Lisle’s Nalley Invitational hits the road

There is a major change for this year’s Carlin Nalley Track and Field Invitational.

The large-school/small-school meet, still the largest outdoor invite aside from the state series, is typically hosted by Lisle Senior High at Benedictine University. This year, due to a facility conflict, it will be held at Bolingbrook, its first time outside the area.

Once every three years, Lisle coach Ken Jakalski said, Benedictine hosts its own track meet on the date of the Carlin Nalley meet. Such will be the case May 7. Last time this happened, the Nalley was moved the relatively short distance to Naperville North.

Bolingbrook, which Carlin Nalley himself believed has participated in all 43 prior invites, is coached by Art Pahl. The bearded man is a 2004 Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, the year before Jakalski gained admittance.

Until the meet moved to Benedictine several years ago, Lisle hosted it at Wilde Field on the campus of Lisle Junior High. Word had it parking was an issue in returning the Nalley to Wilde. Where once was an open field that could handle overflow parking, there is now a soccer field.

Author, author:

Speaking of Jakalski, the coach once dubbed “The Inspector Gadget of Track and Field” has written a book.

“The Book of Zoom” is best explained by its subtitle: “Science Based Insights on the Mechanics of Speed and Sprint Training Protocols.” It may be investigated and purchased by visiting either bearpowered.com or freelaptrackandfield.com.

Optical feat:

There’s no mistaking Hinsdale South senior Don DeSalvo. Usually found near the front if not in the lead in either the 1,600 or the 3,200, there is no mistaking the varsity veteran. The neon orange spikes he wears while competing give him away.

Cheers:

At many track meets the crowd politely applauds the last finisher to cross the line in the 3,200-meter run. Fans do so based on their respect for an athlete driven to finish to the best of his or her ability, regardless of time.

Such was the case at Saturday’s Jim Arnold Boys Track Invitational, when senior Cole Batty of host Glenbard West came down the homestretch on his final lap.

Batty drew one of the day’s largest rounds of applause, right up there with Lake Park’s Zach Ziemek clearing 16 feet, 1 inch in pole vault.

As Batty ran in front of the Duchon Field grandstand toward the finish line, the public address announcer stated that Batty had registered a perfect score on his ACT test. The bushy-haired senior later was seen helping out in the concession stand.

Healthy and happy...

Last year during regular-season track meets, Lake Park senior Zach Ziemek was on a very short leash, the result of partial tears in his left hip flexor. The end result of the Lancer coaching staff’s cautiousness was Ziemek able to peak at the right time, finishing first in 3A pole vault and second in triple jump, 18 big points that helped Lake Park earn the team title.

This spring, Ziemek is in fine form.

“I feel great. I get to come to these meets and compete,” said Ziemek, who in early March committed to Wisconsin after also considering offers from Minnesota and Northern Iowa.

Still, Lake Park coach Jay Ivory, pole vault coach Doug Juraska and jumps coach Tom Kaberna are using Ziemek wisely.

Though Ziemek could probably win long jump as well as pole vault and triple jump at nearly any meet Lake Park enters — he also could reach the state-qualifying high jump standard of 6 feet, 5 inches if he put his mind to it — he’s been mainly on a two-event schedule to save his body for the more important state series.

“They’re not putting too much load on me, I’m just doing like two, three events maybe at most a meet. They’re trying to take it easy because staying healthy’s the key this year.”

Saturday at Glenbard West Ziemek achieved his long sought-after personal record in pole vault, and also bettered his prior PR of 48-6 in triple jump by eight inches, to 49-2.

The pole vault mark was of particular importance to him. He let loose a whoop after clearing 16-1 on his second attempt. But he and the rest of the Lancers have bigger fish to fry.

“I’m just hoping to win a state championship for the team again,” Ziemek said. “It’s not about me, it’s about the team. That’s my goal.”

Almost a biggie:

Ziemek’s teammate Jermaine Kline, the 2010 3A runner up in discus, won that event at the Jim Arnold Invite. His winning toss went 183 feet, 4 inches.

There’s obviously more left in the tank for the 300-plus pound senior. He fouled on a throw of 197-3.