Dixon edges Kaneland to win conference title
Brimming with confidence after capturing a share of first place at last week’s Kane County Meet, Kaneland hoped to repeat that effort in Friday’s Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference Meet at DeKalb.
The Knights swept all four relay events and held a slight edge for most of the meet before Dixon pulled in front with 16 points in the 200 meter dash.
The Dukes went into the 4 x 400 relay knowing they needed a fourth-place finish to hold off Kaneland and did exactly that to claim the title by a razor-thin 98-97 margin.
“Relays did fine, but we had an off night,” said Kaneland coach Eric Baron. “I told the boys this week it was kind of like the trap week for us. Coming off a huge performance last week we just looked a little off tonight.”
“To lose by a point, that’s tough,” sophomore Dylan Nauert said. “Just the little things you could have done to change, it would have meant a lot today.”
While the Knights were disappointed with the runner-up finish, they realize the bigger prize is ahead at next week’s Class 2A Rochelle sectional.
“I don’t run my kids into the ground at this meet because we were worried about next week,” Baron said. “This will power us up.”
The Knights 4 x 100 relay team of Brandon Bishop, Brandon Cottier, Nauert and Sean Carter posted a winning time of 43.24 while the 4 x 800 group of Carter, Nathan Kucera, Clayton Brundige and Conor Johnson clocked in with a first place time of 8:08.94.
“The last two weeks, we’ve had major increases in our relay times. All our practice has paid off,” Carter said. “We have high expectations for sectionals and especially once we get downstate.”
Dylan Pennington, Bishop, Cottier and Carter notched a blistering 1:29.88 in the 4 x 200 while Carter anchored the final 4 x 400 race and closed the meet with a stellar 3:25.53.
“Our 1:29 tonight in this kind of weather is unbelievable,” Baron said. “I think they have a real legitimate chance of winning that this season.”
Nauert took the 300 IM hurdles in 40.20 and placed fourth in 110 hurdles at 16.38.
“The 110 hurdles I felt I really needed to improve on my form, but the 300 I felt really good,” Nauert said. “I strided out and just was mentally focused. I really wanted to win that one and take home the conference championship.”
Sophomore Nate Dyer put 14 points in the bank for Kaneland with his winning discus throw of 148-09, coupled with a fourth place showing in the shot put at 47-9.
The Knights came up big in the triple jump as Tanner Andrews captured second place at 41-08.5 and Marshall Farthing added a fourth place 40-04. Junior Cory Harner shared third place for 6 points in the pole vault, clearing 13-3.
Carter captured second place at 22.59 in the 200 meter dash, being edged out by Dixon’s Scott Goad’s 22.58. Goad also won the high jump, long jump and 400 dash.
Miroljub Marin (2:01.16) and Luis Acosta (2:02.01) took fifth and sixth for Kaneland in the 800 run while Pennington was 6th (11.99) in the 100.