Boys track and field: Batavia wins fourth straight DuKane Conference title

CAROL STREAM – The 800-meter run was still anyone’s contest when Batavia senior Felipe Wickler approached the last 300.

“I’ve got to show them it was my race to win,” Wickler said.

He kicked – as he said afterward he held himself accountable – to win the DuKane Conference 800 title in 1 minute, 55.59 seconds, just ahead of St. Charles East’s Patrick Klasa and Michael Wilson.

“What makes me feel really accomplished is that I beat my previous self,” Wickler said. “That’s really what it comes down to in these races is being better than you were yesterday.”

That’s not easy at Batavia, which won the DuKane Conference championship for a fourth straight time May 10 at Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream.

The Bulldogs’ 148 points topped Wheaton Warrenville South (138.5), St. Charles North (89), St. Charles East (81), Lake Park (74.5), Wheaton North (69.5), Glenbard North (56) and Geneva (44.5).

Batavia coach Dennis Piron praised athletes such as surprise shot put winner Gavin Pecor, long jump winner Isaiah Brown, four-event “ironman” Nate Whitwell and all the Bulldogs like Wickler who held themselves accountable.

Batavia scored in 16 of 18 events.

“We had some fun this week talking about what it means to win a conference title. And I think I saw the spirit of it in every single event,” Piron said.

The DuKane Conference meet has been contested only since 2019 so some records fell.

St. Charles North junior Nathan McLoughlin broke the DuKane record in the pole vault at 15 feet, 2 inches. He repeated as champion, winning in 2023 as a sophomore at 14-6.

McLoughlin remained a little disappointed, “blowing through his poles” to try to reach higher heights.

“It’s part of the process,” he said. “Always looking for more.”

Wheaton Warrenville South used a fast start by 100-meter winner Da’jion Riley (11.01 seconds) to set a 4x200 relay record of 1:28.99 with Ben Ishimwe, Ethan Cambell and 200-meter winner Jacob Brocius (22.33).

Two events later, the Tigers’ Amari Williams set a DuKane record in the 300 hurdles at 38.34 seconds, the second-fastest time in Illinois this season. Williams also won the 110 hurdles in 15.15.

“Coach (hurdles coach Ken Young) always told me, no matter how far ahead or how far behind you are, you’ve got to keep on running,” said Williams, who won the 300 hurdles by more than 2 seconds.

Wheaton Warrenville South’s Josiah Narayanan made a valiant attempt to follow his 3,200 victory with a win in the 1,600 but had to settle for second to St. Charles East’s Greyson Ellensohn, who won at 4:18.48.

“Jed (teammate Jedidiah Wilson) pushed me and with like 250 left I’m like this is within striking distance, I know from my kick, so I went for it,” said Ellensohn, seeded fifth in the race.

Wheaton North, which won the inaugural DuKane Conference meet, was paced May 10 by high jump champion Stephen DeMoss and discus winner Carl Givens.

Glenbard North won its first conference title in the 4x800 relay since 1998. It ran an 8:02.83, almost 24 seconds off its seed time.

“Around halfway through the race, I heard someone yell at the dude right behind me that ‘they’re nobodies, just catch them.’ So I knew I had to beat him,” said Gabe Early, who ran with Faizaan Haq, anchor Daniel Prochaska and Royce Krush.

Krush won the 400 out of lane 8 in 50.15 seconds.

Lake Park got a victory from Adrian Przestrzelski in the triple jump.

Interstate Eight Conference meet

Kaneland won the Interstate Eight Conference meet at Morris with 194 points. Sycamore (175) was second.

Kaneland winners included Evan Nosek in the 800 (1:59.58), David Valkanov in the 1,600 (4:22.75) and 3,200 (9:27.93), the 4x800 relay (8:27.18), Brady Betustak in the discus (48.64 meters), Freddy Hassan in the high jump (1.91) and Kyle Rogers in the pole vault (4.27)

https://www.dailyherald.com/20240510/prep-sports/boys-track-and-field-batavia-wins-fourth-straight-dukane-championship/