DGN at indoor Silver Meet (story)

Downers Grove North senior Tony Zea nearly pulled out a dramatic come-from-behind victory for the 3,200-meter relay Friday, March 21.

When he got another chance for victory in the 600, he wasn’t going to be denied.

Zea not only won the race but also achieved his third indoor school record this season in his final indoor meet for the Trojans at the indoor West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet at York.

Zea won the 600-meter run in 1:25.12 fully automatic time to break the previous mark of 1:25.5 manual time by Michael Gilmartin as a junior in 2005. The indoor Silver Meet record is 1:21.9 manual time by York’s Tim Hobbs in 2001.

”The last couple of weeks, I’ve been aiming for that record,” Zea said. “I’ve been telling myself all week, especially all day, I wanted that record. I was a little nervous the first two laps, but the last lap I just gave it all I could. I wanted that more than anything else.”

Junior Nick Janicki (personal-best 50 feet-7 inches) and senior Nick Steichmann (49-6 1/2) finished 1-2 in shot put.

Junior Ryan Clevenger won the 1,600 (4:24.04) with senior Zack Smith third (4:25.01) after Clevenger earlier was second in the 800 (1:56.04), edged for the title by just .03 by York junior Matt Plowman.

The Trojans (81 points) finished third, just one point behind second-place Oak Park-River Forest (82). York dominated with 169.5 points, winning 10 of the 17 events. The Trojans were three points ahead of fourth-place Hinsdale Central (78), followed by Glenbard West (54.5), Lyons Township (52) and Proviso West (10).

”I think they’re happy with the way they performed. I don’t think they’re satisfied by any means, and that’s ultimately the balance we want,” Downers North head coach Eric Buhot said.

”We want them to be proud of what they accomplished, but to know that there’s more in the tank here. This thing is far from over (outdoors) and the points from conference will fall where they fall, but the boys know you can’t be satisfied.”

This was the last varsity indoor meet for the Trojans, whose outdoor season begins with a home triangular Tuesday, April 8, with Evanston, West Aurora and Nazareth.

Friday’s finish was slightly reminiscent of the cross country season. The Trojans finished a program-best second to Hinsdale Central at the Class 3A state meet Nov. 9 in Peoria after somewhat going unnoticed during the postseason. They finished behind the Red Devils at the Silver, regional and sectional meets.

At state cross country, Smith and Clevenger earned individual all-state honors by taking third and seventh, respectively. Seniors Jeremy Craven and Marc Mathy and juniors Jack Diamond and Zac Christensen also were members of the seven-man lineup who competed Friday.

”Not a lot of people thought we could necessarily compete (Friday), but we knew we would be able to hold our own out here in the best conference in the state,” Smith said. “We’ve got a long way to go (still). We’re not even close to where we’ll be when the end of outdoors rolls around. Just wait until then. We’re happy where we’re at now, but we know we’re going to be improving and bigger things are ahead for us.”

The 600 is not competed outdoors. Despite his school record, Zea had to pull out the title by .01 over LT junior Alex Lima (1:25.13), who won the 2013 indoor Silver Meet in 1:24.49.

Friday’s result was sweeter because Lima anchored the Lions’ 3,200 relay (8:00.70), which along with first-place York (8:00.50) finished just ahead of the Trojans’ lineup of Smith, Diamond, Christensen and Zea.

Zea ran a personal-best split of 1:55.9 and temporarily gave the Trojans the lead on the backstretch of the final lap, making his 600 effort that much more impressive.

”My legs were still a little tired from the 4-by-800,” Zea said. “I wanted a little payback (in the 600), especially since (Lima) beat me in the 4-by-800 so it was a little redemption right there. I just wanted to get back and get a win for the school.”

Zea previously set the indoor 800 school record with his 1:56.28 FAT at the Proviso West Invite Feb. 22 and set the 3,200 relay record of 7:55.87 FAT with Smith, Clevenger and Diamond at the Mustang Invite March 10 at North Central College. Zea’s 800 time is ranked as the No. 3 fastest this indoor season by DyeStat Illinois.

This spring, Zea is trying for his first trip to the Class 3A state meet. Even before his 800 split Friday, Zea ran faster than his fourth-place 1:57.89 at the Downers North Sectional, which just missed the state-qualifying standard of 1:57.24 and a top-two finish and automatic state berth by 2.08 seconds.

”I’m already two seconds faster than my last race in outdoors,” Zea said. “This year is really something special for me. That’s what I want more than anything else, to finish with a bang this year.”

Already, Zea has begun with one of the best indoor seasons in program history. The only Trojan runner part of more indoor school records is Jordan Munar, who in 2012 set records in the 55, 200 and 400 and with the 800 relay and 1,600 relay. Smith also owns the 3,200 record (9:19.66 FAT) set last year.

”Tony certainly has had one of the best indoor seasons that I’ve ever seen her either eye witnessing or on paper. The times don’t lie. It stands up against some great, great runners that we’ve had in the past,” Buhot said.

”And the way he goes about his business, he’s so humble with everything he does. He’s happy and proud to be here but not demonstrative. It’s business as usual. We try to instill that in our boys and he just exemplifies that in everything he does, on and off the track.”

Zea and Smith already have committed to compete for the University of Illinois along with Hinsdale Central senior Billy Magnesen, who won the 3,200 Friday (9:26.28) and was ninth at the state cross country meet for the state-championship Red Devils.

”I think U of I has found a real diamond in the rough. I think (Zea is) only going to get better,” Buhot said.

Janicki and Steichmann set the tone for the meet by going 1-2 in shot among the earlier results. They both threw lifetime or season bests after being seeded second and third to top-seeded Glenbard West’s Devonte Toney, who was third (49-1) with a mark eight inches below his seed.

”In this conference, to come out in any event and go 1-2, that just doesn’t happen. Those were big points to give us a big boost to start the meet,” Buhot said.

Janicki previously never threw beyond 50 feet, but he was coming off a season-best 47-8 March 14 at Hinsdale South. All six of his throws in preliminaries and finals surpassed the 47-8, including another 50-footer (50-3).

”Today was actually my best series. The work I’ve been doing in practice has really been showing,” Janicki said.

”We went in feeling like we would win. It was just a matter of who would get first and who would get second,” Steichmann said.

Janicki is more known outdoors for his discus, the event in which he qualified for the 2013 state meet and competed for the varsity the past two outdoor conference meets. At the 2013 indoor Silver Meet, Janicki won last year’s sophomore shot title (47-11) and Steichmann was the top-finishing non-senior, taking third (47-8).

“A sophomore title, to me, is not nearly as important as a varsity title. This is my first varsity conference gold medal because last year in discus I got third and the year before I got second,” Janicki said.

This was the first season since indoors 2012 that Janicki and Steichmann have competed on the same level. Back then, they dominated on the sophomore level and often finished 1-2.

Now they’re going to try and repeat the feat outdoors in both shot and discus. Steichmann especially is optimistic about his future since he’s heading outdoors and should be able to practice more consistently. Steichmann also is considering a transition from his slide to the spin release that Janicki uses.

”I feel like I could have done better (Friday). I’ve been missing a lot of practice because of work so I’m right there. I’m flirting with (50 feet) but come outdoor season it’s going to be an easy barrier to break. Outdoors is always better as far as throws. Everybody’s distance just goes up.”

Clevenger is on the path to his first state track berth. Besides winning the 1,600, Clevenger's 800 runner-up time missed Zea’s record by just .36. Clevenger was edged for the 800 title by Plowman (1:56.61) with third place more than six seconds behind. Those 800 times are ranked No. 4 and 5 by DyeStat Illinois.

In the 1,600, Clevenger and Smith were part of a large group of six runners but then took charge of the lead group at the halfway point. Clevenger’s winning time is ranked No. 16 by DyeStat Illinois.

”The 800 was really tough for me, especially leading the whole way and then just letting it slip through my fingers at the end. It really tested my mentality about how I was going to run the 1,600,” Clevenger said.

Clevenger pulled out the victory by .25 over York senior Alex Bashgawi with Smith .72 behind Bashgawi. Glenbard West junior Chris Buechner (4:29.22), Magnesen (4:30.24) and Hinsdale Central’s Kevin Huang (4:32.92) were fourth through sixth.

”I held (Bashgawi off). It felt great,” Clevenger said. “I wanted to win it and I wasn’t going to let anyone get in my way. I was feeling it down the last stretch, but (the 800 finish) was running through my head again and I was like, ‘I’m not going to let it happen again,’ and I didn’t.”

Smith was slightly disappointed he couldn’t go 1-2 with Clevenger but excited to be united with him in the same open race for the first time since cross country.

”It’s always awesome to run with him and just have a teammate to push the pace with,” Smith said. “(Clevenger) ran great today. I was really happy with how I ran. I’d really like to hold off Bashgawi and get those two extra (team) points, but I’m happy with the time. I’m happy with how I’m progressing so I’ll just keep working hard and keep improving.”

Also taking third were seniors Charles Creamer in the 55 low hurdles (7.68) and Craven in the 3,200 (9:42.02) and the 3,200 relay (Smith, Diamond, Christensen, Zea in 8:01.56).

Zea’s personal-best 1:55.9 anchor split almost pulled out the 3,200 relay, but the Trojans finished just 1.06 behind first-place LT (8:00.50) as well as York (8:00.70).

Senior Eric Wasz shared third in pole vault by equaling his personal best of 12-6. Senior Jazz Charrier took fourth in the 200 (23.71) after dominating the slowest of the event’s three heats. Junior Joe Carter took sixth in the 800 (2:04.86) after being seeded eighth and the 800 relay was sixth (senior Josh Stirn, junior Damian Margarites, seniors Justin Fortes and Dan Szopa in 1:43.05).

This was Craven’s first race of the season after being sidelined by severe shin splints. He resumed regular workouts for the past two to three weeks.

During cross country, Craven also didn’t compete until the conference meet after recovering from a stress fracture. He then competed at sectionals and state.

”I didn’t run for so long in cross country so I probably just did too much too soon just running again. I’ll probably be at the rest of the meets all year,” Craven said.

”It’s kind of nice going into the (1,600) not having expectations. (Distance coach John Sipple) was kind of hoping the pace would go out slow because two of the guys that would take it out fast were doubling back (from the 3,200). It ended up going out pretty fast and I was able to go out with them and then just run even splits the second half of the race.”

This was the Trojans’ first competition in pole vault since Feb. 27. Wasz has been battling a hip injury since then but still equaled his personal best.

”Hopefully I can just take it easy a little bit, recover and then get ready for outdoor season,” Wasz said. “My hip was kind of bothering me on my 13-0 jumps so I think without that I could have done better. It’s OK, an OK performance.”



Sophomore level

Downers Grove North sophomore Anthony Giordano made his varsity debut a memorable one with the 800-meter relay at the Mustang Relays March 10 at North Central College.

Giordano had another historic 200 at the sophomore indoor West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet Friday, March 21, at York.

Giordano won the race in 24.27 seconds fully automatic time coming out of Lane 6, the furthest outside lane. After earlier taking third in the 55 (6.90), Giordano won the 200 by .24 over York’s Lucas Alexander.

”It’s my first first-place win ever so I’m really pumped right now,” Giordano said. “I just kept telling myself, ‘Keep pushing it. I came around the bend and I heard a guy coming on my left and I almost saw him and I’m like, ‘No, this ain’t happening.’ I just kept pushing and I’m like, ‘He’s not winning,’ and I pulled it through.”

Sophomore Justin Weisner was second in pole vault by clearing 11-0 after never going higher than 9-6.

Freshman Joe Keys was third in the 55 low hurdles (8.52) and sixth in the 400 (57.20).

The Trojans were sixth with 35 points. Oak Park-River Forest won with 121 points, followed by York (105), Hinsdale Central and Glenbard West (94 points each) and Lyons Township (74). Proviso West (4) was seventh.

Giordano typifies the Trojans’ attitude of always wanting to get better. His winning time was just shy of his open best of 23.98 manual time (23.22 converted).

”Right now I’m not happy with that time. I could always do better,” Giordano said. “I want to keep pushing. Outdoor season, there’s one less bend so I want to push for low 23s and again try to qualify for state (for the first time).”

”That’s what we want, someone who has a great meet and wants more,” Downers North head coach Eric Buhot said. “We want him to enjoy that but stay hungry. He’s a great piece for us.”

Giordano is significantly faster than last year, even with a late start after playing hockey for the Bensenville Blues. At North Central, competing with the 800-meter relay, Giordano ran a career-best split of 23.3 seconds.

”It’s definitely boosted my confidence, not that I was ever timid or anything in the meets,” Giordano said. “I was able to get past two guys on a bend, which is very hard to do. I’ve just said the 200 is my thing and I’m going to keep working at it until I graduate North.”

Giordano didn’t think competing in Lane 6 Friday was as much of a disadvantage as some would think.

”I was actually happy almost. I probably would have wanted (Lane) 5 but there’s less restriction because the turns are more angled out, not angled in, so I’m not putting too much pressure and stuttering on my steps. I almost thought it was an advantage for me, in my eyes,” Giordano said.

Weisner credited his pole vault success to better speed through sprint training, as well as better turns and form. He cleared 9-0, 9-6, 10-0, 10-6 and finally 11-0 with just two misses total.

Weisner was edged out of winning by OPRF’s Luke Nelson (11-6) based on fewer misses.

”It definitely feels better (than just winning). I was not expecting to go 11-0,” Weisner said. “I was definitely for sure knowing I was going to go for 10-0, maybe 10-6, but then I got to 11-0 and it was just like, ‘Wow.’ Then I got over and I didn’t even think I had it in me.”

Now feeling ahead of schedule, Weisner can see the sophomore school record of 12-0 within his sights.

”I wanted double digits (this indoor season), so 10-0, but then I really wanted the sophomore record (outdoors),” Weisner said. “I was expecting that way towards the end of the year. But now it’s closer, like I can actually imagine getting it now. That’s definitely the goal.”

Taking sixth were freshman Jack Barkei (600 in 1:36.03), the 3,200 relay (freshman Alec Danner, sophomore Nick Torres, Barkei, sophomore Brad Wilcoxen in 9:18.87), the 800 relay (Giordano, Romeo Jones, freshman Andrew Marszewski, sophomore Michael Avdich in 1:40.67) and the 1,600 relay (Marszewski, Keys, Jones, Barkei in 3:58.50).

Moments after his victory, Giordano celebrated by peaking his head through an outside door into the chilly air.

”I cooled off. I was spitting a little bit. I was close to throwing up, but not that close. I don’t allow myself to, unless I’m running really hard to where I almost pass out. That would be in the 400,” Giordano said.

-- by Bill Stone