Oak Park and River Forest senior Santiago Valle is a returning top-nine all-stater in boys track and field. This season, he’s returning even stronger for the Class 3A state meet Friday and Saturday at Eastern Illinois University after qualifying in the maximum four events: three relays and the 100-meter dash after running the qualifying time at the Proviso East Sectional May 15.
“I feel like I’ve widened my range. I’ve shaved my time in my 100 a lot, the 400, improved my endurance, the 200 as well,” said Valle, part of last year’s seventh-place 4 x 100 state relay.
“[Sectionals] was great, 17 out of 18 events going down [to state]. It’s an amazing day.”
After winning their seventh consecutive West Suburban Conference Silver Division outdoor title and 10th straight sectional (224 points), the Huskies should contend for their first top-three trophy since taking third in 2019 and perhaps their first state title since 1987.
The 2023 Huskies had seven top-nine, all-state efforts but other high-seeded entries didn’t pan out and they were seventh (32 points).
“We did what we needed to do [at sectionals]. Now it’s about advancing on through [prelims] Friday on to [finals] Saturday,” OPRF coach Tim Hasso said.
“I learned a ton [last season] but I think the kids got valuable experience. We peaked too early last year, so I intentionally held these kids back and we’re starting to run better.”
Sectional champions were senior Kaden Garland in discus (51.24 meters/168 feet-1 1/4 inches) and shot put (18.63m/61-1 1/2 in shot put), juniors Kwabena Osei-Yeboah in long jump (7.12m/23-4 1/4) and triple jump (13.53m/44-4 3/4), Caleb Schulz in the 100 (10.64) and 200 (21.75), Lukas Brauc (4.68m/15-4 1/4 in pole vault), and Liam O’Connor (1,600 in 9:18.41), freshman Cameren Janury (1.85m/6-1 in high jump), the 4 x 100 of junior Kahrmelo Weaver, Valle, Osei-Yebooah and Schulz (42.00), the 4 x 200 of senior Kevin McGovern, Valle, sophomore Kingston Petersen and Schulz (1:27.96), the 4 x 400 of sophomore Brian Carter Jackson, Valle, Brauc and junior Connor Schupp (3:21.94) and the 4 x 800 of seniors Mariano Escobedo, Lewis O’Connor, Daniel Johnson and Michael Michelotti (7:51.84).
Second-place state qualifiers were senior Khalil Nichols (110 high hurdles in 16.00) after a race disqualification, Schupp (800 in 1:57.70), junior Tristan Kidd (3.56m/11-8 in pole vault), sophomore Riley Jackson (13.50m/44-3 1/2 in triple jump) and Brian Carter Jackson (400 in 50.50). Third-place sophomore Jonathan Sibley-Diggs (15.75m/51-8 in shot) and fourth-place Michelotti (1,600 in 4:21.69) and Valle (100 in 10.88) achieved state-qualifying standards to advance.
Even Garland was fast. After his throws, Garland raced to OPRF to receive a senior athlete award and officially sign with USC. He then returned to Proviso East.
“I tried to get back here as fast as I could so I could watch the 4 x 400 and I saw us dominate. Extremely happy about what happened today,” Garland said.
His school-record 63-11 3/4 in shot April 13 is the state’s top performance this outdoor season. Season bests for Schulz (100 and 200), Osei-Yeboah (long and triple jump), Brauc (pole vault) and the 4 x 200, 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 rank among the state’s top 10.
All-staters in 2023 included Garland (shot) and Osei-Yeboah (long jump) taking fifth, the sixth-place 4 x 800 and Schulz (100) and the 4 x 100 seventh.
“I think just nerves got to a lot of people [at 2023 state] because it was their first time,” Valle said. “This year, we’re all older and have the experience. We’re excited and hungry for that state title.”
Fenwick boys track and field
Fenwick placed fourth in the 2A Glenbard South Sectional May 17 (70.5 points) and advanced five individuals to state.
Senior Nathaniel McKillop finished third in the 3,200 (9:44.82). Sophomore Matt Simon was runner-up in the 400 (personal-best 50.98) while classmate Aiden Williams advanced with a third-place, personal-best 40.44 in the 300 intermediate hurdles.
Others advancing were seniors Dean O’Bryan in the 1,600 (4th, personal-best 4:30.64) and Avion Brown in high jump (2nd, 6-1).
The Friars narrowly missed a sixth qualifier. Sophomore Emilio Nery’s third-place 51.84 in the 400 was .29 short of the qualifying standard.