It's anyone's game on the track

Updated: April 22, 2011 2:02PM

Track is a numbers game, and some of the numbers over the past week have been very impressive. They're the type of times and distances that more often are seen in May, not April, and that speaks to the high quality of the competitors this year.

The first one that sticks out is 14 feet. That's the pole vault height registered by Lockport's Kevin Fisch. It not only ties him with Hillcrest's Mike Malone for the top height in the area this year, it moves him ahead of his cousin, Alex Fisch, at Lockport. Alex's best so far is 13-6.

A third cousin, Patrick Fisch, has cleared 12 feet for the Porters. The state Class 3A qualifying standard is 13-9, so two of the three Fisches are within reach of that, but they have to do so May 20 at the Bloom Sectional.

Kevin Fisch also is among the area's best in the high jump, having cleared 6-4. A 6-5 sectional showing punches his ticket for the state meet in Charleston.

The next number is three. That's how many 100-meter speedsters Lincoln-Way East's girls squad has in the area top four. Aaliyah Brown is the leader after the 11.59 she posted at an elite meet in Arcadia, Calif., but it's not about just the stylish sophomore for the Griffins. Senior Maria Perozzi posted a hand-timed 12.10 100 on Saturday, and freshman Meghan Marias was right off her shoulder with a 12.30.

Those are the Nos. 1, 2 and 4 spots in the area, with Homewood-Flossmoor's Leslie Esco, at 12.27, in third. But the Vikings, with Esco, Taylor Farley and Abieyawa Ehimwenman in the mix, boast the best 400-meter relay time in the area by far thanks to Saturday's 47.91.

The next number is 4:34.58. That belongs to Matt Hall, Illiana Christian's middle-distance man, in the 1,600 meters. He and Tinley Park's Matt Jemilo, who has his eyes on a state title, could be headed for a showdown May 20 at the Class 2A Hillcrest Sectional. The automatic qualifying time is 4:30.20, and both likely will be under that time by then, but if not, only two advance, and that sectional is loaded.

Finally, try 140 feet, 2 inches, on for size. That's the discus throw unloaded Saturday by Thornton senior Jazjuan Wallace-Sipp. It not only exceeds the state qualifying standard by about 23 feet, it's only 3 feet off her state-winning throw of 143-2, last year, which was the best in Southland history. And it's only April.

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