Sullivan, seniors persevere for coveted Class 3A state crown

BOYS TRACK-- York senior Jimmy Sullivan prepared for the worst when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last summer playing basketball.

"Actually the first thought was the typical recovery time for an ACL injury is six to eight months so that takes out my track season," Sullivan said.

Then Sullivan and his family thought again. They researched, interviewed and found alternative surgery not approved in the United States with a projected recovery time of four to five months. Sullivan flew to France for his knee operation at the end of August and spent the first three quarters of the school year doing intensive rehabilitation work with sprints coach Chris Korfist.

On Saturday, Sullivan earned two all-state medals on the 400- and 800-meter relays and contributed to the biggest prize of all -- the Dukes' Class 3A state championship as a team at the first three-class state meet at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

The Dukes used eight top-nine, all-state performances to score 56 points and easily win by 20 points over second-place Neuqua Valley. It's the Dukes' fourth state track title and first since their Class AA crown in 2000, Joe Newton's final season as head coach after 40 years.

"I wanted a state championship my whole high school career and that's always been my goal," Sullivan said.

"Obviously, (the surgery in France) worked out for the best but it was a tough battle. I wouldn't be running ... not even close I don't think, because American-type surgery is much more invasive so I don't think I would be fully recovered by this point. We were a little nervous but we did a lot of research and it worked out for the best. This is the greatest accomplishment I've ever had."

Seniors Steve Sulkin and Jordan Hebert typified the Dukes' tenacity as they finished first and second in the 3,200-meter run with respective fully-automatic times of 9 minutes, 3.91 seconds and a lifetime-best 9:04.83. Sulkin later came back to take third in the 1,600 (4:13.35).

Seniors Tarrence Williams, John Fox, Khara Williams and Sullivan finished second in the 400 relay (41.84) and 800 relay (school-record 1:26.06) after running a school-record 41.69 and 1:26.12 in Friday's preliminaries.

Khara Williams made it a four-medal day by also taking sixth in the 100 (10.90) and an inspiring fourth in the 200 (22.27) in his eighth race of the weekend. The 3,200 relay of senior Patrick Morgan, juniors Matt Schacht and Andrew Smith and sophomore Jack Driggs took fifth (7:49.43) even minus senior standout David Way, who injured his hamstring at practice May 25.

York head coach Stan Reddel also was head coach for Walther Lutheran's Class A state title in 1984. Before Saturday, the Dukes had earned four top-three team trophies since 2000 with three second-place finishes, including last year. The Dukes are being treated to a school assembly at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

"Mr. Newton started a culture of excellence and toughness and we're just trying to continue that," Reddel said. "We didn't have a perfect meet. We had a little bit better than average meet, but our depth and resilience paid off. It wasn't an easy year. The ups and downs and arounds, the bottom line is we're on the top step and that's what counts."

Besides Way and Sullivan, 2008 three-event all-stater Fox was limited to two relays this year after having hamstring and knee problems and sitting out most of the outdoor season. Khara Williams, who especially stepped up in Fox's absence, had his own scare during the indoor season, sitting out for more than a week after he believed he had a heart murmur.

"It makes it sweeter because if you want to have a state-championship-caliber team you have to be able to roll with the punches. We had some injuries but you've just got to deal with that kind of stuff and you just keep going toward your goal no matter what happens," Sullivan said. "Part of our goal is for York to be known as one of the most dominant sprint teams and I think we did a pretty good job of establishing that. This is the day that it counts and this is the day you have to bring it and prove your stuff."

Belleville West edged the Dukes by just 8 one-hundredths of a second in the 400 relay and 4 one-hundredths in the 800 relay. It's still the highest 400/440-yard relay finish in York history and equals the highest 800/880-yard relay since 1957. Korfist joined the coaching staff when the seniors were freshmen.

"I've worked with these guys for what seems like my whole life and to end like this, I wouldn't want it any other way," said Fox, who graduates with six all-state medals. "I never really came out to do personal stuff. It's the team. It wasn't something where I had to say to the guys, 'I'll be back.' They were telling me I'd be back. It's amazing they put up with it and now we're here. We got it."

Other Dukes made sacrifices at state. Because of Way's injury, Driggs scratched from the 1,600 to join the 3,200 relay and Morgan scratched from the open 800 to conserve energy for Saturday's final. Way tried to run the 800 but struggled after the halfway point and finished 25th.

Sullivan qualified for state again in long jump, relying mainly on his other leg this year because of the surgery, but scratched to focus on the relays. Khara Williams and Tarrence Williams already had scratched at sectionals from possible berths in triple and long jump.

With a history of heart problems and high blood pressure in his family, Khara Williams said he will undergo further tests this summer before his fall training. His great feeling Saturday even exceeded the elation he remembered when he received the clearance to resume running and the boost it gave the team.

"My mom dropped me off at school, I ran to coach Reddel's room and then peaked my head in his classroom and he saw this huge grin on my face," Khara Williams said.

"(At state) we just did it for them, the people who couldn't be here or couldn't run on the track. (I'll remember) lifting that trophy. The track is my stage. I Iove to perform."