Callahan continues to speed his way into record books

TRACK -- The fact that the North Shore Country Day track teams compete in two different conference meets in the same week gives the Raiders twice the chance for success.

And participation in the Indian Trails Conference and Independent School League meets within a four-day span didn't keep from bringing out the best from one Raider in particular, senior Peter Callahan.

Although he ran his normal load of races, Callahan was able to focus on different events at the different sites. As a result he now owns the state's best Class A times in three events -- 800 meters, 1600 meters and 3200 meters -- after leading the Raider boys to a pair of team titles.

Callahan was clocked in 1:53.5 -- ranked in the top 25 nationally -- in the 800 as the Raiders piled up 155.5 points to beat out Wayland Baptist of Wisconsin May 5 at the Indian Trails championship meet.

Callahan also ruled the 1600 (4:40) and 3200 (10:52), with Ivan Ramirez (53.7 in the 400) accounting for North Shore's other individual win. The Raiders claimed firsts in the 800 (1:38.0), 1600 (3:40.7) and 3200 (9:03.8) relays to add to the victory total. It marked the second straight year North Shore has won the team title.

On Friday, Callahan's focus shifted to the 3200. He broke his own school record by an astonishing 15 seconds -- clocked at 9:21.35 -- with a sizzling last leg of 57 seconds. The senior standout ruled the 800 in 2:00.79, captured the 1600 in 4:32.2 and ran with the winning (8:33.13) 3200 relay team.

Teammate David Thomas won both the 100 (11.31) and 200 (23.17) while anchoring two relay teams, the 400 (45.89) and 800 (1:37.4) to victory as the Raiders outscored runner-up University High 187-107 in the ISL team standings.

North Shore's Sam McElroy won the 110 hurdles in 19.3 and freshman Carlos Hunter took top honors in the discus with a best throw of 101-feet-7.

Last week's performance by Callahan caused coach Patrick McHugh to reconsider just what his state lineup might look like.

Callahan is the defending state champ in the 1600 and will certainly contribute in the 3200 relay if, as expected, the Raiders qualify.

Now McHugh might add him to the mix in the 3200, too.

"He won't have to run a preliminary race in the 3200, and with three classes now he'll have plenty of time in between races to rest on Saturday (finals)," the coach noted. "I had never really entertained the idea of running him in the 3200. Now I'm thinking, why not? Running four events over a six-hour period is a lot more do-able than doing it in three hours."

McHugh has another week to make that decision prior to the boys sectional.

North Shore's girls will participate in their sectional meet on Friday at Illinois Benedictine College in Lisle after winning the Indian Trails Conference crown and placing third in the ISL standings.

A solid distance double by Rebecca Dachille (winning times of 13:26 in the 3200 and 6:11.6 in the 1600) powered the Raiders to a team total of 156 points at the Indian Trails gathering. Aleda Deuble had North Shore's other win, with a 56.6 clocking in the 300 hurdles, and the Raiders also ruled the 3200 relay in 11:52.

High jumper Rachel Mabie accounted for North Shore's lone triumph at the ISL meet, where the Raiders racked up 65 points behind only Latin (136) and U High (103). Mabie's winning height was 4-6.

Laura Nowzohour provided another highlight for the Raiders with a school-record time of 1:05.85, good for third place in the open 400.