Boy's Track: Mustangs Send 4 Individuals, 2 Relays to State

Downers Grove South's track team entered Friday's sectional at Lyons Township hoping to emulate its vigorous training to IHSA State Tournament success.

When the meet expired, Lyons Township found themselves sectional victors of their own tournament, tallying 134 points. Hinsdale Central followed suit with an 81-point second-place finish while Downers Grove North took a 51-point third-place slot.

Downers Grove South registered fourth place scoring 57 points. Downers Grove South sent four individual runners and two relay teams to state.

Downers Grove South junior sprinter Jon Aldrin is taking his third trip to the state tournament, qualifying in two events. Aldrin took second place in the 100-meter dash with 11.09 and third in the 200-meter posting 22.24.

“I wouldn’t have expected so many (Downers Grove runners) advancing,” Aldrin said. “This is a really great feeling. I wanted to get a better showing in the 200, but it just wasn’t happening.”

Other individual competitors qualifying for Downers Grove South were high jump sectional champion Zack Baleski at six foot three inches, and 110-meter high hurdler Brett Whitten, who posted a 15.22 second-place finish.  In the 800-meter run, Anthony Farinella registered a 1:57.08 to take second place and qualify for state.

Joining the four competitors are the Downers Grove South 4x100 (which took second with 42.83) and 4x400 meter relays (which finished fifth with a 3:23.67).

“I’m thrilled with the meet today,” said Downers Grove coach Brian Caldwell, after celebrating in an uproar when the 4x400 meter relay qualified for state by 0.12 seconds.

“I was proud of our hurdler (Brett Whitten) to qualify, who recorded a personal best,” he said. “I’m optimistic that we’ll improve more next week, but we’re just going to have fun.”