Huntley junior Dubem Anikamadu has been fearless as a sprinter this spring.
He was the mainstay behind the Red Raiders winning their sixth consecutive McHenry County Meet championship on April 20-21.
Anikamadu swept the 100 and 200 meters in respective times of 10.77 and 21.75 seconds, while also anchoring the 400 relay to first place and the 800 relay to second place.
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The Raiders scored 159 points to easily outdistance runner-up Jacobs, which finished with 92 points.
“I’m glad with what I have done so far individually,” Anikamadu said. “For the open 100, I want to get to 10.6. For the 200, I want to get to 21.4-21.5.”
Last spring, Anikamadu earned All-State honors in both the 400 and 800 relays. He’s physically blessed.
“What sets Dubem apart is he has physical size,” Huntley coach Jim Rolando said. “He gets what we’re trying to do. He has a great stride.”
Anikamadu has registered the fourth- and sixth-fastest times in the state in the 200 and 100, respectively.
Rolando gushes about his star sprinter.
“He’s a young junior,” Rolando said. “He is only 16. He won’t be 17 until the middle of summer.”
Anikamadu still relishes his experiences at last year’s Class 3A state meet in Charleston.
“Being able to compete with the top schools in the state felt great,” Anikamadu said. “It meant I could do other things than relays.”
That said, Anikamadu wants to maximize his performances.
“He understands the concept of less than more is good,” Rolando said.
McEneaney has grand plans: Neuqua Valley is the reigning Class 3A state champion in cross country.
Jake McEneaney was the main reason. But after sustaining a season-ending stress fracture in his foot, his junior track season did not go as planned.
“Obviously, with college, it is one of the most important years,” McEneaney said. “I missed the entire outdoor season.”
Last weekend at Downers Grove South, the North Carolina recruit finished third in the 3,200 at 9:26.10 to continue a stellar season.
The Wildcats should be dangerous in the state series with a healthy McEneaney.
Hannula moving up: Last Monday’s Peterson Prep Classic at Kaneland is one of the linchpins on the boys track schedule.
It’s the first discus competition of the spring since that event is not a part of indoor meets.
Kaneland junior Clayton Hannula made a striking impression after winning with a throw of 177 feet, 11 inches.
“A lot with it has to do with his technique,” Knights coach Andy Drendel said.
Drendel echoed the words of many coaches.
“If you don’t have a fieldhouse, April is when you get ready to get into form,” Drendel said.
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Drendel said Hannula has progressed in recent years.
“He looked like a boy when he was a sophomore,” Drendel said. “Now he looks like a man. He loves the sport. He studies it. He is an animal.”
Kevin McGavin is a freelance writer for The Courier-News.