Dwight Boys, Kankakee Girls Capture Team Titles at Manteno Invite

The Dwight boys and Kankakee girls’ track and field programs delivered commanding performances to claim team championships at the Manteno Invitational on Friday, April 24.

Fueled by dominant distance running and an overpowering presence in the throwing events, the Dwight boys amassed 137 points to secure a comfortable victory over host Manteno (96.5) and third-place finishers Kankakee McNamara and Kankakee, who tied with 85 points apiece. In the girls’ competition, Kankakee’s deep roster of elite sprinters proved to be the difference maker, carrying the team to a 117-point total and a championship finish over runner-up Clifton Central (98) and Kankakee McNamara (80).

The Dwight boys were paced by sensational individual performances from Joe Faris and Graham Meister. Faris controlled the distance events, winning the 800 meters with a personal-best time of 1:54.17 before returning to take gold in the 1600 meters at 4:47.73. Meister was equally untouchable in the field, sweeping the throwing events with a 19.11-meter shot put and a 52.00-meter discus heave. Joseph Duffy added crucial points for the Trojans by winning the 300-meter intermediate hurdles (41.86) and contributing to Dwight’s victorious 4×400 relay team (3:32.11).

Host Manteno secured its runner-up finish behind the speed of Briggs Cann. The junior sprinter swept his signature events, breaking the tape in the 200 meters with a personal-best 22.29 and claiming the 400-meter title in 50.18. Manteno also showed out in the hurdles, with Nicholas Honkisz securing a victory in the 110-meter high hurdles (15.84).

On the girls’ side, Kankakee overwhelmed the field with a barrage of sprinting talent. Mikiah Robicheaux set the tone early by winning the 100-meter dash in a personal-best 13.19. Trinity Noble followed suit by taking the 200 meters in 25.17, while Amiyah Anderson completed the long-sprint sweep with a victory in the 400 meters (59.92). DaMariana Tooles added to Kankakee’s track tally by winning the 300-meter hurdles (48.58), and Da’Zarria Bradford chipped in a field victory in the long jump (4.60m).

Clifton Central put together a strong runner-up campaign, largely due to Ashtynn Rosenbrock’s dominance in the throwing rings. Rosenbrock earned double gold, taking the shot put (10.86m) and uncorking a personal-best 36.78-meter toss to win the discus. Teammate Kylie Nordmeyer added a victory in the 100-meter hurdles (17.64), while the Clifton Central 4×400 relay squad closed out their meet with a win.

Host Manteno gave the home crowd plenty to cheer for in the distance events. Sophomore Klarke Goranson executed a flawless middle-distance sweep, winning the 800 meters in a season-best 2:13.74 and taking the 1600 meters in 5:05.62. Freshman DeLanie Monroe added a victory in the 3200 meters (13:12.19), and Olivia McElroy secured gold in the high jump (1.57m).

Other standout performances included Kankakee McNamara’s Malachi Lee winning the boys’ long jump (7.07m), Crete-Monee Illinois Lutheran’s Dawveed Holland continuing his strong season with a victory in the triple jump (13.86m), and Herscher’s Jeremy Szepelak outlasting the field to win the 3200 meters (10:43.00).

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

(Note: Track and Field total team points reflect final standings)
| Team | Boys Points | Girls Points |
|—|—|—|
| Dwight | 137 | 62 |
| Kankakee | 85 | 117 |
| Manteno | 96.5 | 73 |
| Clifton (Central) | 14 | 98 |
| Kankakee (McNamara) | 85 | 80 |
| Herscher | 79 | 60 |
| Watseka | 21 | 43 |
| Beecher | 38 | 40.5 |
| Momence | 9 | 40 |
| Peotone | 28 | 21 |
| St. Anne | 39 | 6.5 |
| Crete (Illinois Lutheran) | 29.5 | 0 |

Scoring Drives

(First-Place Event Finishes – Boys)

• 100 Meters: George Noble, Kankakee (11.26)

• 200 Meters: Briggs Cann, Manteno (22.29)

• 400 Meters: Briggs Cann, Manteno (50.18)

• 800 Meters: Joe Faris, Dwight (1:54.17)

• 1600 Meters: Joe Faris, Dwight (4:47.73)

• 3200 Meters: Jeremy Szepelak, Herscher (10:43.00)

• 110m Hurdles: Nicholas Honkisz, Manteno (15.84)

• 300m Hurdles: Joseph Duffy, Dwight (41.86)

• Relays: Manteno (4×100), Kankakee (4×200), Dwight (4×400), Herscher (4×800)

• Shot Put: Graham Meister, Dwight (19.11m)

• Discus: Graham Meister, Dwight (52.00m)

• High Jump: Collin Bachand, Dwight (1.73m)

• Long Jump: Malachi Lee, Kankakee McNamara (7.07m)

• Triple Jump: Dawveed Holland, Crete Illinois Lutheran (13.86m)

(First-Place Event Finishes – Girls)

• 100 Meters: Mikiah Robicheaux, Kankakee (13.19)

• 200 Meters: Trinity Noble, Kankakee (25.17)

• 400 Meters: Amiyah Anderson, Kankakee (59.92)

• 800 Meters: Klarke Goranson, Manteno (2:13.74)

• 1600 Meters: Klarke Goranson, Manteno (5:05.62)

• 3200 Meters: DeLanie Monroe, Manteno (13:12.19)

• 100m Hurdles: Kylie Nordmeyer, Clifton Central (17.64)

• 300m Hurdles: DaMariana Tooles, Kankakee (48.58)

• Relays: Kankakee McNamara (4×100), Kankakee (4×200), Clifton Central (4×400), Beecher (4×800)

• Shot Put: Ashtynn Rosenbrock, Clifton Central (10.86m)

• Discus: Ashtynn Rosenbrock, Clifton Central (36.78m)

• High Jump: Olivia McElroy, Manteno (1.57m)

• Long Jump: Da’Zarria Bradford, Kankakee (4.60m)

• Triple Jump: Vanysah Hickman, Watseka (9.01m)

Individual Statistics

• BOYS MULTI-EVENT WINNERS: Joe Faris, Dwight (800m, 1600m); Graham Meister, Dwight (Shot Put, Discus); Briggs Cann, Manteno (200m, 400m).

• GIRLS MULTI-EVENT WINNERS: Klarke Goranson, Manteno (800m, 1600m); Ashtynn Rosenbrock, Clifton Central (Shot Put, Discus).

• BOYS RELAYS: Manteno won the 4×100 (43.84). Kankakee claimed the 4×200 (1:34.48). Dwight took gold in the 4×400 (3:32.11). Herscher won the 4×800 (9:05.55).

• GIRLS RELAYS: Kankakee McNamara won the 4×100 (51.62). Kankakee captured the 4×200 (1:49.22). Clifton Central won the 4×400 (4:17.28). Beecher won the 4×800 (10:58.82).