Boys track and field: Cavan, Glenbard West give OPRF a run for Silver title
Senior Rory Cavan accomplished two impressive feats Friday that hadn't been done in Glenbard West boys track and field history since 1978.
That also was the last time the Hilltoppers won a conference championship.
Despite Cavan and seniors Tyquan Cox, Will O'Brien and Corey Williams combining for six titles, the Hilltoppers again were second to Oak Park-River Forest at the West Suburban Conference Silver meet at York.
"It was a plan going in, obviously, to score as many points as we could," said Cavan, whose history-making 3,200 and 1,600 titles came in 9:18.32 and 4:19.67.
"It was just about doing it for the team and giving your all for the guys you're with every day."
The Huskies beat the Hilltoppers 155-123.5 for their third straight championship after winning last year's crown 136-121. York was third with 90 points. Downers Grove North and Hinsdale Central were fifth and sixth, respectively.
Cavan technically is the Hilltoppers' first conference champion in both events. Their last winner for either race was Jeff Hill in 1978 when the race still was the 2 mile and 1 mile.
"(OPRF is) a phenomenal team and they're going to be at state competing for a trophy," Cavan said. "To put ourselves near them is a good sign for us as we look forward to the next couple of weeks."
Cox won long jump with a lifetime-best 22-4½ and also won the 100 in 11.19 while taking second in the 200 and with the 400 relay as the only returnee from last year's all-state sprint group.
Williams won a tiebreaker at 6-3 for the high jump. O'Brien won the 800 in 1:56.28 in just his second race back from a monthlong competition layoff because of injury.
Senior Diego Villalobos was second in long and triple jump and senior Adam Dau was third in shot put and discus.
"It's crazy how great of a program we're becoming," Cox said. "I love my seniors and we can still do some big things. The season's not over yet."
York senior Brendan Hill won pole vault on a 13-2 tiebreaker. Hinsdale Central seniors Alec Hill and Matt Kusak, junior Carter McCarroll and sophomore Piyush Mekla won the 3,200 relay in 8:03.10.
A returning state qualifier, Hill was impressed by teammate Collin Wallace, who took third at 12-8 after his pole snapped in flight during one of his attempts.
"I'm very proud of him because most people that'll happen to, they're too scared to jump. He got on a pole he's never jumped on and jumped absolutely amazing," said Hill, who has cleared 14-8 indoors.
"I feel strong. I feel fast. Just got to do a couple of more things to clean everything up. Today was bit of an off day."
York's Michael Moriarty and Daniel Klysh finished 2-3 in the 800. The 1,600 relay was second and Ethan Kern and Richard Buehling were third in the 3,200 and triple jump, respectively.
Downers North seniors Trevor Murphy and Trenton Cintron took second in the 3,200 and discus with lifetime bests. In the 1,600, seniors Jack Roberts, who led most of the race, and Matt Moravec placed 2-3 and Connor Hopkins was third in high jump.
Murphy's 9:24.06 was a personal best by 16 seconds and under the 9:28.74 state-qualifying standard. Cintron threw a personal-best 144-3 on his first attempt and had a couple of other throws beyond his 132-5 previous best from last week.
"It's crazy. In practice I've been hitting 120 at most, maybe 125. I just felt right today," said Cintron, now seeking the state-qualifying standard of 154-0 at sectionals.
"Since I PRed by 12 feet (today), I can PR by 10 feet (next week)."