Titans, Prospect stellar at Buffalo Grove invitational
The Prospect boys track and field team has quite a one-two punch in the 100 meters event in Jack Berman and Aidan Orlando.
Saturday at the Buffalo Grove Invitational, the juniors put forth one of their usual all-out efforts, and when the two crossed the finish line, it was impossible to determine who had won.
Then the official results were posted, showing Berman had just edged out his teammate 11.19 to 11.21 to take first.
And according to both runners, it seems each time they race, they're alternating between first and second place.
"He got me this time, I got him last time," said Orlando with a laugh. "Towards the end of the race I started catching him a little but it wasn't quite enough."
Orlando added that he and Berman have been friends and teammates for quite a while, through Windsor Elementary and South middle schools in Arlington Heights, and now with the Knights.
"It's a great little rivalry that we have going on," said Berman. "We really push ourselves to go faster.
"I wanted to do a little better on my time today, but it was a little cold out here so I wasn't expecting a season PR. I felt like (the start) was a little longer than normal, I was feeling a little bit stiff but I got out pretty well. (Orlando) was catching up to me and I just managed to stay ahead."
Prospect coach Jay Renaud said he appreciates the fact that the duo will be around for one more season after this campaign.
"It's nice that we'll have them for one more year," said Renaud. "They're two solid kids, great kids, and obviously they're very fast. They actually run a bunch of different events for us, but we were limiting the events somewhat because we have the Mid-Suburban East meet on Tuesday."
The Knights won Saturday's event with 173 points. Glenbrook South was second with 158 and New Trier third with 152.
Knights senior Sean Beihoffer crossed the finish line first in the 200 in the time of 22.85, while classmate Clayton Kemp won the shot put and the discus.
Bryce Tuchner of Prospect (15.08) was victorious in the 110-meter hurdles, and the Knights' 4 x 200 relay team took first.
Prospect's Luke Holtmeier was the winner of the triple jump.
The stellar day for Glenbrook South at Grant Blaney Stadium included wins in the 4 x 400 relay and the 4 x 100 relay, the long jump and the 300 hurdles, both by Nathan Shapiro, and the high jump by Noah Shapiro.
Brian Hiltebrand of the Titans posted a time of 1:59.09 to take the title in the 800.
"One of (the other runners) went out and took the lead in the first 200, and I really liked that, because it helped me hide from the wind a little bit," said Hiltebrand. "With 150 left to go on the first lap I decided to make a move and press the leader. Then he made a move, we were even, but with 300 to go I was able to make another move and seal the race right there."