Distance Races in spotlight at Naperville-Wheaton Invitational

By Michael Newman

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Coaches from Wheaton-Warrenville South and Naperville North came up in the idea in March that yes, you could hold a big invitational in these COVID-19 Pandemic times. The idea was simple. Spread the meet out over two days. Hold the meet at two schools at the time limiting the number of athletes competing at a particular site.

Those dreams became true with distance races and some field events held at Wheaton-Warrenville South on Saturday evening and then the sprint events and more field events having their turn Sunday morning at Naperville North.

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Under overcast skies and some drizzle of rain Saturday night, fans were entertained with real track and field races for the first time in almost two years. The athletes took advantage of the conditions and produced some great times.

Luke Schildmeyer of St. Charles East pulled away from teammate Zach Loomis and Ryan Mansour of Batavia just after 2000-meters in the 3200 Meter Run after the three passed the half-way point of the race in 4:41. Schildmeyer clicked out a 70, 69, and 63 second laps in the final 1200-meters to clock a state leading 9:14.66 for the win. Loomis ran 9:28.27 to finish second.

Micah Wilson of St. Charles East had the top seed time in the 1600 Meter Run by almost eight seconds entering the race meaning he would have to do all the work if he wanted a fast time. Wilson ran the first 400-meters in 62.5 seconds and had a seven second lead with 2:11 at 800-meters.

The wind had picked up before the start of the race and effected Wilson as he entered the final lap of the race. Naperville Central’s Brandon Kamp was four seconds behind in the final 400-meters and put his kick into action narrowing the gap between him and Wilson. The St. Charles East junior was feeling the fast early pace and it showed entering the final 100-meters of the race. Kamp attempted to pass Wilson in the final 20-meters of the race. Wilson found one final surge holding off Kamp and winning by three hundredths of a second (4:26.23 – 4:26.26).

Naperville Central’s Arthur Graham found himself in a position that a distance runner hates to be in during the 800 Meter Run. Graham was stuck in Lane 1 surrounded by runners boxed in with a pace that was slower than Graham wanted. He tried to get out of the box on the inside but could not get his way out. He forced his way out just before the pack passed 400-meters in a pedestrian 61.3 seconds. The Central senior pulled away in the final moments of the race to run 1:58.39 for the win. Jonah Fallon of Batavia ran 1:59.92 to finish second.

Naperville North displayed in the Boys 4x800 Meter relay that they will be a team to be watched when we get to June and the state meet. The quartet of Chase Burrell, Tommy Paltzer, Gabe Ryan, and Julian Head ran 8:09.42 to win the race by 11 seconds ahead of Minooka.

The Girls distance races also brought fans to their feet. Samantha Poglitsch of Wheaton-Warrenville South tried passing the Naperville North duo of Audrey Mendrys and Josie Bond entering the back straight in the final 300-meters of the 1600 Meter Run. The two Naperville runners would let that lead get out of their grasp. Mendrys caught the line first (5:05.47) followed by a five second personal best from Bond (5:05.62). Poglitsch finished third (5:08.59). Earlier in the meet, Poglitsch ran a 2:19.2 second leg in the 4x800 Meter Relay to open a big lead for her team. The Tigers held on for the race win (10:01.11) just ahead of Minooka (10:02.76).

The 800 Meter Run was destined to be a fast race especially when Campbell Petersen of Naperville North passed the first 400-meters in 64.9 seconds. Only Katrina Schlenker of Batavia was able to stay close to the lead. Schlenker took over the lead from Petersen with 150-meters left in the race. Schlenker ran 2:15.29 for the win while Petersen ran 2:16.90 to place second.

Maggie Gamboa of Naperville North pulled away in the later stages of the 3200 Meter Run. Gamboa’s winning time of 10:52.02 finished ahead of teammate Lucy Westlake (10:57.98) and Hersey’s Anna Harden (11:00.34) who finished third.

Sunday’s sprint fest turned in some competitive races. Wheaton-Warrenville South won a pair of relays through strong anchor legs from Grace Macabobby. The senior brought her team from behind to win the 400 Meter Relay (50.85) ahead of Wheaton North (51.91). The same instance took place in the 800 Meter Relay as Macabobby took the lead in the final 100-meters to give her team another win (1:47.3) just holding off Naperville Central (1:47.75).

Madeline Andelbradt of Naperville North was a double winner in this two-day meet. Andelbrandt ran 47.76 on Saturday to win the 300 Meter Hurdles. She cleared 5’ 3” on Sunday to win the High Jump.

Wheaton-Warrenville South Nicole Dudek was a double winner in the weight events. The senior had a 35’ 4.5” put to win the Shot Put. She also had a 107’ 10” throw to win the Discus.

Ella Hale of Oswego finished third in the 800 Meter Run Saturday night. She was in control Sunday in the 400 Meter Dash running 59.81 for the win.

Minooka’s strength in the Boys’ sprint events showed during Sunday’s portion of the meet. The quartet of Tyler Colwell, Cael Hiser, Darren Anderson, and Elijah Martin had never run together as they stepped into the 400 Meter Relay. They had also never run in the event before. That inexperience did not show after the gun fired. Their exchanges were crisp and timely giving them the advantage in this race. Minooka ran 43.15 in winning the event ahead of Naperville North (44.45). Minooka also came back to win the 800 Meter Relay (1:36.81).

Minooka’s Tyler Colwell was a double winner in the short sprints. Colwell came from behind in the 100 Meter Dash to run 11.36 for a win into a strong headwind just finishing ahead of Naperville North’s Andrew Li (11.45). Colwell came back to run 22.50 in winning the 200 Meter Dash.

Minooka’s sprint strength pushed their way to the team win with 168 points. Naperville North (133 points) and Naperville Central (131 points) finished second and third in the Boys portion of the meet. Naperville North had the advantage in the Girls meet scoring 174 points for the win ahead of Wheaton-Warrenville South (150.5 points)) and Minooka (94.5 points).