• York runs USL 7:43.6 in 4 x 800, St Charles North 7:49.2, Lyons 7:51.1
  
• Hersey jr Kevin Havel wins 3200 in 9:00.3 (over 9:01.5 for Evan Jager of Jacobs), and comes back two hours later with 4:18.7 win in 1600
• York wins team race with 128 points and only two individual wins

The 39^th Annual Knight’s Wanner Invitational was initially greeted with cloudy skies and cool temperatures that barely reached the 50’s- not to mention that the threat of rain was always imminent. Still, the hearty crowd of a few hundred were never disappointed as the rain did hold off and it did actually warm up toward the end of the meet. More importantly, the action on the track and in the field lived up to its pre-meet billing.

York won the team title but needed every event and every point against an underdog Zion-Benton team. York won 128-101- the distance dominated Dukes out-pointed the Zee Bees in the field events 34-23. Niles North (78), Naperville Central (69), and Chicago Lane Tech (68) round out the top five.

4x800 relay

York 7:43.6 [1:57.xx, 1:56.7, 1:55.7, 1:54 (52.9)], St. Charles North 7:49.2, Lyons 7:51.1, Prospect 7:57.1, Naperville Central 8:00.0

During the pre-meet warm up York ace Nick Kuczwara had a big grin. He liked his team’s chance of running well, stating “we are going to stack the relay today.” Indeed, the Dukes did just that and ran away from the competition near the end of the second leg and roared to a USA #1 mark over a very strong field.

Frosh/Soph sprint medley

1) Zion-Benton 3:36.9 (meet record), 2) York 3:40.5, 3) Lyons 3:42.2

The Zee Bees surprised the field with the victory from the slow heat. York held off rival Lyons in the championship heat.

4x100 relay

Lane Tech 42.4, Zion-Benton 42.8, Niles North 43.3

Lane Tech proved that the 42.2 they put up at Highland Park last weekend at Highland Park wasn’t a fluke- the Indians turned back Zion-Benton and the rest of the field behind crisp handoffs and transitions. The pivotal point in the race was the third exchange with Zion-Benton running even. Lane anchor sophomore Chris Kyles immediately grabbed a slight lead and blazed the home straight for the victory.

Kevin Havel (Hersey) 9:00.3 PR [2:15.xx, 3:23.1, 4:30.7, 5:36.xx, 6:46.xx, 7:57.xx]; Evan Jager (Jacobs) 9:01.5 SB [4:31.3, 5:37.6, 7:58.5]; Tom Achtien (York) 9:07.4 PR [4:35.7], Ryan Jacobs (Rockton Hononegah) 9:10.5 PR [4:35.1]; Mike Spain (Schaumburg) 9:18.8 PR; Jon Roberts (Schaumburg) 9:21.4 PR; Arthur Baptist (Prospect) 9:22.5 PR; Billy Wisser (Hersey) 9:27.7 PR.

The 3200m has become the signature event in this meet in recent years. This year’s billing brought out another great field highlighted by Jager and Havel. Jager, of course, has been regarded as one of the best Illinois fans have seen, but Havel is good too. No, he is really good and he proved that point almost immediately after putting his foot down on the accelerator after the first 800m and making the godly Jager seem mortal. Jager was in chase mode the entire time and looked winded at times too. Havel deserves credit for turning what appeared to be a tactical event into a race and this will bode well when state arrives in less than a month. Havel appears to be in the best shape of his still young career as he stated: “I’m nearing the end of the season and the training is going great.” The entire field was under 10:00 and five of six scorers set personal records. A seemingly distraught Jager admitted to the sound beating by his close rival and friend, but added: “uggh, I feel really out of shape… but I felt really good. When I rolled my ankle [playing basketball] I lost about three weeks of solid training. My goal was to run [under 9:10] and with one lap to go I thought I had a chance, but Havel dropped the hammer.” Stay tuned for round two on May 26 at the state championship.

110HH

Gerald Turner (Lane Tech) 14.5; Jay Jordan (Lane Tech) 14.7

It was a 1-2 punch from the Indians. This was Turner’s first outdoor effort and he didn’t disappoint. Turner, the Virginia State University signee, admitted to have several concerns coming into the meet but it didn’t show.

100m

Marino Jozic (Maine West) 10.8, Turner (Niles North) 11.1

Jozic scratched the 200m prelims and it paid off. The Chicago Steinmetz transfer is fast proving he will be one to watch later on in the season.

800m

Yosef Tewolde (Elgin) 1:56.4 [58.9/57.5]; Arrius Hunt (Zion-Benton) 1:56.9; Matt Garstka (Lyons) 1:57.4

The absence of York’s Nick Kuczwara and Naperville Central’s Steve Couch was pretty evident. The fast heat field plodded through a 58 second opening. It appeared as if no one wanted to race until Lane Tech’s Kevin Beltran then Garstka made tactical errors in moving too fast and too soon in trying to separate from the pack. In the end, a patient but opportunistic Tewolde was victorious in a smart and strategic race.

1600m

Havel 4:18.7 [2:12.4, 3:18.5]; Mike Fry (York) 4:21.1; Steve Couch (Naperville Central) 4:21.6 [2:12.4]

Havel got the sweep of courtesy of a generous first half pace. The pace was to his liking as he quite taxed from the 3200m. Havel began his assault on the field by pushing with Couch on the 3^rd quarter and then a solo 59.8! It is pretty evident that Havel is one to watch next in the state championship.

200m

Vernon George (Zion-Benton) 22.2,Fuad Salami (Lane Tech) 22.5

The race appeared much closer than the final stats indicate. It was all about George and Salami as they both breezed through the preliminary and semi-final rounds. Coming off the curve and on to the straightaway it was a dead heat. Salami tried to shift into another gear with 50 meters remaining but tied it. George was able to maintain his composure and edged ahead of Salami at the finish line.

4x400

Zion-Benton 3:22.8, York 3:25.0

The last event of the evening always provide excitement and the 4x4 didn’t disappoint. ZB took the early lead and increased to 50m thanks to Arrius Hunt’s 48.9 second leg tote. York was mired in second position with several teams until the anchor. Nick Kuczwara began chipping away at ZB. Kuczwara’s effort wasn’t quite the effort but not totally wasted- 50.8 to 53.0 (ZB).

High Jump

Martell Wilson
06' 04" NN

Bellmore
06' 02" Lib

Petty
05' 10" NC

Dodds
05' 08" Car

Johnson
05' 08" Lib

Roche
05' 08" ME

Sommons
05' 06" Lan

Davis
05' 06" ZB

Pole Vault

Mike Sego
14' 00" NC

Michel
14' 00" NC

Zars
13' 09" Yor

Carabajal
13' 06" Sch

Biesterfield
12' 00" Yor

Hennig
12' 00" Pro

Stetzler
11' 06" Car

Specht&Reyna
11' 06" TIE

Long Jump

Vernon George
22' 09.25" ZB

Kimberly
22' 01.5" Hon

Freidheim
21' 02.75" Yor

McAllister
20' 11" Lan

Mack
20' 10" Pro

Petty
20' 07.75" NC

Stetzler
20' 07.5" Car

Wilson
20' 02" NN

Triple Jump

Rendoll Smith
44' 08.25" NN

Freidheim
43' 00.5" Yor

Washington
42' 11" ZB

Bellmore
42' 06.25" Lib

Singh
42' 02" NN

Jordan
42' 01" Lan

Dodds
41' 09.25" Car

Petty
41' 07.25" NC

Shot Put

Luke Hibner
57' 08.75" Yor

Torresso
54' 05.5" Sch

Whistler
51' 03.25" MW

Dambra
50' 03.5" Ly

O'neil
48' 11" STP

Fernandez
48' 10" ME

Stubbs
48' 07.75" Her

Young
48' 00.25" Sch

Discus

John Gausmann
159' 03" NC

Stubbs
151' 10" Her

Mintern
146' 03" ZB

Young
145' 10" SCH

Petro
141' 07" Her

Pellegrind
138' 00" Lan

Whistler
137' 05" MW

Miller
136' 09" Hon

Fr/So Medley

Zion Benton**
03:36.9 ZB

York
03:40.5 Yor

Niles North
03:40.9 NN

Lyons
03:42.2 Ly

Prospect
03:44.6 Pro

Naperville
03:46.2 NC

Maine West
03:46.9 MW

Schaumberg
03:48.2 Sch

3200 m Relay

York
07:43.6 Yor

St. Ch North
07:49.2 STC

Lyons
07:51.1 Ly

Prospect
07:57.1 Pro

Naperville
08:00.0 NC

Hononegah
08:10.4 Hon

Carmel
08:13.3 Car

Hersey
08:22.4 Her

400 m Relay

Lane Tech
00:42.4 Lan

Zion Benton
00:42.8 ZB

Niles North
00:43.3 NN

York
00:43.7 Yor

Maine West
00:44.2 MW

Prospect
00:44.5 Pro

Hononegah
00:44.5 Hon

Elgin
00:44.7 Elg

3200m Run

Kevin Haval
09:00.3 Her

Jager
09:01.5 Jac

Actien
09:07.4 Yor

Jacobs
09:10.5 Hon

Spain
09:18.8 Sch

Roberts
09:21.4 Sch

O'Donnell
09:22.5 NC

Wisser
09:27.7 Her

110m H Hurd

Gerald Turner
00:14.5 Lan

Jordan
00:14.7 Lan

Ziegenfuss
00:15.2 Pro

Mafany
00:15.2 NN

Haab
00:15.2 Hon

Petty
00:15.6 NC

Beam
00:15.8 Hon

Roche
00:16.0 ME

1OOm Dash

Marino Jozic
00:10.8 MW

Turner
00:11.1 NN

Freidheim
00:11.3 Yor

Campbell
00:11.4 ZB

Wimberly
00:11.4 NN

Kimberly
00:11.4 Hon

Ridley
00:11.5 STP

Kyler
00:11.6 Lan

100M BIG BOY

David Giese
00:11.7 STP

Tartaglia
00:11.8 Yor

Hibner
00:11.9 Yor

Saigh
00:12.0 NN

Weinke
00:12.1 Car

Olziewski
00:12.1 LY

Marik
00:12.2 LY

Zern
00:12.6 Car

800m Run

Yosef Tewolde
01:56.4 ELG

Hunt
01:56.9 ZB

Garstka
01:57.4 LY

Thayer
01:57.9 NC

Lyons
01:58.0 LY

Taylor
01:58.7 LIB

Myska
01:59.0 SCH

Sulkin
01:59.2 Yor

800m Relay

Lane Tech
01:31.4 LAN

Zion Benton
01:31.9 ZB

Prospect
01:32.3 PRO

York
01:32.7 TIE

Naperville
01:32.7 TIE

Hononegah
01:33.0 Hon

Elgin
01:33.21 ELG

Carmel
01:33.29 Car

400m Dash

Airius Hunt
00:49.2 ZB

Thomas
00:50.1 ZB

Wilson
00:50.2 MW

Somers
00:50.4 NC

Kuczwara
00:50.5 Yor

Dzierzanowski
00:50.9 ME

Hardt
00:51.0 MW

Tewolde
00:51.4 ELG

300m Im Hurd

Willy Mafany
00:39.4 NN

Haab
00:40.0 Hon

Ziegenfuss
00:40.0 PRO

Zaremba
00:40.2 Yor

Roche
00:40.8 ME

Prezolewski
00:41.0 Pro

Williams
00:41.3 NN

Ruiz
00:41.4 STP

1600m Run

Kevin Havel
04:18.7 Her

Fry
04:21.1 Yor

Couch
04:21.6 NC

Anczyk
04:22.9 Pro

Actien
04:23.9 Yor

Styzek
04:24.9 Pro

Stephans
04:27.2 LY

Stanton
04:29.3 Her

200m Dash

Vernon George
00:22.2 ZB

Salami
00:22.4 LAN

Fox
00:22.7 Yor

Blanke
00:22.7 LAN

Grittani
00:23.1 Yor

Sajo
00:23.2 Hon

Homfeldt
00:23.7 ELG

1600m Relay

Zion Benton
03:22.8 ZB

York
03:25.0 Yor

Niles North
03:26.3 NN

Lyons
03:27.4 LY

Maine East
03:29.6 ME

Lane Tech
03:30.2 LAN

Hononegah
03:30.3 Hon

Prospect
03:30.7 Pro

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