Illinois Prep Top Times Weekly Report
Week of March 4, 2006
-Boys-
Performances are starting to heat up as the indoor season enters March. Meets are becoming more commonplace as winter leaves and cold weather athletes trade in their basketballs for track spikes and batons. Track fiends are now beginning to spot small quad meets to large invitationals throughout the state- from up north Rockton (Hononegah) to Chicagoland to down south Carbondale- in an attempt to eye witness something special and memory lasting.
Here are some highlights from the week:
The southern flavored filled meet did not disappoint the track and field faithful nor did it take it easy on the IPTT leader boards. The heavy action started with Cahokia as the Comanches produced list leading times in the 4x2 and 4x4 relays (1:31.99, 3:29.60). Cahokia speedster Greg Williams blazed a 6.50 55m for the solid win. Not to be outdone were the field heroics of Cahokia teammates Kali Jackson and Clyde Young. The lads turned out sensational 23-8 efforts in the long jump. Jackson turned around an hour or so later in his specialty, the triple jump and leaped 49-5.50 (#2 in the USA). The mark is more than five feet better than any Illinois athlete has produced. It’s rather easy to point out that Cahokia is one of the nation’s top teams and clearly the best in Illinois right now.
Scott Krapf (Danville Schlarman) and Tyler Bradford (Wayne City) produced the distance running duel of the day. Krapf has been running well this indoor season but rarely faced the competition that Bradford would give him. A rather rusty Bradford gave Krapf all he wanted but fell a little short in 9:34.34. Krapf legged out another solid effort in 9:33.42. Upstart competitor Matt Feldhake (Effingham St. Anthony) placed third. Krapf is proving thus far in his final school season that he is going to gun for the top runners all season.
Finally, the show-stopping action belonged to Class A’s Eric Thompson of Herrin. Thompson skied an amazing 7-2 (USA #1). Thompson absolutely had the crowd on its feet at every stanza. The junior phenomenon did not miss an attempt until he reached uncharted territory at 7-4. Expect even more big things from him and the southern part of the state as the season progresses.
York Invitational [Saturday March 4]-
In what was billed as the place to for distance running lovers turned out to be a solid mix of sprint and distance action. Dan Palmer (York) produced a field house record in the 200m (23.0). Palmer blazed the competitors from the first turn of the Mondo X surface and when he finished he let the capacity crowd know it with fist pumping excitement. The 4x4 relays were equally exciting as Palatine, York, and Glenbard South all battled it out with low 3:30’s effort.
3200m-
Eric Dettman (York) is continuing to round into the form that led him to many dominating performances in 2005. E. Dett indicated that he is finally 100% healthy from the health issues that plagued him during cross country season. The University of Oregon star performed up to expectations in running away with victory over his twin brother Matt and Palatine’s Glenn Morris. E. Dett established a meet record and grabbed the IPTT top mark back from new nemesis Christian Escareno (Rolling Meadows).
E. Dett co-led with M. Dett much of the way until just after the 1600m when he became a soloist the remainder of the way running 9:10.5h (4:36/4:34- 5:44 2k, 6:53- 2400, 8:04- 2800).
Eric’s feelings: “I felt alright [overall], I felt a little stale coming out but I had a goal and I was going to run until I hit it…” on the previous week’s 9:21 effort and loss: “I felt awkward because I was leading the whole thing. I started feeling worn out around 9,10,11 laps because I did all of the work. Overall, I felt worse this race.”
1600m-
Steve Finley (Palatine) showed he still has the goods despite running in just his second race of the young season. The reigning state xc champion took the lead immediately and never was challenged. The University of Virgina signee went 63.8/2:10/3:17 enroute to a solid 4:22 clocking. A convincing run that perhaps the York faithful will file come May when they set their state championship roster. Naperville North middle distance runner Eric Anerino had a name for himself by closing very fast the final 300m to pull away from Footlocker All-American and 3rd place finisher Ryan Craven (Prospect) 4:23-4:26.
800m-
Palatine’s Mat Smoody took top honors with his sweet four lap running. The sophomore is showing that the 1:55 4x8 leadoff at state was not a fluke. Smoody clocked 1:57.0. He cruised the first 400m in 58.5 before allowing the chase pack to close in at 590m. Smoody exploded at bell lap covering the last 200m in 27.9. His effort was good for nearly a two second victory.