Geneva takes title, Batavia finishes 2nd

For Geneva, it was the positive momentum from last week's conference meet victory that provided the incentive in the rain-delayed Class 3A Streamwood sectional on Friday night.

For Batavia, it was the negative vibes from a disappointing performance in the conference meet that provided the incentive.

Different reasons, but the formulas worked for both Western Sun teams, as Geneva captured the sectional title with 102 points and qualified its 400- and 800-meter relay teams and four individuals for next week's state meet in Charleston, while Batavia finished second with 71.33 points, while qualifying three relay teams and two individuals.

St. Charles North placed fourth with 68 points, sending four individuals to the state finals, while St. Charles East finished eighth and sent its 3,200-meter relay team as its lone state representative.

West Chicago secured fifth place behind Matt Kubik, who was one of the stars of the meet by winning the pole vault at 13-9, the 100-meter dash at 10.97, and the 200-meter dash at 22.27.

The Wildcats also will send Jeff Foreman after his victory in the high jump at 6-3.

Geneva's Tom Frederick qualified by finishing second in two events, the 300 meter hurdles at 39.55 and 110 hurdles at 14.63, while teammate Kevin Sparks won the 3,200-meter run at 9:25.44 and Peter Archibald was second in the 800 at 1:56.83.

"I like it a little better when it is warm," Sparks said about his winning effort. "When it started to rain it was kind of discouraging, but I knew that if I wanted to go to state, which was my ultimate dream, there was nothing that was going to stop me."

Frank Boenzi tossed the shot for a personal best and first place at 60-04, and took second in the discus at 160-10, with both events finishing in total darkness.

The Vikings relay team of Jay Graffagna, Scott Pospisil, John Wilger and Doug Berthold took second in the 400-meter relay at 43.08 and first in the 800-meter relay at 1:30.05.

"The kids have done really well tonight, and I was a little concerned about that rain delay," Geneva coach Gale Gross said. "Frederick taking second in the hurdles was a nice surprise, and Sparks winning the 3,200 was just huge."

Batavia was fueled by Rob Mohr winning both the 110 hurdles at 14.44 and the 300 hurdles at 38.78.

"It feels great getting back after that conference meet," Mohr said. "I wanted to get back to show I was top dog again and do it in this meet, that really matters.

"I felt like I was really booking out there," Mohr added. "Probably the best I have ever run."

Mohr was even more pumped up after his 300-meter hurdles victory, since he had fallen on the last hurdle in the conference meet.

"I had to get over that last hurdle," Mohr said. "It wasn't exactly the greatest hurdle, but I had the energy and made it to the finish."

Batavia's relay teams were a key to the Bulldogs' finish, as the 3,200 relay team of Charlie Phillips, Sam Stoner, Derek Chapman and Kevin Gray was fourth but under qualifying time at 8:01.49, but the 400-meter relay team of Dan Skinner, Emund Kabba, Scott Poulos and Mohr was first at 42.95. Skinner, Kabba, Poulos and Jake Benner took second in the 800-meter relay at 1:30.48.

Batavia's Kevin LaFond qualified in the pole vault in second at 13-3.

Bulldogs coach Dennis Piron was ecstatic with his team's comeback this week.

"The kids were all very disappointed in how we did last week and they just thought we left too much out there on track for a conference meet in which we didn't have a very good showing," Piron said. "We're doing some nice things tonight, so I'm very excited."

St. Charles North followed the lead of sprinter Christian Ilunga, who was not happy about finishing second in both of his dashes to Kubik of West Chicago by going 22.41 in the 200-meter and 11.0 in the 100-meter.

"I wanted to win really bad, but I got a little tired and didn't pump my arms enough," Ilunga said. "But I got downstate and that was my goal, and I am really excited about that."

Kubik knew he had to run well to top Ilunga, but he feels he can do better next week.

"It was an OK time, the conditions weren't very good and I slipped coming out of the blocks," Kubik said of his 100-meter dash victory. "But I pushed really hard and used great technique and I edged him out to win."

Other North Stars going downstate include Kyle Zankowski in the 3,200 meter run in second at 9:26.29, sophomore Oshay Hodges at second in the triple jump at 43-02 and Daniel Washington capturing first in the long jump at 21-06.50.

St. Charles East coach Ben Provencher said his qualifying 3200-meter relay team of Tim Johnson, Jake Zahn, Jared Eads and Steven Decker finally found the perfect combination with its third-place finish at 8:01.08.

"We were saying that every one of those guys have run the time we needed them to run, but we've never been able to do it all together until tonight," Provencher said.