Danville senior middle-distance star Johnny Leverenz (in white and maroon uniform) struts stuff at University of Kentucky Invite
Track and field is a glamorous sport that many people have come to enjoy since the days of the ancient Romans and Greeks. In Illinois, high school track and field is one of the most popular sports for student-athletes. So, it should be no mystery that in the third week of February, this state is finally waking up and ready to make a serious dent in the state and national leaderboard marks.
Here are some key highlights from the past week:
- Chicago Lane Tech kicked off the finals of the meet in good fashion with a sizzling performance in the 4x800m relay. The Indians quartet burned the track in 8:01.96. David Schmieg (1:58.1), Jon Vara (2:01.8), Oswaldo Lorenzana (2:04.6), Pavlo Hutsalyuk (1:57.4). The time is now number one in Illinois.
- Anthony Zea (Sr., Downers Grove North) fast and spirited 800m vs. crosstown rival Jacob Amiri (Sr., Downers Grove South) 1:56.28-1:58.15; Matt Plowman (Sr., York) gets third in 2:00.06
- Hurdler Antonio Shenault (Jr., Lake Park) shows up sprinters with photofinish 55m win (6.56) over Terry McGee (Sr., Chicago North Lawndale) who ran 6.57. Shenault had won the 55HH just five minutes prior in a state best 7.59.
- York beats out hyped up championship match 4x200m relay (1:34.63) and 4x400m relay (3:31.60) from the penultimate heat.
- Marcus Jegede (Sr., Lake Park) easily wins long jump with 22-10.25 effort on his third attempt.
- Curtwan Evans (Sr., Lake Park) wins shot put by ten feet with IL#1 56-10.
- Reid Smith (Sr., York) solidifies himself as a top state contender with a personal best 6-7 in the high jump.
- Billy Magnesen (Sr., Hinsdale Central) takes mile in 4:24.02-4:25.87 over Ryan Clevenger (Jr., Downers Grove North).
University of Kentucky Invite: There is a difference in running on a 300m (actually 291m) oval vs. a standard one. For one the turns are wider and the air isn’t nearly as dry as a traditional barn. Kentucky’s Nutter Field House is very spacious with a 50-yard turf football field in the middle for athletes to warm up and prepare on. In addition, the meet features many athletes from the Midwest and the southeastern part of the United States. Here is the video of Johnny Leverenz’s 800m race.
Boys-
- E. St. Louis Senior places 5th in 4x400m relay running a state best 3:24.74; Belleville West gets 6th in 3:25.48 and the second best mark in the state.
- 2013 3A state 800m champion Johnny Leverenz (Sr., Danville) places 3rd in a state leading 1:54.09- good for IL#1/US#9; senior Kevin Vroegh of Lansing Illiana Christian logs 1:57.21; Belleville West’s gets three runners at under 2:02 with seniors Evan Alcorn 1:59.56, Chris Jackson 2:01.11, Josh Freivogel 2:01.30.
- Alex King (Sr., Massac County) places 2nd in the HJ with an effort of 6-6.
- Marques Cooper (Jr., O’Fallon) blasts 50.29 IL#1 time in the 400m in placing 10th overall in the event; E. St. Louis Senior sophomore Roosevelt Davis runs 50.98.
Girls-
- Brittny Ellis (Jr., Gurnee Warren) takes 6th in 200m with a 24.97 clocking
- Maya Neal (Jr., Neuqua Valley) 5th in the 60HH- 8.94; second in the long jump 18-10.75
- Senior Ebony McClendon of Chicago Brooks state leading time 7.11 Bloom Invitational in the 55m. Check out video on Ebony’s race on the results page.
- Chicago North Lawndale Prep’s senior extraordinaire Briyahna Desrosiers tries long jump and leaps 17-1 for easy win. According to coach Zontavious Johnson, the long jump is just an experiment for Desrosiers.
Downers Grove North Girls Quad
- Madeline Perez runs US#20 4:58.8 in the 1600m in her season debut for Glenbard West.
- Palatine is first team under 10:00 in the 4x800m relay with their 9:56.7; Glenbard West 9:59.5.
- Glenbard West junior Lisa Luczak clocks 11:13.8 in the 3200m.
Troy Triad Knights Invitational
- In receiving a call from Cahokia head boys coach Leroy Millsap late Saturday night, it was some very exciting news to say the least. His sophomore prodigy Ja'Mari Ward leaped a national class record in the triple jump of 50-2.5. The amazing thing about the jump according to Millsap was "he scratched a legit 51-footer.... we are glad to be able to just get over 50-foot for now." He also indicated that Ja'Mari is certainly strong enough to reach for 52-feet by season's end.
- Lena Giger (Sr., Highland)- let's give props to her for heaving the shot put farther than any girl in Illinois history indoors. Giger had been sick in recent time but obviously she has come out of it as the 49-9 supreme effort showed. It now the 50-foot barrier will be toast at some point in the near future.
York Girls mini invite (Feb 21)
- Hinsdale Central freshman Alex Haff opens season with 11:18-11:21 3200m win vs. junior Katie Hoffman of Naperville Central.
- Hoffman Estate junior Zach Dale completes 9:25 for 3200m and 4:31 1600m sweep.