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Boys track and field: Cardenas entering new territory for West Chicago

CHARLESTON - The walls at West Chicago High School have been barren of an all-state male runner in recent years.

But Zenen Cardenas will change that on the final day of the Class 3A boys track and field state finals at Eastern Illinois University on Saturday.

"I think the last guy (from West Chicago) to be all-state on the track was 2010, Matt Kubik (in the 100 and 200 dashes)," Cardenas said. "It's been a lot of hard work since seventh and eighth grade to get here."

Friday in the 400-meter preliminaries, Cardenas was bettered only by Minooka standout Brandon Adams in claiming a final-nine berth in 49.26 seconds.

"I really wanted to beat Brandon," Cardenas said. "He got me on the final stretch."

Cardenas will have plenty of local company on the final day of the season.

Neuqua Valley is in prime position to snare its fourth state trophy in program history.

"We have high hopes," Neuqua Valley coach Mike Kennedy said.

Donovan Turner illuminated the versatility the sport rarely fails to highlight.

Turner is a leading contender in the 110-meter high hurdles after winning his heat in 14.04.

The junior also advanced in the 300 hurdles before concluding his day by anchoring the Wildcats' always dangerous 1,600 relay to another finals berth.

"For the 110s that's probably my routine strategy," Turner said of earning automatic entry into the finals by winning his heat. "I was just trying to get a decent lane (in the 110s) for (Saturday). For the 300s I do my best, but it's not my forte."

Unlike the running events, Neuqua Valley long jumper Ife Oketona does not have to worry about his Friday mark not carrying over. Oketona had the outstanding mark in the event with his effort of 23 feet, 6.25 inches. But West Aurora two-time defending high jump state champion Camron Donatlan is less than 2 inches behind the Wildcats' senior.

The Wildcats, the defending champion in the 3,200 relay, will look for a potential third state title in the event in the last five years behind lone returnee Tyler Bomacino.

The Wildcats, with returning all-state 3,200 runner Zach Kinne set to be unleashed on Saturday, and Homewood-Flossmoor lead all schools with eighth individual finalists.

Alec Pierce is poised for a monster final day of the season for Glenbard West.

Instrumental to the Hilltoppers claiming sprint-relay titles at both 400 and 800 meters in respective times of 42.16 and 1:27.53, Pierce is in fifth place in the triple jump at 45 feet, 11.75 inches.

"We can compete (in the sprint relays)," Pierce said. "This is only the third time we (Tyquan Cox, Brady Heller and Joe Zydlo) have run this relay (the 800) together. I'm excited for (Saturday)."

The 1,600 run is historically one of the strongest events in the state.

Naperville Central junior Thomas Shilgalis - Jake Ridderhoff (Downers North), Sean Maison (WW South) and Danny Winek (Neuqua Valley) also made the finals - captured the first prelim heat in 4:15.8 to earn the top seed.

"Our school record is 4:08," Shilgalis said. "It would be something to break that."

Charlie Kern, bound for Missouri, looks to exorcise school year-long health issues in both cross country and track.

"I'm definitely not 100 percent," said Kern, a York senior who won his 800 heat in 1:55.14.

Waubonsie Valley senior Wes York, a returning all-stater in the 800, won his heat in 1:54.91.

Wheaton North senior Joey Simon advanced out of the same heat as York.

In Class 2A Montini sprinter Matt Quaglia is a finalist in both 100-meter components: the dash and the 400 relay.

Images: Friday at the State Final Meet in Boys Track & Field

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