Chris Walker had a look of utter dejection on his face as the triple jump finals commenced at the Kane County boys track and field meet earlier this month in Geneva.
The West Aurora junior is the reigning Class 3A runner-up in the event.
But Walker was unable to answer the call that particular Saturday afternoon.
The only thing more noticeable than his facial expression was his heavily bandaged left leg.
“(Walker) had hip flexor and hamstring issues,” said West Aurora head trainer Thane Halstead.
The Upstate Eight Valley meet was a no-go for Walker the following week.
Down to his final chance, Walker came back with a flourish as the Blackhawks hosted a Class 3A sectional last Thursday.
Walker was a shade short of 47 feet in his specialty event to win the triple jump; teammate DaVion Cross was second.
Cross is ranked one spot behind third-seeded Walker at 46-7 heading into the Friday preliminaries of the state meet at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
“First of all, I probably couldn’t have done anything without Mr. Halstead,” Walker said of his rapid recovery.
“We did it mostly by rest and yoga stretching,” Halstead said. “(Walker) deserves a lot of credit. He was very diligent.”
“I was very motivated to get back to where I was,” Walker said. “I really wanted to push myself to be my normal self.”
Then again, Walker is not your typical track and field athlete.
He had not participated in the sport until last season.
“An athlete can spring out of nowhere,” West Aurora jumps coach Chuck Hilby said of Walker earning All-State in his first year in the sport. “(Walker) is blessed with the ability not too many people have. (The triple) was very natural to him. The bottom line is, he’s a tremendous athlete.”
Walker and Cross provide a dynamic duo for West Aurora in the triple jump.
Cross is an explosive athlete who most assuredly will be one of the top junior football prospects in the state next fall.
“I thought (Cross) was the best player on our (football) team as a freshman,” said West Aurora assistant football coach Mike Powers.
“That’s my guy,” Walker said of Cross, whose twin brother DaQuan is an equally talented athlete in the high jump. “We’re like brothers. We’re just out there to have fun.”
Walker and Cross have a tight-knit relationship, but the two use their shared skills in the discipline of triple jumping to pursue even better marks.
“We are both very competitive,” Walker said.
But there are no certainties when it comes to the state finals.
“There are no guarantees when the first and second (top returnees) come back the next season,” Hilby said. “Anything can happen from year to year.”
West Aurora head coach Cortney Lamb was ecstatic with the Walker and Cross after the sectional last week.
“Both Chris and DaVion want to finish higher than they did last year,” Lamb said. “They took a big step forward in accomplishing that. It was pretty awesome to watch.”
For his part, though, Walker has fairly modest goals for the weekend.
“I just want to get a PR,” Walker said.
More Top Picks Best Wireless Keyboard
West Aurora senior Hunter Siler hopes to add to the long-standing throwers’ legacy at the school.
“I am hoping to place (in the shot put) or at least make it the finals Saturday,” Siler said. “I am in a good position right now mentally and physically for the weekend.”
McGavin is a freelance reporter.
IHSA Boys State Track Meet
Where: O’Brien Stadium, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston
When: Thursday: Class 1A field events, 10 a.m.; Class 1A track events, 11 a.m.; Friday: Class 2A field events, 8 a.m.; Class 2A track events, 9 a.m.; Class 3A field events, noon; Class 3A track events, 12:55 p.m.; Saturday: Track and field finals in all classes, 10 a.m.
Local qualifiers with sectional marks
Aurora Central Catholic: Richard Schwartzbauer, 400, 52.57. 1,600 relay, 3:31.52.
Aurora Christian: Josh Schien, pole vault, 13-6.
Batavia: Matt Fabian, pole vault, 13-9. Tyler Mansfield, pole vault, 14-3. Jay Hunt, high jump, 6-5. Ryan Wieties, 800 1:56.49. Peyton Piron, 300 intermediate hurdles, 39.02.
Geneva: Justin Taormina, long jump, 22-3.25. 400 relay, 42.64. 1,600 relay, 3:24.36.
Kaneland: Ben Barnes, long jump, 22-6.5, triple jump, 44-11. Danny Walker, pole vault, 13-9. Zach Thielk, shot put, 47-9. 3,200 relay, 8:13.74. 400 relay, 42.99. 800 relay, 1:30.83. Tanner Robertson, 300 intermediate hurdles, 40.41. Austin Kintz, 1,600, 4:26.1. Matt Richtman, 1,600, 4:29.62.
Marmion: Luke Juriga, shot put, 53-5.75. Brady Bobbit, 3,200, 9:35.41, 1,600, 4:22.34. Andrew Burroughs, 3,200, 9:35.55.
Metea Valley: Brett Boddy, shot put, 54-4.5.
Mooseheart: Hameed Odunewu, high jump, 6-4, 300 intermediate hurdles, 41.32. Ceda Makindu, triple jump, 41-1.75. 400 relay, 44.31. Joe Feemolu, 110 high hurdles, 15.25. 800 relay, 1:35.66. 1,600 relay: 3:30.73.
Oswego: Peter Johnsrud, 3,200, 9:12.3. Stephen Strange, 400, 48.22.
Plano: Israel Adeoti, 100, 11.11; 800 relay, 1:31.53.
Sandwich: Kody Randa, 400, 51.02. 1,600 relay, 3:25.86.
Waubonsie Valley: Tyler Kirkwood, 110 high hurdles, 14.73. 800 relay: 1:29.42. Jeff Penny, 300 intermediate hurdles, 39.62.
West Aurora: DaQuan Cross, high jump, 6-5. Hunter Siler, shot put, 53-6. DaVion Cross, triple jump, 46-7. Chris Walker, triple jump, 46-10.5. Rashaud Jeffries, discus, 158. Connor McCue, 1,600, 4:21.3.
Yorkville: Marcus Bates, long jump, 22-6. Sam Weisz, shot put, 54-1.5, discus, 166-8. Jake Hoffert, 3,200, 9:08.5, 1,600, 4:17.85. Luke Hoffert, 3,200, 9:09.9, 1,600, 4:18.33.