Grayslake Central speeds to sectional crown
Brent Pitt went “pit bull” on Darius Pearson.
Like a dog in pursuit of a thrown stick, Grayslake Central’s energetic boys track coach chased down Pearson on Grayslake North’s track after the sectional final of the 110-meter hurdles. Pitt bent at the knees, grabbed the speedy senior by the legs, raised up him high and ran two meters.
Pearson, a first-year track competitor, had qualified for the Class 2A state meet by finishing second.
Pitt’s enthusiasm rubs off on his athletes, apparently.
“Any time I run, it’s for Pitt,” said Rams star Jahard Nelson, who also ran for a lot of family in attendance at Grayslake North and didn’t disappoint by earning four state berths. “Hearing that man scream is kind of crazy.”
Funny, after Grayslake Central won its first sectional championship in school history by piling up 104 points, edging co-runners-up Lakes and Crystal Lake Central (100 points each), Pitt was almost subdued, instead letting his Rams scream with excitement and kiss their trophy.
While his athletes celebrated in the middle of the field, a pumped-up Pitt bounced from assistant coach to assistant coach, shaking each’s hand, addressing them as “Coach” and congratulating them.
“How tight was that?” said Pitt, trying to control a smile. “Overall, we performed very well. I thought we scored points where we shouldn’t have scored points.”
Heading into the final event of the meet, with the triple jump yet to be completed, Grayslake Central needed to beat Lakes in the 1,600 relay, and vice versa, in order to win the team championship.
While Crystal Lake Central won the relay in 3:22.09, anchor Bryant Jennings delivered Grayslake Central second place. Jordan Bustos, Devon Osburn, Will Reed and Jennings clocked 3:26.29, edging Lakes (3:27.21), which also ran state-qualifying.
Reed got the lead for the Rams.
“That kid scooted,” Pitt said.
Lakes’ 1,600 foursome of sophomores Roland Luke, Trevor Ray and Ayman Refat and senior anchor Nick Tognocchi set the school record.
“Awesome,” Eagles coach Kurt Rowells said. “Our goal was to win it, but hats off to Grayslake Central and Coach Pitt. God bless them. But I couldn’t be prouder of our program.”
Lakes also received school-record efforts from senior John Pfeiffer, who won both the shot put (58-feet-6.25) and discus (171-10). His teammate Darius Tumminello was second in the discus (155-5).
Grayslake Central’s Nelson won the 100 (11.09) and 200 (22.24) dashes and also anchored the winning 400 and 800 relays. Reed, Jennings and Dan Hsu also sprinted on the 400 relay (43.13), while the 800 relay (1:29.69) also included Reed, Jennings and Bustos.
Among the family watching Nelson were his dad, Warren, who drove in from Cleveland to watch his son sprint, and Jahard’s 10-year-old twin brothers, Trey and Little Chris, “who act like they’re 16,” Jahard joked.
“It was good,” Nelson said of his night. “My times stunk badly, but getting first was good because it was points for the team.”
Vernon Hills senior Adnan Meskic was among the first-time state qualifiers. He won the 400 in 51-flat, after racing only the 200 prelims at conference because of a right knee injury he suffered.
“I took this week almost completely off because my knee has been bothering me,” Meskic said. “I was surprised (with finishing first) because I really hadn’t been working out.”
Gabe Cotton (200, second) was Vernon Hills’ only other state qualifier.
Wauconda senior Brandon Dorsey won the 300 hurdles (39.19) and also qualified for state in the 100 dash (11.31).
Lakes’ Blake Franson and Ryan Prais finished 6-7 in the 800, but both ran under state-qualifying. Prais also earned a state berth in the 1,600 (fifth, 4:26.98).
Grayslake North advanced to state Matt Kendzior, who was the last of eight runners in the 3,200 to run under state-qualifying, and discus-thrower David Anderson (state-qualifying 149-7).
Grayslake Central junior Luke Zygmunt earned state berths in the 3,200 (second, state-qualifying 9:25.78) and 1,600 (second, state-qualifying 4:24.27). Rams junior Will Brewster, who shattered his leg his sophomore year after a stellar freshman season, made it back to state thanks to his 9:42.19 clocking in the 3,200.
Lakes senior Parker Blain made it through in the high jump by placing second. The same went for Eagles senior Mike Beckman in the long jump.
Grayslake Central also got through two competitors in the field events — Jennings (triple jump) and Joey Valdivia (shot put).
“You got to give it up to everybody in this sectional,” Pitt said. “I feel it’s one of the tougher sectionals in the state.”