Boys Track: Plots to play out at state

Updated: May 25, 2011 8:55PM

Their stories are all different, from the relay team hoping to go from runner-up to state champ, to the half-miler who just started running last year, to the two-time state shot put champ going for three in a row.

Those stories will add more chapters Friday and Saturday during the three-class boys state track meet at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

Plainfield South leads local teams with 10 qualifiers, including the 1,600-meter relay that ranks first in Class 3A with a sectional time of 3 minutes, 16.45 seconds. The returning team of John Magee, Steven Harris, Mitch Wolff and Sheldon Magee was state runner-up last year (3:17.60).

Joe McAsey, fourth in the 800 a year ago, is among eight Minooka qualifiers and ranks fifth in the 800 (1:54.99). McAsey, who will attend Illinois, said his goal this year is to run a sub-1:50, hopefully at the state meet.

Peotone’s Tyler Clott, the two-time Class 1A shot put champ, ranks tied for first with a 57-foot, 4-inch sectional put. Clott won state last year with a 57-7¼ effort and the Southern Illinois-bound senior said earlier this year, “I’ve rededicated myself to this season.”

But back to Plainfield South. The Cougars, sixth as a team in the 2010 state meet, have strong scoring potential besides the 1,600 relay:

Sheldon Magee’s 48.08 in the 400 is the second-fastest sectional time, the 400 relay (41.7) ranks third and Dantrell Wright has the fourth-best time in the 200 (21.8). Dondre Adams is among the top eight in the long jump (22-8¼).

“We’ve got to come back next week and try to win it again,” Sheldon Magee said after the 400 relay at the sectional.

Other Plainfield South qualifiers are Harris in the high jump, Wolff in the 400, Juliano Lodi and Richie Ruske in the 800 and Peter Gal in the triple jump.

McAsey in the 800 and Kevin Dorenkamper in the 300 hurdles (38.61) are Minooka’s top individual threats, but there’s more scoring potential. The 1,600 relay (3:17.79) is second behind Plainfield South going into the state meet and the 3,200 relay ran 7:52.66 to win the sectional.

Minooka’s Joey Santillo in the 1,600 meters, Kurtis Zumbahlen in the high jump and the 400 and 800 relays also made it downstate.

Joliet West has six qualifiers led by its undefeated 800 relay (1:27.10), which has the fastest time in the state. Junior Calvin Edwards is a threat in the 100 (10.88) and 200 (21.85), as is the 400 relay that ranks fifth (41.96). Also qualifying for the Tigers were Jon Smith in the long jump and John Hosey in the shot put.

Plainfield North also has six qualifiers, led by the 400 relay (42.06) and 800 relay that ran 1:27.9 at the sectional.

Plainfield North’s 1,600 relay, Caleb Donaldson in the discus, Andrew Sandoval in the 3,200 meters and Josh Moore in the 300 hurdles also made it downstate.

Romeoville junior Perez Ford has the potential to make the finals in the 100 and 200.

Lockport’s Alex Fisch, Lincoln-Way Central’s Joel Swanberg, Providence’s Chad Weaver and Plainfield Central’s Luke Winder could surprise in the pole vault.

Providence’s Kevin Ryan and Lockport’s Johnathon Goins hope to do the same in the 110 hurdles.

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