Kaneland defends home turf
There’s nothing meek about the intent of Kaneland’s boys track team.
“We expect to win every meet. That’s our goal. Nothing less,” said sophomore hurdler Dylan Nauert.
Saturday on their own turf Kaneland (84 points) got nothing less than program-wide contributions to hold off strong efforts by Geneva (75) and Burlington Central (64) and claim the title of the 43rd annual Peterson Prep Invitational, going one-two with Geneva to mirror the 2010 finish.
“This was a nice win for us on our home track, but Geneva’s a very good program,” said Kaneland coach Eric Baron. “All these programs are. To be at Peterson and be in the top five, top 10, you’re strong competitor throughout the state of Illinois.
“I’ve got to hand it to my seniors today,” Baron said. “Sean Carter, Clayton Brundige, Mickey Marin, they did an outstanding job for us today.”
Carter anchored victorious 400- and 800-meter relays and a second-place 1,600 relay, and also placed fourth in the 100 dash. Brandon Bishop and Brandon Cottier both ran on the first two relays, joined by Nauert in the 400 relay and in the 800 relay by Dylan Pennington, who also placed fifth in the 200.
Junior Kyle Carter ran with his older brother, Nauert and Cottier in that 1,600 relay to conclude the afternoon with the Knights scoring in 15 of 18 events.
One in which they didn’t score was the 110 hurdles, but Nauert’s false start in his preliminary heat only fueled his resolve.
“Oh yeah, no doubt,” said Nauert, who returned to win the 300 hurdles in 40.68 seconds. “It fueled my four-by-one, too, we won that. I had a lot of anger built up to run out. I felt like I had to prove myself after false-starting in the 110s, and I definitely did by winning the 300s.”
Kaneland junior Marshall Farthing placed third in high jump at a personal-best 6-foot-3, and placed sixth in triple jump. Another sophomore, Nate Dyer, won both shot put, at 48-2, and discus with a personal-record throw of 153-9.
“It means a lot, especially to the team,” Dyer said. “We need everything we can get. We have a solid group this year too, just like last year. Two first places from a field event is a good step up to win the meet.”
The Knights did need every point they could get, because Geneva surged past Burlington Central and fourth-place West Aurora (50 points) to emerge as a contender. The Vikings scored big early with the second-place 3,200 relay of Dan Herrera, Peter Archibald, Michael Bianchini and Nathan Wendt.
Geneva enjoyed the three-four shot put finish by Kevin Carlson and Kyle McNeil, continued strong with Justin Davis’ 400-meter victory — and later his third-place 200 finish — and Bianchini’s third-place mark in the 1,600.
Particularly, though, the Vikings rose along with Ben Rogers. The senior soared 21 feet, 8 inches to win long jump and then pulled out a 43-11 triple jump to win that event by more than 2 feet over West Aurora’s Aaron Kennebrew.
A football and basketball player as well, Rogers has been hurt from stem (mashed finger) to stern (twisted ankle) this year. Saturday morning Vikings coach Gale Gross asked Rogers: ”Is this the best you’ve felt out of all your seasons this year?”
“And to be honest, it was,” Roberts said. “I’m feeling pretty good. Obviously you’re going to be sore week in and week out because our coaches are good, they put us through tough workouts and stuff like that. But as far as pains and stuff like that, I feel really good.”
West Aurora, whose Royce Golembeck won pole vault at 13-6 over Burlington Central’s Johnny Reuter at 13-0, saw Kennebrew active in an invite for the first time this year. A basketball player on a supersectional team, he placed fourth in high jump at 6-1 and second in triple jump at 41-6.
“I’m nervous before every jump I do, whether it’s high jump or triple jump,” he said. “But those nerves, that turns into confidence and that confidence turns into adrenaline.”
Aside from Ban Damisch’s second-place turn in the 400, at 51.17 seconds, Burlington Central’s strength was 800 meters and up. Mike Gulik won the 800, Clint Kliem won the 1,600 (at 4:24.38), and those two Rockets were the backbone of victories in the 1,600 and 3,200 relays.
Gulik anchored both relays then credited distance coach Jon Pollack “for all he’s done for us.” He blasted off over the last 300 meters of his 800, his forward lean perfected at an early age.
“Honestly I always thought about it because everybody told me I run pretty goofy,” said Gulik, who with Kliem joined Matt O’Connor and Mason Creal on the 3,200 relay, and Damish and Ryan Olsen on the 1,600.
“I think it’s because I always used my scooter when I was a little kid, so that gave me my big stride and that forward lean — I always lean forward. So I’m kind of happy I used that,” he said.
Kliem had only the 200 finals to rest between his personal-best 1,600 win and the third leg of Burlington’s 1,600 relay.
“He’s tough,” Rockets coach Mike Schmidt said. Also analytical, as his first 800 of the open 1,600, at 2:12, was about two seconds too slow for his liking.
“It’s good knowing I have the speed (at the end),” Kliem said, “but if I can come out a little faster and then come back maybe a second or two slower, try to get in 4:20, at least into the teens. I think overall that’ll be what my goal will be.”
Elgin, which placed ninth, again rode its sprint crew. Dennis Moore won the 100 at 11.46 seconds, .02 over Mt. Carmel’s Evan Acklin. Moore also placed fourth in the 200 and with fellow flying Maroons Terrell Campbell, Derek Moorman and DeVante King trailed only Kaneland in the 400 and 800 relays.
“Ever since outdoor started it’s been the same four of us,” said Moore, a future football teammate of Kaneland’s Sean Carter and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. “And a lot of us have been running together for awhile, since freshman, sophomore year. We have a feel for each other, and it’s real good.”