Boys Track: Lockport claims own sectional

Updated: May 17, 2012 11:45PM

Billy Reed and Jonathan Goins have developed a rivalry that seems to work for the Lockport teammates.

The senior combination finished 1-2 in the 110-meter hurdles as Reed was one of four different champions for the Porters, who claimed a Class 3A sectional title on their home track.

Later, Goins earned a title of his own by winning the 300 hurdles. Lockport’s other sectional champions were Patrick Fisch at pole vault and Thomas Razo in the 800.

Lockport scored 83 points to win the sectional over runner-up Downers Grove South (79). The Porters earned their first sectional title since 2003.

“The whole team together sparkled. They did a good job,” Goins said. “I’m proud of them. There were some disappointments, but we did some good things.”

Goins set a personal record (39.81) in his winning 300 hurdles. Reed and Goins finished in 14.42-14.45 in the 110 hurdles. Goins will repeat trips to the state meet in both events.

“All season we’ve gone 1-2,” Reed said. “We talk trash, but that pushes us in a way. We even push each other in practice.”

The meet’s biggest upset came in the 100 when Hinsdale South newcomer Tavaris Binion, a junior, beat two finalists from last year’s state meet. Binion (10.78) sprinted past Romeville’s Perez Ford (10.85) and Downers Grove North’s Jordan Munar (10.93) as all three qualified.

Ford was ninth in last year’s state meet, but Eisenhower’s Leo Okeke (11.07) failed to advance despite finishing seventh at state last season.

“I probably didn’t look at it as a surprise,” Binion said. “Those guys are good. I knew about the talent [in the field].’’

Okeke, seventh at state in last year’s 200, also failed to qualify in that event while taking sixth in the sectional. Okeke has battled a sore hamstring in recent weeks.

Ford, a Northern Illinois-bound football player, qualified in three events: 100 , 200 (winning 21.97) and shot put (51-11.5 for second).

“I’m stronger and better, but I didn’t qualify for the discus,” Ford said. “I qualified for all my other events, but I came up short in the discus.”

© 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.