In 33 years, Rochelle has never won its own Hub Relays. It came close this year, but Belvidere North repeated as team champion with 88.5 points, compared to 84 for Rochelle.
“Our best triple jumper scratched on all four his jumps,” Rochelle coach John Dobbs said. “That cost eight points and would have won us the meet.”
The Hubs led going into the final three events, but North won the 3,200 run behind Paxson Menard and Bruyn Yunk (1-2 finish) and also took first in the fresh-soph 1,600 relay.
“It was a great team effort today,” North coach Troy Yunk said. “There were not a lot of highlights with all the wind today.”
The Blue Thunder did attempt to break their own 1,600 relay meet record (18:46), but were stymied by the 20-30 mph gusts and settled for 18:48.
“We had our four best runners (Paul Zeman, Logan Volkey, Tyler and Bruyn Yunk) and tried to destroy the record,” Yunk said. “All can run 4:30, but the wind got us.”
Jefferson got strong efforts from Steve Hartzel and James Wright, each a part of four winning events in the relay-scored meet.
Additionally, Hartzell had the top individual efforts in the long (21-2) and triple jumps (41-9).
Both were one-and-half feet longer than the next closest competitor.
“Stevie keeps getting better and better,” Jefferson coach Greg Barker said. “He’s forcing himself into a leadership role for the team.”
In much the same way Belvidere North dominated the distance races, Jefferson, led by Wright, won the 400, 800, 1,600 and sprint medley relays.
Emmanuel Ponchol also had the top clearance in high jump.
In the shot put, Casey Beck of Harlem went 52-3 to beat 2A indoor champ David Goad of Dixon by three feet.
Sophomore Kane Rodriguez of Rochelle cleared 12-6 on his final attempt in the pole vault to clinch first place over Harlem, 34-feet to 33-6.
Oregon’s high hurdle shuttle had a large margin of victory, as Oregon tied Harlem for third place in the team standings with 76 points.
Jefferson, which was missing a few key runners, was right behind at 74.
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