The closing stages of the 4x800 relay produced the top three times in the state (Laura Duffy photo)
Mt. Prospect, IL-
It was another cold Wanner Invitational hosted by Prospect, perhaps one of the coolest in a long time, with temperatures dipping as low as 42 degrees late in the contest, around 9 pm. When it was said and done, the host Knights produced a dominating performance, scoring 173 points.
As expected, the main event, the 4x800 relay, did not disappoint. Section 1 might have overshadowed what was to come; Hoffman Estates Conant dropped a top 10 (at the time) 7:59.31. This was the fastest section 1 winning time in meet history. The main event, billed as the Milesplit IL/Coach Stogie 4x800, was filled with tension, anxiety, and, of course.
The opening pace got out well. Hersey opened up a slight gap on the second lap, but Lane's Samuel Assefa covered the move and brought it home first in 1:57.11 ahead of the Huskies' 1:57.20.
Chicago St. Ignatius joined in the sweepstakes briefly as their best runner, Ethan Petrillo, roared with a 56.91 opening lap. Included in the bunch up were Lane, Hersey, Rockford Christian, and Prospect. But it was Downers Grove South who charged home first at the halfway mark in 3:55.21.
The third leg opened with Downers South, Lane, and Hersey. They broke away from the rest of the field, and it was clear that the winner would come from the trio. Lane's Peter Georgopoulos ran a tremendous leg, busting home in first with a 1:57.34 carry, and handing the lead to teammate Quinn Anderson.
Anderson got the stick at 5:53.46, and if he can run under 1:57, Lane would have an opportunity to get under 7:50. More importantly, obtaining the win was the goal. DGS's Conrad Saner and Hersey's Mateus Salomao linked up with Anderson, and it was fierce. For the first lap of the anchor leg, it was Anderson, Salomao, and Saner. Saner took the lead just before the bell, and Salomao went with him as Anderson drifted to third.
Saner took full command of the race with less than 250m to go. On the homestretch, DGS appeared to have the race in hand, and Salomao faded, which allowed Anderson to inch into the second position. Saner threw up the victory formation, the Mustangs clocked a tasty 7:48.78. Lane closed in 7:49.37, and Hersey ran 7:49.77. All three squads were under the sweet mark of 7:50 and the best in Illinois- national elite performances. Fourth-place Rockford Christian earned the fifth-fastest time in the state at 7:54.06. In all, seven teams broke 8:00, and the prognosis of this event for the state series looks very promising.
Other top action-
Unfortunately, the cold weather put a damper on the shot put, which had four 60-foot performers in attendance. It was the top field event strength-wise. It lasted a long time, and that might have been too much mentally. It was Jordan Phelan of Lakes with the win, tossing 59'8.50" on his first attempt.
After anchoring the New Trier 4x100 relay to victory in 41.98, Dylan Nemerovski was penciled in as the favorite in the 100. It was not to be as Chase Cutler recovered from a slow start and won in 11.09.
Cutler returned later in his main event, the 400m. It was a no-doubter for the junior from Rockton Hononegah, breaking the stagger on the field just past the 150m mark. Cutler stormed home in an unbelievable 46.61, destroying the former meet record and becoming the first in the state under 47 seconds this season. The time is the 12th-fastest in the country.
Alex Rodriguez easily won the 3200m for Berwyn-Cicero Morton in 9:16.04. His teammate, Orlando Sandoval, returned several hours later in the 1600m and put on a late surge to win in 4:15.54.
The showstopper put a cap on the meet, and that was won in meet record time by Hononegah, who clocked an IL#2 3:19.72.
The closing stages of the 4x800 relay produced the top three times in the state (Laura Duffy photo)