Waubonsie Valley junior Wes York is itching to reach his peak.
“I haven’t been in a race where the other competitors have had the same goal,” York said. “Specifically in the mile, I haven’t been in a race where I have run my best.”
Last weekend, Waubonsie Valley hosted its annual invitational, the Red Ribbon Classic, but it was cut short due to inclement weather in Aurora.
“We got all the field events in,” Waubonsie coach Kevin Rafferty said. “We knew we had a limited time frame.”
Five of the 12 running events were eliminated, but the 1,600 meters was contested.
York, a Naperville resident, finished third in the event in a time of 4 minutes, 34.5 seconds.
“I feel like I can run a lot faster,” York said. “I haven’t been super aggressive about (the 1,600) yet. All my other good days have been in the 800.”
York was runner-up at the Wheaton Warrenville South Invitational two weeks ago in the 1,600.
“The Red Grange was a good meet,” York said of the Wheaton South event. “But I was more interested in the Palatine Distance Madness the next night for the 800.”
The Warriors finished tied for third with Hoffman Estates at the Red Ribbon last weekend with 46 points.
Neuqua won the team title at the truncated meet with 109 points.
In the 100 at Red Ribbon, it was a parade of sister schools as Neuqua sprinter Myles Gascon bested the Warriors’ Haneef Spikener and Derric Leewith his winning time of 11.52.
Metea Valley, virtually bereft of any seniors due to prom, finished 10th with 24 points.
In the 3,200 at Red Ribbon, Waubonsie Valley senior Christian Freitag was one of only two athletes to break 10 minutes. He was the runner-up in 9:55.11.
“I just didn’t quite have it in the second mile,” Freitag said. “It was only the second two-mile I have run this year outdoors. We haven’t been too kind with the weather.”
Marquee event at Kane County: St. Charles East is the place to be Friday for some of top athletes in the state for Class 3A high jump.
West Aurora junior Camron Donatlan is the defending state champion, but Batavia seniors Jay Hunt and Peter Rudelich also have cleared 6 feet, 8 inches this season.
The three are all tied with five others statewide for the best effort in the event during the outdoor season.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Hunt predicted of the competition, which also features West Aurora senior DaQuan Cross, a returning all-stater.
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Batavia has steamrolled all of its competition during both indoor and outdoor with its remarkable depth.
“I am 100 percent sure we have won every invite,” Hunt said.
Hunt also is a sprinter for the Bulldogs. The Iowa recruit has had to make some adjustments to his lone field event.
“My speed is kind of hurting me right now,” Hunt said. “I am going up to the bar too fast. That’s what I have been working on in practice.”
Beno rocks Red Ribbon: Distance events are the core of St. Charles East’s program this spring.
At the Red Ribbon, Jake Beno was the head of the class for the Saints in the 3,200, winning in 9:47.3.
The Saints placed sixth with 35 points, but Beno beat Freitag over the last four laps.
“That time gets him up there,” St. Charles East coach Chris Bosworth said of Beno. “He ran a 9:47 in cold and very windy conditions.”
“(Beno) had a better second mile than me,” Freitag said.
Kevin McGavin is a freelance writer for the Naperville Sun.