The Prospect boys track and field invitational is considered a true measuring stick for regular-season meets.
“That’s one of the highlights of the season,” Naperville Central coach Steve Wiesbrook said of the stacked field. “I always tell the kids that the champions there are going to be state-placers.”
The Redhawks scored 37 points to finish 13th in the 17-team field last weekend.
Matthew Meier is the final link to the Redhawks’ back-to-back All-State Class 3A 1,600-meter relay teams. The 400-meter specialist is rounding into form after missing the overwhelming bulk of the indoor season.
“(Meier) is having a very good season,” Wiesbrook said. “Coming off of basketball, it always takes him time to get his running legs back. He has improved at every meet.”
Wiesbrook experimented with his key personnel at Prospect.
“I like to mix things up, so they don’t get stale in the same events over and over,” Wiesbrook explained.
Kyle Hilton was the Redhawks’ best performer at Prospect. The senior has emerged from the considerable shadows of former All-State hurdler Michael Jopes to forge his own identity in the twin events this season.
The senior was second in the 110 highs in 14.93 seconds to finish runner-up and later ran the 300 intermediates in 39.71 to place third.
“(Hilton) looks like he has come out of nowhere, but he has been in the mix before,” Wiesbrook said. “This year has been his moment to shine.”
Prospect featured a stable of top-notch distance runners. Naperville Central senior Scott Hicks’ 9:37.6 was worth sixth place in the 3,200 run.
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Moss, Espinosa on fire
Neuqua Valley came to Aurora last Saturday coming off a third-place showing at Downers South eight days earlier.
It was the lone invitational the Wildcats failed to capture this season.
“It’s not like we went in there thinking that we had to win a team event,” Neuqua coach Mike Kennedy said. “We’re trying to put a few pieces together.”
But that is in fact what the Wildcats did in dominating the Red Ribbon Classic, hosted by sister school Waubonsie Valley.
Ty Moss, the Wildcats’ returning anchor of the defending 3,200 relay state champions, not only ran a winning leg at 1,600 as well but also ran a sizzling open 400.
The Nebraska-bound star was bested only by his senior teammate Zac Espinosa, the Stanford recruit who set the benchmark for the fastest time in the state (47.81) in the event.
“I thought Moss had the best triple I have ever seen,” Waubonsie coach Kevin Rafferty said. “That was a historic day.”
Moss, third in the open 800 last year, is also the state leader at the distance this season.
“(Moss and Espinosa) are going to really tough to beat (at state in the 800 and 400, respectively),” Rafferty said.
Dominic Dina and Daniel Weiss powered another Neuqua sweep at in the 3,200.
Hurdlers anchor Warriors
Waubonsie was fifth at its invitational as hurdlers Tyler Kirkwood and Jeff Penny continue to be the Warriors’ most consistent athletes.
Kirkwood, a junior who went to state in the high jump last season, won the 110 high hurdles in 14.82 seconds.
Penny came back in the 330 intermediates to give Waubonsie Valley its second individual title on the track. The senior captured the physically and demanding race in 40.33.
“Across the board, I was pretty happy with how the kids competed,” Rafferty said. “We had prom the night before, but I was only missing three kids. Penny looked good, but the time wasn’t as good. Tyler had a tailwind, but he still looked really good.”
Waubonsie Valley will be at the DuPage County meet at York.
McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.