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The 800 Machine

 
Max Silva (jr) is a product of the 800 meter machine at Lane Tech. Lane has at least 12 guys capable of running sub 2:10 in the 800 meter run.

The last few years, Lane Tech has been known for it's sprinters. Fuad Salami won the 100 meter dash at city two years ago, Chris Kyles won it last year, and Lane teams have scored at state in sprint relays the past two years.

This year, Lane's strength has shifted to the 800 meter run. Lane's 4x800 team broke an indoor school record when it ran a 7:58 at last week's Illinois Prep Top times Meet. That time is in not only one of the top times in the state this year but it was ranked #28 in the nation.

Lane's A team of Jonathon Jackson (sr), Victor Terrazas (sr), Kulayfi Haji (sr), and Dylan Allingham (jr) ran together for the first time at the Downers Grove South Relay's earlier this year and opened eyes with an 8:05. That group, which I call the Big 4, ran together again at the IPPT meet and improved by 7 seconds. Most noticeable in that group was Dylan Allingham who ran an incredible 1:56 split. Dylan, who plays on Lane's soccer team in the fall, has always showed serious potential when he ran a 2:07 in the 800 as a freshman. But this year, that potential has finally broken open.

But Lane does not only have it's Big 4. They are product of a middle distance producing machine at Lane. In addition to the Big 4, Lane has at least the following runners who have already broke 2:10 in the 800 or are rapidly approaching it: Lucas Beltran (so), Danny Zimmny Schimtt (so), Max Silva (jr), David Timlin (so), Kevin Perez (so), James Wiatr (sr), George Chronis (jr), Jimmy Orellana (jr), Eduardo Bustamonte (jr), Nathan Scott-Wade (sr)  and Michael Morin (so). So in addition to their Big 4 Lane has at least 11 other guys capable of breaking 2:10 or have already broken 2:10. David Timlin, opened up my eyes when he ran a 2:06 earlier this year and this is Timlin's first year running track. Junior Max Silva ran a 2:09 opening leg split in the 4x800 at the Len Jareczek Relays last Friday.

Much of the credit for Lane's middle distance success has to goto Lane middle distance coach Tony Jones, who after Lane's 7:58 at the IPPT meet said: "our hard work is finally paying off."

There are very few CPS teams that can come close to Lane's depth in the 800. A 2:10 is usually good enough to score at the city meet at the varsity level.

As for the Big 4, and how they will do in the outdoor season. That is still to be determined. I do know that this is a special year for Lane in middle distances.

 

Introducing - Jaylin Fleming the best 10 year old basketball player in Chicago (and maybe the USA)

 

Kyle Huber of Lane Tech Picks Lewis University

Kyle Huber of Lane Tech

First baseman Kyle Huber (sr) of Lane Tech signed to play baseball for Lewis University in Romeoville, IL.

Huber is part of a Lane Tech baseball team that also features William Feliciano. Feliciano recently committed to College of San Mateo.

Huber also pitches occasionally for Lane. Huber is a hard hitting left-handed batter for a Lane Tech team that is one of the tops in the CPS. 

What many people also do not realize is that Huber is also one of the top bowlers in the Chicago Public League. Last year, he led Lane Tech to a state appearance in boys bowling. His sister Stephanie Huber starred for Lane's girls bowling and girls softball team last year.

CPS Eliminates Bowling, Pom Pom/Cheerleader Coordinators

 
The Cheerleading Coordinator Position has been eliminated but cheerleading and Pom Pons will still go on. 

In another cost cutting move the CPS decided to eliminate more positions. Among them eliminated included:

• citywide coordinator for interscholastic boys and girls bowling
• facility manager at Lane Tech High School
• two other stadium directors
• citywide manger for high school sports and elementary education
• cheerleading/pompons coordinator

According to CPS spokewoman Monique Bond, the sports will not be impacted, they will fill the work by giving their duties to current staff.

My first reaction to the story was that I felt it may negatively affect the kids. However, after I found out that one of the person's let go was the bowling coordinator, Maurice Bo Ellis. His salary was $80,374. Now I am not a bowling expert, but I think it is more than fair to say that $80,000 is way too much to pay someone to coordinate bowling in the Chicago Public League. I bet you if I did a search in the private market, I could easily find someone to do the same job for $50,000.

In this case, I feel the CPS made a wise cost cutting choice.

 

Final CPS Indoor Leaderboard Published

Christopher Pledger of King is on the final CPS indoor leaderboard

Final CPS Indoor Leaderboard Key Marks

200 - 23.1  Lyndon Darden (sr) - Whitney Young
400 - 51.69 Jonathon Jackson (sr) - Lane Tech
1600 - 4:32.80 Kulayfi Haji (sr) - Lane Tech
4x200 - 1:32.82 Whitney Young (school record)
4x400 - 3:28.55 Whitney Young (school record)
4x800 - 7:58.31 Lane Tech (school record)
Shot Put - 50-6 Ameen Solebo (sr) - Mather
Triple Jump - 46-4 Jonathon Gardner (sr)- Whitney Young

Final Analysis
The CPS saw some serious marks. Whitney Young broke two school records in the 4x200 and 4x400 relays. Lane had an incredible 7:58.31 in the 4x800 - an indoor school record. All of those times are amongst the top in the state.

Mather's Ameen Solebo threw 50-6 in the shot put. One of the longest throws from a CPS team in probably at least 10 years.

Class 2A school Kenwood had a good showing and is easily the top CPS class AA school.

Urban Prep and Simeon has my vote for the most improved CPS teams. Urban Prep has their first year with a senior class and Simeon has a new coach that is making track serious at Simeon. Both schools are about a year away from really making an impact.

Morgan Park ran only one indoor meet and they are the biggest unknown going into the outdoor season. We know they have the all-state talent in Daron Brown and Nigel Jolly. They run few meets. So, we won;t know more about the Mustangs until much later in the season. They go into the outdoor season with a chance to finish as high as first in the city or as low as 3rd or 4th.

CPS Relays Results

I added the CPS Relays Result to the Results Page.

Manley sprinter/jumper Deandre Satterfield

Initial CPS Relays Team Results

Payton has a much improved sprint squad led by sophomore Justin Smith. Smith, 5th at city indoors in the 55 meter dash, led Payton to dominating performance at the CPS Relays on Saturday. Complete results will be coming soon.

Top 10 Team Results

1. Payton - 96
2. Fenger - 60
3. Simeon - 48
4. Steinmetz - 40.5
5. Orr - 33
6. Robeson - 31
7. Von Steuben - 27
8. Prosser - 26
8. Kennedy - 26
10. Manley - 23

4x100 Relay at Len Jareczek Relays

1. Lane Tech 44.8
2. Urban Prep 45.4
3. Mather 45.8
4. Marshall 46.5

I know it was the first outdoor meet of the season but I felt the top 4 teams ran good times. For the most part, the teams ran their fastest runners in this race. Lane ran Max Guera, Matt Rowe, Alex Brown, and Jairo Chavez. Urban Prep ran Rayvaughn Hines, Jamal Minor, Jamil Boldian, and Marlon Marshall. Mather ran Teandre Shaw, Kenneth Murphy, Ameen Solebo, and Rahim Foster. Those are some of the top sprinters for each team. Lane has two sophomores in Max Guera and Matt Rowe. Lane won by .6 of second over a very good Urban Prep squad. I know it is very early in the outdoor season but Lane's time of 44.8 would have been good enough for a top 5 finish at last year's city finals. Lane's sprint team may be a bit underrated this year. By the end of the year, they could be shooting for a top 3 city finish in the 4x100 relay. This is from a 2009 squad that graduated as many as 6 of it's top sprinters from last year.

Urban Prep's fastest 4x100 time last year was 45.37. They came close to eclipsing that mark by running a hand time of 45.4 to finish 2nd. I was surprised that they did not beat Lane with their team of Hines, Minor, Boldian, and Minor. These guys are vastly improved over last year. I fully expect Urban Prep to run a 4x1 in the low 44's by the end of the year.

Mather is consistently good every year. This year is no different. Mather has no pure burners on it's 4x1 team. They are all just good solid athletes. Kenneth Murphy is a junior basketball player that coach Devinney has turned into an all around track athlete. Ameen Solebo is an all-conference football player, city champion wrestler, and can throw the shot put over 50 feet. Rahim Foster is more of a hurdler. But Devinney finds a way to put all of these athletes together.

Pictures Now - 2010 Len Jareczek Relays @ Lane Tech

Photo Album

Luis Hernandez (back) of Lake View waits for the first exchange of the 4x800 meter relay. Eduardo Chavez (so-right) gave Lake view the early lead with a 2:09 first split.

Lincoln Park and Brandon Schnake  took the lead in the 4x800 before the 2nd exchange.

But, Mather and final leg Juan Mendez (so) eventually won the race in an unofficial 8:54.