Ford, McCall star for Thornridge

Updated: May 7, 2011 1:06AM

The Gary Ford Show is a moveable feast. On a regular basis, it features the Thornridge senior performing in his track and field events and proving ownership.

But it is not a one-man show. Based on Friday’s edition at Lockport, it should be renamed the Ford and McCall Show. That’s because Mik’ail McCall, the Iowa-bound senior who excelled at football, is excelling at track as well.

McCall captured the 100-meter dash, electronically timed in 11.06 seconds, and believed he could have been faster. He took the “B” flight in the long jump, leaping 22 feet 6½ inches, and surpassed Ford, who won the “A” flight with a leap of 22-1¾. McCall also grabbed third place in his flight of the shot put.

For McCall, having a teammate such as Ford, who went 4-for-4 in a meet for the second time in nine days, is a tonic.

“We compete in the 100 and long jump, and in pretty much everything we do we compete,” McCall said. “He’s a good partner to have.”

McCall and Ford are perfectionists. McCall was displeased with his start in the 100, saying he came up from the blocks too quickly and might have shaved a quarter-second off his time otherwise.

Ford, who added victories in the high jump and both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles — the latter in a rally over the last 25 meters — to his long jump division, found fault with his high jump effort. Not in the winning effort of 6-2, but in his attempt to clear 7 feet, which would have been a personal best by two inches. He cleared 6-10 early in the outdoor half of the season.

Ford came closest to clearing 7 feet on the first of his three attempts, zooming over the bar but catching it on his way down.

The night’s most dramatic moment came at the end, when Lockport’s Kevin Fisch won the pole vault (14-6) and nearly set a school record, narrowly missing at 15-1/4.

Other winners included Kevin’s cousin Alex Fisch in the pole vault’s “B” flight (14 feet), and Sandburg in the 3,200 relay (8 minutes, 14.09 seconds). Plainfield North took the team title, with Plainfield South second.

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