The Oak Park and River Forest High School boys track & field team won the IHSA 3A Sectional on Thursday with 154 points, a 32-point finish above the second-place team, Kenwood Academy. Given the team’s suboptimal performance during the indoor season, head coach Tim Hasso is thrilled to see this level of success.
“We started the year not so good, and our growth this year has been outstanding,” he said.
Strong performances by the Huskies earned them IHSA 3A state meet qualifications across most events. On the sprinting side, senior Jaylen Runnels placed second in the 100 meter (11.10), senior Emilio Nery placed second in the 200 meter (22.38), and senior Keyante Johnson (49.55) and junior Brian Jackson placed first and third in the 400 meter (50.16), respectively.
For the qualifying relays, Nery, Johnson, Runnels and sophomore Kelden Jones placed second in the 4 x 100m (42.47). To make Johnson’s day even more impressive, he, Jackson, freshman Austin Atwood, and junior Michael Degnan won the 4 x 400m (3:22.84).
Finally, senior Jonathan Sibley-Diggs dominated the field events for the Huskies. He won discus (52.95m) and placed third in shot put (16.13m) to earn state qualifications in both. Also, junior Addis Wilson (1.98m) and senior Malik Griffee (1.93m) placed first a second in high jump, and junior Kevin Wangerow (3.84m) and sophomore Gavin Lazewski (3.69m) placed first and second, respectively, in pole vault.
Unfortunately for the Huskies, a few extra milliseconds cost them qualifications in two relays.
In the 4 x 200, Jones, Johnson, Degnan, and Nery placed third (1:31.43), less than one second behind Whitney Young, and did not qualify for the state meet. The 4 x 800 happened similarly, with juniors Tate Blecha and Connor Harmon, and seniors Owen Carstens and Brady Creel also finishing third (8:07.38) and not qualifying.
While he knows it’s frustrating, Hasso understands, and knows his runners understand that close finishes are just a part of the sport. Hasso is even filled with optimism for the futures of his 4 x 200 runners, who are underclassmen, because “they’re on the varsity level running varsity times.”
Since the sectional ended, Hasso has been laser focused on the state meet. However, he knows the event can be intimidating for athletes because of its tough competition; it’s the best of the best who go to state.
“Everyone’s fast at state,” he said. “Sitting in front of a stadium in front of 20,000 people, it’s like ‘oh boy.’”
That’s why Hasso wants his athletes to focus on taking the meet one minute at a time, and to pace themselves. He also wouldn’t mind a personal record (PR) or two.
“If they run season-best times down there, that’s all we could (ask for),” he said.
Fenwick
On May 20, Fenwick won the IHSA Class 2A sectional at Ridgewood High School with 123 points, 6.5 points better than runner-up Northridge Prep.
The Friars entered the sectional on a down note with senior star sprinters Matthew Simon and Aiden Williams out with injuries and leaving the season’s fate unknown. Fenwick coach Dave Rill called it “heartbreaking” to see two talented athletes, who spent four years working toward this final push, sidelined.
Fenwick’s Adrien DuBois takes the baton from Jason Garza to run the final leg of the 4×400 Relay at the IHSA Class 2A TRB Sectional at Ridgewood High School on Wednesday May 20, 2026 | Todd Bannor 
Fenwick’s Jason Garza takes the baton to run the third leg of the 4×400 Relay at the IHSA Class 2A TRB Sectional at Ridgewood High School on Wednesday May 20, 2026 | Todd Bannor 
Fenwick’s Burke Burns competes in the 1600 Meters at the IHSA Class 2A TRB Sectional at Ridgewood High School on Wednesday May 20, 2026 | Todd Bannor 
Fenwick’s Jason Garza and Burke Burns compete in the 1600 Meters at the IHSA Class 2A TRB Sectional at Ridgewood High School on Wednesday May 20, 2026 | Todd Bannor
Nonetheless, the Friars persisted and took their share of individual wins, a team win, personal records (PRs), and seven state qualifications.
Senior Cameron Garrett won the 100 and 200 meter (10.92, 22.47) respectively in personal-best times, and junior Adrien Dubois won the 400 meter race (51.88). Sophomore Dillion Noble won the 300m (44.59) hurdles (44.59) and was second in the 110 hurdles (17.57) to advance, recording personal-best times in each.
The Friars also qualified in two team events, the 4 x 100 and 4 x 800 relays, after finishing second place in both. While the 4 x 100 (44.33) used a younger squad of freshmen Bryce Williams and Julian Liss, sophomore Landon Johnson, and junior Noah Diaz, the 4 x 800 (8:49.18) stayed more top heavy with seniors James Kieswetter and Jason Garza, as well as sophomore Wolfie Bergetz and junior Burke Burns.
Wednesday was full of PRs for the Friars.
In addition to the 100 and 200, Garrett recorded a PR in the long jump (17-9); Williams recorded a PR in the 100 meter (12.03); Diaz recorded a PR in the 200 meter (23.13); Burns recorded a PR in the 1600 meter (4:46.26); and freshman Michael Silva and junior Caleb Reed-Jennings recorded PRs in shot put (10.41m) and long jump (6.16m) respectively.
“I knew they could do what they did,” said Rill. “I feel good about what happened today. I’m excited about bringing some of the guys down (to the state tournament).”