Photo: Charlie Kern pulls away from Joey Simon at Friday’s DuPage County 800 Meter Run (Mike Newman Photo)

By Michael Newman

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It is always tough to come back from injuries or illnesses to contend for just a win in the race. York’s Charlie Kern Jr had tough cross-country season only being able to run the last two races of the season. In Kern’s final track season at York before starting at the University of Missouri this fall, the senior showed that he has something left in his legs at Friday night’s DuPage County Championships at Naperville Central.

When Kern took the baton for York in the 3200 Meter Relay, he was facing a five second deficit behind Naperville Central after Thomas Shilgalis opened the lead for the Redhawks with a 1:56.7 third leg. Kern closed the lead to four seconds entering the bell lap. He then took off. He took the lead in the final 200-meters crossing the line giving York the win and the second fastest time in the state (7:54.59). Naperville Central finished second (7:58.80, IL #7). Kern’s anchor split was 1:53.5.

Kern was back on the track 90 minutes later in the open 800 Meter Run. Joey Simon of Wheaton North, who finished 10^th in last year’s 3A state finals, would be the chief competition in this race to the York runner.

No one wanted the lead the first 250-meters of the race. Simon took the lead and increased his pace. Kern did not let him go staying on his side as the two went through the first 400-meters in 55.4 Kern made a surge on the back stretch and started to lengthen the gap between him and Simon. The lead kept growing larger as Kern approached the finish line. He won with a state leading 1:52.56. Simon was next (1:56.37, IL #15).

“It’s great to back. I’m running pretty well also,” Kern said after the meet. “I’ve struggled. I just try to remember that every day is a new beginning. I was just ready for anything. It was finally great to go under 1:53.”

There were so many outstanding performances from this past weekend especially with the way that the weather changed from winter to summer in a blink of an eye. Here are some of the highlights from the past weekend’s meets.

Conference Weekend Highlights

Bill Jackson Invitational @ Lockport

What a great night for Marcellus Moore of Plainfield North. The sophomore has been waiting for the right weather to stretch it out in the sprints. He started out by anchoring Plainfield North the win in the 400 Meter Relay (42.20) ahead of Huntley (42.80). Then it was his turn in three individual events. Moore ran the season’s fastest state time in winning the 100 Meter Dash (10.51) ahead of Hillcrest’s Da’Kari Smith (10.99). Moore ran in the “Class-B” section of the 400 Meter Dash. He had the fastest time of the meet running 49.62 to win his section. Moore finished his meet by running 21.49 to win the 200 Meter Dash ahead of Huntley’s Eric Mooney (22.09).

John Meyer Jr. had a double win in his final meet on his home ring. Meyer had a 68-11 put to win the Shot Put. His throw of 181-8 was the best throw of the night in winning the Discus.

Sandburg’s Dylan Jacobs was a double winner starting by running 9:0742 to win the 3200 Meter Run by 34 seconds. Jacobs came back to run 4:18.91 to win the 1600 Meter Run ahead of Plainfield North’s Omar Parano (4:20.48) and Oswego’s Brandon Nelson (4:21.15).

The Long Jump was hot as four athletes went past 22-6. Plainfield Central’s Geremiah Lawson jumped a season’s best 23-3.5 (IL #5) for the win ahead of Lockport’s Conor McCarthy and Plainfield East’s Bryan Keubeng who both jumped 22-11.25. Devin Moody of Riverside-Brookfield cleared a personal best 6-8 (IL #3) to win the High Jump.

The 1600 Meter Relay produced the top two times in the state. Lockport Township ran 3:19.67) for the win ahead of Shepard (3:20.88).

Bloomington Raider Relays

Danville took advantage of better weather conditions than in previous weeks with running the state’s fastest time of the season in the 3200 Meter Relay. The quartet of Delrey Crowder, Phillip Hall, Sincere Davis, and Quemarii Williams ran a solo 7:54.26 to win the event by 18 seconds ahead of Normal West (8:12.75).

Zachery Bradford of Bloomington only needed a 16-6 clearance to win the Pole Vault with Dunlap’s Jack Pompe finishing second (15-0). What might be remembered most from this meet was the anchor leg by Bradford in the 1600 Meter Relay. Danville won by seven hundredths of a second ahead of Bloomington (3:25.21 – 3:25.28) with Danville’s Phillip Hall running a 49.1 anchor with Bradford’s 49.5 split right with him.

Clinton Track Carnival

Maroa-Forsyth’s Aaron Inda left this meet with a couple of personal bests along with two wins. Inda ran a 1A leading 49.84 to win the 400 Meter Dash ahead of St. Joseph-Ogden’s Riley Baker (51.55). Inda won the 200 Meter Dash running 22.77. Mason Barr of Ridgeview won both hurdle races running 15.16 for the win in the 110 Highs and 38.33 (IL #4) for the win in the 300 Intermediates. His teammate Tate Walcott jumped 22-6 for the win in the Long Jump. Warrensburg-Latham, with Diondre and Dionte Lewis in the quartet, ran a 1A best 1:29.87 to win the 800 Meter Relay ahead of Ridgeview by four seconds.

Collinsville Invitational

Granite City’s Andrew O’Keefe had the performance of the meet as he ran 4:13.59 (IL #6) to win the 1600 Meter Run ahead of Freeburg’s Charlie Parrish (4:21.50). In a battle of two of the top athletes in the Discus, Quincy’s Jordan Johnson had the edge as he jumped 180-6 to win the event ahead of Jordan Hawkins of Roxana (178-3). Jermarrion Stewart of Collinsville was a double winner running 11.08 to win the 100 Meter Dash and 50.15 to win the 400 Meter Dash. Belleville West ran an IL #2 1:28.50 to win the 800 Meter Relay as well as running 3:23.76 to win the 1600 Meter Relay.

DuPage County Championships @ Naperville Central

Along with Charlie Kern’s state leading time in the 800 Meter Run, there were some good performances in this meet. Lake Park’s Tom Paprocki cleared a personal best 15-7 (IL #3) to win the Pole Vault. York’s Deandre Klein ran 10.91 to win his section of the 100 Meter Dash. Cedric Rowzee of Wheaton-Warrenville South, who had the top seed time in the event, won his section in 10.97 giving Klein the overall win. Rowzee came back to run 22.22 to win the 200 Meter Dash.

Sean Maison pulled away in the final 200-meters for the win in the 1600 Meter Run (4:19.68) ahead of York’s Sean MacGregor (4:21.63). Nine runners were under 4:27 in that race.

Gummerson Track Classic @ Conant

Declan Rustay of Hoffman Estates won the 100 Meter Dash as well as helping Hoffman Estates win two relays. That was one of the many highlights of this meet. Rustay ran 10.60 (IL #3) to win his individual race ahead of Courtney Lindsey from Rock Island (10.73). Lindsey also had a good meet running 21.47 (IL #2) to win the 200 Meter Dash ahead of Minooka’s Brandon Adams (21.89). The two faced off in the 400 Meter Dash with Adams getting the win (49.34) ahead of Lindsey (50.16).

With Rustay in their lineup, Hoffman Estates ran 42.13 (IL #5) to win the 400 Meter Relay ahead of Glenbard West (42.43 (IL #7). Rustay anchored Hoffman Estates to the win in the 1600 Meter Relay running 3:21.84 (IL #7) ahead of Minooka (3:23.55) and Glenbard West (3:23.66). Proviso West ran a fast 1:29.66 to win the 800 Meter Relay.

Maine South’s Tommy Brady took home two wins running 9:30.03 to win the 3200 Meter Run. He completed the double by running 4:21.56 for the win in the 1600 Meter Run ahead of Glenbard West’s Stephen Moody (4:23.10) and Prospect’s Casey Daleiden (4:23.41). Glenbard West’s Rory Cavan stepped down a distance but still ran 1:56.60 to win the 800 Meter Run by almost five seconds.

John McCormick Invitational @ Geneseo

AJ Christensen of Forreston-Polo ran some of the fastest times in the state winning both hurdle races. Christensen started by running 14.46 (IL #4) to win the 110 Highs ahead of Dixon’s Jared Harrison (14.89). Christensen saved his best for last as he ran 37.62 (IL #2) to win a close 300 Intermediate Hurdles race ahead of Geneseo’s Reed Vanderheyden (38.16, IL #3).

Geneseo’s Nick Swartzendruber doubled to wins in the 800 Meter Run (1:57.09) and 400 Meter Dash (50.14). Spencer Smith of Alleman ran away with a win in the 1600 Meter Run (4:20.32) more than 12 seconds ahead of Rock Falls’ Dawson Smith (4:33.01).

Kane County Championships @ East Aurora

The 100^th edition of this meet christened the new track facility at East Aurora with some great times and performances. The best may have come from St. Charles East’s Charlie Wade. The senior ran a state leading 48.68 to win the 400 Meter Dash by more than two seconds.

West Aurora’s Camron Donatlan took home two wins by jumping 22-11.25 to win the Long Jump and clearing 6-6 to win the High Jump. Isaiah Graham had a great night on his home track by jumping 46-6 (IL #2) to win the Triple Jump. Kaneland’s Clayton Hannula had a 58-2 put to win the Shot Put as well as throwing 176-5 to win the Discus.

Dundee-Crown won three of the four varsity relays at this meet. They started by running 7:57.24 (IL #5) to win the 3200 Meter Relay ahead of Marmion Academy (8:05.05). The Chargers came back to run 42.63 (IL #10) to win the 400 Meter Relay. Their third win came when they ran 1:29.27 (IL #9) to win the 800 Meter Relay. Batavia blocked their fourth win as the Bulldogs ran 3:21.71 (IL #6) to win the 1600 Meter Relay ahead of Burlington Central (3:23.55).

Adam Swanson, who ran on Dundee-Crown’s 4x8, came back to run 1:56.39 to win the 800 Meter Run ahead of Batavia’s Shane & Joseph Knanishu. Kaneland’s Matt Richtman ran a season’s best 4:18.71 to win the 1600 Meter Run by more than three seconds ahead of St. Charles East’s Campbell Koch (4:22.55).

Lake County Invitational @ Deerfield

Four runners ran 9:13 or faster in the 3200 Meter Run in this meet. Barrington’s Nick Laning held off Libertyville’s Alex Tam for the win (9:07.34, IL #7). Tam was next (9:08.53, IL #10) followed by Waukegan’s Marcos Garcia (9:09.80) and Stevenson’s Nikita Smyrnov (9:12.51). The 1600 Meter Run was just as exciting as eight runners ran 4:26 or faster. Tam had the advantage in this race as he ran 4:20.76 for the win ahead of Laning (4:22.25). Charlie Smith of Antioch, Smyrnov, and Sean Ginn of Lake Zurich were the next three runners in separated by seven hundredths of a second. Smith ran 4:23.11.

Brad Warman of Barrington went past the 60-foot mark in the Shot Put. His put of 62-1.5 (IL #3) won the event ahead of Deerfield’s Sam Liokumovich (59-4.5, IL #4).

Mundelein’s Bobby Nuzzo had a great night winning three events. Nuzzo jumped a personal best 21-3.5 to win the Long Jump. He stepped onto the track to run 10.84 to win the 100 Meter Dash ahead of Grant’s Jason Thormo (11.16). Nuzzo ended his night by running 22.27 to win the 200 Meter Dash. Thormo came back to run 48.79 (IL #4) to win the 400 Meter Dash to finish ahead of 3A defending state champion Luis Cossio IV of Barrington (49.77). Cossio later finished second in the 200 Meter Dash.

McCarthy Memorial @ Hinsdale Central

Bloom Township put up some fast times in the relays. The Trojans ran 42.87 to edge Oak Park-River Forest by eight hundredths of a second to win the 400 Meter Relay. Their time of 1:29.17 (IL #8) won the 800 Meter Relay by more than a second again ahead of the Huskies. They finalized their night by running 3:21.45 (IL #3) by less than two seconds ahead of Lyons Township (3:23.35).

Downers Grove North swept the three individual distance events. Ryan Birkmeier ran 9:26.21 to win the 3200 Meter Run ahead of Lyons Township’s Ryan Bonfiglio by nine seconds. Jack Roberts ran a personal best 4:20.56 to win the 1600 Meter Run ahead of Downers Grove South’s Eddie Siuda (4:21.40) and Stephen Pipilas (4:22.45). Seven runners ran faster than 4:25 in that race. Miles Christensen ran 1:57.84 to win the 800 Meter Run ahead of teammate Jacob Ridderhoff (1:58.21) and Palatine’s Evan Eckels (1:58.66). Hinsdale Central ran a season’s best of 7:59.29 (IL #10) to win the 3200 Meter Relay placing ahead of Downers Grove North (8:02.86).

Myles Molette-Hughes of Oak Park-River Forest jumped a personal best of 46-2 to win the Triple Jump while Frank Massey of Bloom leaped 22-5.25 to win the Long Jump.

Northern Illinois Invitational @ Beloit College

Deion McShane of Freeport continued his tune-up for the state series with four individual wins in this meet. McShane started in the field events jumping 21-7.75 to win the Long Jump ahead of Sterling’s Nyrell Sullivan (21-5). McShane swept the hurdle events running 14.58 (IL #9) to win the 110 Highs ahead of teammate Jaden Johnson (14.94). McShane just missed his seasonal best by eight hundredths of a second as he ran 37.21 to win the 300 Intermediates by three seconds. His fourth win came when he ran 22.36 to win the 200 Meter Dash.

Prairie Ridge’s Grant Jensen ran 1:55.95 (IL #10) to win the 800 Meter Run ahead of East Moline’s Dalton Martin (1:56.28) and Sterling’s Jacob Gebhardt (1:57.13).

St. Joseph-Ogden Girls Spartan Classic

Urbana University’s Arielle Summitt went under five-minutes for the first time in the 1600 Meter Run. Her time of 4:59.40 was 18 seconds faster than St. Thomas More’s Fran and Marguerite Hendrickson. Monticello’s Emelia Ness won the 100 Hurdles (14.99) ahead of Fisher’s Alayna Slater by half a second (15.54). Ness came back to run 46.72 to win the 300 Hurdles.

Thornton TT Classic

This is a good sprint meet as evidenced by some of the times. Rich Central’s Vince VanHarvey won two events running 48.75 (IL #2) to win the 400 Meter Dash ahead of Thornridge’s Davon Bolden (48.90, IL #6). VanHarvey ran 22.15 to win the 200 Meter Dash ahead of Thornridge’s Leondre Pollard (22.41). Rich Central also ran 42.10 (IL #4) to win the 400 Meter Relay.

Victor Cameron of Crete-Monee nipped Homewood-Flossmoor’s Matthew Lewis-Banks by one hundredths of a second to win the 110 Hurdles. Cameron’s time of 14.51 is currently sixth fastest in the state. Lewis-Banks is seventh. The positions were switched in the 300 Hurdles as Lewis-Banks ran 39.38 to win by more than a second ahead of Cameron (41.04).

Two athletes went past 23-feet in the Long Jump. Crete Monee’s Stefan Baldwin jumped a state leading 23-6 for the win as teammate Jamal Safo jumped 23-4 to finish second. Quinton Stringfellow of Homewood-Flossmoor jumped 45-11.5 to win the Triple Jump.

Titan Boys Invitational @ Glenbrook South

Glenbrook North looked good in running 8:00.59 in winning the 3200 Meter Relay. Josh Methner of Hersey ran a personal best 4:22.57 to win the 1600 Meter Run by two seconds ahead of Glenbrook South’s Jordan Theriault.

Declan Ritzenthaler of Loyola Academy cleared a personal best 15-6 (IL #4) to win the Pole Vault. He also ran 41.82 to win the 300 Hurdles. Niles West senior John Cherian cleared 6-8 (IL #4) to in the High Jump.