Niles West senior Chris Erjavac said one of the keys to qualifying for the Class 3A boys track and field state meet in both hurdles events was his improved technique.
“When I go over a hurdle, I try to have perfect form, flawless form, to make me go as fast as I can over the hurdle,” said Erjavac, who lives in Morton Grove and finished second in the 110-meter hurdles (15:07 seconds) and third in the 300 hurdles (qualifying-time of 39.66), and also reached state in the 4×400 relay (3:26.78).
Erjavac said he has been able to perfect his hurdling technique thanks to Wolves hurdles coach Jorge Perez. A 2004 Niles West graduate, Perez still holds the program record in both hurdles events and said he holds his hurdlers to a high standard.
“Any guy who goes all four years with me has some patience, because I’m picky in the hurdles,” Perez said. “You have to be flawless, but Erjavac is one who sticks with it and does everything right. Every day, he goes all out. He’s one of my hardest workers in nine years (as a Niles West coach).”
In the 110 hurdles at the sectional, Erjavac finished four spots ahead of teammate Shawn Campbell, a junior. Erjavac said he has spent the year trying to help Campbell improve, so the latter will be ready for a breakout senior season next spring.
Erjavac said his early development was aided by the presence of Michael Malina, a 2015 graduate.
“(In practice and races) I try to always be ahead (of Campbell), so he has some footsteps to follow and a goal to reach,” Erjavac said. “Two years ago, I had (Malina). He was a great runner and I looked up to him.”
Niles North
Niles North sophomore Kian Rizarri said the heavy wind that swept in late on May 18 may have prevented the Vikings’ 4×400-meter relay team from breaking the school’s sophomore record at the Class 3A Niles West Sectional.
An all-sophomore group featuring Rizarri, Amir Oaing, Khush Patel and Jay B. Patel ran a 3:40.57 (10th). The record is 3:37. However, Rizarri said he is excited about the future of the relay.
“Next year, we are going to come back strong. I’m confident with my team and I’m pretty sure we’re going to (be in the mix) to qualify for state,” said Rizarri, who lives in Skokie.
Though the Vikings didn’t have any state qualifiers, first-year coach Mark Egofske said there is plenty of young talent in the program. He singled out Rizarri, who also was part of the 4×800 relay team that finished fourth (8:14.18) at the sectional. The group also featured senior Jay T. Patel, junior Sirak Teclai and senior Jordan Francis.
“What a year (Rizarri) has had,” Egofske said. “He’s the type of kid who, if he’s behind two or three kids, by the end of the race, he’ll be ahead. He’s been like that all year. He’s only (5-foot-4), but when he runs against kids who are 6-foot, it doesn’t matter, he’s going to run them down. He’s a competitor and he doesn’t like to lose.”
Maine East
Competing in the freshman/sophomore division at the Central Suburban North meet, Maine East sophomore Svet Milchev won the high jump, long jump and triple jump and set personal records in all three.
Less than a week later, Milchev faced a much more daunting challenge, the Class 3A Niles West Sectional. Milchev finished 25th in the long jump (17-10 3/4) and 18th in the triple jump (37-10) on May 18.
“He had a bit of an off day, but he didn’t really lose at conference,” Maine Each coach Chris Peters said. “I didn’t know if he’d be able to match that; and he wasn’t quite able to. But he had a nice day, nothing spectacular.”
Milchev was not the only Blue Demons underclassmen to have a strong sectional meet.
Freshman Josue Parra finished eighth in the 400 meters (52.20 seconds) and sophomore Hector Lopez finished 25th in the 1,600 (4:54.06).
Both were personal records.
“I talked to (my team beforehand) about being competitors,” Peters said. “You’re going to be in a position in a meet like this, when you’re in a heat with other guys who are at your level. Get in there and compete. If they do that — and this is for our best guys, too — if they work hard and compete, everything is going to work out.”
Senior Jacob Danyal qualified for state in the pole vault by clearing 13-7, which was good for fourth place. He is scheduled to be joined at state by fellow Maine East senior Mustafa Becoja, who advanced in the high jump by clearing 6-3. He took fifth.
Maine South
When Maine South senior Liam Pittges qualified for the Class 3A boys track and field state meet in the 300 hurdles, he did so for himself and his father.
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In the mid 1980s, Bill Pittges ran the 400, 800 and 4×400 relay at Notre Dame in Niles. However, the elder Pittges had bronchitis the final six weeks of his senior season, wiping out his chances of competing at state, according to Liam Pittges.
“Track was (Bill Pittges’) big thing back in his high school, but he didn’t get the chance to run that qualifying time,” said Liam Pittges, who lives in Park Ridge. “He’s been talking it up since the first time I went out for track (as a sophomore). Not too much, but enough to keep it with me, and that was motivation to do my best (at the Niles West Sectional).”
Even after the 300 hurdles at the sectional, Liam Pittges and his father, who was in the crowd, had to sweat out the final result because of a photo finish for second-place between Liam Pittges and Niles West senior Chris Erjavac. For awhile, it appeared only one them would earn a trip to state behind champion Albert Yen (39.24) of New Trier.
Eventually, Liam Pittges was awarded second place (personal-best 39.47), though Erjavac (39.66) also eclipsed the 39.74 qualifying-standard.
Maine South coach Scott Sutschek said Liam Pittges has worked hard to reach state, and could make some noise while he’s there.
“I felt from Day 1 this season, if (Laim Pittges) put in the effort, he could get (to state), and he did,” Sutschek said. “I’m excited about (state). I don’t think he can contend to win, but he has a real good chance to make top 9 and (thus) make finals and (earn) all-state.”
Notre Dame
Notre Dame senior Braulio Alvarez finished in eighth place in the 800 meters at the Class 3A Niles West Sectional on May 18, notching a personal-record time of 2 minutes, 2.49 seconds in the event. His dedication and drive to finish his high school career on a personal high was not lost on the team, according to Dons coach Mike Jankowski.
“These young kids wouldn’t have done as well as they did without a kid like him leading the group. No way,” Jankowski said. “He’s done an amazing job. He’s fantastic with the kids. And being one of two seniors, to just take ownership of that and become a tremendous leader, that’s been a really great thing for our team.
“He’s invaluable. Couldn’t be prouder of him, couldn’t he happier he was on our team. Just an amazing kid.”
While no Dons qualified for state, several Notre Dame athletes had strong showings.
Sophomore CJ Henley (11.29, 100), junior Jake Martin (11.92, 100), freshman Julian Schurr (24.42, 200), junior Jeremy Ermilio (4:52.52, 1,600) and freshman Joe Salemme (18.01, 110 hurdles) all set personal-best marks at Niles West.
“The kids are very excited about the future, too. They see potential on the horizon,” Jankowski said. “They’re competing. Placing sixth (as Henley did in the 100), for example, that wasn’t good enough. They want to do well, and know they can.”
Ridgewood
Rebels senior Alex Rice was the lone Ridgewood athlete to advance to the Class 2A boys track and field state meet. He qualified in two events, the long jump and triple jump, at the Lisle Sectional on Friday. He advanced by placing second in the long jump (22-1/4) and in the triple jump his distance of 42-11 3/4 met the state standard.
Dan Shalin and Rich Mayor are freelance reporters for Pioneer Press.
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