There are invitationals and there are INVITATIONALS. As humans sometimes we make claims as "the best ever" or "#1 meet in the state." That is what we do without ever doing all of the fact checking. The fact is the regular season is not quite over yet. There is one more weekend to go before we enter into the conference championships and from there the state series. Wanner Knights welcomed Lakes last year and they won the team title. Defending 3A state champion Edwardsville is entered on short notice. They competed in the Madison County Championship Thursday night and could be a bit heavy legged. Minooka is a new entry this year and could walk away as champions.
The Wanner Knights Invite presented by Prospect High School has been around nearly 50 years (48 to be exact) with many top notched performances have been produced Donald Sage (York) and Jack Keelan (St. Ignatius), and most recently Zach Dale (Conant) as starters. How about the national setting relay that York threw up in 2000? The Dukes crushed to a 7:34.1 with Sage blazing 1:50 on anchor. Yes it is going to be hot in Mt. Prospect Friday evening.
The 4x800 relay is primed and ready-
Prospect is the place where fast relays are run. In fact meet director and distance coach Mike Stokes traditionally rolls out his relay team. "We only run the 'A' team a few times a year and the Wanner is the first time all year that we do it," said Stokes. The hometown Knights finished 8th in the state meet last year with Matt Cozine and Luke Filipic in tow. Both are seniors and ready to roll. Add in senior Karsten LeComte who has run a team best 1:55.59 and the recipe for a fast 7:50 could be in the works. The question is will WSC Silver rivals York and Lyons Twp be up for the challenge. They certainly know that fellow conference foe Oak Park-River Forest is the state leader at 7:54.79. Sophomore Charlie Kern Jr. is back racing now. He ran a 4:17.83 last Saturday at the Distance Nights in Palatine. He and senior Max Denning will be racing. Kern will double back in the 800 later. Lyons of course is the defending state runner up in an event they have shown tremendous proficiency over the years.
The 3200 is not as loaded as in past years but having Danny Kilrea (So., Lyons Twp.) and Martin Barr (Sr., Niles North) will help. Kilrea is IL #5 with a sizzling 9:12.90 he ran at Arcadia. Barr will push him for sure and is ready to run his first big deuce of the year.
Just like the last several years the 1600 will be the must watch event. Junior Soren Knudsen of Minooka is entered. Knudsen is very hot right now with a 4:15.90. All state runner senior Dan Santino of St. Ignatius is entered. He is a dangerous individual who is very capable of winning the race. Denning will double back with a possibility of a top three spot.
Relays, relays, relays-
It will be all about clean hand offs and good transitions on a night that promises to be less than ideal for sprinters. The 4x1 will be hot with Minooka, Edwardsville, and Proviso West vying for the top seed. Minooka has run 42.28- the third fastest time in the state. Edwardsville is ranked #4.
The 4x2 will see a duplicate with the same three teams at the head of the class. Minooka is top seed with an blazing IL #3 1:27.55.
IL #4 Minooka should put away the competition if they can run close to their season best 3:21.82 seed.
The best of the rest-
PV: Cooper Jazo (Sr., Lakes): Watch this kid. Can he sky near 16-feet?
JaShaun Steward (Sr., Proviso West): one of the state's premier triple jumpers who leaped over 47 feet indoors and outside
AJ Epenesa (Sr., Edwardsville): The state and national leading discus thrower is here with a whopping 206-5
Justin Wolz (Sr., Minooka): The favorite in the hurdles
Torrain Haughton (Sr., Maine East): The man to beat in the 800 and very capable of busting under 1:54
Cameron Ruiz (Jr., Lakes): watch him in the long jump against Devonte Tincher (Edwardsville) and Steward