@PNTrack Recap

A great day as a team for the Phoenix at the @PNTrack invite. As a team we finished 3rd overall (4 points behind Plainfield East for 2nd). There were many highlights on the day. The track season is a long season, and each phase of the season has different goals. With indoor you want a learn how to compete, different tracks, some with spikes, some without, different relays, different events. Its a great chance to learn how to battle in a race setting. Saturday gave many guys a chance to do just that.

Here are a few of the highlights.

The day started strong with the "open races." Jake Ulanowski, and Sam Broda ran strong 55 meter races. Not to be outdone by their sprint counterparts, our group of fr/so distance guys ran great in the 1600. Anthony Iozzo won the "open 1600" in a PR time of 4:52. The Profit continues to impress with his race savvy and guts. Anthony ran a smart race, opening it up the last 300 to win in 4:52. He was followed closely by 4 teammates who ran PRs. Matt Jung continues his progression running 4:58, Jeremy Stajkowski ran 4:59, Sam Chomiak continues to close in on 5:00 running 5:08, and Ryan Schuetz ran a big PR of 5:13.

The other big early meet highlight was Josh Ohiku setting the indoor school record in the high jump. Josh had a great series, and the state qualifying standard of 6'3 seems more and more likely.

Mike Trost ran a strong 3200, finishing second in a PR of 10:12.

Jamir Hunt just missed finals in the 55 running 6.47.

Kyle Graff finished 3rd and broke his own school record in the 55 hurdles. Kyle continues to improve as a hurdler. 

The 4x8 ran strong in a funky race. The 3rd leg was shorted by a lap. Freshman stud Ryan Drafke muscled his way to a 2:11 opening leg with a lot of pushing and shoving for position. Kyle Bechtold ran a great second leg (2:05), and Ryan Belavich was running outstanding when he was stopped a lap short. He ran 1:34 for 622 meters, sub 2 could be possible come outdoors for Ryan. Mark Harris closed out the race for a 2nd place finish overall. This group would have run something around 8:35 had they run the right distance.

The team really hit a hot streak in the middle of the meet. 4 straight events the Phoenix ran exceptional. Noah Healy ran an indoor PR 2:02 in the 8:00, closing the last 200 in 29 to win. Kyle Goodwin followed that up with a victory of his own in the 400. Kyle made it exciting, waiting until the final 35 meters to take the lead. Jamir Hunt ran a great solo race in the slowest heat of the 200 to finish 2nd overall. Then came the Gauntlet Mile!

John Chomiak and Demetri Panici both ran exceptional races. The pace early was super hot. But John and Demetri both kept their heads and stayed patient. John took the pace in the middle and pressed on. With about 600 to go Demetri passed John for a lead that he wouldn't relinquish. Closing in 62 to win in a school, meet, and fieldhouse record of 4:24.7. John finished 3rd in 4:32.

The 4x4 ran tough to finish the meet on a high note for us.