BY LES WINKELER, THE SOUTHERN
No, Zack Riley isn’t faster than a speeding bullet. No, he can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound.
He can, however, come close.
The Herrin senior jumped 6-foot-8 in the high jump, went 24-3 in the long jump and anchored two state championship relays while leading the Tigers to the Class 2A state championship this year. Those credentials made Riley an easy choice for The Southern Illinoisan’s Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year award.
Riley, who will attend Rend Lake College next year, also won the award last year.
“I knew coming into this season I wanted to make a statement as a team at state, but I wanted to make sure the team was consistently good all season,” Riley said. “Everything this year was just for the team.
“The record for the high jump (7-2 held by Eric Thompson) – I wanted it, but tying it was alright. It’s one of those things you want, but if you can’t get it and you can achieve a state championship in the same season, the record is nothing compared to that team trophy.”
That selfless attitude is for real.
“Sometimes when you’re coaching athletes who are elite, sometimes you get some attitude,” said Herrin coach Rob Long. “Zack has none of that. He just does what it takes. He does it, and he does it willingly. He’s very coachable.”
Riley went to the state track meet with huge expectations. He was the defending long jump and high jump champion. He wasn’t fazed by the pressure of repeating.
“Not really,” he said. “I came into the meet knowing what I had to do. I just tried to do what I could to win. I didn’t really want to overdo it in the long jump or the high jump because I just wanted to focus on the relays to make sure we did good in those.”
And, he went about his business in workmanlike fashion. However, Riley did allow himself small emotional displays, primarily brief fist pumps, after crossing the finish line first in the 400 and 800-meter relay prelims and finals.
“I don’t really do too much with that,” he said. “I don’t really try to put myself out there. I definitely did in the 4 X 200. I was excited. I was nervous for the first time in three years at a track meet. There was so much on the line.”
The victory in the 800-meter finals essentially wrapped up the team title for the Tigers.
“Aside from being a great high jumper and long jumper, he’s a great sprinter,” Long said. “I don’t think he’s reached his full potential yet. He can do about anything you ask him to do.
“If I would pick four different events, he’d probably excel in them. He’s that kind of athlete.”
Riley expects to concentrate on the jumps as a collegian.
“The coach at Rend Lake told me I’d probably just be doing the long jump and high jump and maybe get into the triple jump,” he said. “I think I’ll miss being on a relay team and trying to do something with four amazing guys like we did this year.
“It’s a whole different story when you get to that level.”
And, the sky could yet be the limit.
“(His potential) is endless,” Long said. “Two years ago, we wouldn’t have thought he’d go 7-2. I think he still has some growing to do. He’ll train at a different level. They’ll bring out the best in him. He’s capable of all kinds of great things.”
Riley plans to study physical training at Rend Lake and eventually pursue a degree in kinesiology.
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