On-Site Coverage
- Complete Results & Meet Coverage
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Photos by COLINBPHOTO (Over 150 photos from 1A)
Sterling Newman Catholic won their state title scoring 41 points to hold off Monmouth-Roseville 31. Erie [Coop] earned the third place trophy tallying 26 pts.
Nick Rude interrupts the favorites on championship Saturday-
Nick Rude (Sr.) has a catchy brand name that is perfect for a sprinter. But importantly than individual fame is that he guided his Sterling Newman Catholic team to their first team championship. Rude winning 4x100m and 4x200m relays to 42.38 and 1:29.60 respectively. As well, he gutted out a third place in the 100m (11.03 [+1.2]) and 200m (22.93 [+0.2]).
"It was a perfect start," Rude said among a throng of reporters in regard to winning the team’s first race and getting the team's first 10 points on the board. "We can't ask for any more than this right now. Our goal was to be state champs.”
Nykaza ends his storied IHSA career as a triple-crown winner-
Grant Nykaza (Sr., Beecher) admitted at the start of the 2012-13 school calendar year that not winning the 2011 harrier title left a bitter taste in his mouth. He took care of that business in fine fashion last fall. But he also admitted that not being able to compete in last spring’s 3200m race was as equally disappointing because an injury had interrupted his training and thwarted his fitness level.
2013 would be a totally different year with a healthy body and mindset for the electric running Nykaza.
Nykaza would start his championship quest in the 3200m with Nick Hess (Jr., Champaign St. Thomas More) on his hip for the first four circuits in 69.4, 2:20.8, 3:30.4, 4:39.4. The pair had already separated from the rest of the pack and looking to produce some quality times. However, the fifth lap in the 3200 is the most important part of the race and Nykaza knew it. He picked up the pace and put a surge on Hess and opened a five-second gap with a 68-second quarter-mile.
The final three laps was essentially a solo time trial for Nykaza who produced laps in 68.4, 68.1, and finally 66.8. Hess was relegated to running on an island and just wanting to finish with a solid time after anchoring his team earlier in the 4x800m relay. He placed second in 9:26.03.
Nykaza split breakdown: 1:09.4, 2:20.8, 3:30.4, 4:39.4, 5:47.3, 6:55.6, 8:03.6, [9:10.92].
Nykaza returned later in the 1600m to complete his long awaited mission.
There would be no silly sit and kick race for Nykaza as he took flight from the gun and left his peers in the dust. His opening 400 was a blistering 62.9 on a rain slicked track. He continued to press himself while the training pack seemed content on sitting back in oblivion.
Nykaza crossed the halfway point in 2:09.9 and he would be two laps away for redemption. Nykaza knocked out the third circuit in 67.3 and then finally when entered the last 30m of the race saluting the crowd with a Florida State University tomahawk chop. It would be his farewell goodbye to a crowd that witnessed four years of winning 4x800m relays with his older brother Griffin and now the 1600m in 4:23.28. “I felt great today… I wanted to run faster out there today but I am glad with my accomplishments. I had to give [the crowd] the chop in the end,” Nykaza said referring to the love and support his fans had given him over the years.
Other top performances on championship day-
The 800m was supposed to be the Blake Hale (Sr., Robinson) show. He came in as one of the best half-milers in the state despite not having run against the same competition as his bigger class brethren. So in effect this was his time to rule the roost on the biggest stage. However, Michael Brown (Jr., Carmi White County) and Wal Khat (Jr., Mooseheart) had plans to dispose of Hale.
The opening pace was incredibly slow but for some reason Hale sat in the back of the pack and running in lane three and four. The first 400 was in a very pedestrian 59.4. Khat and then Hale moved ahead of the group and surged hard on the backstretch. Brown began to make his move as the race entered the top of the final curve. Off of the final turn and on to the homestretch, Hale ran out steam as Brown sprinted past him and then Khat to a surprise win in 1:55.47. Khat finished second (1:56.79) and a Hale strode across the finish in third (1:58.28).
After the dust had cleared a dejected Hale noted: “I guess I waited too long to race… I really don’t know what happened out there.”
Champaign St. Thomas More followed up their Illinois Top Times 4x800 relay title with the outdoor version. The quartet led by Nick Hess dominated Byron winning by nearly ten seconds in 7:57.96. The heavily favored Sabers consistently turned out splits of 1:59-2:00 to put away Byron by the third leg.
The wet conditions had a tremendous impact on the field events. Still, Adam Coulon (Fr., Downs Tri-Valley) completed his first IHSA season in grand style by winning the pole vault in a solid 15-9. Coulon has a personal best of 16-2 (top freshman in the country) coming into the meet. His coaches decided it was best to halt him when conditions worsened due to rain. There was no need in risking injury for the projected superstar. He will have many opportunities in the future at record attempts.
Kyle Landon (Sr., Chester) was a double winner in the high jump and long jump. Landon entered the horizontal event as the state’s top leaper and US#3 mark of 7-2. There would be no plan of attacking that height with the jump area wet with rain. He had to settle for a 6-10 winning effort. His bigger class brethren jumped later in the day under dry indoor conditions but that didn’t seem to concern Landon much. His mind was focused on the long jump were he collected a 22-1.75 (+2.0) winner. His mark from Thursday held form.
The other double field event winner was Ryan Pearce (Sr., Villa Grove). He improved from a second place finish last year in the shot put to win easily with a mark of 60-0.25. Pearce returned later to defeat Alec Dutton (Sr., Catlin) in the discus throw 162-1 to 161-7.
Martel Hunter (Jr., Monmouth-Roseville) won the 400m (49.27) and 200m (22.30 [+0.2). He placed second in the 100m (10.97 [+1.2]).
Marlon Britton (Sr., Chicago Leo Catholic) won the only event of the day for the Lions taking the 110HH in 14.47 ([0.7]).
Jason Bliven (Sr., Trenton Wesclin) and Bryce Holesinger (Jr., Fulton) were the only 300H finalists to break 40.00 in 39.85 and 39.95.