Boys track and field: Barrington overtakes Hersey to win MSL crown

The cool, wet weather for Thursday’s Mid-Suburban League boys track and field meet at Rolling Meadows was a stark contrast to the more pleasant conditions the day before.

But that didn’t lessen the meet’s competitive nature in the least. Undoubtedly increasing the spirits of everyone present was that the rain disappeared completely before nightfall.

Hersey took an early lead and was in front by as much as 22 points, but Barrington rallied late and went atop the leaderboard with only the 4x400-meter relay left.

As the Broncos narrowly led the Huskies and “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne blared over the loudspeakers, Barrington placed fifth in the final event in 3 minutes, 30.25 seconds, edging the Huskies in a come-from-behind victory, 123.5-114, to win the conference title. The Huskies were 10th in the final event with a time of 3:45.17.

Barrington cut an 18-point Hersey lead down to five when Micah Hall won the 400 in 50.01, and Adam Lyon finished just behind with a 50.40. Hall also took the 100 in 11.23, but it was his victory in the 200 (22.32) that put the Broncos in front after trailing Hersey all night long.

The Broncos picked up additional wins from Joe Bregenzer in the 3,200 (9:22.70) and the 4x100 relay team (42.55). Bregenzer later placed second while setting a personal record in the 1,600 (4:19.59).

Hersey began the evening with a victory in the 4x800-meter relay at 7:59.34. Other highlights included second-place finishes by Nasir McKenzie in the 100 (11.36) and Liam Naughton in the 3,200 (9:39.01).

While the Huskies did well in the track events overall, it was the duo of Will Nolan and Logan Farrell during the field events that really shined. Those two traded victories and second-place finishes during the discus throw and shot put. Nolan took the shot put as expected with a 17.46, and Farrell set a personal record in the discus throw at 52.96.

Prospect didn’t have any wins but did manage second-place finishes in the 4x100 relay (43.23) and 4x200 relay (1:30.86). The Knights had their best showing in the 110 hurdles when Nate Cichy and Ethan Groh placed second (15.47) and third (15.69), respectively.

Noah Heiber of Rolling Meadows won the 300 hurdles in 39.72, and teammate Gunnar Woetzel was third at 41.37. The host Mustings picked up wins from Arman Lepuzanovic in the long jump (21 feet, 11.5 inches) and Will Viken in the pole vault (15.01).

Carter Hayes won the 1,600 for Palatine in 4:18.04, and fellow Pirate Alexander Krieg took third with a time of 4:19.65. Conant’s Gaven Corpin took the 800 in 1:55.75 with teammate Jayden Patel not far behind in third with a 1:56.67.

Fremd picked up wins in the 4x200 and 4x400 relays.