Beating the Illinois High School Association state qualifying standards in the third week of April is no guarantee of success at the state track finals at the end of May.
But it’s definitely something for Jack Kleinschmit and Jordan Harvey to build on.
The two Evanston standouts both turned in performances under state cuts in chilly conditions Friday night while leading the Wildkit track team to a 3rd place overall finish at the Red Grange Invitational hosted by Wheaton Warrenville South.
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The ABC flighted meet format allowed three runners, jumpers and throwers from each school to participate in separate competitions. Evanston scored just four individual wins but had the depth to deliver a solid 3rd place finish in the 17-team field with 116 points, behind only Homewood-Flossmoor (165.5) and Grayslake Central (146).
Kleinschmit, a senior who only recently broke the 2 minute barrier at the half mile distance, continued his attack on the clock and captured first place in the Class A 800-meter run with a personal best time of 1 minute, 58.36 seconds and edged top-seeded Zach Self of Waubonsie Valley (1:58.76).
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The pair were only separated by a stride or two after a 58 second first quarter, but Kleinschmit’s strong effort over the last 200 decided the race.
He was under the state cut of 1:58.38, and later came back to place 4th in the Class B 1600 in 4:40.04.
“I was really happy to be able to go out in 58 like that,” Kleinschmit said regarding the start of the 800. “I have run a couple of 1:59s so far but I was getting worried that I was stuck there. It’s good to know I could get my time down tonight, because I know I’m faster than that.
“I’ve gone back and forth between the 800 and 1600, but my main focus is really in the 800. It’s a fun race --- but it’s hard. My goal tonight was to get out fast because when I ran last week (at Minooka) I had negative splits. Tonight was the fastest I’ve gone out in this race.”
The Wildkits also counted individual wins from Emmitt Wilson, 4:39.26 in the C 1600; Lee Muir, 42.06 in the C 300 hurdles; and freshman Jaden Jean-Paul, who only came out for track two weeks ago and won the C high jump at 1.80 meters.
Harvey didn’t win his 300 hurdle A race, in fact finishing 3rd behind Amari Williams of Wheaton Warrenville South (39.43) and Sean Mullen of Grayslake Central (40.25) with a personal best time of 40.34. Williams placed 9th in the Class 3A state finals last spring, and Friday the first five finishers were all under the state cut, underlining just how strong the hurdles fields are every year at the invite.
Harvey, a sophomore, showed he has the potential to join the state’s elite and will be tested again next weekend when he matches up against H-F’s star sophomore, Myles Ellis, at an invitational at H-F. Ellis didn’t compete in the long hurdle race at Wheaton Friday.
“My goal now is to go sub-40 (seconds),” Harvey said. “My PR last year was 42.9 at the freshman conference meet and I knew I could do better than that this year. Tonight, I just wanted to do my best and run a PR. I tried to win but my biggest trouble was that I stuttered (with his steps) on that last curve. But my other hurdles were clean and swift. I had a good start, too, and that was important.”
Harvey’s hurdles finish was just part of a strong showing by the ETHS crew, according to head coach Don Michelin.
“Our D (distance) team and hurdles guys carried us through in the cold weather tonight,” Michelin said. “Those two guys who made the state cut are going to get even better.
“Jordan was outstanding today. He’ll be under 40 (seconds) because of the way he always attacks the first couple of hurdles. He owns the intermediates, you can tell by the way he practices. It’s all about ownership in that event and he always goes all out in practice.
“I think he was a little awed by the H-F kid last week, but he’s not awed anymore. I knew he’d continue to drop time when he was up against good competition and he’ll have a chance to get closer to that H-F kid again next week.”
Also scoring top 5 individual finishes for Evanston were Emir Arber-Bombaci, 2nd in the B 3200; Oliver Hassard, 3rd in the A high jump, 3rd in the A triple jump, 5th in the B 300 hurdles and 5th in the B 300 hurdles; Ryan Rice, 3rd in the C 110 hurdles; Jeremiah Schwartz, 3rd in the B triple jump and 5th in the B long jump; Jean Paul, 3rd in the C long jump; Muir, 4th in the B 110 hurdles; Deshawn Preister, 4th in the A 400; Sam Froum, 4th in the A 3200; Amani Christian, 5th in the C 400; and Eli Coustan, 5th in the C 3200.
The Wildkits added a 5th in the 800 relay and 6ths in the 400 and 3200 relays.
