GBS’ Hepburn repeats in state 100-meter dash

After winning his second consecutive 100-meter dash at the Class 3A state meet, Colin Hepburn will take a break this summer.

At least, a break from running. Hepburn, a senior, will still train for his future career at Stanford University. He will enroll in September.

Last summer, Hepburn (right) continued training after winning the 100 and taking fifth in the 200 in Charleston. He was named to the USA Junior National team and prepared for a successful trip to the IAFF World Championships in Bressamone, Italy.

Hepburn tied for 27th in the 100 there but was the lead-off runner for the gold-medal winning sprint relay team.

Hepburn doesn’t have any national team commitments this summer. He also will refrain from competing in regional and national meets, such as the New Balance Outdoor Nationals June 17-19 in Greensboro, N.C.

Hepburn will try to take it a little easier this summer as a camp instructor for the Northfield-based Hi-Five Sports Club. The organization hosts children from age 6 to 13 in daily camps featuring baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer and touch football.

Hepburn started out his youth athletic career as a baseball player, many times playing for his father, George. He didn’t take track seriously until high school. The first time he competed in track was at Springman Junior High and then he switched full time to the sport after playing football as a freshman. Hepburn remembers having the fastest time in the 40-yard dash for football.

“I was always one of the faster kids, but it was not until my freshman and sophomore years when I trained all year for track,” Hepburn said. “I saw improvements in my speed and strength. Every year, I improved more and more and then won state (last year).”

Hepburn became the first GBS athlete — boy or girl — to win consecutive state track and field titles. He won the 100 in a school-record 10.5 seconds last year, but won Saturday at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium in Charleston in 10.74. He beat Vocational’s Darius Smith (10.81).

“It feels good, but it feels different too,” Hepburn said. “The first time, I was more immature and caught up in the excitement. This year, I’m more focused.”

Hepburn became the fifth large-school sprinter to win consecutive 100-meter dashes and the 14th individual in state history overall to win consecutive titles in either the 100-yard or 100-meter dashes.

The large school division crowned its third consecutive back-to-back champion. Wheaton North’s Adam Harris won titles in 2004-05. Springfield Southeast’s DeMarcus Brooks won the last three titles before Hepburn.

Hepburn was GBS’ only competitor in the Saturday finals. He also placed third in the 200 (21.88), behind Evanston’s Tremaine Gordon (21.72) and Thornton’s Timothy Faust (21.79).

The Titans finished 16th at the state meet with 17 points.

Senior Matt Davis, GBS’ only other individual competitor, placed 19th in the 300 hurdles (40.78). The 3200 relay of Tommy Cowhey, Charlie Reighard, Sam Stanek and Zak

Avila was 12th (8:01.60) and the 400 relay of Kyle Kwasniewski, Rob Wegley, Chris Kostrzewski and Robert Chuchro placed 28th (44.39).