The look of dejection was inescapable.
Chris Walker, the then-reigning state runner-up in the Class 3A triple jump, stared into the distance at Geneva wondering if his season could be repaired.
“Considering how bad my leg was feeling, it wasn’t a good feeling,” the West Aurora senior said.
With the boys state series less than two weeks away, Walker looked more like a war casualty than an elite athlete as he discarded the protective bandage on his right hamstring last spring at the Kane County Meet.
But through perseverance and exceptional work by the West Aurora training staff, Walker willed himself to the sectional title in the triple jump.
The following weekend in Charleston at the state finals, Walker had a familiar foe breathing down his neck.
Walker and teammate DaVion Cross were two of the top three seeds entering the two-day Class 3A competition at Eastern Illinois.
Walker cleared 48-9.25 in the Friday preliminaries to take the first-day lead in the triple jump; Cross was right behind, in second place, at 48-0.
Inclement weather forced the final three jumps indoors on Saturday, and Cross’ fifth attempt of the weekend was an improvement of 5.75 inches.
But Walker prevailed as the two West Aurora athletes achieved a first in program history: a 1-2 finish at state.
“That’s a wonderful feeling to actually have,” Walker said of winning state. “I just love the triple jump. This is something I really want to do.”
Walker and Cross, a junior, return to lead the Blackhawks, who have the strongest Class 3A team in the area. At the recent Upstate Eight indoor meet, the Blackhawks held off Batavia, the defending conference, county and sectional champion.
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“Chris and I set the standards and try and go after it,” Cross said. “Chris and I are trying to set big goals for each other.”
Walker, who entered the program three years ago without any previous experience in the sport, has a singular focus for his final campaign.
“Nobody likes to lose, even if it’s second place,” Walker said. “When it comes to track, I always want to shoot for first. My goal is to hit 50 feet this year. I really think it is possible. I want to go to the Olympics.”
Walker and Cross will spearhead the Blackhawks’ attack as the team has grand designs, come late May.
“They can do some serious damage at the state meet,” South Elgin coach Anthony LaRue said.
Coach Cortney Lamb said the duo provides a comfortable security blanket.
“It’s great when you can count on those guys in the horizontal jumps,” Lamb said. “We know that they are some of the best in the state. We can count on those points when we are down.”
Connor McCue is a state-title contender at 800 and 1,600 meters for West Aurora.
“(Having Walker and Cross as teammates) makes me want to do better in my individual events,” the Loyola-bound McCue said. “It makes me want to help the team like they do. I think a top-three finish at the state meet is possible.”
Kevin McGavin is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News.