Mike Clark’s boys track notes

Three things we know

1. Jack Keelan can hold his own against the best distance runners in the nation. The St. Ignatius senior finished fifth in the boys 3,200 at last weekend’s Arcadia Invitational in California, running 8:50.74. That’s the best time by an Illinois runner this season and also the fifth-fastest nationally. Keelan ran 9:08.48 at state last year, finishing second in Class 3A.

2. What could be Cahokia’s last season could be one for the books. The southern Illinois school district has announced plans to drop sports and other extracurricular activities next school year barring a sudden improvement in its finances. The Comanches won the Belleville West Invitational last weekend and are the heavy favorites to three-peat as Class 2A state champs. Cahokia’s brightest star may be Chris Moore, who has 2A’s best outdoors in the 300 hurdles and triple jump.

3. Homewood-Flossmoor will honor former boys track coach Dick Beebe Saturday at its invitational, which has been renamed in his honor. Lockport’s the defending champ at the meet, which gets underway at 10 a.m. and features a number of other south suburban powers including Thornwood and Crete-Monee.