Boys track: St. Edward's Olenek runs fast, jumps far; ACC's McKimmon injured
St. Edward's Zach Olenek, exhausted, pulled himself from the 200-meter dash.
Never know, he might have won that, too.
The junior went 3-for-3 at the Metro Suburban Conference boys indoor track and field invitational Saturday at Glenbard South. He came from a fifth seed to capture the long jump, won the 400-meter run and won the 55 dash out of the second-fastest heat, not easy.
"I wasn't expecting it, first of all," Olenek said about winning the 55 in 6.86 seconds, .03 ahead of Walther Christian's Charles Stamps from the fastest of six heats.
"I've never been first in the sprints," Olenek said. "I've always been a little fast - like last year I got fourth. I was never really like top. From last year to this year I already know I got a lot stronger."
Aided by big air on his long jumps, Olenek took an early lead at 20 feet, 4¾ inches. On his fourth and final attempt he popped a 20-10¼ - a good thing since Glenbard South's Michael Zima went 20-5¼ on his last leap.
"After the very first jump that I had, 20 feet, 4 inches, I wasn't under as much pressure after that because I knew it was one of the top jumps. First, second or third, I was satisfied with either of them," said Olenek, who went on to the 55 and then the 400, which he won in 56.91 seconds on the 160-meter track.
The big news out of the Aurora Central Catholic camp was unfortunate. McKimmon Englehardt, who set a Chargers record last season with his sixth-place time of 39.03 seconds in the Class 2A 300 hurdles, suffered an apparent injury to his right hamstring while running the 55 dash.
He had already won the 55 high hurdles easily in 8.23 seconds, and remained at Glenbard South for the remainder of the meet, icing and resting.
"I've never actually gotten injured in any sports, for anything, so this is kind of a setback," the senior said. "Obviously I want to do everything I can to make myself better for outdoor season and get back to helping my team and hopefully making it to state. I'm going to try to run collegiately next year, Division I."
Chargers coach Troy Kerber was encouraged.
"These things unfortunately happen to athletes in the sport," he said. "It's his first injury ever but we think it's going to be a very short-term recovery. But he'll probably be out for the rest of the indoor season."
Glenbard South handily won the invite with 131 points to 67 for Riverside-Brookfield and 50 for Aurora Central. Olenek single-handedly had St. Edward eighth with 30 points.
Aurora Central's Tony Vinson, Adam Stacy, Colin Dean and Enriquez Casteneda won the sprint relay.
"We had some good moments today, and it's just a learning experience for the kids as we get ready to go outdoors. And hopefully we can just be a little more complete," Kerber said.