Huntley's Popenfoose breaks 200 in discus
Huntley thrower Marcus Popenfoose has done a lot of things in his career.
Breaking 200 feet in a discus throw was the one elusive hurdle that the senior, who finished second in last year's IHSA state track meet with a throw of 199 feet, 8 inches, just couldn't seem to get.
Aided by 27 mile-per-hour winds, Popenfoose cleared the 200-foot mark by notching a 202-04 throw at Friday night's 37th Annual Crystal Lake Central Invitational.
"It felt like a nice throw," the Auburn-bound Popenfoose said after claiming his new personal best. "It puts me in a different group. It puts me on a different level."
The new level smashed the old CLC Invite record, which Popenfoose set in 2008, by 22 feet, 11 inches. Quietly sneaking in second was Huntley teammate Cody Cameron.
The junior notched a 150-11 throw to claim second over Antioch's Brandon Ginter (148-01). With most of the attention on Popenfoose, Cameron has been able to rack up some quality throws this season, including Friday's.
"It had a lot of pull," Cameron said of the throw. "I kept it flat so the wind could take it. I just keep learning from the best."
Added Huntley throwing coach Chris Maxedon: It says a lot about Cody. The time and effort and work says a lot about the season that they're having."
Where Popenfoose shined in the discus, he scratched on all 3 throws in the shot put paving the way for Bartlett's Brendan Bauers (51-08) to take home first-place honors. The throw was a personal best for Bauers, who had obtained a 51-02 in the past couple of weeks.
Adding to the throw was the dramatic effort in which Bauers was able to finish out the meet as the last thrower trailing eventual second-place finisher Ginter (49-06).
"I was behind going into the final throw," Bauers said. "It got caught in that cross wind."
Bauers' first-place finish helped Bartlett (65) finish fourth as a team, with Burlington Central (40) finishing sixth and Huntley (25) seventh. Crystal Lake Central (107.5) won the team title in the meet, which was shortened by 2 events due to harsh weather conditions.
Burlington Central recorded a pair of first-place finishes from high jumper Cam Ostrowski (6-03) and Mitch Plum in the 400 (52.02).
Plum beat Crystal Lake Central's Brett Schuld (52.26) by 0.24 of a second to take the crown with Bartlett's Zach Karys (52.54) finishing third.
"My legs are in good shape," Plum said. "I go with everything I've got."
The Hawks added a pair of second-place finishes, in the 400 relay (44.61) and 800 relay (1:34.51).