Klavins' contributions help Lake Zurich rule
Lake Zurich senior Braxton Klavins talked about how dead his legs felt after competing in the 400-meter dash Saturday at the North Suburban Conference track and field championships at Lake Forest.
"I just knew I had to do what I needed to do for the team," Klavins said. "After that 400, I didn't have much left in my legs - but I knew I had to triple jump one more time."
For Klavins, the last year has consisted of him doing whatever he needed to do. But it's been more about getting back on the track.
After missing the entire 2009 season with a knee injury, Klavin's return this season has been a spark for Lake Zurich - and his efforts Saturday were a huge reason why the Bears earned their first outright NSC track title.
Klavins ran a leg on a conference record-setting relay, came from the next to last heat in the 400 to move up to third place overall and won the triple jump with an incredible performance of 43-1 to lift Lake Zurich to a somewhat improbable conference championship.
The Bears amassed 115 points to edge Zion-Benton (91) and host and defending champion Lake Forest (77).
"Today I was able to accomplish a lot of my goals," Klavins said.
"After I hit my PR in the long jump I felt really confident."
Lake Zurich looked confident on the track all afternoon, especially in the sprints. Junior standout Jacob Brinlee anchored the 400 relay team of Christian Williams, Colin Wanat and Klavins to a conference record-setting win. The time of 42.54 is one of the fastest times in the state and broke the NSC mark held by three teams, including the 2007 Bears.
"The coaches told us when we got off the bus today that we were projected to finish fourth," Brinlee said.
"But I think we all knew that we could come here and win it."
The Bears also captured the 3,200-relay, as Paul Geimer, Joe Carabetta, Peter Rantis and Jon Pavolich teamed up to run 8:07.29.
"This is probably the first time since 2007 when we tied Zion for the title that we have been this healthy," said LZ coach Chad Beaver. "The kids really came in here, stepped up and performed."
Stepping up has been nothing new for Stevenson junior Brandon Stryganek. A week after dominating the field in the sprints at the Lake County Invite, Stryganek did it to the rest of the competitors at the NSC meet.
Stryganek captured individual wins in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and anchored the 400-meter relay to a season-best 42.96 and a third-place finish.
His anchor leg in the 800-meter relay was equally as impressive as he held off Zion-Benton to help the Patriots set a school mark of 1:29.76. Oliver Rose, Jon Fajardo and Brett Kraiman teamed up with Stryganek for the win.
"Today was a good day, but it was definitely good preparation for (the sectionals) next week," Stryganek said.
Much like Stryganek did last week; Mundelein junior Robbie Munnings put up yet another impressive performance in the 1,600. After trailing Vernon Hills senior Andrew Thompson, Munnings picked the right time to make his move. Just like last week, he passed the lead runner and fought Thompson all the way to the end before winning in 4:23.65.
"This is the way I like to race," Munnings said. "I try and stay with the pack - then, at the end, I make my move up."
Four-time NSC Prairie Division champion Lakes also had a record-setting day en route to finishing fourth. The Eagles earned more all-conference performers than ever at this meet and earned multiple conference titlists for the first time.
Senior Marcel Kirkmanbey captured the 110 high hurdles in 15.20, while junior John Pfeiffer earned top honors in the shot put with a toss of 53-9.
Other individual winners included Libertyville's Jeremy Birck in the high jump (6-2) and Will Lardner of Mundelein in the pole vault (12-9).