Cary-Grove’s Freeman sets FVC shot put record
By the time the boys outdoor state track and field meet rolls around in late May, it’s scary how far Cary-Grove senior Josh Freeman could be throwing the shot put.
Freeman, who is being recruited by several Big Ten schools, was in midseason form at Wednesday’s Fox Valley Conference Indoor Meet held at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville.
Freeman easily won the shot put with a meet record heave of 61 feet, 7 ¼ inches. Grayslake Central’s Joey Valdivia was a distant second with a throw of 52-10 ¼.
The Cary-Grove senior standout wiped out the old record held by former Huntley standout and current Auburn University thrower Marcus Popenfoose, who had a throw of 56-5 in 2010.
“My last throw felt very good,” said Freeman. “I am still working out the kinks on my throws in practice. We are still lifting heavy, but we still have a couple of indoor meets left and I will be ready for the outdoor season. My goal is to win the state championship. I have a lot of improving to do to accomplish that goal.”
Crystal Lake Central won the meet with a score of 113 points, followed by McHenry with 93.
Grayslake Central was fourth with a score of 61 points. Will Brewster won the 1,600 and 3,200 runs for the Rams. He was followed by teammate Luke Zygmunt in the 1,600.
“Our plan was to finish 1-2 in the 1,600 and it was good to accomplish that goal,” said Brewster. “We both ran a good tactical race. It was long night, but it was good to win both races.”
Huntley placed fifth with a score of 49.5 points. Ryan Sheehan (pole vault) and James Davis (55 meters) led the Red Raiders with second-place finishes.
Cary-Grove, which was sixth with 49 points, got first-place finishes from Freeman and Tommy Rohn (400).
Jacobs, seventh with 48 points, got its lone first-place effort from its 400 relay team. Jacobs’ best individual finishers were William Hennessy (800) and Dom Blake (200), who placed second.
Dundee-Crown’s ninth-place finish with a score of 32.5 was spearheaded by Ardian Asani with a first-place effort In the long jump.
Crystal Lake South was 10th with 32 points. Zane Boettcher led the Gators with a first-place finish in the 55 dash.
Grayslake North was 12th with 7 points while Hampshire, in its first year in the FVC, didn’t score.