On Thursday, April 13, the Antioch boys track and field team took on a tough 13 team field at the 51st annual Stevenson Relays. The unique part about this meet was that all events are relays. Normally, however, there are open races such as the 200 meter and 400 meter, to complement the 4×200 meter relay and 4×400 meter relay. This led to unconventional races like the weight man relay, comprised of discus and shot put throwers, as well as the 4×100 hurdle relay. Distance coach Christopher Bailey enjoys the unique aspect of the meet and believes that is what entices teams to keep coming back every year.
“The fun thing about the meet is that with the exception of the mile, all the races, throws and jumps are relays,” Bailey said. “It shines a light on the team aspect of track and field”.
Kicking off the meet, the 4×800 meter relay ran an 8:25, placing second overall and smashing their previous season’s best by over 15 seconds. The very next event, the 4×200 meter relay of Jeff Leighliter, Martin Cohen, Payton Holmes and Joey Neumann, took the victory with 1:31.29, with that time just off the IHSA state qualifying time of 1:30.85. Senior Jeff Leighliter was impressed with how their 4×100 did, but knows they still have more work to do.
“I am very excited about our 4×100 and 4×200,” Leighliter said. “I think with the success we have had this year we can really put Antioch on the map for track and field”.
Perhaps the best part of the meet came at the very end, with the 4×400 running a 3:25.8, and missing the state qualifying time by 0.3 seconds. It was the second-fastest 4×400 in school history and a season’s best. Sophomore Martin Cohen split a 50.99 in the 4×400 meter relay, becoming the first person on the team this year to break 51 seconds in the 400 meters.
“Being so close to the state time, I think I can work on my endurance and finish that last 100 faster,” Cohen said.
Posting times this fast so early into the outdoor season is very promising for the team and has instilled confidence in the athletes, knowing they can run this fast again and potentially qualify for state. There is a lot to look forward to in the upcoming weeks, with the Lake County meet, and conference championships less than two weeks away. The Sequoits next meet is April 28, at Crystal Lake Central.
