Burlington Central has stellar sectional performance

It was another banner night for the Burlington Central boys track program.

Competing at the Class 2A Sterling sectional Friday, the Rockets qualified two relay teams and four individuals in six events for next weekend's IHSA state track and field meet in Charleston. They also set three school records in the process.

Senior Cameron Ostrowski won the high jump in a school record 6 feet, 9 inches, while junior Tre Llanes won three events, setting school records in the triple jump (46-2) and long jump (22-1/2). He also won the 300 high hurdles in 15.04.

The Rockets also qualified seniors Mitch Plum (400, 2nd in 51.1) and Justin Ott (shot put, 3rd in 51-8) as individuals as well as their 3,200-meter and 1,600-meter relay teams.

The 3,200 relay team of sophomores Joe Gannon and Mike Gulik, senior Nic Blaggett and sophomore Clint Kliem ran an 8:07 to finish second, while the 1,600 squad of Kliem, Gulik, Plum and sophomore Ben Damisch took second in a time of 3:26.

"I'm very happy," said BC coach Mike Schmidt. "To go from almost finishing last at the (Kane) county meet three weeks ago to this ... the kids really showed me something tonight. It was a great, great sectional for us."

The Rockets finished third in the team standings behind champion Kaneland and DeKalb.

Class 1A: St. Edward senior Shane Finnane, who will play football at Army, won the shot put Friday night at the Class 1A Genoa-Kingston sectional with a throw of 48-9.25. The Green Wave also qualified senior Nick Kerger in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.9.

Westminster Christian will send its 400 relay team to state after it finished second in a time of 44.09. The Warriors' 800 relay team also will run in Charleston after finishing third in 1:32.6.

Individually, Westminster's Ishmael Yemoh finished second in the 100 in a time of 10.46 to make state.