Time is right for Nelson, St. Francis' new track
Managing St. Francis' first home track and field meet in the school's 57 years, run on a surface dedicated in his name, stirred swirling emotions in the Spartans' 26-year coach, Scott Nelson.
"To be honest you're a little teary-eyed, you're a little excited, you're a little apprehensive, all these things," said Nelson, joined Monday in Wheaton by Aurora Central Catholic as well as his wife, Julie, writing down marks, son Adam timing and daughter-in-law Jessica cradling Nelson's 6-week-old grandson Luke. St. Francis president Tom Bednar, principal Raeann Huhn and athletic director Dan Hardwick also enjoyed the debut.
"But the biggest thing," Nelson said, "is to have it named after you and then to be able to compete on it; I never thought I'd see it. And then to have my family here, that's, you know ..."
He didn't need to elaborate. ACC coach Troy Kerber, who fielded such state-caliber athletes as hurdler Patrick Lefevre and middle-distance runner Karina Liz at the coed dual meet, appreciated the landmark.
"Nineteen ninety-six was the inception of the track at Aurora Central Catholic," Kerber said. "So the irony here is we had St. Francis as our first guest ever on that track. They've come over and competed so well over the years ever since then, so we're honored just to be their first guest at their new track today.
"I think they've got a beautiful facility. It's a great setup, and Coach Nelson, for all the great work he's done over the years - as far as I'm concerned he's a hall of fame coach - it's a hall of fame facility."
St. Francis junior Adam Izewski was the first athlete to use the long jump runway in competition. He recalled the old training equipment - a "rubber runway" similar to a carpet runner, no spring board, grass sprouting in a disheveled sand pit.
"It's a lot different," Izewski said after a triple jump of 39 feet, 3 inches. "It's hard to get use to actually having a track now."
Not for Meghan McShea. The senior is enjoying what older siblings Kevin, Erin and Kelly never could, though freshman Colleen McShea will use the Nelson Track all four years.
Meghan, who ran her 3,200 meters in 12 minutes, 17 seconds while male counterpart Nick Vilimek went 10:20, much prefers running on the composite surface compared to the former crushed limestone and especially the school parking lot where, she said, "there's cars and stuff ..."
"From here you're going to the gravel to like an actual nice, nice track," McShea said. "It makes all the difference in the times and even in our physical health and things. It's awesome."
Off the track ACC's Jenna Cebulski won both the girls shot put and discus events. In discus she scratched on her first two tries before landing the winner, handling the pressure.
"I have a little bit of a problem with that," she said.
Liz, wearing neon spikes that blended all the colors of the sunset, handily won the girls 800 in 2:20.79. Lefevre won the 110- and 300-meter hurdles, vied with St. Francis' Jeff Duke in the 200 dash and joined Joey Perez, Connor Robinson and Javier Montelongo in a winning 1,600 relay.
"Tracks, you can tell - you can feel whether they're fast or slow and this one feels pretty fast," Lefevre said.
What Nelson felt was appreciation and acknowledgment.
"It means everything," he said. "It means everything."