Burlington seniors shine at sectional

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Burlington Central seniors Dan Hagberg and Ryan Phebus had evenings to remember on Friday at the Class AA Streamwood boys track sectional.

Hagberg qualified for the state meet in three events, while Phebus advanced in two different events. Both were part of a surprising qualification in the final race of the night, the 1,600-meter relay.

"This means everything to me," said Phebus, who set a school record in the 800 (1:54.83), breaking Chris Wesson's mark. "This could have been my last races tonight. I wanted to hold nothing back."

Hagberg qualified in the 110 high hurdles (14.10) and 300 hurdles (39.41), finishing first in both races.

"Winning a sectional title was what I was shooting for," said Hagberg, who qualified for state last year, but did not place. "My next goal is to make it to the finals Downstate. As of right now my time is in the top nine, but anything can happen down there. I can't hit the hurdles, that's what got me last year."

Central, which finished fourth in the team standings with 45.5 points, also qualified pole vaulter Joe Manzie (13 feet, 3 inches) and the 1,600 relay squad, which included sophomore Mitch Plum and senior Kyle Haselton along with Phebus and Hagberg. The Rockets, who finished in 3:24.17, entered the event seeded fifth.

"Ryan and Danny were kind of expected," said Central coach Mike Schmidt, whose team won its fourth straight Big Northern East title last week. "Dan ran the best race I've ever seen him run in the [110 hurdles] and Ryan had a huge night too. He ran really strong. It was nice to see [Manzie] get there."

Wheaton North won the team title with 99 points and was followed by Geneva (62), Glenbard East (46), the Rockets, Wheaton Warrenville South (45), St. Charles North (44.5) and Streamwood (35).

Streamwood fared well on its home track, qualifying Neal Klein in the 3,200 run (2nd, 9:29.3), David Shaw in the 400 (first, 49.31) and Kyle Holder in the 200 (first, 21.9).

"Last year I came so close and I didn't get it. That's what pushed me tonight," Shaw said. "This night has been on my mind all season. Next week will definitely be a challenge like this was, but that will push me even more."

Elgin sophomore Adam Kuforiji finished fourth in the 400 (50.32), missing the qualifying time by less than a second.

"I'm happy knowing I gave it 100 percent," Kuforiji said. "This will make me work even harder for next season."

St. Charles East's Keenen Sellers advanced in both 200 (22.0) and 100 (10.8). Bartlett's Dan Karys was a double-qualifier, winning the long jump (22-1 1/2) and finishing second in the triple jump (42-8.5). St. Charles North's Mike Strasser won the 3,200-meter run (9:22.54) in front of Klein and teammate Rhett Morici (9:32.47), who also qualified. In the 800, North's tandem of Steve Miller and Max Clink both qualified.

North's Chris DeSilva won the 1,600 with a time of 4:17.61.

"I felt tight out there, so I knew I wasn't going to run my best time, but I was able to hold on," DeSilva said.