Boys track and field: Plainfield Central’s Winder soaring to state
Boys State
Track and Field
Site: Eastern Illinois University, Charleston
Schedule: Thursday, Class 1A preliminaries. Friday: Class 2A and 3A preliminaries. Saturday, finals.
1A QUALIFIERS
Shot put: Gus Rieke, Dwight, 47-0.5
800-meter run: Ben Barnett, Seneca, 2:04.57.
1,600-meter run: Lane Hoffman, Dwight, 4:37.01.
2A QUALIFIERS
Pole vault: Chad Weaver, Providence, 15-0; Brandon Denler, Providence, 12-9.
High jump: Mike Monroe, Providence, 6-7.
Shot put: Jesse Long, Providence, 52-6
Discus: Jesse Long, Providence, 156-6.
400-meter relay: Providence, 42.77.
110-meter high hurdles: Andrew Helmin, Providence, 14.97.
100-meter dash: Troy Sheppard, Providence, 11.05.
800-meter run: Mark Pedziwiatr, Lincoln-Way West, 1:56.16.
800-meter relay: Providence, 1:30.91.
400-meter run: Kevin Ward, Providence, 49.44
300-meter intermediate hurdles: Andrew Helmin, Providence, 38.36.
200-meter dash: Troy Sheppard, Providence, 22.49; B.J. Bello, Lincoln-Way West, 22.54
1,600-meter relay: Lincoln-Way West, 3:23.32; Providence, 3:26.98.
3A QUALIFIERS
Long jump: Ethan Cane, Minooka, 22-7.5; Caleb Ivey, Plainfield North, 22-6.5.
Pole vault: Luke Winder, Plainfield Central, 15-9; Patrick Fisch, Lockport, 14-3; Rick Funk, Plainfield North, 13-9; Joel Swanberg, Lincoln-Way Central 13-9; Alex Wielbik,, Minooka, 13-9; Jake Voltarel, Lockport, 13-3.
High jump: Xavier Perkins, Bolingbrook, 6-5; Peter Andreano, Minooka, 6-3; Kurtis Zumbalen, Minooka, 6-3.
Shot put: Perez Ford, Romeoville, 51-11.5; Brett Allpow Lincoln-Way Central, 50-5
Triple jump: Jordan Banks, Bolingbrook, 43-11.5.
Discus: Crist Brenner, Lockport, 161-1; Caleb Donaldson, Plainfield North, 156-0.
3,200-meter relay: Minooka, 7:50.71; Plainfield Central, 7:58.80; Plainfield South, 8:00.01.
400-meter relay: Plainfield North, 42.22; Joliet West, 42.29; Plainfield South, 42.59; Joliet Central 42.66.
3,200-meter run: Chris Kaminski, Lincoln-Way Central, 9:41.71.
110-meter high hurdles: Billy Reed, Lockport, 14.42; Jonathan Goins, Lockport, 14.45; Jalil Manson, Plainfield East, 14.90; Zion Mason, Plainfield North, 15.05.
100-meter dash: Perez Ford, Romeoville, 10.85; Calvin Edwards, Joliet West, 10.91.
800-meter run: Dan Popek, Minooka, 1:57.82; Thomas Razo, Lockport, 1:58.05.
800-meter relay: Plainfield North, 1:28.51; Joliet Central, 1:28.78; Joliet West, 1:28.97; Minooka, 1:29.63.
400-meter run: Stepfan Thelemaque, Plainfield East, 48.90.
300-meter intermediate hurdles: Jalil Manson, Plainfield East, 39.66; Jonathan Goins, Lockport, 39.81.
1,600-meter run: Tom Rotondi, Lincoln-Way East, 4:22.04.
200-meter dash: Calvin Edwards, Joliet West, 21.69; Perez Ford, Romeoville, 21.97; Dantrell Wright, Plainfield South, 22.07.
1,600-meter relay: Minooka, 3:20.03; Plainfield East, 3:21.57; Plainfield North, 3:22.95.
He may be just a sophomore, but Plainfield Central’s Luke Winder likely will boast more pole vaulting experience than the majority of upperclassmen he faces at the Boys State Track and Field Meet at Eastern Illinois.
“My older brothers Jake and Josh, along with my dad, all won state in the pole vault,” Winder said. “I spent the summer training with my brothers at North Central College, where my dad is the pole vaulting coach. He’s an awesome coach, and he’s helped both my brothers win national championships.”
Winder took the first stride to follow in his family’s footsteps at the Class 3A Naperville North Sectional. He cleared a personal best of 15 feet, 9 inches for top honors. With the mark, he’s seeded first in state heading into O’Brien Stadium.
“It’s awesome to be seeded first as a sophomore,” Winder said. “I’m way over my family’s expectations right now.”
Along with the support he receives from his family, Winder was quick to point out his faith as a reason for his success.
“I’m striving for a personal best. I’m not going down with the expectations to win state,” Winder said. “I’m going (to state) to have fun, jump as high as I can and praise Jesus by keeping my faith strong. If I have the right mind-set, everything else will be work out.”
Winder won’t be the area’s only contender in the event. Providence junior Chad Weaver is seeded fourth in 2A after a jump of 15 feet.
Other top seeds from the area include Providence’s Mike Monroe in the high jump (6-7), and Providence senior Andrew Helmin in the 300 meter hurdles (38.36 seconds).
Threats in 200
While the 100- and 200-meter dashes generally attract a mass of state meet excitement, the area can amp up its anticipation with three senior sprinters firmly in the running for the 200 title.
Joliet West’s Calvin Edwards, Romeoville’s Perez Ford and Plainfield South’s Dantrell Wright are seeded in the top 10 of the event after strong sectional performances. Edwards finished ninth in the 200 in 2011, and he and Ford also will look to make the 100 finals in consecutive years.
Sectional champs
Three area teams secured sectional titles. Minooka, with 80 points, won the Class 3A Naperville North Sectional and Lockport won its own sectional with 83 points. Providence, in 2A, won the Lincoln-Way West Sectional and should find itself in striking position for a run at a state trophy. Providence had 13 state qualifiers, including its three sprint relays.
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