Morton will be represented by two individuals at this weekend’s state meet in Charleston.
Kahlid Mayes advanced after winning the 100-meter dash in 10.90 seconds at the Class 3A Lake Park sectional last Friday. Danny Diaz will join him following his third-place discus toss of 161 feet, 1 inch.

“Those are the two who we thought had the best chance to make it to state,” said Morton coach Joe Gianneschi. “The window is open and they’re both right there. If they make the finals (Saturday), they’ll have a chance to be all-staters.”

Gianneschi said that when Mayes is on the track, he’s not thinking about the clock — he just wants to win.

“He runs fast enough to win the races,” Gianneschi said. “That’s all he is concerned with.”

During practices throughout the regular season, Diaz had state-qualifying discus throws but never earned the standard mark in meets and invitationals. Gianneschi credits Diaz’s success this past weekend to working on his explosiveness with assistant coach Matt Lawson. 

“He is just figuring it all out,” Gianneschi said. “He is a lunch-pail type of kid.”

The Mustangs finished ninth as a team with 18 points. The 4 x 200 relay came in fifth place in 1:31.21.

Nazareth
At last Friday’s Class 2A Glenbard South sectional, Miles Dobis qualified for the state meet with a second-place finish in the high jump after clearing 6 feet, 1 inch.

The Roadrunners finished sixth in the team standings with 26 points.

The 4 x 100-meter relay of Greg Marker, Jon Nelson, Mike Dore and Steven Murphy came in third (43.94) and missed qualifying for state by .09 seconds. They also earned a third-place finish in the 4 x 200 (1:34.29) while Antonio Miranda came in third in the shot put (46-2).

St. Joseph
The Chargers’ Jackson Sterling advanced to this weekend’s state meet in the long jump after earning runner-up honors (41-9-1/2) at Friday’s Glenbard South sectional.

St. Joseph placed ninth with 22.5 points.

David Anderson took third in the 300 hurdles (42.25). Roosevelt Carr came in fourth in the high jump (5-9) while Brian Thomas matched that finish in the triple jump (39-2-1/2).