Boys track and field: Downers Grove North’s Philip Cupial brings home two state titles in 4x800 and 1,600

CHARLESTON – Downers Grove North’s Philip Cupial had a state experience he won’t soon forget.

The sophomore began his Saturday at the boys track and field state meet at Eastern Illinois University running the third leg of the 4x800-meter relay. He helped the Trojans take the title in a blazing 7 minutes, 38.76 seconds, which is the third-fastest time in the nation this season.

By the end of the meet, Cupial added another state title to his name, this time in the 1,600 after dropping a 58.27 final lap and holding off Grayslake Central’s Noah Sato to cross the line in 4:13.57.

“It was just a big relief,” Cupial said. “I didn’t have any expectations, I just had standards. I thought that I could do it because if you think you can’t, you’re already at a disadvantage. But I just knew I could do it as an athlete.”

The Trojans finished the meet with five all-staters, which was tied for the most among Suburban Life area teams.

Also finishing with two all-state performances for Downers Grove North was senior Ryan Eddington. The Missouri commit anchored the state-champion 4x800 relay team with a 1:51.99 and added a third-place finish in the 800 in 1:52.27.

Eddington said ending his career with the Trojans with two all-state medals, especially a state title in the 4x800, was an amazing feeling.

“It couldn’t get any better,” Eddington said. “Especially after getting beat on the last turn of the 4x800 last year. Getting to win it with my boys was just incredible.”

Also having a memorable experience on O’Brien Field was Westmont jumper Abraham Johnson. The senior finished his final state meet with three medals – first place in the Class 1A long jump (6.77 meters) and seconds in the high jump (1.97 meters) and triple jump (13.93 meters).

Johnson, who spent the start of the meet splitting his efforts between the long jump and high jump, said he felt pretty good.

“It was a lot of stress, but I just knew that I needed to come out and jump,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s state-winning leap in the long jump came on his first effort on the day. Johnson said he just spread his arms and let his momentum take him right to the top of the leaderboard.

“I was just so excited to stand atop the podium,” Johnson said. “It was a breathtaking moment.”

Arguably the most impressive state title came in the Class 3A 800 race. After coming around the first lap in 10th place, Hinsdale Central’s Aden Bandukwala surged past every racer in front of him with a 54.17 last lap to take the state title in 1:51.11.

Bandukwala said even though he was in a bad spot from the start, he knew he didn’t need to panic because of the lack of separation from the front of the pack to where he was positioned.

“I had to just narrow down the race with 300 to go and watch what the leaders were doing,” Bandukwala said. “When they started to move up, I just mirrored them even if I was 10 meters behind.”

The senior got another chance to show off his late-race heroics in the 4x400 relay. After getting the final handoff in fifth place, Bandukwala recorded a 46.42 final leg, which was the fastest leg across all 3A runners, and made a move with 100 meters left to lead the team to a second-place finish in 3:18.04.

“I thought that the guys put me in a good spot,” he said. “I knew it was my last 100 meters in a Red Devils jersey.”

Also clinching a state title was Wheaton Warrenville-South hurdler Amari Williams, who achieved the feat in the 300 hurdles.

After crossing the halfway mark in fifth place, Williams found a second wind down the back stretch to chase down Homewood-Flossmoor’s Myles Ellis and pass him for the win on the final hurdle.

Williams said he realized he had a shot to win the race on the second to last hurdle and made a final push.

“I just wanted to build up my momentum and finish the race strong,” Williams said. “When I realized [I could win], I just wanted to push through and run fast through the line. It was so relieving to know I won.”

The Tigers had an all-state performance in the 3,200 from junior Josiah Narayanan, who finished sixth in 9:08.94. Narayanan spent the majority of the race up front with eventual champion Joe Bregenzer of Barrington, but said the last 800 meters showed where he messed up.

“I should have just hung back with the pack for a bit longer,” Narayanan said. “But if you make mistakes, you’ve got to learn to be better for next year.”

Despite not getting a win on the day, Glenbard South managed to put on a show across the board during the finals, finding the podium in five events.

Two of those efforts were second-place finishes from Harper Bryan. He earned seconds in the 110 hurdles (14.54) and 300 hurdles (38.82).

Bryan said that after not getting a chance to run at state last year, he feels good with all of his hard work paying off.

“Last year, I false-started at state, so I didn’t get a chance to run here,” Bryan said. “I think it motivated me to work extra hard for this, so I’m glad it paid off.”

The 4x800 relay team of Paul Quint, Lucas Newman, Michael Bailey and Tim Jochum recorded the second-fastest time in Class 2A state history after finishing in 7:45.55 for second place.

Bailey made a massive kick in the final 100 meters on the third leg.

“It’s known as ‘the Bailey Kick,’ where with 200 to go, I just launch past everyone,” Bailey said. “It all went really well and I’m super proud of our performance today. What a way to go out.”

One runner who didn’t have things go according to plan was Lemont hurdler Quinton Peterson. After coming into the final day with the top time in the 110 hurdles in the preliminary round, Peterson missed the state title by .01 seconds after being outleaned by Rolling Meadows’ Noah Heiber at the line.

Despite being mere inches away from a state title, the Penn commit said he was not upset, especially since he recorded a personal-best time of 14.11 in the event.

“He got me fair and square,” Peterson said. “But I can only be happy. Yeah, I didn’t get first, but I got a PR and I did my best, so I love it.”

Peterson added another all-state honor in the 300 hurdles after finishing third in 38 seconds. Peterson said he surprised himself with the bronze in the event.

“I usually don’t have that kick in the ending curve, but I guess the atmosphere gave me the kick I needed,” Peterson said. “I didn’t slow down for nothing and didn’t lose hope and I’m proud of that.”

York finished with three all-state performances. Brady Golomb had the top finish for the Dukes, placing fourth in the 1,600 in 4:15.11. Cash Langley finished with two medals after placing fifth in the 100 (10.70) and running the third leg in the 4x100 relay’s ninth-place finish (42.42).

Despite dealing with a partially torn hamstring, Canyon Roberts managed to tough out two all-state medals for Wheaton Academy. The senior recorded a personal-best in the pole vault after clearing 4.35 meters (14 feet, 3 1/4 inches) for fifth place before jogging the 110 hurdles for ninth place but still securing a state medal in the process.

“I wasn’t even planning on competing today, but thank goodness I did,” Roberts said.

IC Catholic Prep’s quartet of Aiden Rosa, Tony Dewald, Jordan Hall and Elijah Eason came away from the meet with two all-state medals after finishing fifth in the 4x100 (43.22) and ninth in the 4x200 (1:32.48).

Lesroy Tittle put his name in Nazareth’s record book after recording a third-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 6.77 meters (22-2 1/4). The sophomore not only broke the school record with the jump, but recorded the school’s highest finish ever at the state meet.

“Getting that record is great and I want to keep setting those records at Nazareth,” Tittle said.

Willowbrook’s Evan Weder earned a bronze medal after finishing third in the high jump.

Glenbard West’s Luke Benson finished his career with the Hilltoppers with a fourth-place showing in the triple jump, recording his best leap of 14.36 (47-1 1/2) on his final attempt.

Fenwick hurdler Aiden Williams took home a sixth-place medal in the 300 hurdles, finishing the race in 39.86.

Riverside-Brookfield’s Jack O’Brien finished his final meet with the Bulldogs with a seventh-place showing in the 800, crossing the line in 1:53.57.

Amari Alexander earned the only medal for Hinsdale South. The junior ran a 10.73 in the 100 dash for a seventh-place finish.

St. Francis thrower Gavin Mueller had the team’s only all-state performance. The sophomore had an eighth-place finish in the shot put after tossing it 15.77 meters (51-9).

Lyons’ Nicholas Strayer was an all-stater with a ninth-place finish in the 1,600 after crossing the line in 4:16.84.