Lyons won the team title scoring 146 points (Mike Danner photo)
It was a battle of attrition for the 20 teams that produced points at the 48th Annual Wanner Knight Invitational in Mt. Prospect. The afternoon started out cool and mild but tolerable with a nice twist of sunshine that radiated through lower 50 degree temperatures. Although it was permissible to compete the weather definitely got the best of some of the top talent in the state. Lyons ultimately won the battle of the cold with some hearty soldiers who fought through and scored in all over the track and field.
AJ's Chicago land debut was a success-
Chicago is now known as "Draft Town" because of the NFL Draft. In perhaps five more years AJ Epenesa (Jr., Edwardsville) will be among the lucky few to get his name called. The 6'5" 230 pound hunk happens to be one of the top defensive ends in the country who is ticketed for future stardom. In the meantime, Epenesa is keeping himself busy as the US #1 discus thrower with an astronomical 206-5 on his resume. Epenesa was a shoe in to smash Kevin Coleman's (Larkin HS) meet record 173-6. However, it was Epenesa who was having trouble staying warm and loose. He fouled on his first two attempts and put himself in danger of flopping in his first Chicago land appearance. So with a safe throw he connected on a meet record 186- foot effort using the wheel house technique. Not lost in the sauce was the fact that Epenesa and his teammates traveled more than six hours after competing the night before in their Madison County Championship. It was also a 30 degree temperature difference on the plus side for the Tigers.
It is not certain if the 4x800 field knew about some of the meet results around the state that put up some blazing times. No seemed to be concerned when Sandburg and Oak Park-River Forest dropped 7:45.2 and 7:47 respectively. As expected the host Prospect went for theirs. The Knights received an opening 1:55 from senior Luke Filipic that set the tone... sort of. There was a collision at exchange #3. The outgoing runner misjudged the hand off and the baton and incoming runner fell to the track. Not much was lost except a few seconds in the transition and all was eventually well for the Knights who won going away in 7:51.41. Lyons Twp. nipped York at the finish line 7:55.01-7:55.10.
The Niles North 4x100 quartet may be labeled the "Unknown Horsemen" after winning the championship out of section two of three. Senior standout Barrington Wade came back from injury to lead his team to victory along with 110HH champ senior Richard Azunna (15.01). The blazing time 42.39 will be IL #6 after the weekend tally. Wheeling took the "championship section" in a surprise 42.99.
Martin Barr (Sr., Niles North) and Danny Kilrea (So., Lyons) battled for nearly all 8 laps. The race unfolded early with Barr and Kilrea running step for step. The first mile was around 4:37-38 and the pair churned out sub 70 second laps the rest of the way. Barr out kicked Kilrea to win 9:12.58-9:13.97.
Charlie Kern of York continues to make amends of a three month layoff. This time it was a drop down in distance for Kern who ran the 800 and 4x4 for some speed. The opening 200 was fast in 25 seconds and then strangely Thomas Mosley (Zion-Benton) put on the brakes and let the pursuers regroup. The next 200 closed the opening 400 in 56 seconds. The race was a tactical one in which Torrain Haughton (Maine East) tried to steal it. He timed his kick too soon and ran out of gas on the home straight. The sophomore Kern edged him for the win in 1:55.53.
Brandon Thiel (Lakes) led three runners under 50 seconds with a 49.13 clocking.
Before mysteriously exiting the meet and leaving his teammates to scramble for his replacement in the 4x2 relay, Proviso West senior Jashaun Steward won the triple jump on his attempt with a leap of 47-1.50.
Heath Warren (Sr., Springfield) made his second trip to Wanner a great one. The U of Oklahoma bound Warren opened the field in 59.8 that caught everyone off guard. He continued his assault despite slowing down through 800 in 2:04. The final result was a 4:15.32 win. Soren Knudsen was second in 4:18.93.
