Kennedy throws Prospect for a big victory
All kinds of things can be found once the snow starts to melt each spring.
From the budding of flowers to the sparse signs of green grass, it's a clear indication that spring is here. For Prospect senior Matt Kennedy, it's usually about this time he begins to shine.
Kennedy started the outdoor season last Tuesday with a dominant performance in a meet with Rolling Meadows and Wheeling by tossing the discus an early season best 160-9.
Saturday, at the 16th annual Prospect Relays, Kennedy showed similar dominance -- this time in the shot put.
On his third throw in the relay-style formatted meet, Kennedy's 58-6 helped the Knights win the event. Kennedy had three throws beyond the required state-qualifying mark of 52-9.
"Once I get outside I always seem to perform better," Kennedy said. "I just took the first couple of throws easy and then let everything go from there. It felt good."
Kennedy's effort was indicative of a dominant team performance by the Knights. They captured six running-event and three field-event wins on the way to 145 points. Niles North was second (129) followed by defending champion Barrington (111). Maine West was fifth (54) and St. Viator placed seventh (29).
The win capped off a solid week for the Knights. They cruised in their opening dual meet Tuesday.
"I wouldn't want to think we are ahead of where we should be and then let up a little," Prospect coach Mike Kamedula said.
Kennedy also contributed on the Knights discus event relay. His 155-8 was the best of any individual and helped the Knights win with a combined total of 435-2.
On the track, Prospect again showed its tremendous distance depth but key performances in the hurdles and in the 800-meter relay helped bolster the Knights.
Senior Patrick Ziegenfuss got the Knights' 300 intermediate hurdle relay headed in the right direction with a terrific early season effort. His time of 39.1 was the fastest of all the individuals and helped Prospect tie a meet record.
The 800 relay team of Ziegenfuss, Eric Senft, Jason Manella and Tim Gaddini surprised Kamedula with a solid 1:33.4. The time was good enough for third in an event headed by a record-setting effort by Niles North.
Prospect set a meet record in winning the pole vault. Mason Pack and Andrew Mercer contributed to the Knights combining to leap 34-9, besting the old record by 9 inches.
Sophomore Albert Ciolek was busy in the distance events, leading the Knights to wins in the 3,200 relay and the 6,400 relay.
Although young and somewhat inexperienced, Barrington still has one event it will fall back on this season -- the 1,600-relay. Junior Kevin Crowley headed the team with Ryan Mangone, Derek Shelton and Joe Zavoli to a meet-record 3:27.6.
"Last year we were at 3:31 right around the Stevenson meet which is a week from now," Barrington coach Todd Kuklinski said. "I am very excited about the 1,600 relay team we have."
Barrington also captured the 800 medley relay as Jayson Taylor and Sam Ojuri joined Crowley and Shelton.
The best finish for Maine West came in the 1,600 medley and the 1,600 relays. The Warriors also finished third in the shut put led by a throw of 49-5½ from senior Jared Golojuch.