Du Quoin boys track team blows away competition to take conference title
DU QUOIN - The Du Quoin boys track and field team made it clean sweep of the SIRR Mississippi Division last Thursday, successfully defending its conference title by a healthy margin and joining the Du Quoin girls team that won its fourth straight title the week before.
"We competed well," said Du Quoin coach Derek Beard. "We had some things not go our way early on and kind of fought our way back. A lot of our kids performed where we thought they would. Our 4x800 relay ran its best time all year and Trae Horn had a PR in the discus. In fact our jumpers and throwers did a good job and it was a good effort all around. We have a good group of kids and I'm fortunate to be around them."
The Indians host the IHSA 1A sectional Wednesday, with the field events starting at 11 a.m.
"Obviously our goal is to win the sectional, but you never know this time of year," Beard said. "We were disappointed our 4x100 didn't get the baton around the track. We were running well when we didn't get that last exchange. Hopefully we get that ironed out."
The Indians showed just how strong of a team they are, in winning the title by 52 points over archrival Pinckneyville - despite winning just five individual events and not winning any relays.
Junior Landen Swiney dominated the distance events. He successfully defended his conference title in the 3200-meter run by a whopping 44.10 seconds over Pinckneyville junior Dylan Bledsoe with a time of 10:19.05.
"I went out fast to get a big gap, so I could cruise the second half," Swiney said. "I kind of did that, but I didn't slow down as much as I should have to save myself for the mile. But I was feeling really good, so I just went out and ran it."
Later, Swiney did the same to Pinckneyville freshman Isaac Teal, who is one of the best cross country runners in the state. He beat Teal by 14.33 seconds in the 1600-meter run, with a time of 4:47.76 to win his first title in that event.
"I expected to win both, but I knew it was going to be a tough race in the mile with Teal," Swiney said. "Even though I have a friendly rivalry with him the goal was to beat him. My plan was to sit behind him for the first two laps. Then at the 800 mark I just took off and put a gap between us.
"It feels good to have won both titles and actually (they are) my first wins of the track season so far," he added. "It's been a bit of a rough season and I've had a rough start for sure, but I'm thinking I'm peaking at the right time. Postseason is what matters."
The Indians also split the field events winning three of the six. Junior Traijon Smith won the high jump by clearing 5-09.75, edging his freshman brother Trelin.
"I didn't hit the pole any, so I won it on my first jump," Smith said. "At sectionals I'm hoping to come in a lot stronger and clear over 6-4. I'm happy - glad to win it - it feels good to win the conference title for the first time."
Traijon's other brother junior Jaden did the same in the long jump with a distance of 20-07.25 beating Anna-Jonesboro senior Juan Valencia by 8.25 feet. Younger bro Trelin finished third.
"I jumped a PR by just a little after coming into the meet having won every meet, but one," Smith said. "I'm just glad we won the championship. We did good as a team."
Maurice Washington won the shot put with a heave of 42-10.25 beating Carterville junior Townsend Barton by 16.25 inches. It was also the first conference title for the junior.
"There was a lot of pressure," Washington said. "I needed my third throw because the kid from Carterville was throwing really far. I really do want to say thank you to my coach. He puts me through a lot and is going to make me better my senior year."
Pinckneyville easily won the battle for titles taking home nine, including all four relays, giving the Panthers a 40 point lead in titles alone. But it was the seconds, thirds and fourths that the deeper Indians wracked up that made the difference.
"That's kind of been our thing all year," Beard said. "We've kind of chipped away at points going second and third, second and fourth all year long. Same story today for us."
Du Quoin finished second 10 times compared to only four for Pinckneyville to erase the first place deficit and give the Indians an eight-point lead comparing just the first two places.
Du Quoin added six third place finishes for 36 points compared to just one for the Panthers. Fourth place finishes added to the winning margin with the Indians picking up five for 20 points and the Panthers two.
In addition to Trelin Smith in the high jump and Traijon Smith in the triple jump the other Indian second place finishers were senior Gavin Fisher in the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles, senior David Gomes in the 400-meter dash, sophomore Jakob Eaton in the pole vault and sophomore Malik Jones in the 100-meter dash as well as the 4x800, 4x200 and 4x400 relays.
Pinckneyville's five individual conference champions were Teal in the 800, junior Holden Hutchcraft in the 100, junior Isaac Queen in the 200, senior Daniel Garavaglia in the 400 and junior Joey Iaccino in the triple jump.