Sulkin, Herbert pace Dukes to 3A title

Wheaton North's Mike Trumpy, Marian Catholic's Erick Gavin and Thornton's William Lindsey compete in the 110-meter high hurdles at the IHSA state track finals Saturday in Charleston. Gavin won the event.

(Corey R. Minkanic/For the Sun-Times News Group)

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CHARLESTON, Ill. — When Stan Reddel took over for the legendary Joe Newton as York’s boys track and field coach in 2001, his goals were simple.

‘‘Coach Newton started the legacy of toughness and excellence,’’ Reddel said. ‘‘I knew I had to somehow maintain that.’’

Reddel’s dream was realized on Saturday, as the Dukes ran to the Class 3A team title, their fourth track state championship and first since 2000, Newton’s last season. York totaled 56 points to outdistance second-place Neuqua Valley by 20.

‘‘I’m fortunate that I coach in a community that cares about track,’’ Reddel said. ‘‘It’s a big thing there. It’s important. You work that hard, sometimes it pays off.’’

After a disappointing start to the meet, the Dukes kick-started their title run in the 3,200 meters. Teammates Steve Sulkin (9:03.91) and Jordan Herbert went 1-2 in the event, with Sulkin winning the Dukes’ only individual title.

‘‘All year long we’ve been pushing each other,’’ Sulkin said. ‘‘I wanted to win the whole thing, hopefully with Jordan right behind me.’’

There was high drama in the discus with Lake Park senior Dan Block coming off a state-record throw of 208 feet, 11 inches at the sectional. But Huntley junior Marcus Popenfoose uncorked a meet-record toss of 199-8 in Friday’s preliminaries, setting the stage for a Saturday showdown.

In his first throw of the finals, Block popped a new meet record of 205-8 to sweep the throwing events. Block also took the shot put with a 62-0.

‘‘Definitely the best throw of my life,’’ Block said. ‘‘After last year, I don’t want to say I choked [losing the title to Waubonsie Valley’s Brett Einbecker], but I guess I did. It would have killed me to get second this year.’’

Rolling Meadows senior Mick Viken won the pole vault with a 16-10 clear before taking a crack at the state record of 17-0 1⁄2. Viken came up short on that 17-1 attempt, but won the first state title in his family after watching two of his brothers come up short.

‘‘I’ve been doing it for so long and watching both of my brothers come up short their senior years, so I was doing it as much as for my team and my coaches as I was for my brothers,’’ Viken said.

The Aurora area was well-represented in the winner’s circle. Waubonsie Valley took the 3,200 relay. Batavia’s Bai Kabba was first in the 400, West Aurora’s Josh Zinzer won the 200 and East Aurora’s Jamario Taylor took home the high jump crown.

Other champs included Bloom long jumper Alex Robinson, Young triple jumper Jonathan Gardner, Marian Catholic’s Erick Gavin (110 hurdles), Glenbrook South’s Colin Hepburn (100), Maine South’s Ryan Lynn (800), Conant’s Jeff Thode (1,600) and Neuqua Valley’s 1,600 relay team.