The original race video and transcript:
Like many great 4x800m relays teams that have come before Chicago Public League Lane Tech, the foursome of David Schmieg (Sr.), Jon Vara (Sr.), Christian Badillo (Jr.), and Pavlo Hutsalyuk (Jr.) targeted the Wanner Prospect race to unveil their "A" for the first time of the season. Everything that transpired beforehand including the indoor season did not matter. Still, that did not prevent meet announcer Bill Treece from proclaiming Lane Tech as the favorite. "The Indians are the favorite here," he would say loudly over the airways.
Leading up to the meet, the quartet had an opportunity to do some maintenance and self check of what was right and wrong. They also kept an eye on the competition around the state such as New Trier, Kaneland, and several other units dropping their times under 8:00. The goal for Prospect was to win the race and if they did so the fast time would be there. This is how good the Wanner meet is. After all it produced the meet record and then national record standard of 7:34.1 back in 2000.
The lead off assignment was given to Schmieg. He hasn't had many opportunities to run a true 800m and the lead role is about as close to running an open half-mile as there is.
Schmieg would execute his plan to his liking by immediately applying pressure on the field with 27 and 56.4 opening splits. Who ever felt comfortable then had to alter their plans. As Schmieg continued to surge away from the pack, Lyons Township's Ed McCarter (Sr.) made his move at the 500m to leave the nest along with Fremd. The opening leg was 1:54.9 for Schmieg. Fremd's guy followed up with a 1:57.7 and Lyons at 1:57.8. A slew of others including Hinsdale Central, Prospect, and Hersey were under 2:00.
Vara continued Lane's madmen quest of trying to run away with the race by getting out fast for the first 150m before settling down and running controlled as he hit the opening lap in 57.5. The pack of Lyons, Fremd, Hinsdale Central, and Prospect remained three seconds back. Hersey lurked a few strides behind them. On the final home straight the pack led by Fremd and Lyons chopped off about a second. Vara had completed his mission of holding on to the lead with a 1:59.9 carry.
The most important leg of the 4x8 relay is the third leg because this is where many teams deploy their bosses. Lane on the other hand tried to hide their Achilles Heel. Badillo's only task is to run well enough for the anchor to be in position to strike a victory.
Badillo took off well but the adrenaline that he had caused him to go out too fast for the first 200 in 26 seconds. He had committed much too soon and would cause him to pay for it with 150m to go. Hersey's David Rodriguez roared from fifth to first to run an outstanding 1:55 leg. Badillo had faded bad and fell to second.
Hersey anchor Kevin Kovach (Sr.) used the momentum right away and moved out followed by Hutsalyuk and Lyon's Alex Lima (Jr.). At this point it was a three man race- wide open. Hutsalyuk used his first instinct to go after Kovach rather than wait until the gun lap. Hutsalyuk chased down Kovach and caught him in the opening 250m and sped on by. With one lap remaining Hutsalyuk continued his assault by pulling away from the field. As well Lima passed a tiring Kovach with less than 100m remaining. The final margin was Lane Tech rocking a state leading 7:49.57. Hutsalyuk split 1:53.3 to aid his team's cause. Lima was impressive with his run as well, hitting his leg in 1:55.6. The Lyons quartet ran a season best of 7:52.56. Hersey look good overall with bronze medals in 7:53.72. The ever lurking hosts produced a season best 7:57.36. Hindale Central and Fremd were at-large teams who didn't count in the team scoring, but ran 7:58.15 and 8:01.01 respectively. Defending state champion Barrington without ace Konrad Eirling (Jr.) clocked 8:02.55. Times were much faster than last year which had good weather. In that affair York ran 7:57 to win the title.