Last impressions mean a lot to athletes, especially those who have competed near the pinnacle of their sport. For the OPRF boys track and field team this season, that pinnacle is not only again within reach, it’s attainable.
The Huskies return the bulk of their 2006-07 state qualifying team in seniors Patrick Geoghegan, Zach Howard, Steve Harper Joe McGregor and Evan Scott.
The venerable Geoghegan, a Syracuse-bound distance runner who has overcome injuries throughout his high school career, is expected to improve on last year’s state times. Geoghegan opened the outdoor season by winning the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:25.6 at the Gateway Invitational hosted by Washington University in St. Louis. He also won the 1600 at the Paul Gans Invitational on Saturday with a time of 4:30.3.
Howard is a sprinter who will also lead OPRF’s strong relay teams. Brandon Smith, Terrance Brooks, Josh Runnels and Scott are candidates for the other spots, according to OPRF head coach Tim Hasso.
“We’re again real strong at relays with a lot of depth, so it’s just a matter of seeing who fits the best where,” said Hasso, whose team took first at the Gans invite with 240 points.
Harper, McGregor and Scott anchor the field events. Harper returns in the shotput, while McGregor takes to the high jump and Scott bides his time between the triple jump and the relay events. Harper won his event at the invite on Saturday with a toss of 46-11.
“This is just a real balanced team,” said Hasso. “We have several contributors in everything, sprints, distance and field events. And they all seem to bring something to the table.”
Sid Kenyon, Colin McCarey and Kahlil Draper are also seniors who are likely to help out a great deal this season. Kenyon finished second in shotput at the West Suburban (Silver) Conference Indoor Meet. McCarey, said Hasso, “compliments Patrick Geoghegan in the distance events.”
Draper is a versatile field event athlete, who is coming off a hamstring injury that kept him out of most of last season. He took first in both the long jump (21-2.75) and the triple jump (42-8.5) on Saturday.
With their experience and talent, the Huskies should battle York for first place in the conference. The Dukes finished fourth at state last year, and have several athletes returning.
“Last year (York) beat us by 60 points, but it’s turning into a two-horse race for the conference,” said Hasso, whose team will be seeing quite a bit of their conference foe.
The Huskies will host the WSC at Concordia University, and the two teams are in the same state sectional. OPRF travels to York April 22 (4:30 p.m.) for its conference dual meet.
“I’m looking forward to the conference and the sectional meets,” said Hasso. “We have a good team here with a lot of potential.”
Rack back for OPRF girls track
Katherine Rack heads a group of experienced runners this season for the OPRF girls track and field team. Rack, as a freshman last year, finished ninth overall in both the 1600-meter run (5:09.12) and the 3200-meter run (11:09.86) at state. And the sophomore isn’t OPRF’s lone runner back with experience.
Sophomore Evangelie Zachos will also run distance for OPRF, as will newcomer Natalie Stone.
Sprinters returning this season for the Huskies include Kaniece Pitts, Kristen Kwakwa, Uche Anibogu, and Ashley Moore. Also returning, senior Shannon Egan will run middle distance for the team.
The Huskies lack nothing in the field events with Brittany Smith returning from an impressive performance at state last year. Smith finished sixth overall in the discuss throw and seventh in the shotput.
Other top returners from last season include Rachel Waterford (hurdles, jumps), Kirsten Weismantle (vault), Lauren Yeske (vault) and Karlyn Murphy, also a vaulter who is recovering from a gymnastics injury.
The Huskies travel to Hinsdale Central on Saturday for a 10 a.m. meet.