Lockport makes their statement

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Coaches of several area schools agreed that Friday night's Class AA Lockport Boys Sectional Track Meet was akin to running with the big dogs.

And, in what may be considered a mild upset, Lincoln-Way East and Lockport high school wound up the biggest dogs of all.

After a thrilling finish in a 4 x 400 relay that qualified six teams for next weekend's state meet at Charleston, the Griffins came out on top with 78 points to 76 Porters. The next three spots were filled by the schools mentioned early on as potential favorites -- Hillcrest with 72, Homewood-Flossmoor with 71 and Bloom with 66.

Providence finished sixth in the 21-team field with 33 points, Lincoln-Way Central was 14th with 11, Joliet scored 6 points for 17th place and Joliet Catholic was among three schools that did not score.

Now, about that 4 x 400 relay. Lockport superman Kyle Engell ran the anchor leg to conclude one extremely busy night. He helped the Porters to third place in the event.

East, meanwhile, put the finishing touches on its big night with a sixth-place finish. The 1-2 finishers in each event qualify automatically for state. When four others also surpass the predetermined state qualifying standard, you know you have something special cooking.

While Lincoln-Way East claimed the sixth qualifying spot in the 4 x 400 relay with a time of 3:24.00, matching the state standard, Providence claimed fifth place with its 3:23.80.

What had been a somewhat disappointing night for the Celtics suddenly looked a whole lot better.

"We lost Sean Lindbloom with a hamstring injury last week at conference," Providence coach Mark Coglianese noted with a couple of events remaining. "So we were struggling a little tonight.

"Last year we won the 4 x 1, 4 x 2 and 4 x 4 and got a lot of points that way. This year, we didn't have the depth to compete with a lot of these teams."

But Coglianese said then the Celtics still had a shot in the 4 x 400.

"This is a good group of kids," he said after junior Joey Michaels and seniors Ryan Griffin, Frank Murray and Mark Coglianese reached state. "Everybody was pretty even in this event, so we figured it would be a great race."

Michaels won the 300 hurdles (38.40) and Kevin Maloney the shot put (54-2) for other Providence highlights.

But nothing could top what Lincoln-Way East and Lockport accomplished.

Taking advantage of a perfect night weather-wise, East coach Charlie Breedlove could not have scripted it better.

"The team title is nice," he said. "It adds flavor. But it would not mean as much if we weren't sending a lot of guys downstate."

East won the 400 relay. Nick Trotter claimed the 3200 (9:18.60), Nick Neuman won the 100 (10.50) and was second in the 200 (21.50), Myles Scott-Stirn prevailed in the 1600 (4:17.20) and Derek Severson won the high jumped (6-8).

"It was nice to see Derek win the high and to get two guys in the 3200 (Ron Revord was third in 9:32.00)," Breedlove said. "And in the 300 hurdles, Andrew Vlosak knocked off a couple seconds from his best, and then Dan Spencer beats that and qualifies for state in both hurdles."

Scott-Stirn won the 1600 in a duel with Engnell, who ran second in 4:19.40.

"We've battled back and forth," Scott-Stirn said. "Of course, he is more of an 800 and mile guy, so that was kind of interesting."

Of course, Engnell's goal was to reach state in that event. His decision time is coming -- on exactly which events he will participate in next weekend.

"I've been running these quads for a while now, but there's added pressure in a meet like this," Engnell said. "It wound up being a really awesome day. Hard work paid off.

"I have to weed out a few races for next week. I'll probably have to choose between the 800 and mile. The 4 x 4 I'm not sure about, but I probably won't run in the 4 x 8."

"I'm extremely proud of Kyle, our superman," Lockport coach Tom Razo said. "He gives you what he has. He had a great day.

"I'm please overall. Our young guys laid it on the line. Second place, I'm very happy. I wanted to qualify as best we could, and we did that."

The Lockport state contingent includes the winning 3200 relay of Abe Omar, John Kenney, Pete Sullivan and Engnell (8:06.10), Omar in the 300 hurdles (third, 39.30), discus champion Tom Malone (156-0).

And, of course, Engnell, who won the 800 in 1:57.20 besides qualifying in the 1600 and in two relays.

Lincoln-Way Central coach Brian Miller and Joliet's Jason Aubry made similar points about the experience their troops gained from competing in a meet of this magnitude. Both are coaching extremely young teams.

Young teams that endured a night of running with the big dogs.