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Boys track and field: West Aurora's Cross, South Elgin's Thomas shine at state

CHARLESTON - DaVion Cross turned the tables on his senior teammate on the opening day of the Class 3A boys state track and field finals Friday afternoon.

Five of the six field events - the discus was the exception - were moved indoors due to threatening weather.

Ninety minutes after the running events had concluded Cross, whom Chris Walker denied for the state championship in the triple jump last year, took the lead in the event with a first-try attempt of 47 feet, 11.25 inches.

Walker, the top seed and last competitor, was two-plus inches behind Cross on his first attempt to take second place at 47-9.

Lakes' Cameron Ruiz would sandwich himself between the West Aurora athletes when he climbed to within a half-inch of Cross' best effort on his final attempt.

But the Blackhawks are primed to make a trophy run on Saturday behind their explosive jumpers and track standout Connor McCue.

"We just have to bring it now (for the finals)," Cross said. "We did what we did. There was a lot of waiting (for the long jump to conclude). No excuses."

"I'm very happy with where I am," Walker said. "It is only going to get better when we get outside (on Saturday)."

Camron Donatlan is one of 13 high jumpers to make the first-day cut after the sophomore cleared 6-4 with ease.

Cross' twin brother, DaQuan, is also in the field for the high jump finals.

"It's really not too much of an adjustment (moving inside)," Donatlan said. "In some ways it is easier; there is no wind."

McCue is the fourth seed in the 800-meter run after winning his heat in one minute, 53.85 seconds.

But West Aurora coach Cortney Lamb scratched the Loyola-bound senior in the 1,600 due to the quickened race schedule to beat a weather front.

"We want to put (McCue) in the best possible position to be a state champion," Lamb said.

Jaurice Thomas is also primed for a major breakthrough for South Elgin.

In the opening heat of the 400 relay, Thomas ran a blistering anchor leg to give the Storm the No. 1 seed in the event for the Saturday finals.

Thomas' anchor leg that resulted in a 41.64 showing featured complementing performances by Kyle Mastrangeli, Desmond Lockett and Nico Woods.

Thomas then put himself in an optimal lane situation for the 200 finals when he won his heat in 21.89.

"I heard the gun and just took off," Thomas said, who is seeded only behind Galesburg standout Josh Eiker, the leader in both short dashes.

Huntley had a major impact among the area hopefuls as well.

The Raiders' Jacob Riese and Rafael Rivera are among 20 pole vaulters to make the qualifying height of 14-3.

Tim McCloyn is in the mix for a medal in the discus after a 169-2 throw.

The Red Raiders' sprint veterans, Dubem Anikamadu and Jeremie Allen, helped Huntley stay within striking distance of South Elgin in the 400 relay in earning a finals berth.

Geneva sprinter Justin Taormina will earn his first individual medal in the 100, barring a false start.

In the Class 2A preliminaries, Kaneland athletes Brandon Cruz and Tanner Robertson won respective heats of the 200 dash and 300 hurdles to author high seeds.

"I just believed in myself," said Cruz, the second seed (22.47). "This is a dream come true for me. I had never even qualified in an individual event before."

"My coach (Eric Baron) told me, 'If you win your heat, you're in the finals,' " Robertson said of his win in 39.76. "So I went out and got it."

Burlington Central senior Nick Harvey will conclude his career with finals performances in the open 800 run and 1,600 relay and Rockets' junior Jared Trupp was one of nine Class 2A athletes to pole vault 13-3 and advance to the finals.

Images: Friday at the State Final Meet in Boys Track & Field

  West Aurora's DaQuan Cross competes in the high jump Friday at the boys track state finals prelim events at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Huntley's Max Trinski competes in the high jump Friday at the boys track state finals prelim events at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Crystal Lake South's Sam Peschke competes in the pole vault Friday at the boys track state finals prelim events at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Huntley's Jacob Riese clears the bar in the pole vault Friday at the boys track state finals prelim events at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Geneva's Justin Taormina starts the 4x200 meter relay for the Vikings Friday at the boys track state finals prelim events in O'Brien Stadium at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Geneva's Sean Chambers gives the baton to Donny Friedel in the 4x200 meter relay Friday at the boys track state finals prelim events in O'Brien Stadium at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  South Elgin's Desmond Lockett comes out of the starting blocks in the 4x200 meter relay Friday at the boys track state finals prelim events in O'Brien Stadium at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Batavia's Will Akers leaps the last hurdle in his heat of the 300 meter hurdles Friday at the boys track state finals prelim events in O'Brien Stadium at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Barrington's Luis Cossio leads St. Charles North's Luke Sutherland and Warren's Colin Ward to the finish of the 4x400 meter relay Friday at the boys track state finals prelim events in O'Brien Stadium at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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