Final 3 events solidify team win for the Dukes; Lowder’s busy night; Cavan rolls to 1600 Meter Run win

By Michael Newman

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Hillside, Ill. – By the time Friday night’s West Suburban Conference – Silver Division Boys Championship got to the 800 Meter Relay, it looked like it would be Oak Park-River Forest and Glenbard West fighting for the team title with a young York team close behind.

It looked the same way in that relay race.

A come from behind win by York in that relay jump started the Dukes to a conference indoor title (114 points) ahead of Oak Park-River Forest (105 points) and Glenbard West (101 points).

RESULTS | MEET VIDEOS

If there was a magical moment in this meet at the Proviso West Fieldhouse, it had to be the finish of that relay halfway through the meet. Glenbard West and Oak Park-Rover Forest were fighting for the race win entering the final leg of the race. York’s Matt Austin was 10-meters back but was still within reach of Glenbard West’s Kameron Bedford and OPRF’s Rapharoah Dallas. The two runners were fighting for the win as they were pushing each other out to Lane 2 coming off the final curve. That was the opening that Austin needed as he slipped by on the inside for the win (1:34.79). Only nine hundredths of a second separated the three teams with Glenbard West second (1:34.81) and Oak Park-River Forest (1:34.90).

That was the boost that York needed.

Daniel Klysh and Michael Moriarty, who had finished second and third in the 800 Meter Run, controlled the 600 Meter Run race finishing first and second. Klysh’s winning time was 1:25.56.

“I was just thinking about the team the entire time (in the 600 Meter Run),” Klysh said. “I knew I was hurting the entire time. That team title is more important than any individual title.”

Max Santiago followed that up by finishing fourth in the 55-Meter Low Hurdles. Colin Hill, who was passed by Jack Roberts of Downers Grove North in the final 50-meters of the 3200 Meter Relay, was upset about that moment and resolved not to let that happen again. Hill, who was seeded sixth heading into the 1600 Meter Run, outkicked Drew Dilcher of Lyons Township to finish second overall with a personal best (4:26.27).

What closed the door in the team competition was the win in the 200 Meter Dash by York’s Christopher Radcliff. The sophomore ran 22.79 for the win ahead of Oak Park’s Nahlyee Bryant (22.92) and JT Lowder (23.03).

York’s only other win in the meet came as Brendan Hill cleared 13-8 to win the Pole Vault. Hill came back at the end of the meet to anchor York’s 1600 Meter Relay team to a fourth-place finish.

It was more about their depth from this York team in which the majority of their scorers were either juniors or sophomores. The Dukes got points in 15 out of the 17 scored events.

Oak Park-River Forest did not have one of their star hurdlers Koren Leonard who was still recovering from a hamstring injury that he came down with in February. JT Lowder stepped up for the Huskies competing in four events. Lowder started off his night with a great start on his way to a win in the 55-Meter High Hurdles (7.60).

Lowder came right back to run in the 55 Meter Dash. Tyquan Cox of Glenbard West appeared to get a better start and had the lead with 20-meters left in the race. Lowder found a way to fight back and catch Cox at the line. Both were timed at 6.53. The race was declared a tie as the two runners could not be separated through photo investigation. Lowder picked up his third win of the meet running 7.36 to win the 55-Meter Low Hurdles.

“Both hurdle races I was going for the points for the team,” Lowder said. “I just poured my heart out there to get as many points possible for my team.”

Oak Park also picked up wins in the field events. Kweshi Yeboah jumped a personal best 46-5 (IL #6) to win the Triple Jump. Keon Gilbert also achieved an indoor personal best as he had a 51-8 put to win the Shot Put.

Glenbard West commanded the distance events even without Stephen Moody who missed the meet due to illness. Will O’Brien anchored West’s team in the 3200 Meter Relay to the win (8:11.04) holding off Lyons Township (8:13.43). O’Brien stayed close to York’s Klysh in the 800 Meter Run. O’Brien made his winning move in the final 40-meters passing Klysh to pick up the conference title (2:00.44) ahead of Klysh (2:00.83).

Rory Cavan’s win in the 1600 Meter Run was impressive. He had the race from the start pulling away from the pack just before 800-meters. His final 63.1 solo final 400-meters gave him the win (4:21.09, IL #2) five seconds ahead of York’s Colin Hill.

Other Meet Highlights

Proviso West recorded two wins in this meet. Kyshun Robinson jumped a personal best of 22-2.75 to win the Long Jump. His teammate Katrell Askins came from behind to win the 400 Meter Dash (51.12) ahead of Lyons Township’s Aidan McBride (52.30).

Lyons Township ended the meet by running 3:30.36 (IL #9) anchored by McBride to win the 1600 Meter Relay.

Downers Grove North swept the first two spots in the 3200 Meter Run. Matt Moravec pulled away from teammate Trevor Murphy in the final 200-meters to pick up the conference championship (9:35.33) ahead of Murphy (9:39.31). Both runners achieved indoor personal bests.

Corey Williams spent his winter playing for Glenbard West’s Boys Basketball team. In his first meet as a member of the track team, Williams cleared 6-4 to win the High Jump.