Upload a Photo Upload a Video Add a News article Write a Blog Add a Comment
MessageReportBlock
Blog Feed News Feed Video Feed All Feeds
 

Folders

Featured (118)
Misc News (1233)
All (388)
All (4446)
 

 

Schirmer qualifies in four events in IHSA 2A Boys Prelims

Published by
ILXCTF - Mike Newman   May 25th 2019, 6:00am
Comments

By Michael Newman

[email protected]

 

Charleston, Ill – Marengo’s Finnigan Schirmer had just finished his fourth race of the day at Friday mornings 2A Boys Prelims of IHSA Boys State Meet at O’Brien Field. All he was looking for was to Saturday’s Finals and a good ice bath.

He had done this schedule of events. It was just not in these conditions.

“I’ve done this successfully before,” Schirmer said. “I’m just in 50 degrees shape in accomplishing them.

Schirmer was the survivor of the fittest winning in his heats ad qualifying for four finals on Saturday. The temperatures were not conditions that most of these athletes were used to with high humidity and temperatures climbing into the 80’s.

“I’ll I wanted to do today was win my heats,” Schirmer added. “The possibilities are endless for tomorrow.”

Schirmer started his day by winning the second heat of the 110 High Hurdles in 14.30. He will have work cut out for him as Jaden Johnson of Freeport posted the fastest prelim time (14.23) in winning Heat 3. Jamariantte Burgess of East St. Louis-Senior will be one of the other tri-favorites as he ran 14.24 to win Hat 1.

Schirmer had only 10 minutes of rest before he was right back in the blocks for the 100 Meter Dash. He won the first heat (10.64) just ahead of Staunton’s Carson Rantanen (10.74) who also qualified for the finals. Leondre Pollard of Thornridge will be waiting for him. Pollard ran a prelim leading 10.59 to win Heat 3.

Schirmer went on to win Heat 3 of the 300 Intermediate Hurdles (38.98) leading all qualifiers to the finals. Mick Doyle of St. Rita won Heat 1 (39.16) while Noah Williams of Freeburg captured the win in Heat 2 (39.03).

Schirmer ended his day by winning the first heat of the 200 Meter Dash (22.26). Pollard again had the fastest time qualifying to the finals (22.16). Jeremiah Hamilton of Urbana and Marcus Lampley of East St. Louis-Senior both ran 22.21 in heat 2 with Hamilton getting the win by five thousandths of a second.

Rockford Christian’s Riley Wells it seems likes to do things the hard way. But he does find a way to get things done for himself and especially for his teammates. Wells did it again Friday morning qualifying for the finals in the 800 Meter Run and helping his team qualify for the finals in two relays.

Again, in the 800 Meter Run, Wells sat in seventh with 300-meters to go. Stadium announcers thought he was out of it. They have not seen wells run before.

“It is a little nerve racking to race that way,” Wells said. “But I have faith in my kick.”

Wells moved through the crowd and finished second in Heat 1 (1:58.81) behind race winner Patric Natindim of Saint Viator who had the fastest qualifying time of the three heats (1:57.54).

Wells was business like in helping his teammates to two relay finals. Wells took the baton right with the leaders for the anchor leg of the 3200 Meter Relay. He just sat on the shoulder of Burlington Central’s Adam Kries and Chicago University’s Nick Edwards-Levin until the final 120-meters where Wells went into a controlled kick looking around to see if any of his competitors were coming up on him. Rockford Christian won that heat (8:10.10) ahead of Burlington Central (8:10.29) and Chicago University (8:10.36). Dixon had the fastest qualifying time as they ran 8:08.16 to win Heat 3 ahead of a charging St. Francis team (8:09.61). Stanford Olympia (8:10.20) was the other heat winner.

Wells saved the best for last as he was in a distant third with 150-meters let in the 1600 Meter Relay. Wells went into overdrive. He again passed Kries along with St. Rita’s Mick Doyle in the final 20-meters to pick up the win for Rockford Christian (3:25.05) with St. Rita (3:25.46) and Burlington Central (3:25.64) following. Eureka had the fastest qualifying time (3:20.62) heading into Saturday’s finals.

“We (Wells and Rockford Christian Coach Randy Moore) don’t talk about strategy before race,” Wells added. “He trusts me and let’s me do my own thing. He is a great coach. The best coach in Illinois. Today was just survive and advance.”

East St. Louis-Senior appears to be in good shape to win the 2A Boys State title. The flyers advanced 13 to Saturday’s finals ahead of Rockford Christian and Dixon who had seven qualifiers. Thornridge also is in the hunt with six qualifiers along with Mascoutah. It could have been seven for the Falcons but a bobbled exchange in the 1600 Meter Relay took them out of contention in the race and one of the nine qualifying positions in the event. Thornridge missed qualifying in those events by two places.

More news

History for ILXCTF - Mike Newman
YearVideosNewsPhotosBlogs
2024 558 25    
2023 1035 171    
2022 1049 193    
Show 11 more