Off-season work paying dividends for Prospect's Batcha

While most high school kids were out enjoying their summer at the beach or on vacation last summer, Prospect junior Nick Batcha was working.

It wasn't at a job where he could earn money, but a speed camp - and clearly his decision is already paying dividends.

At the Bartlett Flyin' Hawk Invite at Streamwood on Saturday, the speed and technique that Batcha gained at the Tommy Z Pure Speed Clinic was on display for everyone to see. Despite the brutally windy conditions, The Knights' Batcha showed off dominating performances in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, earning medals in both events. Batcha also medaled in the high jump and long jump, helping lead the Knights to third place with 71 points.

"I worked on my speed and technique at the speed camp this summer and it has helped me out a lot," Batcha said. "My races just feel more natural now."

Loyola captured the crown with 92 points, followed by Thornridge with 82. Bartlett (60), Schaumburg (50) and Rolling Meadows (43) followed Prospect in the team standings.

"He likes to train," said Prospect coach Mike Kamedula of Batcha. "His upside is clearly huge. It's hard to imagine what he could be like in a year if he adds even more strength."

The Knights didn't run their full lineup, but with the efforts of Batcha and senior Leo Clark in the sprints, Prospect was able to stay in the team race. The Knights' lone other event win came in the 800 relay in a time of 1:32.69.

Batcha wound up third in the long jump with a season-best mark of 21-10.25 and in a second-place tie in the high jump by clearing 6-2. Batcha tied with Weston Ross of Wheeling and Femi Oyewole of Bartlett.

The host Hawks got into the win column in the final race of the afternoon. The team of Robert Trotter, Zach Konstanzaer, Josafat Gonzalez and Zach Karys captured the 1,600-relay in 3:32.26. Karys anchored the Hawks and had to hold off a hard charge from Schaumburg senior Dionte Hackler as the Saxons ran a close second (3:33.50).

For Hackler, it was another milestone day in his final year. His 50.11 clocking in the 400 established a personal best and allowed Hackler to capture the 400-meter race. His teammate Jake Fritzler, who also ran on the second-place relay, ran a personal best of 51.62 in a third-place finish.

Tyler Swindle of Lakes split the two Saxons as he broke the school record in the event with a 51.13 effort. His mark was part of an excellent day for the Eagles. Senior teammate Marcel Kirkmanbey looked solid in the 110 high hurdles, racing to third place in a season-best 14.98 effort.

But the biggest stir came from a freshman - Ryan Prais. In a 1,600-meter field that featured many of the state's best milers, Prais refused to get outraced.

With the windy conditions wreaking havoc, the group stayed bunched together, allowing Prais to stay right with the lead pack that featured Loyola standout Nico Composto. Into the final turns of the race, Prais tried to make a move but was clipped in the leg by another runner. He still managed to stay with the lead pack and finished fifth overall in 4:30.06.

"It felt pretty special to be in a race with those guys," Prais said. "This was a pretty good time for this stage in the season. I am pretty confident that we can get down around 4:20 by the end of the year."

Photis Karkalis of Rolling Meadows also battled in the same 1,600 race and ran step for step with Composto all the way to the finish line before falling short by .06.

"I think we all thought in the race that it would be a tactical race," Karkalis said. "I kind of fell back on the last 400 and had to push to get back into the race. But when we were through at 2:17 for the half, I think everyone felt pretty good at that point.'

Karkalis' brother Angelos battled through a tough wind and Mundelein junior Gian Carlo Vassalo to win the 800. Vassalo pushed hard at the end but wound up second in 2:03.74 behind the 2:01.51 effort from Karkalis.

The Mustangs also had a winner in the discus as ever-improving senior Jared Diaz bested the group and closed in on the school record. His top throw of 167-0 was a personal best and left him just four feet shy of the school mark.

"Each meet out I am trying to get better," Diaz said. "When I get to see good competition like I saw this week, it really pushes me to throw better."