Boys Track and Field: Sandwich’s Michael Marrs breaks 200-meter dash school record; Oswego wins first sectional title in 29 years

Class 2A Rochelle Sectional

Michael Marrs broke the Sandwich school record in the 200-meter dash, and anchored another record in the 800-meter relay, leading the Indians’ qualifiers at the Class 2A Rochelle Sectional on Thursday.

Marrs, who will run next weekend at his collegiate home of Eastern Illinois University, clocked at 22.12 seconds in the 200, breaking a record dating back to 2004 and taking first place in the race. The 800 relay team of Noah Klossing, Jayden Green, Ethan Weeks and Marrs finished first in 1:31.23, also a school record.

Marrs also won the 100-meter dash in 10.99 seconds.

“I wanted revenge after we missed out in the 4 X 1 relay,” Marrs said. “I also remember what happened two years ago as a sophomore when I missed by one spot (11.39-11.38) of qualifying in the 100.”

Green won the high jump (1.87 meters) and triple jump (14.00 meters) and was third in the long jump (6.60 meters), qualifying for state in all three events.

Green conserved energy by only using two triple jumps, three high jumps and four long jumps to qualify. He also qualified for state in all three jumps as a sophomore in 2019.

“It was hydrate, hydrate, hydrate,” Green said. “This (heat) takes a toll on you and a lot of your legs. It’s a mental game.”

Sycamore was the team champion with 106 points, with Sandwich second with 100.5 points.

Other Sandwich state qualifiers included Steve Aguilar in the 400 (second, 51.93 seconds) and Wyatt Miller in the pole vault (second, 3.36 meters), both PRs.

Plano’s Martin Diaz qualified in the 800, taking second in 2:00.34. Teammate Josh Thomas qualified in the 3,200, taking second in 10:00.34.

“After missing last season, my goal was to make it to state my senior year,” Diaz said.

Class 3A Rock Island Sectional

Oswego’s Caleb Wright swept the long jump and triple jump titles, and the Panthers won their first sectional team title in 29 years on Thursday, scoring 88 points to beat out runner-up Waubonsie Valley (75.5) and third-place Yorkville (68) at the Class 3A Rock Island Sectional.

Wright went 6.63 meters to win the long jump and 13.82 meters to win the triple jump. Oswego’s Christian Sobecki and Alex Aagesen were top two in the pole vault (4.58 meters, 4.16 meters).

Other Oswego state qualifiers included Erik Neidlein, second in the 400 (51.30 seconds), Balin Doud, second in the 1,600 (4:22.02), Ethan Forsell, second in the 3,200 (9:27.67) and Matthew Egly, second in the shot (16.38 meters).

Yorkville’s Kyle Clabough won the shot put (19.50 meters) and discus (48.99 meters) to lead the Foxes. Yorkville’s Ivan Westcott won the 1,600 (4:20.10) and took second in the 800 (1:54.98) to qualify for state as did teammate Hunter Reyes in the 800. Yorkville’s Austin Popplewell won the 3,200 (9:22.29).

Oswego East’s Kacey Battle was second in the high jump (1.90) to qualify for state.