Lyons Township’s strength and depth pushes them to easy team win in high powered meet

By Michael Newman

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Mt. Prospect, Ill --- The temperatures dipped close to 40 degrees Friday night at Prospect High School towards the end of the Wanner Knights Invitational. The cold weather did not slow down Lyons Township. The Lions scored in 15 of 20 events on their way to the team championship with 146 ½ points. They won only two events during the meet. Antwan Thigpen has stepped up in his junior year to become Lyons Township’s top sprinter. Running into a headwind, Thigpen ran 11.16 to win the 100 Meter Dash ahead of Wheeling’s Jason Shannon (11.25) and Blake Greenberg (11.37). The 800 Meter Relay of Thigpen, Rob Hatch, Reggie Terrell, and Kevin Minik won the event (1:30.16) ahead of Edwardsville (1:30.55), Wheeling (1:30.61), and Zion-Benton (1:30.70). The relays had their points doubled in this meet which benefitted the Lions. They scored in all five relays accumulating 71 points.

It also helped that the Lions scored both of their entered athletes in two distance events giving the team a boost. Danny Kilrea finished second and Matt Begeman finished fifth in the 3200 Meter Run. Vince Zona finished third just ahead of teammate Connor Madell in the 1600 Meter Run.

While the cold temperatures slowed the sprint and hurdle races in this meet, it was a plus to the four distances races at this meet. Those four events were the highlights of the meet.

The most competitive race of the night was the 800 Meter Run where the top two seeds Thomas Mosley (Zion-Benton HS) and Torrain Haughton (Maine East HS, Park Ridge) had personal bests at 1:53. Mosley likes to take the pace out fast as he stretched the pack early going past the first 200 meters in 25 seconds. That pace slowed down the half lap as Charlie Kern (York HS, Elmhurst) and Robert Kuhlmann (Lakes Community, Lake Villa) caught up with the leaders as the passed the 400 meters point in 55.2 seconds.

Haughton used a strategy similar to what he used in winning the 800 at the Palatine Distance Night meet a week prior pushing to the lead with just under 300 meters to go. It look like he had the race won as Mosley and Kuhlmann tried to keep up. Kern dropped back of the three runners but found his second wind on the curve. He passed the three and took the lead with 150 meters to go. Haughton and Mosley tried to pass the York sophomore in the final 100 meters of the race but Kern would not allow it. He finished with the win and a personal best (1:55.53) ahead of Haughton (1:56.17) and Mosley (1:56.31). Kuhlamnn finished fourth (1:57.73) and was the only other runner under two minutes in this race.

“I knew the pace was going to go out fast. I just wanted to stay behind it the whole race and move that second lap,” Kern said afterwards. “I just wanted to keep my form together (in the last 250 meters). That has been a big thing that I have been focusing on this season. I am getting stronger and have been able to hold on to that running form.”

The 1600 Meter Run in this meet has been the showcase race in this meet over the past few years with some great races taking place. The field was still a strong one as Lyons Township’s Vince Zona and Connor Madell along with Minooka’s Soren Knudsen leading the way heading into this race. There were some that had dismissed Heath Warren (Springfield HS) as one of the favorites even though he had run 4:09 in the 1600 a year ago. It was foolish to dismiss him as he had had a strong beginning to the outdoor season running 1:53 for 800 meters and 9:14 last week for 3200 Meters. In his eyes, this race was going to be his.

The gun fired and it was Warren that shot to the lead going through the first 200 in 29.4 and the 400 in 59.3 seconds. The pack behind him refused to bite on the fast pace as they stayed in the pack going through in 62 seconds waiting for Warren to drop back.

He did not.

Warren continued to push the pace the next lap going through the 800 in 2:04.4. Knudsen realized that Warren was not coming back started to push away from the pack pursuing Warren. The Minooka junior passed the 800 in 2:08.1 followed by Dan Santino (St. Ignatius College Prep, Chicago, Madell, and Zona.  Warren’s pace slowed down to a 66 second third lap, but the lead lengthened to five seconds ahead of Knudsen. The early fast pace had not hurt him.

He picked the pace up the final lap but it was not necessary. He had the race won. He took one peak behind him before he crossed the finish line as he ran a seasonal best of 4:15.32. Knudsen closed on Warren the final lap finishing second (4:18.93). Then the pack came in as seven runner finished within three seconds of each other. Lyons Township’s duo of Zona (4:20.72) and Madell were next (4:21.20) just ahead of Martin Barr (Niles North HS, Skokie) and Karson LeComte (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect).

“He had a tough week of workouts. I thought he would have heavy legs coming into this race,” Springfield Coach Trae Cotner said.  “I told him before the race that if he was going to push the pace, then go for the win.”

“I just wanted to go out on two flat for the first 800 and see what I could do from there. I knew I had to lead this race,” Warren said. “I thought people would start to come up on me at 800 because I could feel myself slowing down. I thought they would be coming but it never happened.”

The other two distance races were just as exciting. Prospect built up an early lead in the 3200 Meter Relay but had some drama at their second exchange when their second runner James Riordan dropped the baton when trying to hand off to teammate Matt Cozine. It gave Lyons Township and York a chance in this race. Cozine caught Lyons’ Connor Madell and York’s Liam Hill and opened up a three second lead as he handled off to Prospect anchor Karson LeComte. The senior ran a 1:55 anchor on their way to win the race (7:51.41, IL #3). Both Vince Zona and York's Max Denning ran 1:53 anchor legs but it was Zona’s final push in the final ten meters to give Lyons Township the edge (7:55.01) ahead of York (7:55.10).

The 3200 turned into a match race as Danny Kilrea (Lyons Township HS, LaGrange) and Martin Barr pulled away from the pack just 800 meters in the race. Kilrea was the one that pushed the pace as Barr just sat on his shoulder waiting for the right moment to take the lead. The final lap provided the most excitement as Barr tried to pass on the back stretch. Kilrea started to kick and Barr could not get pass. Finally with 100 meters to go, Barr swung off the curve and passed Kilrea. Barr ran a seasonal best of 9:12.58 just missing his school record by a second. Kilrea was next in for second (9:13.97).