The 41st Annual Wanner Knight Prospect Invitational

All the 41st Annual Wanner Knight Prospect Invitational need is cooperation.  Cooperation from Mother Nature that is.  Illinois track and field fans usually know what to expect from a track meet in the Chicagoland area… in April.  One day it could sunny and warm and the next cold and rainy.  The last two years have brought the latter to Mt. Prospect.  This time, the local forecast promises 55-60 degrees and no precipitation.  Let’s all keep our fingers crossed for the top regular season all-boys invitation in Illinois to produce great all-around marks.

The Dukes of Elmhurst York has won the Prospect Invitational so many times that many have often confused it with being the York Invitational.  This year’s team will be heavily favored to not only win another edition of the Wanner Classic, but dominate.  York appears to have all of the parts necessary to battle defending big class state champion E. St. Louis Sr at the state meet: sprints, field, relays, and of course distance.  The “pre-state” run through will be interesting to watch Friday evening as a number of their top athletes will double up.  The senior crew of Khara Williams (left), Steve Sulkin, John Fox, David Way, and Jordan Hebert will be key components in the Dukes making their case to the Illinois faithful.

Host Prospect will battle several other quality teams for top team honors.  The Knights forte’ is middle-distance and they should not disappoint with ace Chris Hayek leading the way as a solid distance runner.  Don’t count out his teammate Matt Babicz.  Babicz is one of the top throwers in the state chucking the discus 182-3 (#2 in Illinois) and shot put (#5- 55’8”).

Skokie Niles North will counter with a beavy of top notched performers to keep up in the scoring table.  Speedsters Terry Turner and Will Kennedy have the top seeds in the 100m prelims. The Vikings have top seeds in some other events: Ron Vick (pole vault) and Rendell Smith (long jump/triple jump) Tony Kennedy (400m),  Kelly Williams in the hurdles, and 4x200m/4x400m relays.  Israel Cornelio will look to satisfy his team’s distance quotient with a solid 4:21.4 mark.


Sprints

100m-

Perhaps the most anticipated match up will be on course: Chris Kyles (Chicago Lane Tech) vs. John Fox (York).  These two sprint aces are the state’s top returnees.  Fox placed second in the 100m and Kyles was fifth.  This season has been a little bit of a swap as Kyles comes into the fray undefeated and charged.  His seasonal best of 10.74+ is tied for the top mark in the state, as he has dominated his competition.   He will seek to continue his winning ways and make a statement as the post-season nears. That charge will be a lot harder though with Fox 100%.  Fox had been healing from a pulled hamstring earlier in the season.  If the weather holds up, several bests may unfold.
Others to watch: Tarrence Williams (York), Terry Turner (Niles North), Will Kennedy (Niles North), Conner Hammack (Rockton Hononegah).

400m-

The one-lapper on paper looks to be one of the hot events to watch.  Tony Kennedy of Niles North has the #1 seed and a seasonal best of 50.77.  However, Adam Kuforiji of Elgin and Jimmy Sullivan of York have stronger seasonal marks and will not hand a victory over to Kennedy.  Zion-Benton’s Matt Nicklas is the only holdover from last year’s 4x4 state championship quartet.

200m-

This will be York stud Khara William’s race to lose.  He has the state’s #3 time and has been on a one-man wrecking crew all season.  His teammate Jimmy Sullivan will provide a nice compliment should he make the final and run. It’s probable the winning time could be in the mid- 21’s for the winner.
Others to watch: Luis Ruiz (Niles North), Brandon Fonk (Zion-Benton).

110HH-

A solid field is assembled for the prelims.  Four of the state’s 25 top short hurdlers will vie for a spot in the finals.  Mark Cellini of York has the top seasonal time of 14.94+ but Kelly Williams of Niles North is seeded #1.  Lane Tech’s Demetrius “DJ” Jacobs has clocked a surprising undocumented 14.9h several weeks ago against Plainfield North.  Don’t forget about Jason Taylor of Barrington, his adjusted time of 15.04+ makes him a marked man.

300H-

A tight tilt will be expected from Ed Awah (Lyons Twp) and Niles North Kelly Williams.  They both have seasonal bests in the mid 39’s.  Awah is a smooth striding long hurdler that should be a treat for hurdler fans.  Johnathon Jackson of Lane Tech is one of the state’s top intermediate hurdlers, but is taking a break to strengthen the relay and jump corps.

4x100m relay-

Niles North is the top seed and they have the top overall mark against the likes of Lane Tech and York.  Lane will not have Chris Kyles on the unit, but the Indians still should field a strong quartet.  York is expected to load up and go for a seasonal best with Fox, K. Williams, and T. Williams.

4x200m relay-

Lane Tech has gone 1:30.65 this season and they expect more with Kyles on the unit.  But don’t discount the Dukes of York, who are probably going to field their best team of the season.  Niles North has a top seed despite not being anywhere on the ranking boards.  They should field a strong enough field as judged by their individual sprint talent.  Also, include Lyons in the fray as the Lions have gone a swift 1:31 so far this season.

4x400m relay-

The meet’s final event will be no less fun to watch and certainly bragging rights will be on hand.  Niles North once again has a top seed.  The Vikings have blazed a 3:24.34 for the third fastest time in the state.  Lyons will counter with a 3:25.7 mark and will nip at the heels of first place.  York and Lane Tech will look to improve on their 3:27 and 3:28 season bests as they totally load up.

Distances

The Wanner Knights Invite is always a distance lovers delight and this year shall be no exception. Here is a brief look of what to watch for on Friday evening.

4 x 800 Meter Relay –

York has been looking forward to this event for the last month. For the first time all season, they will load this relay. Sophomore Jack Driggs will be the key for York. From his performances in the 1600 and the 3200 the last few weeks, watch for this super soph to pull off a fast split. Andrew Smith, Patrick Morgan, and David Way comprise of the other three of this quartet. This squad has the capability of running 7:45 or under if the conditions are right. Rockton Hononegah will be the main competition for the Dukes. Hononegah has the 5th fastest time in AAA so far this spring and will push York. Ryan Ballard and Blake Miglin will be keys for this team. Lyons Township, anchored by 1:55 800 runner Alex Lyons, and Prospect with Chris Hayek will also be pushing the pace.

3200 Meter Run –

An exteremely strong field here with the possibility of 15 runners going under 10 minutes. Steve Sulkin of York is the class of the field. Sulkin looked effortless two weeks ago at Downers Grove in running a solo 9:12. In trying to simulate state, watch him to push to go under 9 minutes here. Jordan Hebert, also of York, is refinding his cross country form after battling a virus that hampered him most of the indoor season. Watch for him to be on Sulkin’s shoulder.  Pat Lesiewicz of Schaumburg has the potential to stay with this York duo, running a cautious  9:28 at his own invite 3 weeks ago.Phil Fairleigh of Cary-Grove pushed Sulkin at the Palatine Invite last fall and could be up there again with confidence coming after his great indoor IPTT performance. Also watch for Sam Telfer and Mike Januskek of Lyons Township, Kevin Jacobs of Rockton Hononegah, and Brad Walwer of Springfield all with the capability of being in the hunt.

800 Meter Run –

Ryan Mangone of Barrington has looked strong early on in the meets that he has been in. I’m thinking he is ready to bust out with a great run Friday night. If his performances early on are an indication, he could be flirting in the 1:53 range Friday night. The York duo of David Way and Patrick Morgan will be coming back from the 4 x 8…this will be a test for them. Way three weeks ago ran the same double in 1:57 / 1:57. With  3 weeks of training /tapering, he will push Mangone. Morgan looked strong running 4:22 at Schaumburg, but showed his speed running 50.8 last week at Downers Grove. The darkhorse in this race is Brandon Stewart of AA power Springfield. Stewart ran 1:56 last spring and has the potential to be in this front pack again. Kiante Green of St. Patrick has great finishing speed and could be a factor in a tactical race.

1600 Meter Run –Sulkin comes back here and will be challenged by Peter Callahan (left), the defending Class A champ from Winnetka (North Shore-Country Day). Both runners have been in the 4:16-17 range this season. We could see 4:12 to 4:13 here. Neither one of these runners are shy of pushing the pace, so fast times will occur. The rest of the field is stacked. Israel Cornelio of Niles North has been this season’s surprise running 4:22 at Geneva two weeks ago. Alex Lyons of Lyons Township will also be in the front pushing the pace.  Jack Driggs of York and Pat Lesiewicz of Schaumburg both have the capability of being up there as well.  Strong strong field here with at least 15 -17 runners with the ability of going under 4:30.

FIELD EVENTS

Shot / Discus

Matt Babicz of host Prospect is the class of both events here.  Babicz has the 2nd best distance in the Discus in AAA this year and will be pushing for 190’ here.  In the Shot, he should win here having the 5th best mark in AAA…no one else in the field is within 5 feet of him.

High Jump-

Russell Petty (Naperville Central) has the state’s #1 mark of 6-8.  His season long consistency should propel him to not only win but perhaps go for higher heights.  During the indoor season, the all-purpose Petty went for 6-10.  His then solid attempts could bold well against a more competitive field.  Petty’s nearest competitor is Lyons’ Dane Krzyskowski.  Krzyskowski has leaped 6-4 on the season.  Rendall Smith of Niles North and Tharon Davis of Zion-Benton have 6-4 efforts in their portfolios this season.

Long Jump-

Rendall Smith (Niles North) and teammate Terry Turner have near identical 22 plus feet marks.  Sam Ojuri of Barrington is not far behind at 21-11.  Add York leaper Jimmy Sullivan for depth with his 21-10.75.

Triple Jump-

York’s Khara Williams is giving his legs a rest from the brutal contact event of triple jumping.  Rendall Smith assumes the top choice by virtue of his top seed.

Pole Vault-

Ron Vick (Niles North) has a seasonal best of 13-6- that’s good for #1 amongst the entries.  Connor Martin of York is the only other vaulter over 13-0 in the field.