless options following winning a pair of state titles. After sitting out 11 months with a severe hamstring injury, Konkey made a big statement in his return to the track spotlight.

He showed his next-level speed by wowing the crowd in the two marquee sprinting events.

Konkey captured first place in the 100-meter dash in a time 10.39 and ended his memorable showing by blowing away the field in the 200 (21.08) to score 20 points for the Vikings. Before Saturday, Geneva had yet to win an individual state title, but Konkey doubled the program’s total in matter of three hours.

“I just tried to compete,” Konkey said. “It’s so hard to believe last year I wasn’t running track and now I’m a two-time state champ.”

Konkey said his comeback, from doubting his ability to run to being the fastest sprinter in the state, took a toll on him. He played football, but his hamstring injury limited his performance. Konkey competed in the 400 state relay in his sophomore season.

Konkey said he doesn’t plan on running track next season due to his decision to enroll in college early next season.

“It’s great not being able to run last year and to run this year,” Konkey said. “I wasn’t able to compete in 100 and 200 at state is a great comeback from last year. I’m super excited. This is my last year running track. I’m graduating early to play football. My last two races, so to be double state champs is exciting.

“I’m excited to see which schools will reach out to me now. I’m grateful for everyone in my life who has helped me along the way, including my parents with my injury.”

In the 3A team standings, Evanston captured first place with 56 points. Downers Grove North earned fifth (29) and Neuqua Valley claimed sixth (24).

Neuqua Valley senior Daniel Robinson, who won three events at the 92nd DuPage County championships, closed out his storied career in style. Robinson, a Southwest Baptist recruit, defended his 3A long jump title with a top leap of 7.23 meters at the state meet.

Robinson credited his second state title to a slight alteration of his training and diet.

“Consistency was the key and being more intentional with everything I’ve done was the key,” Robinson said. “My coaches changed my plan in training and it worked out the best for me. This year my jumping has been way better than last year. Experience and also doing the little things, like eating right and being locked in my diet is something I focused on this year. My performance has skyrocketed because of it.”

In the 100, Robinson added a second-place medal by hitting the line in 10.62 seconds to spark the Wildcats to strong team finish.

“It’s been a great four years competing, and this year was by far my best year in terms of the results I’ve gotten,” Robinson said. “I knew there was a lot of competition in my 100 race. My biggest thing was focusing on my lane only and that’s the best thing I did to allow me to finish second.”

Teammate Grayson Meek, a sophomore, collected six key points with a fourth-place medal in the 800 (1:53.01) in his first state appearance.

“It was so fun,” Meek said. “I just tried to give everything I had. It’s a fast meet, but it was so much fun. I hope I keep improving and working on my speed and endurance.”

Downers Grove North senior Philip Cupial had to wait an extra season for his spot on the top of the 3A 1,600 podium. Cupial, a Virginia recruit, missed the cut to finals last season, but bounced back with a stunning finish in Saturday’s finals. Cupial passed several runners in the final 350 meters to reclaim his 1,600 title in a time of 4:10.65. Cupial dominated the finals after spending the first three laps letting the race unfold before making his move right after hearing the final lap bell.

“Basically, I knew since a lot of the guys had PRs in the prelims that they would be ready to go, but it’s hard to PR twice in a row and felt like I had a big advantage,” Cupial said. “Since my legs were pretty fried from the 4x8, I wanted to chill out and stay near the front. I’ve been here so long and just sat, was patient and let it rip.

“I loosened up at the end. It felt great. I didn’t defend my title last year, so coming here winning it again was special. Last year was such a low moment in my career not making it past the prelims. I worked really hard to see if I could come back even stronger.”

His teammate, William Surratt, nearly made it a one-two finish in the 1,600, but he ended in third in a time of 4:12.00.

“I didn’t feel great coming off the relay and just tried to trust my fitness, but I’m super happy with my result,” Surratt said. “Going one-three with Phil, I can’t be mad. I’m super happy with how the season went.”

Downers Grove North’s 4x800 relay opened the day with a sterling showing to finish in first place with a time of 7:38.98. The foursome included Tyler Lynch-Goff, Joshua Farrero, Surratt and Cupial.

“I was just trying to get out hard and put us in a good spot on the second leg,” Lynch-Goff said. “I felt really good on this leg and did what needed to be done.”

In the event, Downers Grove South snagged third, St. Charles North (fourth), Hinsdale Central (fifth), York seventh) and Prospect (ninth).

Metea Valley’s Henry Faber made a big impression with a second-place display in the 400 with a personal record time of 47.39.

Cary-Grove senior Logan Abrams, an Illinois State track recruit and standout in football, placed third in the discus (56.09 meters).

“I had a chip on my shoulders after prelims, so I’m very happy to end my career this way,” Faber said.

Kaneland took home a pair of second-place medals and a fifth place in 2A. The Knights’ group of Colton VanDyke, Jackson Boryc, Noah Cornell and Benjamin Karl clocked a time of 42.16 in the 400, while the same group finished second in the 800.

“It was kind of nerve-wrecking at the start seeing two teams get disqualified at the start, so I was very cautious,” VanDyke said of the 400. “I was still confident and knew to get out hard and get a good spot for the team.”

Aurora Central Catholic’s team of Jack Swiatek, Ben Bohr, Giovannie Gutierrez and John Reinbold notched first in the 3,200 relay (7:42.43).

“I knew we had positive momentum and a target on our backs since we were seeded first,” Switek said.

Meanwhile, Reinbold said he was primed for a strong finish, with three of the runners returning from last season’s 10th place relay.

“I got the baton with a pretty nice lead and knew the pressure was on and I had to close hard in order for us to win and it happened,” Reinbold said.

Glenbard South’s Thomas Jochum had a productive afternoon, finishing in second place in the 2A 3,200 in a time of 9:26.11. Kyle Quaid-Bowman added to his team’s strong day with a third-place medal in the pole vault (4.90 meters).

Wheaton Academy’s Griffin Schlenbecker had a busy day competing in three events on the hot day, highlighted by a seventh-place medal in the high jump (1.98 meters).

In Class 1A, Elgin Harvest Christian’s Luca Bryja nabbed third in a talented 1,600 field in a time of 4:19.20.