Boys track and field: Powerful showings from Prospect, Hoffman Estates

Prospect's boys track and field team won the 3,200-meter relay and also qualified its 1,600 relay along with multiple individuals to state in a strong showing Thursday in the Class 3A sectional meet hosted by Loyola.

The Knights placed second with 80 points. Evanston took top honors with 85.

Prospect had four event winners. Senior Karson LeComte finished the 1,600 run in 4:17.04, edging out Loyola Academy's Andrew Niewiarowski (4:17.66). The Knights also qualified junior Jack O'Donnell to state in the race.

Prospect junior Bill Matzek was a double champion, winning the shot put with a throw of 53 feet, 11½ inches and the discus with an effort of 157-½, and freshman Michael Shafis cleared 6-5 to win the high jump.

Also advancing as individuals for Prospect were Anthony Kies (100 dash, 11.09) and Kevin Sherwood (400 dash, 49.54).

Wheeling senior Dylan Drake sprinted to a sectional title in the 100 dash (11.00). He also had a leg on the Wildcats' runner-up finish and state-qualifying effort on the 400 relay (42.76).

Also advancing individually for Wheeling were Lawrence Knish in the high jump (6-3) and Josh Diaz in the 110 high hurdles (14.98).

Hersey senior Jared Polfuss advanced in two events. He finished second in the 200 dash (22.48) and third in the triple jump (44-2).

At Metea Valley: The long trip to Aurora was well worth it for Hoffman Estates, which scored 91 points to take top team honors in a sectional effort which provided plenty of athletes the chance to compete again in next weekend's state finals.

Leading the way was sophomore sprinter Declan Rustay, who won the 100-meter dash in 10.75 and placed second in the 200 in a state-qualifying 21.70.

He also had legs on the Hawks' state-qualifying 4x200 and 4x100 relays, which finished second and third, respectively.

Sophomore Anijel Jones was also a sectional champ for Hoffman Estates after delivering a leap of 22 feet, 10 inches in the long jump, and junior Fiyin Alade advanced with a fifth-place high jump of 6-3.

Senior Jelyn Hill advanced in two events, long jump and high jump. He was fourth in the long jump (22-4) and second in the high jump (6-7).

Senior Michael Johnson and junior Dylan Kruezer joined Rustay and Jones on the 4x100 relay, which finished in 42.18. In the 4x200 relay, the same foursome finished in 1:28.37.