OPRF boys track and field dominates conference meet

The OPRF boys track and field team geared up for this week's Class 3A sectional by running away with the West Suburban (Silver) Conference Meet title at Lyons Township on Friday.

OPRF's victory marked the first time since 1987 that the program won an outdoor conference meet title.   

 "Winning this meet is certainly a well-deserved accomplishment, but all the athletes know that there are really only two meets that matter most during the season," said OPRF head coach Tim Hasso, referring to the Oak Park Sectional to be held at Concordia University Chicago on Thursday (11 a.m.) and the Class 3A State Meet beginning the following week. "This was the last chance to make a mistake, moving forward now everything must be perfect."

Distance runner Malachy Schrobilgen finished first in both the 3200 (9:26.16) and 1600-meter (4:11.44) runs. Defending state champ Carl Heinz won the high jump with a leap of 6-10, and took first in the triple jump with a mark of 45-7.5.

Lionel Townes, Jamal Baggett, Tariq Taylor and Zach Booth won both the 4x100 (41.85) and the 4x200 (1:28.27) relay events.   

Booth also won the 200 dash in 22.5 seconds, while Evan Fisher finished first in the 800 with a time of 1:58.72.

"The nice thing about the sectional is that we're competing on our home track, but times won't matter in this meet, places will," said Hasso. "We have to give ourselves as many opportunities as possible. That's the focus right now. If you're not on the track nothing can happen."

OPRF girls track and field

The OPRF girls track and field team finished second at the Class 3A Lyons Sectional and qualified nine events for this weekend's State Meet to be held at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston.   

Junior McKenzee Kroeschell won the pole vault with her fourth school record vault of 11-9. Freshman Hannah Gorin took first in the 3200 with a time of 11:46.87, while sophomore Amari Wilkerson won the 300-meter low hurdles in 47.50 seconds.

Others who qualified for state included Erin Svehla (high jump, 5-3), Brianna Wheat (400, second, 1:01.08) and Chaundia Jones (200, first, 26.05).

The Huskies also qualified two relays. The 4x100 (49.75 seconds) and the 4x200 (1:45.08) both finished second.

The Huskies took runner-up with 121 points, while Lyons Township won the section with 206.