Cahokia’s depth dominates in team championship

By Michael Newman

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Hillside, Ill --- The coaches and the onlookers around the jumps pits at Saturday’s Proviso West Boys Invitational had their doubts that Ja’Mari Ward (Cahokia HS) would pop a big jump in the Triple Jump after witnessing the Long Jump competition. A worn runway and a slick take off board took its toll on all of the athlete’s in that event. Ward did respond in a big way popping a 50-5 jump on his third attempt to easily win the Triple Jump by more than eight feet. The performance is the best in the state and second nationally. Ward also broke a 30 year old meet record by more than two feet.

Ward’s day did not start out well in the Long Jump. The same held true for the rest of the competitors in the event. Hydroplaning was the name of the game off of the new board that was installed for the competition. Ward did get in three jumps with his best in the first round (22-8). On his third round jump, his plant foot came in too high causing him to skid into hid jump. He still did jump over 22 feet, but it was decided he would pass on his final attempt. Matt Fleming (Simeon HS, Chicago) had the same troubles as Ward. He fouled on three of four attempts. His third round jump of 22-5 was good enough for second place.

You could tell that Ward was going to have a good meet in the Triple Jump. In his first round attempt, he was behind the board and short stepped his second step. He still was over 49 feet (49-4). In his second round, he still was off the board but he jumped 49-7 ½. After Ward landed in the pit, his coach Leroy Milsap exclaimed “He’s going over 50 feet today!”

His third jump fulfilled Milsap’s earlier words. The junior’s attempt was like a rock skipping over a placid lake. It was a symphony in motion as he landed almost perfectly way in the pit spraying sand on those who were standing around it. He passed on his fourth attempt. Nevertheless, Ward was not satisfied with the jump. He was looking ahead towards bigger things.

“I don’t jump a lot of 50’s. I promised him (Coach Milsap) that I would do more of that,” added Ward. “I could have jumped farther today but my body was tired from taking the jumps earlier.” (Watch the full Ja’Mari Ward Interview)

Cahokia showed its depth in the team competition scoring in 13 of 16 events to easily win 123 points more than 50 ahead of second place Lyons Township. Defending 3A state champion York finished third. Cahokia’s only other win came in the 800 Meter Relay. Ward, who was favoring his ankle that he injured during the triple jump. It still did not matter to him as he gave his team a slight lead ahead of Proviso West. The two teams battled on the second leg until the final turn when Proviso West’s Louis Brown Jr’s legs got tangled up with another runner causing him to lose his balance. The race belonged to Cahokia from that point forward. The Comanches’ time of 1:32.58 was over three seconds ahead of second place Lyons Township.

Highlights from the rest of the meet:

It was not known if Jamante Steward (Proviso West HS, Hillside) would compete in this event. A sore left knee had caused him some problems. With the field that was assembled, Steward would not miss defending his home turf. Chris Wright-Madison (Oak Park-River Forest HS), Anthony McRoberts (Cahokia HS), and Steward. It was only Steward that cleared 6-8 out of the three on an almost picture perfect jump. Steward cleared 6-10 tying a 33 year old meet record that he now shares with Proviso West’s Dan Williams and Moline’s Steve Weaver.

Matt Contreras (North HS, Wheaton) cleared 14-0 to easily win the Pole Vault ahead of second place David Prigg (York HS, Elmhurst) who cleared 13-0. It was a seasonal and indoor personal record for Contreras. He cleared 14-6 outdoors last summer. (Watch Matt Contreras Interview here).

The competition in the Shot ring was vicious and exciting Saturday afternoon. Adam Schaufelberger (Lyons Township HS, LaGrange) entered the competition with the best performance in the state in the Shot Put (55-6). It looked like he would win the event when he unleashed a 55-2 put in the fifth round. Dylan Schriech (Lake Park HS, Roselle) bettered that on his final attempt with a state best 55-6 ½ put to win the event.

The action heated up quickly on the track in the first final of the afternoon in the 3200 Meter Relay. Lyons Township and Cahokia battled through the first three legs of the event. At the first exchange, Tyran Lyons gave Cahokia slight lead ahead of Lyons Township. This was a different attitude for this Lyons Township team than two weeks ago on the same track. Lyons’ Vince Zona kept his team within a second of the lead. Ben Gawthorp opened up more than a second lead for Lyons Township ahead of Cahokia. Connor Madell maintained that lead for his team on the third leg. A 1:56.0 anchor Alex Lima solidified the win for his team. Their 8:03.48 is the fastest current time in the state. Cahokia finished four seconds back (8:07.98). Lane Tech finished third as Pavlo Hutsalyuk ran a 1:57.1 anchor to move his team from sixth to first on the final 800 meters.

Eric Walker (St. Rita HS, Chicago) ran 8.32 for the 60 Meter Hurdles last week at the University of Kentucky Invitational. The confidence that he gained from that race showed in his performance Saturday. He broke out of the blocks well and had the lead after the second hurdle. His time of 7.48 is a huge PR and also the best time in the state. (Watch Eric Walker Interview Here)

A photo was needed for the finish of the 55 Meter Dash. Scotty Miller (Barrington HS) ran the fastest preliminary time (6.52) with Kahmari Montgomery (Plainfield Central HS) close behind (6.58). The final was even closer. Montgomery has improved on his start and it showed in this race. Miller had a slight edge at the half way point, but Montgomery came back to nip him at the line for the win (6.47-6.48). Johnathan Stokes (North Lawndale Prep, Chicago) and Alex Teague (York HS, Elmhurst) were close behind for third and fourth. It was all Montgomery in the 200 Meter Dash. He caught Teague who was running on the outside of Montgomery as they entered the final curve. Montgomery looked effortless as he crossed the line in 22.22 some seventh tenths ahead of Teague. (Watch Kahmari Montgomery Interview here)

The name of the game in the 400 Meter Dash indoors on a 200 Meter Track is getting the lead by the time you cut from your lanes. Zac Espinosa (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville) gained that advantage as he took the lead 200 meters into the race. He maintained that lead holding off Cahokia’s Tyran Lyons to win the event (51.17, IL #6).

One of the most anticipated events of the day was the 600 Meter Run. On Thursday at a small meet at Hinsdale, Alex Lima (Lyons Township HS, LaGrange) ran a then state best of 1:23.8. It was something that motivated Ty Moss (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville) as he stepped to thine in this meet. Lima had the lead at the first 200 (26.7) as Moss trailed close behind. Heading into the final lap, Moss took the lead passing the 400 (55.3) with Lima efforting to stay with him. Moss looked strong in the final 200. Lima’s will would not let Moss pull away. The Neuqua senior crossed the line in a state best 1:22.76 with Lima a second back (1:23.88).

Moss came back to help his team win the 1600 Meter Relay. The Wildcats got off to a slow start when they passed the baton in fifth place. By the time Moss got the baton, Neuqua Valley moved to second on a strong leg by 400 Meter champ Zac Espinosa. Moss ran down Cahokia’s Tyran Lyons in the first 200, then pulled away for a three second win. (Watch Ty Moss Interview Here).

Konrad Eiring (Barrington HS) had his eyes set on a fast time by accepting an invitation for this meet. That opportunity did not disappoint. He pulled away from the rest of the field as he passed the 200 in 26.7. He was by himself when he went by the 400 in 55.2 and the 600 in 1:25.9. Eiring won the race (1:57.51) by close to four seconds ahead of Kevin Ma (Whitney Young HS, Chicago).

The two other distance races were tactical which fell perfectly for Matt Plowman (York HS, Elmhurst). The 3200 Meter Run was a race that no one wanted to push the pace for the first 800 as the entire group of 14 runners in the section 2 went by the 800 in 2:24. When the next 400 slowed to 76 seconds, Ryan Clevenger (North HS, Downers Grove) started to push the pace. As soon as that happened, Plowman took the lead and slowed the pace down.

“No one wanted to take the lead. The pace sped up and slowed down,” Clevenger said after the race. It was just frustrating.” The group started spreading out as Irwin Loud (Oak Park-River Forest HS) led them through in 4:53. The pace stayed at 73 second quarters going through the 2400 in 7:19. Sam Wischnewsky (Whitney Young HS, Chicago) started to push the pace as he tried to make a definitive move with 600 Meters to go. The move was strong, but not strong enough to break Loud, Plowman, Clevenger, and Michael Widmann (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville). Loud made a push the next two laps with Plowman right on his side. In the final lap, Plowman made a final push with 100 meters to go pulling away from Loud with Clevenger in close pursuit. The York senior pulled away for less than a second win ahead of Loud with Clevenger and Widmann placing third and fourth. Plowman’s final 200 was 29.4 seconds

The same tactics occurred in the 1 Mile Run. Loud and Blake Evertsen (Central HS, Hinsdale) led the pack through ultra-conservative 2:16 first 800. Plowman was content to sit and just wait for his moment. When the pack went through the ¾ in 3:25, Conner Madell (Lyons Township HS, LaGrange started to push the pace. Plowman moved on the outside in position to make his move. At 4:00 and the gun lap, Madell started to push the pace more. On the back stretch, Plowman tried to make a move similar to what he did in the 3200 Meter Run. Madell would not let him by. Plowman made more push with 50 meters to go as they turned onto the final straight. The move was enough as Plowman edged Madell (4:28.44 – 4:28.95). Evertsen held on for third place. Roman Drabchuk (Hinsdale South HS, Darien) and Charlie Kern (York HS, Elmhurst) moved also in the last lap to finish fourth and fifth. (Watch Matt Plowman interview here)