The action at the DGS Mustang Relays always start with the 4x800 relay
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RESULTS I VIDEOS I PHOTOS
Naperville-
The last time many of the athletes competed in the Mustang Relays hosted by Downers Grove South HS, they were on the frosh teams of their respective schools. When it was all said and done near 10p inside the North Central College field house, there were many smiling faces to the betterment of track and field.
4x800-
[Girls]
Three sections and over 30 teams got it on the action. Orland Park Sandburg won section two in 10:01.40 which set up the "championship 3" race nicely. The state's top returning team, Sandburg, had all four legs back from 2022. It would also be the first time the Knights would put together a formable lineup this season.
It was a good opening leg as Holly Johnson (Fr., Downers Grove South) took an early lead and held on in 2:21. But soon the Knights began their assault on the field. The Mustang's margin would come to an end shortly after the exchange as Prospect's Hailey Erickson (Jr) moved to the front. From there they kept widening their lead and when it was all said and done, it was a huge state best and US#15 9:21.20. The time would go down as the second-best in meet history. In summation, eight of the top ten times ran were in section three. It shows you the strength of this meet and the energy it brings out in people.
Sometimes the anticipation and hype can get the best of teams. But in this case, the predictions were spot on as favorites Hinsdale Central, Chicago Lane Tech, and Sandburg provided the fans an entertaining show.
Right away on the first legs, it was a 27-second opening first circuit and then a slowdown. But Lane's Jack Klein (Sr) moved to the front followed by Colby Revord (Sr) of Hinsdale Central. Revord would take a lead at the 600m mark. He held on to a small margin at the first exchange. From there it was sophomore Aden Bandukwala gapping Lane's William Archer (Jr) and the field.
It almost seemed like child's play as the Red Devils would lengthen their lead to have it closed like on the third leg. Lane senior Emmett Kennedy gave the Techsters some life until Daniel Watcke (Jr) slammed the door shut on his evenly ran anchor carry. In the end, it was all Hinsdale Central in a state-best 7:53.30 (also US#3). Lane Tech took home the silver medal in 8:00.00. Sandburg clawed themselves back in for third at 8:01.50. The top six times in the state were in the championship section as well as eight of the top ten marks.
Hinsdale Central splits: 1:57.1, 1:57.8, 2:04.3, 1:54.5
Lane Tech splits: 1:57.7, 2:01.5, 2:00.8, 2:00.7
4x200-
[Girls]
It was in section five of six that got the juices flowing as Neuqua Valley stormed from way back on the strength of Zawadi Brown's incredible finish and the first team of the evening to break 1:50 with a time of 1:48.22.
In the final section six, the favorite Lincoln-Way East got up on the field with star speedster Mariam Azeez (Sr) leading it off and roaring to a commanding lead. The Griffins would hold serve despite an incredible close by Plainfield East. The winning time 1:45.55 is IL#2. Plainfield East clocked 1:45.93 and IL#3. A depleted Whitney Young squad was third in 1:46.31.
[Boys]
As advertised the most exciting and dangerous event is the boy's variety. In the six sections, there was only one clean section and it was not the final one in which state leader Minooka was in. Fortunately for the Indians. they stayed out of trouble by running their star Tyler Colwell (Sr) early. The huge gap was too much for Batavia to make up. Minooka improved on their state-best with a near-record of 1:30.81. Batavia ran 1:31.44 good for IL#2. Five fresh marks populated within the top ten.
4x400-
[Girls]
In section six is where it all went down. Prospect returned with nearly the same cast from the 4x8 and Lincoln-Way East from its 4x2. The blend created a masterpiece as it came down to the final leg. In it, Azeez motored her team to a state best 4:04.38 win (59.8 carry). Six new times would enter the top ten.
[Boys]
Plainfield North won section five in 3:33.12 and that gave the final section a reason to run for the gold. Downers Grove South wanted to win it but the state leaders Batavia was not having it. Anchor Jonah Fallon (Sr) put the meet to bed with a 49.8 carry and 3:27.16- IL#1 on the board.