Grant grabs NSC Prairie title

When the calendar hits the end of April and turns to the start of May, it signals the beginning of the championship season in boys track and field.

The dual meets that start every week are replaced by preparing for bigger invites and even bigger conference and sectional championship meets, all of which leads to the biggest meet of them all — the state finals at Eastern Illinois at the end of May.

On Monday, Grant’s boys track team looked like one that’s ready for the championship season.

In the final dual meet of the year against Lakes and Wauconda, and with the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division crown on the line, the athletes who have been stars for Grant all season played their roles again, in the biggest way.

Led by three event wins from senior Sean Wells and a pair each from Daylin Romig and Peter Audrain, Grant ended a run of five consecutive NSC Prairie titles by upending Lakes 96-50. Grant completed the NSC Prairie season unbeaten by defeating Wauconda 123-23.

“This was our goal from the first day of the season,” said Grant coach Tom Evans. “The kids have worked hard and we have pushed them, maybe harder than they have ever been pushed. And they really stepped it up.”

Wells and his brother Jonathon were too much for the Eagles, who had won 35 consecutive dual meets before Monday, to overcome.

Sean Wells took top honors in the 110-meter high hurdles (14.6), then came back in the very next event to win a tight race with Shaun Beutlich of Lakes in 11.2. The elder Wells completed his day by taking his signature event, the 300 hurdles, in 39.8.

Jonathon Wells was nearly as dominant, leading the 400 relay (44.7) and the 800 relay (1:32.7) to wins. The younger Wells also took the long jump with a season best 20 feet, 5 inches. Kris Smith, Brandon Lofthouse and Keion Miller teamed with Wells on both relays.

In the field events, junior Brandon Lombardino continued to shine in the discus taking the win with a best toss of 178-10. It came on the heels of his efforts two weeks ago when Lombardino’s throw of 190-0 became the best ever in Lake County history.

Audrain took the top spot in the 1,600 (4:46.8) and helped the team of Gabriel Velarde, Justin Sanchez and Kyle Hatton to a season-best 8:19.0 to win the 3,200 relay.

“This doesn’t change our goals,” Lakes coach Kurt Rowells said. “Our goal at the beginning of the season was to win the sectional and to compete at conference and we are still on track with that.”

The top performances by the Eagles included a school-record win in the 400 from Trevor Ray (50.3) and a solid win in the 1,600 relay from the team of Ray, Ryan Prais, Jake Degrave and Ahman Reffat.

Wauconda’s top performances came in the pole vault from Dylan Knee (11-6) and in the 300 hurdles from Chris Bednarski (41.4