Track and field notes: Glenbard South boys set to ‘go after it,’ aiming for top 10 in state

Glenbard South senior Tim Jochum was immediately surprised by freshman brother Tom during the boys cross country season.

“The first race I ran, he appeared out of nowhere and he was right by my side. I was like, ‘I cannot lose to this kid right now, especially in that race and throughout the rest of the season,’ ”Tim Jochum said.

The Raiders will be out front in many track and field events this season, especially the distance races.

Tim Jochum, senior Lucas Newman and junior Michael Bailey return from the all-state fourth-place 4x800-meter relay (7:58.12). Jochum also was all-state in the 800 (ninth, 1:57.26). There’s also senior state veterans Jaden Frederick and Harper Bryan and newcomers Tom Jochum, sophomore pole vaulter Kyle Quaid-Bowman (program record 4.45 meters/14 feet, 7 1/4 inches March 19) and senior Paul Quint, a transfer from Michigan who ran 2:01.31 in the 800 at the Raider Open on April 6.

“We were just aiming for all-state [in the 4x800]. Last year kind of woke us up,” Tim Jochum said. “This year, we’re just going to go after it.”

The Raiders are hoping for a top 10 finish as a team. Glenbard South has finished as high as second in the state in 2012 and third in 2011.

“You need a lot of things to click [at state]. Maybe seven events into the finals if everything goes good,” Glenbard South coach Doug Gorski said.

At Class 2A state cross country last season, the Raiders finished second after taking third in 2022. Tim Jochum (eighth) and Tom Jochum (15th) were top 25 all-staters. Frederick was 27th.

“[Tim helps me] a lot because under the same house you’re going to have some talk of who is better,” Tom Jochum said. “[Cross country] showed me what I could achieve, knowing that I think I can push myself further to just a higher placement in general.”

At state track and field last year, Frederick was 10th in the 3,200 (9:36.43), .09 from ninth. Bryan was 12th in the 110 high hurdles (15.30), .10 from the finals. Frederick ran a personal-best 9:20.50 March 23. Bryan’s recent 15.16 is .02 from his fastest.

“I didn’t know what place I was in [at state]. That makes me so much hungrier this year to do my best in that event,” Frederick said.

Big jumps

Downers Grove South sophomore all-state triple jumper Karen Boakye swept that event (11.25m/36-11) and long jump (5.18m/17-0) at her home Mustang Invitational on April 6. The distances passed her bests of 36-0 and 16-11 1/2 in the indoor season.

“Something I learned from indoor season is just have fun with it and be bouncy. I wasn’t enjoying it as much but now I’m enjoying it,” Boakye said. “My coach [Maddie Manganiello] kept telling me to have fun. I feel like I’m not under as much pressure and I can do it if I just do it.”

Boakye was sixth at state with a personal-best 11.56m/37-11 after a 36-6 1/4 at the sectional. She scratched her three long jumps at the sectional.

“[State] was pretty awesome. I actually had to [get a personal record] to even make it on the podium. I had to PR at sectionals to make it to state,” Boakye said. “For this season, I just want to go to state for both jumps.”

California runnin’

Part of Lyons’ fifth-place state 4x800 in 2023, senior Nick Strayer seeks his first individual all-state track honors. The two-time cross country all-stater who is headed to Brown recently returned to the Arcadia Invitational in California. Strayer was sixth in the mile (4:16.83) and 31st in the 800 (1:57.71). He ran a 4:26.10 in the mile at Arcadia as a sophomore. His 4:15.29 at 1,600 meters is Illinois’ fastest so far outdoors.

“I definitely put more emphasis on that [mile]. I’m pretty happy with how the double went,” Stayer said. “I definitely feel like I’m in the best shape of my life right now.”