On-Site Coverage
The second edition of the Midwest Distance Festival went down in the books as one of the meets of the season. The distance oriented and fast-paced event received a great return from the athletes and staff that were involved.
-Boys-
The steeplechase set the evening up well-
The evening actually started with a community open 5k won by Dan Schubert of Appleton, Wisconsin in 14:57. Schubert it turns out is a former standout high school runner from Appleton East now competing at the University of Oklahoma.
The pre-meet 5k must have sparked defending champion Marcelo Burbano (Sr., Chicago Lane Tech) to have one of his best performances as an outgoing high school athlete. Burbano blitzed a field of 11 to a time of 6:04.36 for the 2k event.
The race started out with Nick Brey (Jr., Arlington Heights St. Viator) pace setting with Burbano for two laps in 2:25. It was just after the finish line steeple barrier that Burbano began to pull away from Brey and the rest of the field. The Illinois State University bound Burbano put on a surge that no one responded to. Harry Winter (Jr., Palatine Fremd) moved into second place and challenged with two other performers and let Burbano speed away. The end result was a meet record and US#3 effort for Burbano.
From the 800 to the mile, it was all serious business-
Nick Prajka (Sr., Orland Park Sandburg) shot the first 800m salvo by winning section two in a personal best of 1:53.29- #1 time in the state for the time being.
The championship section started out significantly faster with the rabbit leading the charge for the first 400 just over 53-seconds. Alex Riba (Sr., O’Fallon) moved in front with Brad Johnson (Brookfield East, WI) following closely. Riba continued to surge and lead through 600 in about 1:22. Johnson took over the lead with just under 150 to go and it appeared as if he was going to win convincingly. Nathan Kucero (Jr., Maple Park Kaneland) came alive from deep in the pack and surge all out and passed Johnson just before the finish line in a stunning 1:51.33. Once again Kucero provided rescue for the Kaneland name. It was just two weeks ago that he anchored his team to a 2A 4x800 relay state title. This time he has the top time in the state and will be a marked man in 2014.
The 2-mile wasn’t as deep as it has been in recent years, but it was still a good watch. Addison DeHaven (Jr.) traveled from the good state of South Dakota in search of a sub-9:00 clocking. DeHaven along with Nolan McKenna (Jr., Wheaton-Warrenville South), Jamison Dale (Sr., Chicago Jones) and a few others trailed along the rabbits from the University of Illinois distance squad Sam Telfer and Paul Zeman. Telfer dropped off at 1400m and Zeman took the leaders through the first mile in approximately 4:31-32.
The second half of the race saw DeHaven take over the lead with Tyler Spear (Jr., Loyola Blakefield, MD) close by. Dale was moved to third for the next three laps. DeHaven finally put away the field on the gun lap and was in the clear. Dale made one final charge for second under the urgency of his coaches down on the infield. He caught and passed Spear for second. DeHaven won going away in 9:01.13. Dale finished second in a Chicago Public School record 9:10.63. McKenna was third in 9:13.84 and Spear nabbed fourth with a solid 9:14.94. DeHaven simply said afterwards, “the time was ok but I was looking to go a bit faster.”
All eyes were on Jack Keelan (Sr., Chicago St. Ignatius) and his quest for Midwest supremacy. He would toe the line in hope of producing a sub 4:07 mile. Will Crocker from the University of Missouri had the assignment of taking the field through the first half in 2:02-03.
It didn’t look good at the first 440y as the pace was a bit pedestrian in 63.2. But Crocker would pick up the pace as Keelan was right on his heels. The pace did increase and Keelan roared to 2:03 at the halfway point and Josh Evans (Jr., Linn-Marr, IA) moved with him. Keelan continued to lead as the race ventured into the third quarter.
Keelan pushed his whippet like strides away from his trainers on the backstretch and then through the last 200. He now appeared to be on good terms with producing a solid stride. The crowd came to life as he hit one last gear on the final stretch. Keelan torched the track in a personal best 4:07.50 (4:05.9 enroute at 1600m). Jacob Poyner (Sr., Warsaw, IN) improves on his state final 4:09m with a superior 4:09.95y by placing second. Evans also earns an Iowa best 4:10.79.
Girls-
The fanfare on the girls’ side wasn’t nearly as deep or strong but there were a few highlights of note. In the 800m, Michelle Dobbs (Sr., Rochelle) laid off a sizzling 60.8 opening first lap to win in solid 2:10.76. Dobbs ran a methodical race using first half leader McKenna Kiple (Sr., Wheaton-Warrenville South) as a rabbit before taking over for good at the 500 mark. Dobbs continued to surge on the backstretch despite a hard charging Delaney Fitzpatrick (Lakeland HS; WI) in pursuit. Dobbs just missed her personal best 2:10.78. She was a bit mystified about not breaking 2:10. “The pace was really fast… I really wanted to break [2:10],” she said shortly after her race. Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick did break her lifetime best by nearly five seconds when she ran 2:11.80 for second. Wheaton South runners Hope Schmelze (Sr.) and Kiple appear ready for the New Balance 4x800 relay with their fast finishes of 2:12.60 and 2:12.74… in the 2m, Sarah Ray (Sr., Warsaw, IN) used a strong second half (first half in 5:31) to win in a personal best 10:59.37.
Videos
Girls Highlights
- Two Mile Run - Sarah Ray (Warsaw Community High School) 10:59.37 SB; Emily Bean (Assumption) 11:14.50 SB; Kenzley Defler (Assumption) 11:17.38 SB; Chelsey Heiden (Greendale ) 11:19.30 SB;
- 800 Meter Run - Michelle Dobbs (Rochelle High School) 2:10.96; Delaney FitzPatrick (Lakeland Union ) 2:11.80 SB; Hope Schmelzle (Wheaton Warrenville South High School) 2:12.69 SB; McKenna Kiple (Wheaton Warrenville South High School) 2:12.74; Theresa Connelly (Montini Catholic High School) 2:14.59 SB; Alison Parker (Neenah ) 2:14.63 SB; Jennifer Parker (Neenah ) 2:14.79 SB; Talia Spiegelberg (Wisconsin Lutheran High School) 2:15.30; Cece Moore (MICDS) 2:17.33 SB;
Boys Highlights
- Two Mile Run - Addison Dehaven (Brookings High School) 9:01.13 SB; Jamison Dale (Jones High School) 9:10.63 SB; Nolan McKenna (Wheaton Warrenville South High School) 9:13.84 SB; Tyler Spears (Loyola-Blakefield) 9:14.94 SB; Zachary Smith (Downers Grove North High School) 9:15.93 SB; Benjamin Eaton (Downers Grove North High School) 9:16.66 SB; Patrick Campbell (Wauwatosa West ) 9:18.89 SB; Graham Brown (Palatine High School) 9:29.55 SB; Daniel Santino (St. Ignatius College Prep High School) 9:31.37 SB; Luke Muzicowski (Hope High School) 9:39.01 SB;
- 5,000 Meter Run - Luke Versweyveld (Kenosha Christian Life / Faith Christian) 15:55.91 SB;
- 800 Meter Run - Nathaniel Kucera (Kaneland High School) 1:51.33 SB; Brad Johnson (Brookfield East) 1:51.69 SB; Andrew Dusing (Brookfield Central) 1:52.27 SB; Alex Riba (O'Fallon High School) 1:52.43 SB; Trenton Daniels (Brookfield East) 1:52.86 SB; Nicholas Prajka (Sandburg High School) 1:53.29 SB; Brennan Witt (Custer High School) 1:53.36 SB; Zac Justus (Pontiac High School) 1:53.49 SB; Chase Skenandore (Oswego East High School) 1:53.94 SB; Kevin Vroegh (Illiana Christian High School) 1:54.01 SB; Kyle Carter (Kaneland High School) 1:55.31; Max Carson (Kenosha Tremper ) 1:55.97 SB; Sam Powers (St. Thomas More High School) 1:56.95 SB; Nick Vucovich (Fremd High School) 1:57.34; David Ricks (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School) 1:57.39 SB;
- One Mile Run - Jack Keelan (St. Ignatius College Prep High School) 4:07.50 SB; Jacob Poyner (Warsaw Community High School) 4:09.92 SB; Josh Evans (Linn-Mar High School) 4:10.79 SB; Albert Meier (Boone High School) 4:14.25 SB; Marc Maton (Chatham-Glenwood High School) 4:15.30; Chandler Austin (Boone High School) 4:15.87 SB; Eric Brown II (Wisconsin Lutheran High School) 4:16.24 SB; William Bund (Lake Forest High School) 4:16.34 SB; Jonah Hanig (Highland Park High School) 4:16.49 SB; Christian Zambrano (Palatine High School) 4:18.81 SB; Garrett Lee (Belvidere North High School) 4:19.50; Luke Schroer (Wheaton Warrenville South High School) 4:20.02 SB; Luke O'connor (Jones High School) 4:21.52 SB; Simon Thorpe (Dixon High School) 4:21.94 SB; Denis O'callaghan (Sandburg High School) 4:22.32 SB; Riley Mcinerney (Charleston High School) 4:22.48; Ryan Clevenger (Downers Grove North High School) 4:22.82 SB; Wilson Hacker (Madison West ) 4:22.95 SB; Pat Yerkes (Fenwick High School) 4:23.82 SB; Bobby Browning (Carmel High School) 4:24.79 SB; John Graft (Marmion Academy) 4:26.00 SB; Bryce Richards (Mundelein High School) 4:26.38 SB; Charles Thornton (Oswego East High School) 4:26.54 SB;