On Your Marks, Get Set . . .

I would describe myself as a mild geek when it comes to track and field. Nevertheless, I get excited about the 3,200 and 1,600 each year at the high school state meet in Charleston. Chris Derrick of Neuqua Valley is the man this year. It will be interesting how he does with a taper and warm weather this weekend. I have pulled the 3,200 runners who qualified under 9:20 and 1,600 guys who are under 4:20. * means their times were clocked manually and have been adjusted slightly upward.
3,200
8:58.88 Chris Derrick (Sr.), Naperville (Neuqua Valley)
9:09.44* Kevin Havel (Sr.), Arlington Heights (Hersey)
9:13.14 Kyle Gibson (Jr.), Naperville (North)
9:16.71 Danny Pawola (Jr.), Naperville (Neuqua Valley)
9:18.84* Nate Troester (Sr.), Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)
9:19.24* Nick Holmes (Sr.), Bartonville (Limestone)

1,600
4:14.72 Chris Derrick (Sr.), Naperville (Neuqua Valley)
4:14.94* Kevin Havel (Sr.), Arlington Heights (Hersey)
4:15.34* Jeff Thode (Jr.), Hoffman Estates (Conant)
4:17.44* Myles Scott-Stirn (Sr.), Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)
4:17.61 Chris DeSilva (Sr.), St. Charles (North)
4:17.83 Chase Kadlec (Sr.), Wheaton (North)
4:18.12 Jim Riddle (Sr.), Naperville (Neuqua Valley)
4:19.42 Tom Achtien (Sr.), Elmhurst (York)
4:19.62 Josh Stein (Sr.), Aurora (Marmion Academy)
4:19.62 Andrew Nelson (Jr.), Geneva
4:19.64* Kyle Engnell (Sr.), Lockport (Twp.)
4:19.90 Steve Couch (Sr.), Naperville (Central)

The full fields in these and all other events can be found at www.ihsa.org.