Edwards Sprinting to Make History

The local area will be well represented when participants hit the blue track in O’Brien Stadium during the Class 3A boys track and field state meet Friday and Saturday on the Eastern Illinois University campus in Charleston.

Joliet West sprinter Calvin Edwards could return home with as many as four all-state medals after qualifying in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and as part of the Tigers’ 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 relay teams.

Edwards, a junior, is seeded seventh in the 100 (10.88 seconds) and sixth in the 200 (21.85). He's also a member of the Tigers' sprint relays, both favored to place among the top nine.

The top nine runners in Friday’s preliminary races advance to Saturday’s medal races.

Joliet West split from Joliet Central last year after 20 years as a singular athletic program. Not only would Edwards win the first state medals at the school since 1991, but could become the first four-time state medal winner in Joliet Township history.

The Tigers’ 4 x 200 relay team of Anthony McCullough, Jon Smith, Steven Austin and Edwards enters the meet with the state’s fastest time of 1:27.10.

The same four in a different order make up the Tigers’ 4 x 100 relay, which has the fifth best seed time in the state (41.96).

Joliet West seniors Jon Smith in the long jump (22 feet 3-3/4 inches) and John Hosey in the shot put (52-11) are long shots to advance to the medal round.

Minooka could also experience a case of medal madness at the state meet

Seniors Joe McAsey and Kevin Dorenkamper are favored to bring home individual medals.

McAsey ran a 1:54.99 in the 800, the fourth best seed time in the state, heading into Friday’s preliminary races. He was fourth in the 800 at the state meet a year ago.

Dorenkamper is ranked seventh in the 300 hurdles with a time of 38.61.

The Indians’ 4 x 400 relay team could challenge for a state title as they currently have the second best time in the state (3:17.79). The 4 x 800 relay is seeded eighth (7:52.66).

The 4 x 100 relay team is the No. 23 seed (42.76), while sophomore Joe Santillo has the 20^th fastest time in the 1,600 meters heading into the meet (4:24.64).