Boys Track: Waubonsie places third at sectional
Thursday, May 17 2012 - IHSA 3A Boys Track & Field Sectionals - Naperville North
Boys Track: Waubonsie places third at sectional
By Tyler Haar For Sun-Times Media May 17, 2012 11:46PM
West Aurora's Graham Issacson leads the pack during the 3,200-meter run Thursday at the Class 3A Naperville North Sectional. | Mike Mantucca ~ For Sun-Times Media
ARTICLE EXTRAS
Nobody was going to out-throw Waubonsie Valley’s duo of Riley Kittridge and Jamaal Bearden at Thursday’s Class 3A boys track sectional at Naperville North.
Kittridge and Bearden each qualified for state in both the shot put and discus as the Warriors took third place overall with 72.60 team points.
Minooka took first place with 80 points, while Neuqua Valley followed close behind in second with 78.
Plainfield North (46.60) and Joliet West (40) rounded out the top five. West Aurora (28) finished in eight place, Oswego East (19.60) was in 11th, Oswego (18) finished 13th and East Aurora (4) came in 16th to round out area teams.
Kittridge took home sectional titles in both the shot put (55-3½) and discus (164½). Bearden finished second in the shot put (54-1) and third in the discus (157-3).
“I wanted to win both events, and I accomplished that,” said Kittridge, who qualified for state last year in the shot put. “Last year I struggled in disc, but this year it’s really picked up for me.”
Waubonsie had two other individuals qualify for state — Kyle Schafer in the 300 hurdles (38.20) and James Travis in the triple jump (44-1). Both placed first in their events.
The Warriors’ 400 and 1,600 relay teams also qualified for state.
West Aurora will be represented at state by triple jumper Aaron Kennebrew and its 3,200 relay team of Calvin Robinson, Zach Truckenbrod, Vontrel Hawkins and Brandon McKay.
Kennebrew overcame an injured heel to finish second in the triple jump with a leap of 43-6.
“I had a lot of support from my coaches, and they just told me mind over matter,” Kennebrew said. “I just went out there and jumped, and the adrenaline kept me going and it didn’t hurt anymore.”
Oswego East had two individuals qualify for state — Kalmon Strokes in the 300 hurdles and Chase Skenandore in the 800. The Wolves’ 3,200 relay team of Dakoda Skenandore, Andrew Holm, Rene Salinas and Chase Skenandore also qualified.
For Stokes, a senior, qualifying for state meant a four-year dream realized.
“It feels amazing. It’s what I’ve been trying to get my whole four years of high school,” Stokes said. “To finally accomplish that, it makes me happy.”
High jumper Alain Dixon was the lone qualifier for Oswego.