September 7, 2010

Boys Cross Country Preview: Moving Up

Kaneland’s Holm has designs on a top-5 finish at state

By JOHN SAHLY – jsahly@daily-chronicle.com

SUGAR GROVE – Trevor Holm already is a step ahead of last season.

“I haven’t been injured, which is good,” he said at a recent Kaneland cross country practice at Waubonsee Community College.

Holm, a senior for the Knights and a first-team All-Area runner this past year, battled shin injuries in the early part of his junior season. As he healed, his times dropped and he found himself going stride-for-stride with some of the elite runners in the area.

“The season kind of slowly snowballed and progressed,” Kaneland coach Chad Clarey said. “He found himself running with Sycamore’s top runner, (Tyson) Kinsley. I think it was at the first Sterling meet we were at.

“He was ahead of Kinsley for most of the race, and then just at the tail end, Kinsley beat him. Kinsley was one of the best runners in the state of Illinois and I think once Trevor found out he could be up there and run with him, that ‘Maybe I belong here.’ ”

If he didn’t before, Holm definitely feels he belongs now.

Saying he’s grown into his body and that his strides are getting longer, Holm, who also anchored the Knights’ seventh-place 3,200-meter state relay team in the spring, has set high goals for himself and the team this season.

“Top five in state,” said Holm, who finished 23rd overall in the Class 2A state meet as a junior. “I think we can make it down to state, same with the girls.”

Clarey said he won’t have to look far for a model for the Knights to follow this season, especially if Holm can match what Kinsley, last year’s Daily Chronicle Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, did.

“Maybe we can mirror a little bit of what Sycamore looked like a year ago where they had a nice, senior-dominated team where they had that one single digit out front and then a real nice pack behind it,” Clarey said. “If we can mirror that, and do what they did, then we’ll be in great shape.”

To do that, Holm and the Knights will need help from seniors Grant Alef – Kaneland’s fifth runner at last year’s state meet – and Tommy Whittaker, who led off Kaneland’s first-place state 1,600-meter relay team in track.

“All of our seniors have been all-state in a sport,” Clarey said. “We’re hoping the three of them together will continue to do that.”

With, unlike last year, a healthy summer, Holm stands a good chance at meeting that goal.

“Each week, we need as a team a single digit,” Clarey said. “I think he believes he can be that single digit.”

BHS grad Wurth-Thomas places fifth at meet

Christin Wurth-Thomas, a former Bloomington High School standout, placed fifth in the 800-meter run in a season best of 2 minutes, 00.61 seconds in the World Challenge Track and Field Meet Sunday.

South Africa’s Caster Semenya won in 1:59.90. Wurth-Thomas led through the 600-meter mark in 1:29.51.

800-meter record is broken

Track and field • Kenya’s David Rudisha posted a world 800-meter record at the ISTAF World Challenge in Berlin on Sunday.

The 21-year-old former junior world champion crossed the line in 1 minute 41.09 seconds, beating the 13-year-old previous best mark set by Wilson Kipketer, of Denmark, by two-hundredths of a second.

Rudisha, whose previous best was 1:41.51, headed a Kenyan sweep of the podium places completed by Boaz Lalang (1:44.34) and Abraham Kiplagat (1:44.49).

Hard work + talent = gold

By Mike Landis

Star Courier

Kewanee, Ill. —

The formula for Tanner Ewing’s success is pretty simple.
“Hard work plus great natural athleticism,” said Annawan-Wethersfield boys track and field coach Brandon Johnston regarding the Titans’ talented hurdler.
“That’s a good equation for something pretty special.”
That “something pretty special” occurred a week ago as the A-W senior swept the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdle titles at the Class 1A state track and field meet in Charleston.
“A lot of people have come up and congratulated me,” said Ewing when asked to reflect on the events of last Saturday. “It’s kind of shocking — shocking that I had all that success against great competition that worked really hard to get down to state.”
For his accomplishments on the final day of his high school athletic career, Wethersfield graduate Tanner Ewing is our Star Courier Athlete of the Week.
The first hurdle Ewing had to clear wasn’t on the track. A standout at Stark County since his freshman season, when he qualified for the state meet in the 400-meter dash, Ewing left SC in February and transferred to Wethersfield. He became eligible to run track in mid-March, and had to prove himself to a whole new group of teammates.
“At Stark County, I was always kind of the top guy,” said Ewing. “At Wethersfield, they didn’t really know that much about me.”
“Any time you get an athlete like him, it’s a welcome addition,” said Johnston, “but you do wonder how he’s going to fit in. I think his work ethic and commitment won the kids over pretty quick. He’s an easy kid to get along with and he works hard, so that helps ease the transition.”
“From the very first day I worked hard and listened to my coaches,” said Ewing, adding he became fast friends in lifting and running with teammate Shayne Neubert.
Ewing served notice early by winning the 55-meter hurdles at the Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Classic in Bloomington. The A-W senior dominated both hurdle races throughout the season, and also found a home on A-W’s 4×400 relay.
“With his athleticism, we wanted to put that to use in more than just two events,” said Johnston. “He really helped push that relay into a very good team.”
But the hurdles were Ewing’s bread and butter, and he was rarely pushed until he made the trip to Charleston.
The 110-meter prelims was his first event, and he started having memories of his junior season when he didn’t make the finals in that race.
“I came in ranked second in the state and figured I should win my heat pretty easy,” said Ewing. “I was definitely wrong.”
At one point in the race, he was in third place.
“I thought, ‘Tanner, what are you doing.’ I thought I was going to miss the finals again,” he said.
He managed to rally and nip Dane Eubanks of Sesser-Valier in a photo finish and advance to the finals. Then he cruised to a win in his 300 hurdle heat, setting the stage for Saturday’s sweep.
“He was one of the most determined kids I’ve ever been around,” said Johnston. “He came so close last year. I think he had a little bit of revenge on his mind.”
Ewing was clearly the man to beat in the 300 finals, which he finished runner-up in his junior season, but the first piece of business was the 110 finals.
He battled with Illini West’s Ser Whitaker to line, winning a photo finish in a time of 14.59 seconds.  A couple of hours later, he added the 300 title as he rallied down the stretch to hold off Whitaker again in a winning time of 38.51 seconds.
The victories at state completed an undefeated senior season for Ewing in both hurdle events.
“That’s a pretty good feeling, knowing that you’ve gone all year without losing a race, especially at state,” he said.
With a successful final chapter to his high school hurdling career, Ewing is preparing to step into the collegiate ring at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.
He figures to receive a workout plan from SAU in the near future and plans to stay in shape this summer by running with A-W Lady Titans teammate Claire Pillen.
He also has to tack an extra 100 meters onto to his signature race, as collegiate athletes compete in the 400-meter hurdles.
Johnston believes that race will be a perfect fit for Ewing.
“I think that will be his race in college,” said Johnston. “With his athleticism and determination, it’s up to Tanner as to what he accomplishes.”
“I just want to get faster,” said Ewing of competing at the next level. “I really don’t have any personal goals. I just want to make the team better and do my part.”

Cavaliers’ Card sets all-time discus record

Photo Courtesy of: www.sj-r.com

By DAVE KANE (dave.kane@sj-r.com)

THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

CHARLESTON — Kelsey Card has, for the most part, been an athlete who lets her impressive performances speak for her. But the Carlinville High School junior got a little vocal Saturday afternoon, and it put exclamation marks on Year 3 of her weight-throwing reign.

When you’re essentially competing against yourself, you need to find something that helps you dig a little deeper. Or throw a little farther.

“We told her she needed to let it all hang out today,’’ Carlinville coach Shelly Wills said after Card won her third straight Class 1A girls state titles in the shot put and discus, including the all-time best discus throw by an Illinois high school girl: 167 feet 4.

“Yelling’s what she needed to do; she knows that’ll improve her throws. We were waiting for her to unleash it, and she finally did it on her third (last) shot put and the last (discus) throw here.

“It makes a difference. It brings the adrenaline up. It was fantastic.’’

In the early going Saturday, Card gave out a very audible yell on her last shot put attempt. The result was a personal-best 48-9¾, which also topped the Class 1A state-meet record of 48-0½ by Greenville’s Lisa Ferry in 1979.

“My parents (Tom and Andrea Card) and everybody says, ‘You’ve got to yell at the end!’’’ Card said after her shot-put win. “So I’m like, ‘OK, I’m going to give it a go.’’’

After she set a Class 1A girls discus record with a 153-7 in Thursday’s soggy prelims, Card’s first two tosses Saturday went 153-1 and 151-6. Her personal best, set earlier this spring, was 164-4 — one inch off all-time Illinois mark (regardless of class or time of the season) set by Aurora Rosary’s Dore DeBartolo in 1997.

“I said, ‘OK, I have to do it on this last one,’’’ Card said of a more primal scream that helped her launch Saturday’s last throw.
“I wanted to make sure to get it out there, so it counted. It felt better. I didn’t have a good finish on the first two today, but this one felt strong to the end.’’

Sean Canaday, a state champion during his high school days at Riverton, has worked with Card and many other area high school throwers — including Taylorville freshman Claire Nolan, who finished third in the Class 2A shot put on Saturday.

Canaday had a good feeling as soon as the discus left Card’s hand.

“We just talked before her last throw, about what she was doing wrong,’’ Canaday said. “I said, ‘You need to tear it loose.’ As soon as she let it go, I knew. It shot out there like a rocket.

  “Pretty exciting stuff. It was a great day.’’

  “I really did want the record,’’ said Card, who came away from last year’s state meet somewhat disappointed after failing to get personal bests in either event.

  “I always try to go for personal bests. Even if I didn’t win and threw farther than before, I’d be happy with that.’’

Normal West Girls looking for Open Meet participants

Normal West is looking for a few teams to compete against this Wednesday, April 21, 2010.  The meet will be hosted at Normal West High School and will begin at 4:15 p.m.

This meet is basically for those athlete’s who do not normally run in the Invitational’s or for those who just want to run something different before we head into the last few weeks of the season. 

Interested coaches can contact Normal West Girls Coach, Amy Copple, directly for more information.

coppleae@unit5.org

Glenwood runs away with Capital City Classic title

By TODD ENGLE (todd.engle@sj-r.com)

THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

The Chatham Glenwood High School boys track team had already put together one hellacious meet at Saturday’s Capital City Classic before the day’s final event, the 4×400-meter relay.

The idea going into the race was to break the school record of 3 minutes 26.34 seconds, set in 1979. The Titans won the race by five seconds — and they got the record by .01, according to fully automatic timing.

It was the final touch on a day that saw Glenwood lap the 12-team field by 48 points at Memorial Stadium. It finished with 118 points. Belleville East was a distant second with 70. Host Lanphier finished 10th with 24 points, its worst performance in the five-year history of the meet. Sacred Heart-Griffin tied for 11th with four points.

Glenwood didn’t have to look far for standout performances, starting with the 4×400 team of John Hagemann, Michael Greene, Tony Giovanelli and Caleb Cox.

Cox had a personal field day, finishing first in the triple jump (45 feet 0, a personal best and 1½ inches off the school record); third in the long jump (21-9½, a personal best) and second in the pole vault (12-6).

Raz Harris continued his resurgence in the hurdles, winning the 110-high event in 15.01 and missing out on a win in the 300 by a paltry .01 seconds, finishing in 40.34. Teammate Greg Garrett was third in the 300 at 40.66.

Jiarre Jackson won the 200 in 22.81, and finished second in the 100 with a time of 11.11, just .03 behind the winner. Brian Dixon rounded out Glenwood’s list of winners with a victory in the 3,200, with a time of 9:43.97.

“We had good, solid performances all the way around, and to come to a meet like this, we really just wanted to see how we stacked up against some premiere talent, and this goes to show that we’re right there. We’re on the cusp,” Glenwood coach Len Onken said. “We’ve got a ways to go, and we can get better.”

They’ve gotten better plenty this season. Harris said his first time in the 110 hurdles this season was 16.4.

“This is my first real year of track and being involved in the varsity, so I just want to run as far as I can,” Harris said. “Starting out I was just trying to clear it, and now I’m working on getting low, like a real 100.”

Cox was able to surprise himself, especially in the long jump.

“At first I thought it was a low 44, but the guy called it 45, so I was excited about that,” Cox said. “We think we can win sectionals. We barely lost it last year, and we’ve never done that as a team in our school history. So that’s a main goal of ours. A bunch of us have been talking, we want to send a bunch of guys to state and possibly come home with a trophy.”

There’s a long time between now and Charleston, but the Titans are off to the right start.

Frustrating day

Lanphier’s Kevin Farley finished third in shot put and second in discus. And Zach Kniery finished fourth in pole vault.

But the Lions — who have finished third at state the past three years — didn’t have a top-three finish in any individual or relay event on the track.

“They didn’t compete at all today like they’re capable of competing,’’ Lanphier coach Mike Garcia said. “I don’t know what their problem was today, but they better change it soon, or we’re going to be in trouble. It’s everyone doing their jobs. Again it’s the little things, the warming up, the cooling down, taking care of their body properly, eating right, being on time for things. It’s that kind of stuff, and it gets old real quick.

“Farley placed in shot and disc, but he would tell you he’s not happy with his marks. They were competitive, but not near what his best were.”

Delvo’s solid outing

Eric Delvo had SHG’s top individual finish, placing fourth in the 1,600 at 4:45.7.

He was a bit frustrated with his time, and coach Ed Gaffigan offered one reason for it.

“He ran a good 800 split (in the 4×800 relay), and he maxed out from that,” Gaffigan said. “He’s more capable, but it’s early in the season yet.”

SHG was sixth in the 4×800.

BHS girls top stellar field in own track invite

MEET RESULTS

By Randy Sharer | rsharer@pantagraph.com

NORMAL — In a 20-team field loaded with girls track squads capable of cracking the state’s top 10, Bloomington High School proved to be the heavyweight Friday in the 23rd BHS Invitational.

“All of these teams you’ll see next May (in the state meet),” said BHS coach Roland Brent, whose squad scored 55 points to edge Danville by two.

Galesburg, fifth in last year’s Class 2A state meet, finished third (49) followed by Eureka (39).

“We had some girls step up today,” Brent said. “It was a team performance. They all chipped in and did their thing.”

The wind that frustrated runners most of the night didn’t do discus thrower Kirstin Thompson any favors either.

The right-handed Normal West star would have preferred that the howling gale come out of the east instead of the west, but she still posted a meet-record toss of 137 feet, 0 inches.

That made her one of eight Pantagraph area winners in a meet that was moved to Normal Community High School because of construction at BHS’ Fred Carlton Field.

The area’s lone double winner was Central Catholic’s Kelly Curran in the 800- and 1,600-meter events.

“The wind wasn’t the greatest tonight,” said Thompson, the 2009 Class 3A state runner-up. “If you throw it too high, it’s going to lift it and bring it straight down. If you throw it too low, it’s going to push it right down. I guess I tried to get somewhere in the middle.

“I want to pretty soon be throwing consistently in the 140s and I want to get up into the 150s this year. I’m working on driving my first step to the center of the ring so I’m using the whole ring.”

The pole vault had a whole lot of excitement as four girls, all from the Flying Dragons Pole Vault Club, cleared 11-6. Only reigning 2A state champion Emily Clay of University High and Pontiac’s Emily Grove made it over 12-0 with Clay winning based on misses. Grove tied her school record.

Clay, who recently tied the Pantagraph area record of 12-6, almost made that height on her second attempt. School records went to Central Catholic freshman Sarah Bell in third (11-6) and Normal West’s Taylor Kirby in fourth (11-6).

“Our (Corn Belt) conference is by far the hardest competition in the state (in the pole vault),” Clay said.

Another Corn Belt star, Curran, lowered her Central Catholic record in the 800 to 2:16.02 and came back in the 1,600 to run 5:07.87. She took the lead early in the last lap of the 800 and grabbed control of the 1,600 with 400 left.

“I was ready to react to whatever was happening,” said the Notre Dame recruit, who has never been this fast this early in the season.

Missouri-recruit Marie O’Leary of NCHS won the 3,200 in 11:26.93.

“I felt relaxed and good,” said O’Leary, who later placed third in the 1,600 (5:15.63).

Illinois State volleyball recruit Kelsey Holman of Eureka wasn’t seeded to win the high jump, but did by clearing 5-6. Springfield star Sarah Maxson came in with a best of 5-9, but had to settle for third at 5-2, a height also cleared by runner-up Kelly Steffen of BHS.

“That’s what I thrive off of, adrenalin from the competition and having someone to push me along,” said Holman, who made both 5-4 and 5-6 on her third attempt before going out at 5-7.

Steffen, an Indiana State recruit, won the triple jump at 37-2, a distance only she and three others in area history have exceeded.

Steffen also took second in the 100 hurdles (15.16) and 300 hurdles (46.86) behind state title favorite Ayanna Scott of Springfield Lanphier. Courtney Egts took third in the triple jump with an NCHS record 35-7.

Condia Smith of BHS broke out of a slump to win the shot put at 37-2.

“I really haven’t been fast enough and then slowing down when I get to (the power position),” Smith said. “It’s something I’ve been working on. I want to hit 40 at least.”

Pontiac hit the gas in the 1,600 relay to win in 4:09.60. Toting the baton were Grove (62.1), Skylar Alford (62.5), Ashley Johnson (65.2) and Loni Mackinson (59.8).

Normal West won the 3,200 relay in 9:54.20 thanks to Emily Brelsfoard (2:28.2), Karen Black (2:32.2), Hannah Magnuson (2:27.6) and Bailey Kerschieter (2:26.0).

Hinsdale Central new #1 in 3A Girls

Week 2 Rankings                                                     

Click here to vote in WEEK 3 Team Rankings

1A BOYS                                          

Top 3 teams remain the same with Winnebago moving past Tuscola for 2nd.  Rochester and Annawan-Wethersfield enter the rankings for the first time.

2A BOYS                                          

Cahokia remains the top in 2A as the top 5 teams remained the same.  The ever improving Vikings from Danville moved into 2nd position ahead of 2009 state champion Hillcrest.  Glenbard South and Dixon enter the rankings for the first time.

3A BOYS                                          

Top 6 teams remain the same with Southwestern power Belleville West moving past Neaqua Valley for 3rd and Plainfield South passing East Moline United for 5th.  Powerhouses East St. Louis and York enter the rankings for the first time.

1A GIRLS                                          

Top 4 teams remain the same with Breese Central and Eureka surpassing Sherrard for 2nd and 3rd respectively after its win at the Metamora Invitational.  Benton made the biggest move this week from 8th to 5th.  Gibson City from the HOIC conference enters the rankings for the first time. 

2A GIRLS                                          

Southeast strengthened its position the top 2A.  Top 4 teams remain the same with Galesburg moving past Western Big 6 rival Rock island for the 3rd.  Bloomington moves up two spots after a strong team showing at the Springfield Southeast Invitational.  Mid State and Mid Illini powers Peoria Notre Dame and Metamora enter the rankings for the first time.

3A GIRLS                                          

Top 6 teams remain the same with Hinsdale Central taking over the #1 position from East St. Louis.  Palatine made the biggest move from 6th place to 3rd.  Geneva and Edwardsville enter the rankings for the first time.

Click here to vote in WEEK 3 Team Rankings

U High duo packs 1-2 punch

STANFORD – Normal U-High pole vaulters set two personal bests and one school record last night at Olympia.  Emily Clay set a new school record at 12′6″ and Liz Composto jumped a Personal Record at11′6″!