Whips' Walker eyeing titles

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Quinn Walker hopes to accomplish this weekend what no Hampshire boys track athlete has ever done.

Walker, a standout hurdler for the Whip-Purs, is trying to become the first male athlete to win a state championship. The senior will take another step toward that goal today during the preliminaries of the State Track Meet at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston.

Seeded first in the Class A 300-meter intermediate hurdles with a sectional-winning time of 39.64 seconds, and seeded third in the 100 high hurdles with a sectional-best time of 14.74, Walker seems primed to make a run at a championship.

"That's what I'm shooting for is first place," said Walker, a three-time state qualifier who placed third in Illinois in the highs and eighth in the intermediates last season. "I'm feeling good, excited and happy to be back."

Walker set school and Big Northern Conference records in the intermediate hurdles during the BNC Meet, posting a time of 38.2. He also set a personal-best in the highs with a time of 14.2 at the BNC Meet two weeks ago. With two years of State Meet experience, Walker hopes to bring home the gold in his final shot.

"I'm just going to run my race," he said. "But being on that medal platform last year should help."

Walker is trying to become the first Hampshire track athlete to win a state title since 2002 when Erin Salinas reigned in the Class A discus event. Her sister, Natalie, won the discus title in 2001.

"(Winning a state title) is a goal he has had and he's pretty motivated for it," Hampshire coach Steve Bruhn said. "His goals are very clear and I'm sure he'll do his best. He's got the experience and his times reflect that."

And his competition in the BNC could help in his State Finals performances. Walker, who will compete at Lincoln College next year, has run against Burlington Central's Dan Hagberg many times.

Hagberg has qualified for both Class AA hurdle events. The Cornell-bound standout is seeded third in the high hurdles with a sectional-winning time of 14.34 and is seeded 14th in the intermediates (39.41).

"The goal is to get to (the finals)," Hagberg said. "That's all I'm worried about."

Hagberg advanced to State in both races as a junior last year, but failed to make the finals.

"I'm more confident this year," said Hagberg, who quarterbacked the football team last fall. "Once you get down to State everybody is good. But I've been there before and I know what it's like."

And, like Walker, he knows what it's like to face some of the state's best on a regular basis.

"Running against him helps push me," Walker said. "We talked a little after the (BNC Meet) and wished each other good luck. But, still, it is Hampshire and Cenral, it's always a rivalry."

Hagberg says a top-three finish would be "phenomenal."

"The goal is to make it to Saturday," he said. "And then anything is possible."

Huntley's Marcus Popenfoose is seeded third in the discus event, while Jacobs' Brad Foote is seventh.

St. Charles North's best bets for a state medal are Chris DeSilva (seeded 5th in the 1,600 run) and the North Stars are seeded third in the 3,200 relay. And North's Mike Strasser is seeded ninth in the 3,200.

Burlington Central's Ryan Phebus and Huntley's Todd Farbiak are seeded fourth and 12th, respectively, in the 800.

Jacobs' JM Salcedo is seeded fourth in the 100.

In Class A, the St. Edward 400 relay team is seeded third. The foursome of Josh Scholly, Matt Ardiente, Eric Guerrero and Nick Kerger set a school record by winning the Genoa-Kingston Sectional title in 43.47. Guerrero also qualified in the 100.