Blue Smoke Recap

Spring weather in Chicagoland is always a test in flexibility. The early stages of the outdoor season have been no different than year’s past. Our first scheduled meet was moved from Saturday to Monday night to accommodate better weather, and it paid off as Monday was a pretty ideal early April day for track in Chicagoland.

The Blue Smoke Invitational at Thornridge is a 14 team meet with some solid south suburban schools. The Wildcats had a strong showing and finished 4^th overall, just a few points out of 3^rd place. The distance squad had a great day scoring 47 points. Paul DeAvila had the two races of the day. He won the 3200 in a new PR and broke 10 minutes for the first time, 9:53. He ran shoulder to shoulder with Mike Forbear for 7 laps and then pulled away for the win. Mike finished 2^nd in a new PR 9:59. Paul and Mike came back in the 4x400 with Michael Kabore and Joey Mikolaczyk. The first three legs ran very solid to keep Paul close and then he made up 25 meters on the section leader and took the section victory and help the relay to finish 3^rd overall.

The frosh/soph crew took home 2 strong first place performances. Christian Martin in the shot put, and the 4x800 relay of Harlan Matson, Tyler Schick, Arnold Arce, and Tyler Weir who ran 3 for 4 PRs to win by :45. They would have finished 4^th in the varsity race.

Jay Coyler scored big points with a 2^nd place finish with a PR in the shot put.

The sprint relay crew took home a 3^rd (4x1) and a 4^th (4x2) as they continue to find the continuity and rhythm of the sprint relays.

Cam Mulyk came back after a strong leg in a 2^nd place 4x800 to finish 2^nd in the 1600 just off his lifetime best.

Overall it was a strong start to the outdoor campaign for the Wildcats, who are back at it again with the Joliet schools tonight and then at Downers Grove South on Saturday.