At the 2017 Sectional meet at Lockport High School, the Sandburg Eagles won 3 events.
In the first running event of the night, the Sandburg Eagles 4 x 800 meter relay team qualified for State for the 6th consecutive year. Senior Martin Skucas led things off with an opening leg of 1:59.5. He handed off to senior Alex Szymanski who carried the stick around in 2:00.3. Sophomore Peter Demogerontas went out hard in 56 seconds for the first lap and handed off with a time of 1:58.5. Junior Dylan Jacobs handled the anchor duties and brought the baton home in first with a split of 1:55.1 and a winning time of 7:53.69. The win was the 5th straight Sectional 4 x 800 championship for the Eagles. As two-time defending State champs, the Eagles will be looking to do some damage once again at State.
Just before the start of the 1600 meter run, a cold front blew over the track, dropping the temperature dramatically and bringing a strong, gusting wind. Dylan Jacobs was undeterred by the weather and took charge of the race from the gun. He towed the pack thru a steady 2:11 opening 800 meters. After a 65-second third lap, he cranked it up and closed in 61 - with a final time of 4:17.47. This will be the second straight year in the 1600 for Dylan. He reached the finals in the 1600 last year at State.
Other highlights from the meet:
Sophomore Josefernando Marquez place 8th in the 200 with a solid time of 22.91. This was the third fastest sophomore 200 meter time in Sandburg school history!
Peter Demogerontas place 5th in the 400 meter dash with a new Frosh-Soph school record of 51:08 (FAT). The previous record was held by Dave Koch (1973) and Chris Revord (1977).
Sophomore Nico Calderon set a new PR in the 800 meter run, finishing 5th in 1:59.58.
In the 4 x 100 meter relay, the team of Ifeloluwa Osilaja, Marvin Agwomoh, Leo Espino and Ayo Abiona placed 5th - just missing the qualifying mark with a time of 42.83. This was the 4th fastest 4x1 time in school history.
The 4 x 400 meter relay squad - Ayo Abiona, Leo Espino, Marvin Agwomoh and Peter Demogerontas - took 4th place with a time of 3:27.47.
Overall the Eagles placed 6th at the Sectional with 41 points. Downers Grove North won the meet with 78.
Qualifying only 3 events was a bit of a drop off after getting in 9 last year and 6 in 2015. However, all three of our qualifiers have a great chance to make a run at a State championship in each of these events at O'Brien Stadium at Eastern Illinois University.