They are the champions. Neuqua Valley won only four of the 18 events at the Upstate Eight Conference championship last week at Elgin. But the Wildcats’ superior depth and ability to double score enabled the squad to win the overall and Valley Division championship with 131 points. Grayson Jenkins’ lowering of his 3,200 time by 11 seconds resulted in a victory in 9:33.67. Zac Espinosa won the 400 dash in 49.33, and the Wildcats’ 1,600 relay (3:37.48) was the other track title. Adam Peterson won the pole vault (14 feet, 3 inches) for Neuqua.
In the running. Waubonsie Valley was second to its sister school with 109 points. The Warriors’ senior leaders in the field, James Travis and Jon Harris, combined to score 38 points in four events. Travis went 47-1.25 to win the triple jump and came back to claim the long jump in a season-best 22-10. Harris’ 171-4 effort in the discus was more than 20 feet superior to his closest competitor. But the senior had his bid for a second title in the shot put denied by Geneva senior Jason D’Amico (50-11-50-9.25).
Too much of Marist. Benet had to also settle for second place at its East Suburban Catholic Conference meet last week in Niles. The Redwings were outscored 122-90 by Marist, but their throwers carried the day. Stephen Hubona, the Class 3A state leader in the discus, won the event with ease at 173-5. Sean O’Connor edged his teammate by six inches to win the shot put (48-8). Hubona finished third.
