CHARLESTON — Austin Kintz was one of the few to survive the Cahokia onslaught.
Then again, the Kaneland junior did not have to face any of the extraordinary athletes on the four-time defending Class 2A boys track and field state champions.
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Kintz made his move against Metamora sophomore Jake Gillium with aplomb down the stretch to win the second heat of the 1,600-meter run in 4 minutes, 26.05 seconds Friday at Eastern Illinois University.
“Gillum is an incredible runner,” Kintz said. “Making the move — I wouldn’t call it a risk — but I was able to get right next to him. The last couple of races I have started my kick around the 300-250 (mark). (Saturday), I think, is going to be a different story.”
Defending long jump state champion Ben Barnes qualified in both his specialty event and the triple jump for Kaneland. Danny Walker is still alive as well in the pole vault after clearing 14 feet, 3 inches.
But one year after giving Cahokia all it could handle, the reigning state runner-up Knights and their fellow Class 2A programs were hit by a tidal wave of Cahokia brilliance.
Cahokia remarkably qualified 17 of its 18 events for the Saturday finals. Sandwich will have to face the top-seeded Cahokia unit in the 1,600 relay as the only other advancing Class 2A event from the area.
In Class 3A, West Aurora triple jumpers Chris Walker and DaVion Cross are on the cusp of making program history.
Cross soared 48 feet even on his second attempt to take the lead, only to have Walker — the reigning state runner-up — exceeded that mark by nine-plus inches.
Cross is almost two feet ahead of his nearest competitor for second place.
“I just looked (at the mark) and was like, ‘Oh, that’s pretty good,'” Walker said. “I saw how DaVion jumped. He pretty much motivated me. I gotta get this.”
“When I came out of the sand and looked at my mark, I knew I had done well,” Cross said. “I just have to go out and beat Chris (on Saturday).”
“They put on a show,” West Aurora coach Cortney Lamb said.
Hunter Siler made the shot put finals for the Blackhawks.
Yorkville leads all area teams with five finalists. Junior Sam Weisz qualified in both throwing events, and Marcus Bates’ 22-1.75 long jump puts him in the mix. Celebrated twins Jake and Luke Hoffert are the second and third seeds, respectively, in the 3,200.
Of the three local track participants to extend their season, Marmion senior Brady Bobbit sliced more than seven seconds off his West Aurora Sectional time to advance in the ultra-competitive 1,600.
Oswego sprinter Steven Strange is in the finals in an equally competitive 400 dash.
Waubonsie Valley junior Tyler Kirkwood made the most of his lone opportunity.
“I am so overwhelmed,” Kirdwood said after clocking a 14.47 in the 110 high hurdles.
“That’s a huge PR,” Waubonsie Valley coach Kevin Rafferty said. “A PR by two-tenths.”
McGavin is a freelance writer.