Season-long drive culminates in today's finals

CHARLESTON -- It has been a season-long drive for Prospect seniors Matt Kennedy and Matt Babicz.

Kennedy proved early that he would be a contender in the shot put, while Babicz's specialty was the discus.

On Friday at the state track and field championships at O'Brien Stadium on the Eastern Illinois University campus, both Babicz and Kennedy had their first and only chance to show they were good enough for a finals performance.

Kennedy was first -- and he wasted little time making sure that he would be busy today.

His first throw of 54-6 was easily good enough to get him into the finals. Just to make sure, his second throw of 56-11½ put him second overall behind Dan Block of Lake Park.

Block was the only thrower to achieve 60 feet, and he hit the milestone on each of his three tosses.

Kennedy appears to be a lock to win a medal in what will be his only state finals appearance.

"I was real confident coming in, so that helped a lot," he said. "After I got that first throw in, I just let loose. It is so huge to get here and to get into the finals."

Babicz not only battled the competitors in heat three but also fought a portion of the brutal weather that delayed the meet some three hours.

Throwing in a downpour from a soaked discus ring, Babicz had the best toss of the flight -- 158-5. He is fourth and in excellent position for a medal today.

"I was really excited all day and it was hard to wait," Babicz said. "Tomorrow the pressure now comes off and it becomes 100 percent on every throw."

Prospect will also have a race to run on the track -- the 3,200-meter relay, to no one's surprise. The Knights' Chris Hayek, Albert Ciolek, Mike Styzek and Blake Wolfe finished third in their heat in 7:54.07, the third-fastest time of the preliminaries.

Right next to the Knights in the 3,200-relay will be Hersey. The Huskies' team of Mitch Pajcic, Billy Wisser, Erik Stanton and Mike Tisza ran 7:56.06 to edge York for the heat win.

"I felt pretty strong, but the race was just really weird," Tisza said. "But I am happy we won the heat and have a chance to race tomorrow."

Hersey will be well-represented in the finals, particularly in the 1,600-meter run. Stanton and senior Kevin Havel both won their heats, but it was the finishing kick from Stanton that sparked a loud cheer from Havel.

Into the final lap, Stanton was sitting third in the group before working his way to the lead with 200 meters to go.

He outkicked Chris Kadlec of Wheaton North and Steve Couch of Naperville Central to win with a personal best of 4:17.37.

"I was a little worried seeing that some of the other times had been around 4:13," Stanton said. "So when I went, I knew I had to give it all I had to win the heat."

Havel won his heat in 4:15.73, but his game plan today will change.

Originally, the Stanford-bound Havel was going to race in the 3,200-relay and in the 1,600. But with the absence of Neuqua Valley standout Chris Derrick because of mononucleosis, Havel will chase his dream in the 3,200.

"It has always been a dream of mine to win that race," said Havel after winning his mile heat. "We will just have to wait and see what will happen tomorrow."

Conant junior Jeff Thode completed an area mile sweep by winning the first heat in the fastest time of the day, 4:13.82. Thode made up for a drop of the baton in the 3,200-relay that cost the Cougars in that race.

"The Evanston kid kicked his heels high and knocked the baton out of my hands," Thode said. "But I had a game plan for this race and my coaches told me that if we went out too slow to just take the race and I did."

Teammate Kyle Reid will compete in the pole vault finals for the first time. Reid cleared the necessary 14-3 to earn a spot in the finals, along with Mick Viken of Rolling Meadows.

Viken took just one attempt at 14-3 and figures to battle defending outdoor champion Mitchell Erickson of Marian Catholic in the finals.

Senior Ty Kirk will be in the finals again for the Mustangs, this time in two events. Kirk will compete in the long jump after going 21-8¼ (12th). He set a school triple jump record of 48-0¾ to finish second in the preliminaries.

"I am excited about Saturday," Kirk said. "The weather is supposed to be good, and with no wind I think I can hit my goals. I want to win the triple jump and place top three in the long jump."

Leading Palatine into the finals are seniors Mat Smoody and Tim Williams.

Williams struggled much like the rest of the field in the long jump, but he narrowly earned a berth in the triple jump with a mark of 45-1½.

Williams then teamed with Smoody, Matt Wiggan and Chris Norman to win their heat in the 1,600-relay.

Smoody won his heat in the 800, while Barrington's Ryan Mangone finished second in his heat.

Elk Grove and senior Jason Zerfahs made a little history. Zerfahs became just the second Grenadier in school annals and the first in 34 years to earn a spot in the state finals, finishing second to Darien Donald of Cahokia in the 400-meter prelims with a clocking of 49.67.

Joey Baterdene of Hoffman Estates earned a berth in the long jump finals with a leap of 21-10.

Matt Newman of Buffalo Grove earned a berth in the high jump finals with a 6-5.