CHARLESTON, Ill. — Jaurice Thomas was brilliant for South Elgin.
Metea Valley’s Jordan Cagigal performed a similar role during Friday’s preliminaries of the Class 3A boys track state meet at Eastern Illinois.
The 400-meter relay lived up to its billing in back-to-back heats at O’Brien Stadium.
One heat after Thomas teamed with Kyle Mastrangeli, Desmond Lockett and Nico Woods to turn the best time of four heats in 41.64 seconds, Cagigal anchored the Mustangs’ unit to a second-heat win in 44.22.
The 800-meter relay had an equally symbolic twist as Neuqua Valley and Huntley finished six-hundredths of a second (1:27.37) behind East St. Louis’ front-running time.
In his third event of the day, Thomas ran a dazzling 21.89 in the 200. He trails only Galesburg superstar Josh Eiker in the event.
All Thomas could talk about, however, was taking the baton in the 400 relay.
“When I get the stick, it was like any other time I get the stick: take off and get first,” Thomas said. “We had great handoffs. That’s all we’ve been practicing on.”
Cagigal, an Illinois recruit, finished third in his heat of the 400. The event is his individual speciality. Cagigal will retain that seed for Saturday’s finals.
“We knew we could be in the race,” Cagigal said of the 400 relay. “We’re really excited.”
West Aurora triple-jump stalwarts DaVion Cross and Chris Walker once again have spearheaded the Blackhawks’ quest for a team trophy.
Cross, runner-up to his senior teammate a year ago, enters Saturday as the leader after first attempt of 49 feet, 11.25 inches. Walker, the top seed, quickly grabbed the second slot with his first effort of 47-9.
But Lakes’ Cameron Ruiz overtook Walker and sits half of an inch behind Cross with a final attempt of 47-10.75.
“The long jump didn’t go so well, but the triple is my passion,” said Walker, the defending state champion in the triple.
“We’re (Nos.) 1 and 3 right now, so it will be much better (on Saturday),” Cross said.
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Yorkville senior Sam Weisz was in second-place in the discus with a 180-8. Neuqua Valley senior Tom Cwiok also remains in the running with a 170-8.
There is only one problem for the duo: Edwardsville junior AJ Epenesa broke the all-time state record — by three inches — with his monstrous 205-11 effort.
“Breaking 180 is awesome,” Weisz said. “Sitting second right now, I’m just going to throw as hard as I can (Saturday).”
West Aurora star runner Connor McCue (1:53.85) won his heat of the 800 to earn a top seed, but the Loyola-bound senior was forced to abandon his bid for another medal in the 1,600 due to the IHSA decision to reduce the time between events.
In the 2A preliminaries, Plano sprinter Israel Adeoti should be a serious threat after running the 100 in 10.87 and anchoring the Reapers’ 800 relay (1:28.74) to a second-fastest seed.
“That was only the second time this year I ran the 100,” Adeoti said.
Kevin McGavin is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News.