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2014 DGS Mustang Relays PreviewPublished by
Expect high drama and fast times at NCC’s Res-Rec Center
By Michael Newman
Some of the top teams in the Chicago area will head to the Res-Rec Center on the campus of North Central College tonight for the eleventh annual Mustang Relays. The meet is all relays. It will coaches a chance to see where they are early in the year and perhaps give an indication of what road they will be traveling down as the year progresses.
Expect the unexpected in some of these events. There will be a team that will pop up and turn in a time way below their seed. It happened last year. You can expect it to happen again in 2014.
Here is a glimpse of what to watch for in each of the three events that will take place tonight
4 x 800 Meter Relay
Girls – 6:30 PM Naperville Central ran the fastest time in the state on Saturday at Proviso West but will not be competing in this event. This will still be a wide open race. I would guess we will see a winning time in the mid 9:20’s in this event. Watch Section 2 of this race. Minooka is the top seed in this section and could place in the top six overall. They have a great bunch of half milers led by Moira McAsey. It’s a shame that they are in this section. However, watch for a fast time from them.
The third section is loaded. Downers Grove North did have the fastest time in this event heading into this weekend. The Lady Trojans have plenty of runners to choose from. Stephanie Urbancik leads this squad. They ran their 9:38 at Lyons Township’s 160 meter track. They will be challenging for the championship in this race.
St. Charles East ran 9:45.80 in a dual meet at the end of February on their own 160 meter track. In that race, they used all sprinters leaving Corrin Adams and Torree Scull out of the lineup. The Saints have a deep bunch similar to Downers Grove North. It would not surprise me if they are in the low 9:20’s in this race. Lyons Township ran 9:53 in the same race with Downers North. Led by Lexy Rukowski, this team could sneak into the top three.
Lane Tech is seeded high in this race, but have not put together their “A” team this season. Their quartet, led by Joanna Podosek and Alex Martel, has the potential to dip under 9:30 and challenge for the race championship.
Then you have teams that have talented runners that will be in the mix. Yorkville will lead an experienced group led by Sophomore Skyler Bollinger. The Foxes have run well in this meet the last couple of years. Expect more of the same from them tonight. New Trier has a talented team that could be in the mix. Their ace in the hole is cross country champion Mimi Smith who will most likely anchor. Prospect could be the dark horse in this race. A week ago in a triangular at Glenbard East, Christina Santiago ran an easy 2:25. She has a great kick that could give the Lady Knights a chance to win if she is close to the front when she gets the baton.
Hoffman Estates ran 10:00 early in the season at York. With Meagan Biddle and Solome Halie in their lineup, this team could be tough. Don’t forget about Naperville North. They have a deep team that runs tough in big meets. Maria McDaniel gives this squad leadership and could be in the mix at the front as well. Also watch for host Downers Grove South. They looked tough in winning the Distance Medley at Hononegah Saturday. The team has the talent to be chasing for the win in this event.
Boys – 7:15 PM Lane Tech opened a lot of eyes when they ran 8:01 16 days ago at Proviso West. They have three runners, David Schmieg, Jon Vara, and Pavlo Hutsalyuk that can run under two. If they can get out to the lead early, it would not surprise me to see them under 8. The meet record of 7:59.48 could be in jeopardy.
Neuqua Valley could just be waiting for Lane Tech on what they consider their home track. The Wildcats will have Ty Moss, who ran 1:55 a week ago at the Thornwood Open, most likely anchoring. If their first three can stay with in touch of Lane Tech, Moss could bring it home for Neuqua. Lyons Township did not run their best race two weeks ago at Proviso, but then again it was only February. The Lions have a strong tradition in this event which we will see again tonight. You can expect Ed McCarter to have LT up front in the first leg. Alex Lima has run 1:55 splits in the 4x8. He has the wheels to challenge for the win.
Downers Grove North will also challenge for the front. This could be one of the only times we see this quartet together. Ryan Clevenger and Zack Smith will keep the Trojans close. If Tony Zea gets the baton and he is near the lead, DGN could challenge for the win. Batavia will be the dark horse in this race. Already in this young season they have four runners that have been 2:04 or better in the half. They will be challenging towards the front.
Host Downers Grove South could be a factor as well. If they are within the lead when 1:55 half miler Jacob Amiri receives the baton, this team could pull a surprise. Yorkville is another one of those surprise teams. They will have Jake and Luke Hoffert in this lineup. The Foxes could be battling for the front.
State Cross Country Champions Hinsdale Central will be in the mix for the championship. Billy Magnesen ran 2:01 and Kevin Huang ran 2:03 at a meet last Friday on their home track. The Red Devils are a competitive squad and deep. They could pull a surprise. Sandburg and St. Ignatius have the talent that will push for the front. Both have the potential to be under 8:10 in this race.
4 x 200 Meter Relay
Girls – 7:45 PM All eyes will be on Lincoln-Way East in this event. The defending champions have been low keyed early in the season waiting for their opportunity to run a fast time. The race tonight will be their opportunity. Meghan Marias is having a great early season and will give this team a good shot towards the front. When you have last year’s 4x2 members Asia Brown, Alexis Hyshaw, and Alexis Pierre-Antoinne coming back, this team will be one of the favorites.
The one team that could challenge the Griffins is Homewood-Flossmoor. Jayla Stewart is completely healthy and will give a boost to the Lady Vikings along with Antoinette Broughton. This team has the talent to challenge Lincoln-Way East.
St. Ignatius is in the section before the finale. They have a good squad lead by Hannah Cohn and Cydney Andersen. They could be in reach of a top three finish. Bolingbrook also has the talent to challenge for a top spot led by Jessica Watkins and Charlymcia Stennis. The Lady Raiders would love to win this race. They have the talent to do that.
Boys – 8:15 PM When it comes to this race, anything can happen and it usually does. Plainfield East has the fastest time of all the teams entered in this competition. They also perhaps have the most underrated sprint squad in the state. The Bengals are led by Shederick Majors and Christian Glass.
Bloom Township has been running great so far this season individually. We will see what they have all together. James Harriel and Daylen Hubbard will lead Bloom. They have the talent to be in the low 1:31’s in this race. Minooka has traditionally been tough in this event. Last week at the Thornwood Open, the Indians ran 1:33.61. Devin Ingram leads this team. They could receive a boost from Jake Smith, who is starting track after a basketball season.
St. Charles East could be the surprise in this event. Just like Plainfield East, this team has an underrated group of sprinters. Jordan Duncan made his presence known winning the sprint races at York last Friday. He could put this team in front tonight.
Thornwood is a traditional power in this race and could be a factor tonight. Neuqua Valley and Plainfield South will be running in the section before the final fast section. Both teams could push each other to great times.
4 x 400 Meter Relay
Girls – 8:35 PM Two heavyweights will face off in what could be a fast final. I would not be surprised if one of these teams dipped under four minutes. Lincoln-Way East is the defending champion and wants this race tonight. Gail O’Grady and Asia Brown lead a team that is focused on a fast time. The one team that will be in the way is St. Charles East. They have a deep squad led by Jordan Shead along with sisters Allison and Elizabeth Chmelik. It would not surprise me if either of these squads will be around 3:55.
Lane Tech and Lyons Township will be in the final section and could possibly push for the front. The same can be said about Minooka and Schaumburg. The focus will be on the two East teams. Will it be a Saint or a Griffin that will cross the finish line first?
Boys – 9:05 PM Expect another fast final. We could see a time near 3:25 winning it. Lyons Township has the fastest time of all the teams in this meet after they ran 3:28.8 in a low keyed meet at Proviso last Friday. They have the potential to win this race. Neuqua Valley is another squad loaded with talent led by Ty Moss. Under 3:25 is a possibility for them. Plainfield East, with Kenny Lewis on their team, has the potential to be towards the front as well.
St. Charles East always runs great in this meet especially in this event. Batavia and St. Charles North will also be in the fast section. They have the talent to be in the front as well.
In the section before this one, Minooka, Bloom , and Thornwood will set the standard. How would you like to run 3:28 and not make the top three? One of these teams could be in that range tonight.
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