Boys track and field: Hoffman Estates ends Batavia's streak
West Aurora has garnered a lot of attention during the boys track and field season this spring behind its lethal superstars.
"It will be nice to see another Upstate Eight (Conference) team go for a state championship," St. Charles North coach Kevin Harringon said last week.
At the Class 3A Metea Valley sectional Thursday night in Aurora, the Blackhawks once again showcased their quartet of brilliant athletes: Connor McCue, Chris Walker, DaVion Cross and Camron Donatlan.
McCue became the only two-event champion of the meet with his wins at 800 and 1,600 meters in one minute, 55.33 seconds and 4:21.96, respectively.
Walker, the defending state champion in the triple jump, denied teammate Cross - the reigning runner-up - by almost 9 inches to post a season-best effort of exactly 48 feet.
Donatlan has created an equal degree of buzz this season as the Class 3A state leader in the high jump defeated Hoffman Estates' Jelyn Hill on criteria to win the event in 6-7.
"I have been trying to work harder to get better," Donatlan said. "I am trying to beat the school record (Maurice Pryor, 6-10, in 1984). Seven feet is what I'm going for."
McCue has the second-fastest time in the 800 as well as being a top contender in the metric mile.
"I got the job done," the Loyola-bound McCue said. "I just wanted to come out here and qualify for state. I had a lot saved up (after Hoffman Estates' Jack Worman made a late move in the 1,600)."
West Aurora led the 16-team field with its four championships.
But there was no shortage of compelling storylines.
Batavia was seeking the magical Kane County, Upstate Eight Conference and sectional titles for a second year in a row.
Hoffman Estates had a pair of champions to win with 91 points.
Geneva had victories in such disparate events as the 3,200 run, the 800 relay and the shot put in finishing second with 81 points.
Batavia, led by Will Akers' win in the 300 hurdles and his second-place effort in the long jump - there were nine total qualifiers in the event - was third at 78 points.
West Aurora had 74, followed by St. Charles East (49) and St. Charles North (48), who combined for four titles.
South Elgin (36) and Bartlett (26) claimed the other three area championships in placing eighth and ninth.
All the qualifying athletes advanced to the two-day state finals next weekend at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
Josh Rodgers' first sectional appearance was an unexpected delight for the Geneva freshman.
"I just wanted to finish off what I thought would be my last race of the season," Rodgers said of his surprise win in the 3,200.
But Justin Taormina and Jaurice Thomas were unblemished on the night for Geneva and South Elgin.
The two seniors combined for seven state-qualifying events in their same number of total entries.
"I didn't think I had it in me," Taormina said after leading off the Vikings' victorious 800 relay and also qualifying in the two short dashes and the long jump. "(Hoffman Estates') Declan (Rustay, the 100 champion) and Jaurice just carried me along in the 200. They are the reason I got through. Four-for-4 - that's amazing."
Thomas, who anchored the 400-meter champion Storm relay, nosed out Declan by three one-hundredths in the event.
"It means a lot," said Thomas, also a member of a runner-up 800 relay. "Last year I didn't even qualify in the 200. I pushed myself hard."
Bartlett seniors Will Rajewski and Pat Karys swept the 110 high hurdles for the Hawks.
"We had been staying loose, saying funny things in recent weeks," Rajewski said after lowering his season-low time by seven-tenths. "Of course, I was surprised (to be a sectional champion)."
"That's the first time we've gone one-two at a sectional before," Bartlett coach Erik Kramer said.
The other area champions were as follows: shot put, John Boenzi, Geneva; pole vault, Colton Weber, St. Charles East; discus, Sam Ambrogio, St. Charles North; 1,600 relay, St. Charles North.
"That's certainly the first time we've ever won (the 1,600 relay) at a sectional," Harrington said after Luke Sutherland's 3:22.62 performance.