Boys track: Kaneland wins own invitational
Updated: April 21, 2012 8:35PM
Sixteen teams came to Kaneland High School on Saturday in hopes of winning the Peterson Prep Invitational, but it was the home team that finished first.
The Knights placed in 15 of 18 events, won two relays and had three individual champions on their way to capturing first place with 84 points.
“This was a nice win for us on our home track,” Kaneland coach Eric Baron said. “All these programs are very good. To finish in the top five or top ten here shows you’re a strong competitor throughout the state of Illinois.”
Geneva, which held the team lead going into the final event, ended up in second place with 75 points. West Aurora finished in fourth place with 64 points, Yorkville took fifth with 45 and Oswego East followed closely in sixth with 42. East Aurora finished in 12th place with 16 points to round out area teams.
Kaneland rode anchor Sean Carter to first in the 400 relay (43.78) and 800 relay (1:31.31) relays. The Knights also finished second in the 1,600 relay.
Dylan Nauert (300 hurdles) and Nate Dyer (discus and shot put) won individual championships for the Knights.
“Taking first at a home invite is a lot of excitement,” Dyer said. “Doing it twice, it was definitely a good day.”
Geneva’s Ben Rogers launched himself into first place in both the long jump (21 feet, 8 inches) and triple jump (43-11). His mark in the triple jump was a personal best.
“I’d like to keep getting better every meet, I think that’s the goal,” Rogers said. “I think if I can keep getting better each meet, I’m going to end up where I want to be.”
The Vikings also got a big boost from Justin Davis, who finished first in the 400, third in the 200 and seventh in the 100.
Fourth-place West Aurora was paced by pole vaulter Royce Golembeck, who jumped 13-6 to capture first in his event.
The Blackhawks also got strong performances in the field from Aaron Kennebrew (second place in the triple jump and fourth place in the high jump), Lijah Spears (second place in the discus) and Jonny Gosong (third place in the long jump).
“We came in with a good focused attitude and we did a real nice job today,” said Blackhawks coach Cortney Lamb. “It’s not our best meet, but we have a lot things we can build on.”
Fifth-place Yorkville had no individual champions but runners Jake Callahan (800), Chris Kellogg (1,600) and Eric Baker (3,200) all finished second in their events. The Foxes also got third-place finishes from Jake Hoffert (3200 meters) and Joe Haske (pole vault).
Sixth-place Oswego East was paced by senior Kalmon Stokes, who finished second in both the 110 hurdles (15.77) and 300 hurdles (40.84). The same Wolves team of Dakoda Skenandore, Andrew Holm, Rene Salinas and Chase Skenandore took third in 3,200 relay (8:09.19) and fifth in the 1,600 relay (3:32.24).
East Aurora sprinter Desmond Gant accounted for all of the Tomcats’ points. The blazing sophomore earned first place in the 200 dash (23.07) and third place in 100 meter dash (11.61).
“In my opinion, this was the fastest competition I’ve had,” Gant said. “If I’m winning against these guys, I know I can go out at other meets and come in first with a bigger lead.”
© 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.
Comments Click here to view or make a comment