Boys track and field: Wanner Invite well worth the wait for Lecomte

In his final season as a member of the Prospect boys track and field team, Karsen LeComte finally got his chance to race in the biggest meet of the regular season and one of the biggest in the state - the Knights' Wanner Invite.

Because of injury, it took until this season.

But the wait was well worth it for the Nebraska recruit.

As an anchor leg on the Knights' 3,200-relay team, LeComte split a personal best 1:53-plus to lead the Knights to the victory in a fitting kickoff to the 48th edition of this meet.

LeComte, along with Luke Filipic, Mike Cozine and James Riordan, ran a state-best 7:51.41 despite a botched handoff from leg two to three.

"Being that it was the first event of the night, we came out and set the tone," LeComte said. "Even though we dropped the baton we still came back and were able to get it done."

The host Knights managed 85.5 points to finish second in the team race to Lyons Township (146.50). Wheeling (79.50) and defending meet champion Lakes (78) rounded out the top group of teams.

LeComte later competed in the 1,600-meter race, running 4:22.76 and finishing sixth overall.

"Since this is the first time I have gotten to race in this meet it gives you confidence knowing you can race against the best guys in the state," LeComte said. "This is one of the top meets in the state so you know you will see top competition."

Teammate and junior Billy Matzek put together his finest performance of this season in the shot put, establishing a personal best 54-10 in winning an event that featured downstate power AJ Epenesa of Edwardsville.

Matzek had four throws that all eclipsed the state qualifying mark.

"I've been in a recent struggle where we have been stuck at a certain mark," Matzek said. "It was nice to come out here and perform and see the process that I have been working through play out."

Matzek also put together a solid performance in the discus throwing personal best 152-2, placing fourth overall.

The event was highlighted by Epenesa breaking a 28-year old meet record with a winning throw of 186-11.

Danny Dalenberg of Elk Grove competed as a non-scorer in the event, throwing the disc 167-5.

Wheeling also put together two top relay performances on Friday night.

The Wildcats' 400 relay team of Cole Longsworth, Dylan Draka, Jason Shannon and Blake Greenberg ran 42.99 in a school record-setting second-place finish to Niles North (42.39).

"We knew coming in the competition here was amazing and it would raise our level," Draka said. "It all came together and we ran a great race."

The Wildcats' 800 relay ran a solid race finishing third in 1:30.71 with the same foursome as the 400 relay.

The defending champion Eagles looked every bit the part with Northwestern-bound junior Cameron Ruiz, senior Brendan Thiel and Illinois-bound senior Cooper Jazo led the way.

Ruiz and Thiel hooked up in what is turning out to be a great weekly rivalry in the 400.

For the third consecutive week, Ruiz got out early only to see Thiel hold off him and Michael Edwards of Zion in a personal best 49.13.

Ruiz also ran a personal best, finishing third in 49.67.

"I feel like I am making progress each week," Thiel said. "Maybe Cameron catches me sometime soon."

Ruiz looked like he was nearing his state medal winning form in the long jump.

Though his steps aren't quite there yet, he still put together his best set of the season jumping 22-9.5 to win the event.

Ruiz also teamed with Thiel, Robert Kuhlmann, and Jordan Mercure to run a season best 3:23.25 in a second-place finish to Zion-Benton in the 1,600 relay.

"I felt like I was getting more consistent tonight," Ruiz said. "I feel like I am progressing each week."

Jazo captured the pole vault with a best effort of 14-1.

Progression is the best way to describe the 800-meter race of York sophomore Charlie Kern.

As the race developed, he let the field begin to pull away with 300 meters to go.

At that point, Kern pulled in the front group.

With 100 meters to go, he pulled away for the win in 1:55.53.

"I knew that someone would jump the pace so I was just ready for it when it happened," Kern said. "I tried to concentrate on keeping my form, keep my knees high and just push to the end."