Red Raiders rule FVC to win track title
HUNTLEY — Youth and experience were both on display for Huntley boys track and field team this season.
On the experience side, the team effort to the Fox Valley Conference meet title was led by double winners Zach Ryssvy in the long and triple jumps and Tommy Nitz in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs.
Huntley head coach Chris Maxedon credited the up-and-coming freshmen and sophomores as well as better known Red Raiders as keys.
“It’s a good feeling to have won it for the second straight year because we did some really, really good things on the track and on the field. Zach Rysavy was a double winner in jumps and Tommy Nitz for distance races. But we also had some lesser known freshmen and sophomores earn a lot of points. The team should be fun and has a lot of good pieces in place for the future,” Maxedon said.
Huntley wowed the rest of the league with 123 team points on a chilly night at Red Raider Stadium May 9. Jacobs was second with 73 points. Red Raider Stadium will be the site for a Class 3A IHSA Boys Track and Field Meet May 15, with bids to the State Meet May 23-25 at Eastern Illinois University at stake.
“It’s a big week ahead of us, if wee can get the relays, Nitz and Jeff Cruickshank and Ryvasy through,” Maxedon said.
“It’s a good feeling,” Nitz, a junior, said after his 1,600-meter run win. “I”m excited and ready for next week. It gives me a lot of confidence.”
Nitz had a time of 4:15.62 in the 1,600 meters and had an effort of 9:43.11 time. He is a returning state competitor at state, as well as cross country meets.
Rysavy, a junior, defeated the competition in both the long jump of 6.34 meters (20 feet, 9.75 inches) jump with a and triple jump, 13.26 (43-6)events. Cruickshank, a senior, was third in the long jump. 6.23 meters (20-5.25) after a winning effort at the high jump at 1.96 meters, (6-feet, 5-inches).
“It ended well,” Rysavy said. “It was more mental, I was thinking too much in the beginning.”
Other highlights for the Red Raiders included a meet record in the 4×200 meter relay as Vinny Costa, Dom Giuseffi, Lex Giron and Noah Van De Voorde ran a 1:28.49 time, a record.
The 4×100 contingent of Giuseffi, Costa. Van De Voorde and lex Giron was second in 42:80 seconds.
Costa won the 100-meters with a time of 10.83 seconds for a personal best and Dom Giuseffi had a 11:11 time, a personal best for third in the race.
Ryan Schroeder, a senior, won the 300-intermediate hurdles with a time of 40.33 seconds.
FVC recognition
Just before the start of field events, Maxedon asked coaches and athletes to gather at midfield. On behalf of the FVC, Maxedon presented service awards to track clerk Gary Collins of Crystal Lake, who is retiring from that role after 20 years and Burlington Central head boys track and field coach Mike Schmidt, who is also retiring.
