Huntley, McHenry graciously share county crown
Huntley and McHenry were well suited to split the 2013 McHenry County Boys Track and Field Meet title in Cary Saturday.
“It’s great that we tied,” Huntley relay anchor Mike Dollar said. “We both competed really hard. I have a lot of buddies on McHenry and I have since middle school.”
Once the meet concluded athletes from both programs posed together with the trophy. Even the chummy coaches seemed satisfied with the split decision of a meet delayed two days by bad weather, though both expressed some surprise at the outcome.
“It’s unbelievable that it came down to a tie,” McHenry coach Dave D’Angelo said.
“Especially after close to 10 hours out here,” said Huntley coach Jim Rolando, standing alongside.
“Well, it was definitely good that we didn’t lose,” D’Angelo added.
“If I had to tie, I’d rather tie McHenry than just about anyone else,” Rolando joked.
Huntley’s coach was in a cheery mood after his Red Raiders, who had never won the McHenry County Meet until last April, made it two straight. The Red Raiders were powered by strong finishes in the relays and senior Justin Herbert’s personal-record throws.
Herbert, who trained last summer with former Cary-Grove state champion thrower Josh Freeman (SIU) and Cary-Grove sophomore standout Ricky Hurley, won the discus with a heave of 163 feet, 1 inch, topping Hurley’s second-place throw of 161-9.
However, Hurley gained a split by winning the shot put title. His effort of 53-9 on his final attempt edged Herbert’s 52-6 and the 51-6 posted by Crystal Lake South sophomore Kyle Hedge.
“Me and Ricky are good friends and we talk between throws. It’s friendly,” Herbert said. “But when it’s time to compete we’re at each other’s throats.”
Huntley’s 400-meter relay team of sophomore Connor Boos and seniors Tyler Schwartz, Ryan Tharp and Dollar blistered a lap in 44.48. The 800-meter relay team of Boos, Schwartz, John Walker and Dollar posted a winning time of 1:33.46. Dollar was also a member of the second-place 1,600-meter relay team (3:29.79).
Huntley hurdlers were competitive. Sophomore Brennan Bell was second in the 110-meter high hurdles (15.73) while senior Kyle See took third (15.93). Bell also finished second in the 300 intermediate hurdles (41.90) behind Cary-Grove sophomore Michael Saxon (41.30).
Jacobs did not win any titles but the Golden Eagles notched multiple top performances. Sophomore Josh Walker took second in the 100-yard dash (11.14) and third in the 200 (23.50). Senior Nick Matysek was second in the 800 (1:59.76), and freshman Dylan Rogers placed second in the 400 (53.04).
Crystal Lake Central boasted two of the meet’s most outstanding athletes. Senior Alex Baker won the 800 (1:57.44) the 1,600 (4:22.81) and anchored the winning 1600-meter relay (3:39.53). Senior Isaiah Mosher won the 100-meter dash (10.99), the 200 dash (23.00) and the long jump (21-10).
McHenry’s Korey Partenheimer won the triple jump (41-0½), sophomore Jesse Reisner won the 3,200 (9:43.25), junior Kyle Postal prevailed in high jump (6-3) and senior Nate Richartz was the pole vault champion (13-9).