A trophy from the Class 3A boys track state meet later this month to go with the cross country title Sandburg won in November would be a special type of double.
That’s what the Eagles continue to work toward after edging Downers Grove North 99-98 for the championship of Friday’s 16-team Pete Struck Invitational at Sandburg.
“It’s pretty exciting to know where your team is at, how good we’re looking coming up to the next few weeks, with sectionals and state coming up,” senior distance standout Sean Torpy said.
“Our guys are fit and we’re running well. We’re all healthy right now, knock on wood.”
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With a large group of strong distance runners, Sandburg coach Joe Nemeth and his assistants have decisions to make for the May 12 SouthWest Suburban Blue Meet, and especially for the May 20 Downers North Sectional.
“We have a lot of fine-tuning to do,” Nemeth said. “We’ve got to decide what are we going to do when it matters.”
One dilemma involves the 3,200-meter relay, which Sandburg won last spring. Sean Torpy in the 1,600, twin brother Chris Torpy in the 800 and David Gleisner and Dylan Jacobs in the 3,200 should also figure in the scoring.
“All around as a team we’re doing very well, on the distance side especially,” Chris Torpy said.
Sean Torpy has clocked a state-best 4:08.64 in the 1,600. Gleisner owns a 9:18.17 in the 3,200, while Sean Torpy and Jacobs both have run 9:19.
Sprinter Ayo Abiona, a junior, has impressive times of 10.71 in the 100 and 21.71 in the 200. He was second in both the 100 and 200 at Pete Struck.
“He’s got to step up when it matters,” Nemeth said.
Jibreel Brown, second in the 400 at Pete Struck, has been competing for less than a month since recuperating from ACL surgery in December.
Jordon Woods (triple jump) and Chase Woolery (shot put) also finished second at Pete Struck and should be contributors in the conference meet.
“It’s an almost historical senior class that we have here,” Nemeth said.
Triple threats: Hillcrest triple jump standout Luther Newburn keeps close track of Cahokia’s Jamari Ward. Newburn posted a national-best 53-foot, 7.5-inch jump at the St. Clair County Championships on April 28.
“I’m trying to improve and trying to beat him, trying to go for him,” Newburn said. “He just went 53 (feet). I’m like, ‘Hey, that’s awesome.’ At the same time, I want to do it, too — jump 54.
“I use him as motivation. I don’t look at him like, “Awww, he’s a challenger. Awww, I’m scared of him.’ I learn from him. Learn from everyone.”
Newburn, a senior, ranks second in the state with his 49-9 last month in the Dick Beebe Classic at Homewood-Flossmoor.
Long distance: Thornton senior Remi Simmons, whose 24-0 long jump ranks No. 2 in the state, is a football player competing in just his second track season.
“Sophomore year, (track) coach (Vince) McAuliffe pulled me to the side,” Simmons said. “He said, ‘Man, you’re big, athletic. I think you should come out for track.’ Then I came out as a junior.”
Simmons cleared 23-8 at last year’s sectional and 22-6 at the 3A state meet for fourth place.
“I wasn’t that good at the start of the indoor season,” Simmons said of last year. “By the time I got to the meet before sectionals, that’s when I really opened up.”
Tim Tierney is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.