Pranka, PHS third in TRAC

SHERRARD — The Boys Three Rivers Conference Track title came down to the final race of the evening as the Erie-Prophetstown (EP) Panthers edged the Sterling Newman Central Catholic Comets 124-123 to grab the 2015 conference title.

Trailing the Comets 120-119 heading into the final event, the 4x400, the quartet of Kody Wetzell, Connor Reilly, Seth Cameron and Jack Bauer came up huge with a fourth-place finish to end up two places ahead of the Comets in the event and grab five points to catapult them ahead of Newman, 124-123.

EP has now won three straight and five of the last six TRAC titles.

Princeton rounded out the Top 3 netting 82 points with Rockridge (80) and Fulton (74) right on their heels to round out the Top 5.

Princeton used a strong showing from Drew Pranka to propel themselves into third place. He placed first in the 300 intermediate hurdles (39.70) and also had two third-place finishes. He ran a time of 14.99 in the 110 high hurdles and also grabbed a third-place finish in the pole vault with a vault of 12 feet to score 22 points for the Tigers.

Pranka also had a hand in a fourth-place finish in the 4x100 as he anchored a group that included Austin Nordstrom, Lenny Mead and Kai Tomaszewski.

“We were really happy with how we performed. There is always tough competition when you come here, and you have to take your hat off to EP and Newman for the battle they had today. We would have liked to hang closer with them, but they just have a little more depth than we do; but we certainly had our bright spots like going 1 and 2 in the 300 high hurdles,” Princeton coach Dan Foes said.

PHS gained seconds from Tomaszewski in the 400 (52.08), Mead in the (3:36.25) and the 4x400 relay (3:36.25) of Tomaszewski, Austin Rossler, Kendile Whitford and Mead. PHS’ Lucas Sisler was third in the high jump (6-0).

The Tigers hope to use their third-place finish as a springboard for success as they look to lean on three returning state qualifiers (Mead, Tomaszewski and Pranka) to lead them on Friday as they travel to LaSalle-Peru for sectional competition.

“Overall, I’m very pleased with the performance. It’s good for us to come get this third place and have momentum going into sectionals on Friday,” Foes said.

Other bright spots for area teams included St. Bede Academy’s John Barnes, who still sees room for improvement after sweeping the throws. He grabbed first place in the shot put with a throw of 46-10.00 and the discus with a toss of 147-5.

“It was great to win conference in both; I didn’t throw my best throw in discus with the wind, but it’s good to come out and win conference. The wind kind of threw me off a little, but I’m confident I’ll come back and improve on today’s throw this Friday at sectionals,” Barnes said.

Also for the Bruins, junior Baylee Hopps won the triple jump (42-3 1/2) and freshman Brett Dannis placed third in the long jump (19-4 1/2).

Hall’s Al Baldonado also had a strong showing placing first in the 3,200-meter run (9:49.62). He narrowly missed out on another first place as he led the first three laps of the 1600 meter run, but couldn’t hold off Newman’s Chris Ahlers for the victory.

Hall sophomore Simon Burcham placed second in the shot put with a throw of 44-2.

Amboy/LaMoille was ninth as a team with 24 points and had a pair of fourth-place finishers: James Blackburn in the 3,200 (10:40.73) and Josh Gross in the long jump (19-1 12).

Bureau Valley was 10th with 23 points. Leading the Storm was Gailen Gibson, fourth in the triple jump (41-8 1/4).

• Sectional play commences on Friday with Princeton traveling to LaSalle-Peru while Bureau Valley will host St. Bede Academy and Hall during sectional action in Manlius.

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