Second's just fine with elite miler Dale

Zach Dale had no qualms about finishing second in the 1,600-meter run Friday at York.

For the fastest "miler" in Illinois, second was good enough for a berth at next week's state meet, and that was his intent all along at the Class 3A York sectional in Elmhurst.

Dale ran a time of 4 minutes, 18.49 seconds on Friday, second to York's Matt Plowman at 4:18.12 in the second meeting this season between the two stars. The first time they met, at Prospect, Dale ran a winning 4:09.72, still listed as the fastest time in Illinois this season on the Dyestat board.

"Obviously you never want to lose, but I want to come out here, run a time just to get me down to state. Get the job done, qualify, and that's what I did. So I can't complain," he said.

The Illinois-bound senior led after 400 meters, in about 1:05, and led after 800, at 2:12. Plowman surged to capture the lead going into the gun lap, at 3:18.

With 250 meters left Dale passed Plowman, a Michigan recruit, on the inside rail, only to see Plowman gather steam down the stretch and edge Dale at the line.

"He surprised me with like 200 to go and I thought he had me till the last 50," said Plowman, whose York squad won the sectional with 95 points to Wheaton North's 90,

"I knew he was probably going to do that, sit on me at the end," Dale said. "But that won't be the case at state because it'll go out a lot quicker."

Conant was quick enough in the 3,200-meter relay to qualify in that event as well at 7:58.02, a tense .02 below the qualifying standard. Dale ran anchor for Shujaat Sultan, Jason Giuliano and Nick Elms.

That qualification allowed Conant coach John Powers to pull Dale from the open 3,200 so he could focus on the 1,600. Dale was top-four in each event as a junior.

"That was the Plan B race," Powers said of the open 3,200.

Leyden's Mateusz "Mati" Szelazek used his own plan to qualify in the 800 with a second-place time of 1:57.52.

While Wheaton North's Danny Steeno broke like a colt for an early 30-meter lead Szelazek kept his pace. His consistent approach was rewarded with a trip to Charleston next week.

"I've been running long enough to trust myself," Szelazek said. "And I also know that there's different strategies, and one of the strategies is to take an early lead.

"At the end of the day I know that their times are right on top of ours, so if he's running that much faster on the first lap he's going to fall back the second lap. It's a guarantee. So I trust in my strategy and I feel like it got me pretty far."

The Ifianayi boys of Elk Grove, seniors Paul and Peter, went 1-2 in the 300 hurdles. Paul, who placed seventh in the 400 last year, won at 38.76 seconds. Peter followed at 40.27.

Rolling Meadows was unable to advance a state qualifier.