By Michael Newman

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Orland Park – In the final two laps that he would ever run on his home track, the thought that went through Sandburg’s Dylan Jacobs’ head was that he could not lose this race.

That did not happen Thursday night in the 1600 Meter Run at the Pete Struck Eagle Classic. Jacobs pulled away from Miles Christensen of Downers Grove North in the final 500-meters for the win. Jacobs time of 4:12.96 broke the meet record by more than a second as well as finishing more than a second ahead of Christensen (4:14.75).

The conditions were perfect all evening for fast times. Jacobs sensed that and pushed the pace from the start going through the first 400-meters in a fast 60.2. Christensen and his teammates Ryan Birkmeier and Jacob Ridderhoff stayed within a second of Jacobs. Christensen surged on the second lap catching Jacobs with 900-meters left in the race. The two went through 800-meters in 2:03.5 running side-by-side. The third lap is when Christensen pushed the pace trying to gap himself from Jacobs. That never happened as Jacobs found one more gear entering the final lap. Jacobs win was secured on that final lap.

“I just wanted to run a fast time today. I knew I had to close it today. Miles (Christensen) is a great runner,” Jacobs said after his win. “This was the last time on this track. I knew I just had to take this one home.”

The 1600 Meter Run was special in more than Jacobs’ win. 12 runners in the last section from four schools all finished under 4:23. Downers Grove North once again showed their depth and strength as five of their runners were under that time with three runners (Christensen, Jacob Ridderhoff-4:16.42, Ryan Birkmeier 4:16.63) under 4:17.

The conditions were not only conducive for distance running. The flag was draped around the flagpole meaning some fast times were ahead.

Solomon Wilson-Smith of Tinley Park was a double winner in the hurdles. he showed why he was 2A All-State last season as he ripped away from the pack in the 110 Hurdles running 14.39 for the win ahead of Crete-Monee’s Victor Cameron (14.89). Wilson-Smith had the advantage when he came out of the curve in the 300 Meter Hurdles. He won by more than a second running (39.64). He hit the second to last hurdle. If he would have cleared that cleanly, his time would have been under 39-seconds.

Crete-Monee dominated the team competition scoring 87.5 points for the win ahead of St. Laurence (55.5 points) and host Sandburg (50 points). It started with Stefan Baldwin as he jumped 22-10.5 to win the Long Jump ahead of teammate Jamal Safo (22-9). Safo was involved also in the 200 Meter Dash as he crossed the line at the same time with St. Laurence’s Matthew Hamer. Safo got the win (22.12) just one hundredth of a second ahead of Hamer (22.13). Stagg’s Sam Snell ran 22.22 in the fifth section but had to settle for third-place. Snell was also involved in the 400 Meter Dash as he finished second (49.72) behind a strong win from Thornridge’s Devon Bolden (49.03).

Three teams were under 43-seconds in the 400 Meter Relay. Thornton Fractional South benefitted from some great baton exchanges to run 42.34 for the win ahead of Crete-Monee (42.56) and St. Laurence (42.91).

It was St. Laurence that was in charge of the 800 Meter Relay as they ran a school record 1:28.89 for the win ahead of TF South (1:29.32).

Downers Grove North took the top two spots in the 3200 Meter Run. Nick Chudzik pulled away from teammate Sam McCool in the final two laps to capture the win (9:38.89) ahead of McCool (9:46.86).

St. Laurence’s Alex Saunders had a good night in the jumps. He achieved an outdoor personal best of 22-0 to finish third in the Long Jump. He jumped 45-0 along with Brother Rice’s Josh Boulanger in the Triple Jump. Saunders received the win on a second longer jump in his jump-series.

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