C-G nabs 2nd at Bohrer; D-C wins Conant Relays

Usually a strong cross country team equates to an outstanding distance group during the spring track season.

That is certainly the case for Cary-Grove.

Winning the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs along with the 3,200 relay, the Trojans scored 101 points to finish second at the Al Bohrer Invitational held at Cary-Grove High School Saturday.

First-year school Belvidere North placed first with a score of 118.

C-G's Phillip Fairleigh won the 1,600 (4:39.10) while Bill Roth captured the 3,200 in a clocking of 10:06.60.

The 3,200 relay foursome of Fairleigh, Dan Fallon, Kai Rikardsen and Dan Bartz came in first with a time of 8:16.70.

"We have a very good distance group which trains hard all year round," said Cary-Grove coach Layne Holter. "This is a great group. Phillip and Bill Roth ran very well and our 3,200 relay team ran a good time."

The only other individual champion was Bartz, who missed the first month of last season with an injury. The Cary-Grove senior won the 300 hurdles in a time of 40.90.

"After missing the first month last year, I am just glad to be healthy and running," said Bartz. "I am not trying to pace myself even though it is early in the season. My game plan was to go hard the whole race. I am very happy with the way I have run so far this season."

The Trojans also won the 400 relay with Dan McCall, Zach Zimay, Jake Underwood and Rob Mago covering the track in a time of 45.20.

"I was pleasantly surprised with the way we performed today," said Holter. "This is a rebuilding year and we had a lot of PR's today."

Propelled by first place efforts by sophomore weightman Marcus Popenfoose in the shot put (49-3) and discus (154-3), Huntley finished right behind Cary-Grove in third with 66½ points.

"I did all right," said Popenfoose. "I am glad to win both events, but I can do better. It is early in the season and I need to work harder in practice on my technique."

Todd Farbiak was the only other Red Raider to take home top honors. The Huntley senior, who battled a knee injury all week, won the 800 in a time of 2:02.1.

"My knee really felt better today," said Farbiak. "I wanted to pace myself and I am very happy with the way I ran."

Huntley, which ran in its first Bohrer Invitational, won the 1,600 relay in a time of 3:32.00. The Red Raiders' foursome included Josh Sivila, Justin Cassidy, Casey Poppenfoose and Farbiak.

"This was a well run meet that moved quickly," said Huntley coach Jim Rolando. "There was a quick turnaround with events and we did a great job of being ready to run. Todd ran awesome and Marcus did well in the weights, but we knew we could do better.

"It was a great day to run and I thought the kids did very well. This was a good effort This early in the season."

Boys track

Dundee-Crown wins 25th Annual Conant relays: With first place finishes in the 4 x 110 high hurdles and the 4 x 110 low hurdles, Dundee-Crown took the 25th Annual Conant relays by storm earning championship honors behind 142 total points.

Rockford Jefferson finished second overall with 131 points and host Conant took third with 120 points. Elgin finished fifth among six teams with 61 points.

Mike Hubners and Tyler Jones led the victorious foursome which won the high hurdles at 1:07.6. Hubners, Jones and Kurt Schefferahn helped the low hurdles team to victory as well finishing at 1:05.3.

At Riverside-Brookfield:ŒBrookfield: Jacobs scored 91 points to win the Bulldog Relays at Riverside-Brookfield.

Danny Trevor won the high hurdles in 15.37 for the Golden Eagles, whose 400 relay team also took a first place in a time of 44.60.

Darius Bowers won the triple jump for Jacobs with a leap of 40-05.50

At Immaculate Conception: St. Edward scored 37 points and got a first-place finish in the shot put from sophomore Shane Finane at IC's Knights Invite.

Aurora Central won the team title with 158 points, Driscoll was second with 102 and IMSA third with 64.

Girls track

At Huntley: With 162 points, the Red Raiders walked away with championship honors as they hosted the Huntley Invitational. Bloom Township finished second with 145 points followed by Richmond-Burton (130), Hampshire (55) and Larkin (34).

Owning the No. 1 slot in seven individual events, Cortney Wilkerson won both the shot put and the discus for Huntley with distances of 31 feet, 1 inch and 102-05 respectively. Amy Fanella recorded firsts in both the triple jump (33-09.50) and the 300 hurdles (48.70). Shannon Callahan finished first in the high jump with a height of 4-10, and teammate Ashley Alicea took second (4-08). Callahan also won the 100 hurdles with a 17.30. Coryn Marzejon outran opponents in the 400, breaking the tape with a 58.70.

Hampshire's Macy Luedtke led the Whips finishing third overall in both the shot put (29-09) and the discus (91-02).

Brittany Whitehead recorded a second-place finish for Larkin in the 300 hurdles at 49.00, and Nadia Spencer (13-09) took third in the long jump.

At Kaneland: The idyllic weather may have seemed a mirage to some, but the Geneva girls track and field squad was poised to make another statement.

With its influx of talented first-year performers, the Vikings achieved a program first Saturday at Kaneland High School in Maple Park: champions of the 17-team Holmes Invitational.

The Vikings received victories from a quartet of newcomers and held off sprint-relay-dominant West Aurora to capture top honors.

Geneva edged the equally resurgent Blackhawks 91.5-86.17. Kaneland, behind workhorse Lindsay Gierke, was third with 76 points.

Burlington Central nipped Rosary by half a point for sixth, and Dundee-Crown rounded out the local contingent with 23 points.

D-C junior Kelsey Seiler began her day by leading the Chargers' 3,200 relay to a second-place result.

Teaming with Morgan Weichmann, Katie Gross and Claira Himmel, Dundee-Crown eclipsed the 10-minute barrier, which only set the stage for the thrilling open mile.

Seiler tried in vain to keep pace with Geneva freshman Kelly Whitley in the closing 100 meters, ending up three-quarters of a second behind at 5:28.28.

"Coach (Matt Michalski) told me behind (the leaders) and if my legs felt OK to let it loose," Seiler said. "My times (in both races) were all better -- I'm excited."

At Buffalo Grove: Neuqua Valley girl's track team took a hit with four of last years state qualifiers missing Saturday's competition because of spring break.

But the Wildcats didn't miss a beat on a delightful early spring afternoon, winning four events en route to securing the title at the Buffalo Grove Invite with 145 points.

Lake Park won five events and captured second place with 120 points, followed by Cary-Grove (112 points), Fremd (87 points), Carmel (81.33), Buffalo Grove (68.33), and Stevenson (67.33).

Cary-Grove has an infusion of young talent, but senior Madeline Aufman led the Trojans charge by taking first in the high jump (5-3).

"Overall we're pretty young and our inexperience is making us approach the big meets a bit timid," said Aufman who also was part of the 1,600 relay team that finished second. "But it's not too bad for our first invitational."

Kelly McCoy is one of the young Trojans, and the sophomore stepped up to take frst in the 100 low hurdles (16.10). She also finished fourth in the high jump.

At Immaculate Conception: St. Edward scored 28 points to finish fourth at the Knights Invite.

The Green Wave won the 3,200 meter relay.