Boys track notebook

York's Steve Sulkin, shown competing in the West Suburban Silver indoor meet, had a big day outdoors at Downers Grove South last Saturday.
(Brian Valentin/Pioneer Press)

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Like most track coaches, Thornridge's T.J. Shirley does not have a lineup that's set in stone yet.

"We're still moving some kids around, trying to get the right combination where everyone's comfortable," Shirley said.

In the meantime, the Falcons are showing they'll be a factor in May, both in the SICA East where they'll tangle with Thornwood and Thornton, and in the Class 3A Andrew Sectional.

Thornridge is 2-for-2 in invitationals, following up a victory in its own Blue Smoke meet by capturing Saturday's Flyin' Hawk Invite, which was hosted by Bartlett at Streamwood's track.

"We thought we had a good chance (to win)," Shirley said. "We didn't score in a lot of events we thought we would score in, but we also doubled in a lot."

Senior Jamal Jones, who ran a 10.74 100 at the Blue Smoke, won again on Saturday at 11.17. He also was second in the 200 at 23.04, two-tenths of a second behind Deerfield's Luke Cohen.

Jones also joined Mike Adams, Kendall Reid and Dimitri Johnson on the winning 400 relay team, which clocked a 42.86. That's under the state qualifying standard and the Falcons also are close to the mark in the 1,600 relay, which they won in 3:28.51 on Saturday.

"You always want to run those times before you hit sectional," Shirley said. 

Otherwise, if runners are pressing to reach standards they haven't already met, "that's when batons get dropped."

The Falcons have an interesting blend of experience and youth, highlighted by a sophomore class that features Johnson and returning state qualifier Gary Ford.

"We knew we had a special group there," Shirley said.

GOING THE DISTANCE: Distance aces Steve Sulkin and Jordan Herbert were back on the track for York in Saturday's Bud Mohns Invite at Downers Grove South after sitting out the previous week at Schaumburg.

Sulkin was an easy winner in the 3,200 in 9:12.13, while Herbert – still recovering from a virus that limited him to one race in March – took second in 9:27.42.

Dukes coach Stan Reddel isn't putting too much stock in their times this early in the season.

"Track's a funny sport," Reddel said. "You run too good early, you get nervous, and you don't run well early, you get nervous."

Sulkin and Herbert are tentatively scheduled to run the 1,600 on Friday when the Dukes return to Downers South. That's one of many events in which York is exceptionally deep: David Way (4:20.84) and Jack Driggs (4:21.96) went 1-2 Saturday.

Also having a big day for the Dukes was Khara Williams, who won his usual events – the 100 (10.46) and triple jump (45-6) – and one he rarely runs: the 400 (49.30).

NO SPIN: Thornwood thrower Denzel Carter is not a fan of the "spin" technique for the shot put. "I'm been 'gliding' for three years," he said, referring to the other technique. "The only thing (with the spin) is it goes, but not straight."

Carter won his specialty at Saturday's Homewood-Flossmoor Invitational with a 50-11 1/2 effort.

MR. VERSATILE: Conant's Kyle Reid, already one of the state's premier pole vaulters and hurdlers, is branching out as he gears up to compete in the decathlon at the next level.

Reid, who has narrowed his college choices to Illinois, Iowa and Illinois State, has tried the 400 and 200 this season. He's not the only elite vaulter who will be doing the decathlon next year; Bloom's Japheth Cato has committed to Wisconsin for that multi-event competition.

Got a story tip or comment? E-mail Sun-Times boys track writer Mike Clark at mclark@suntimes.com