Lyons led by Prentice

Updated: May 20, 2011 10:46PM

In a dose of personal glory, Lyons senior Sam Prentice didn’t want to forget his last home meet in Western Springs.

Prentice qualified for four events for next weekend’s Class 3A state meet, and was part of three of four relays that won at Friday night’s Lyons Sectional.

“I came out knowing that it was my last meet at Bennett Field,” Prentice said. “I wanted to make it special somehow.”

Lyons’ relay dominance, Sam Telfer’s victory in the 800-meter run (1:56.23) and pair of titles in field events led Lyons’ return to a sectional title.

Lyons won its eighth sectional title in school history with 134 points while Hinsdale Central scored 81. Last year’s sectional title loss to Downers South ended a run of seven consecutive sectional championships for Lyons.

Matt Harris and Tom Callahan were Lyons’ field event champs. Harris took the long jump title in 23-feet-8 3/4. Callahan won discus in 155-6.

Prentice was the common denominator in relay wins in the 400 (42.80), 800 (1:28.92) and 1600 (3:21.80). Lyons also won the 3200 (7:49.32) without Prentice. That relay won with Alex Economou, Tim Pollard, Mac Hill and Telfer.

Besides Prentice, Lyons’ 400 and 800 relays featured Harris, Eric Covington and Chris Klotz. The 1600 relay also included Hill, Pollard and Mike Thomas.

“The biggest surprise was the 4-by-1,” Prentice said. “We’ve run decent times this year. We’ve had some shaky races, but we put it together today.”

Prentice ran mostly in hurdles events during the year, but has turned into a natural in the relays. Prentice finished second in the 300 hurdles (39.67) to Brother Rice’s Bill Rowe (38.77) to qualify for that event. Rowe also won the 110 hurdles (14.83).

“It’s like teamwork. [Relays are] part of track and field, but most people just see the individual events,” Prentice said. “I like that teammates are pulling for you, and that you’re part of the team.”

Prentice went to last year’ state meet in the 800 relay, 300 hurdles and 1600 relay. He was part of the 1600 relay, which finished seventh at state.

One of the meet’s top races featured Hinsdale Central teammates Zach Whithall (4:20.96) and Billy Fayette (4:23.73), who finished 1-2 in the 1600. Whithall pulled away half way through the race to out pace Fayette, who earlier won the 3200 in 9:16.26.

Whithall advanced to state for the first time. The Richmond-bound Fayette qualified for the 3200 for the third consecutive year and for the first time in the 1600.

“After the 3200, Billy said he was not feeling that good,” Whithall said. “I thought I had a decent chance to win. After 800 meters, I decided there was no backing down.”

Fayette, who entered the meet with the fastest 1600 time in the state at 4:14.44, felt he had an upset stomach after winning the 3200. The sectional was the first time this outdoor season where Fayette ran in both the 3200 and 1600 in a single meet.

“I haven’t done it outdoor,” said Fayette, whose last three-mile meet was the indoor West Suburban Silver meet. “It’s not bad doing the double [events]. It’s not easy, obviously. I [struggled] middle of the race. My last lap was fine.”

Hinsdale Central’s 3200 relay of Whithall, Ben Cherry, Azad Darandi and Jack Feldman finished third to advance. Cherry won the 400 (49.70).

Bill Monat (56-9) and Ryan Callen (50-11) went 1-2 in the shot put for Hinsdale Central. Monat took second in the discus (143-7).

Eisenhower’s Leo Okeke was a double winner in the 100 (10.90) and 200 (21.82).

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