Inside Track

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Boys Athlete
of the Week

Ryan Michel

McHenry, Senior

Michel accomplished a rare triple win by taking first in the high, long and triple jumps Thursday at the McHenry County Track and Field Meet at Crystal Lake Central’s Owen Metcalf Field.

Local coaches could not remember another boys athlete over the past 20 years who won county championships in those three jumps.

Michel started his night by winning the long jump in 21-33⁄4, his best career jump and one-quarter of an inch better than teammate Tyler Helton. Michel set a meet record in the high jump (6-8) and won the triple jump at 42-8 1⁄4.

Girls Athlete
of the Week

Ashley Conway

McHenry, Sophomore

Conway won the high and long jumps Thursday at the McHenry County Track and Field Meet at Crystal Lake Central’s Owen Metcalf Field.

Conway cleared 5-3 in the high jump to defend her title. She then went 17-6 in the long jump. Her two firsts helped put the Warriors ahead after the field events.

Noteworthy

Big throws: For an idea of how good the discus throwing was Thursday at the McHenry County Track and Field Meet, McHenry’s Bobby Swanson took second at 168-9, which would have broken the old record.

Cary-Grove’s Ryan Psenka (159-41⁄2) and Woodstock’s Matt Marunde (158-9) also topped 158 feet.

“It was amazing,” Swanson said. “It caught me by surprise. I put down my goal as 170, but it’s crazy. I never thought I could get it that far.”

Swanson nearly fouled on his big throw, but kept his weight in the ring and fell, catching himself with his hands.

Another big throw: Marian Central’s Amy Miskowicz repeated as county shot put champion and beat her previous best throw by almost a foot Thursday. Miskowicz won at 37-8.

“I got to the middle of the ring on my glide and I was fast and explosive,” Miskowicz said. “It was my goal to get over 37, so this is good.”

New event: Woodstock senior Lisa Kucharski enjoys pole vaulting this season, which is sort of a new event for her. Kucharski tried vaulting the past two years, but Blue Streaks coach Steve Erwin didn’t use her much in big meets.

“She was too valuable in other events [where she could score higher],” Erwin said.

Kucharski won the pole vault county title at 9-6 Thursday.

“I love it,” Kucharski said. “I’m really excited about it.”

Big finish: The running finals of the McHenry County Track and Field Meet will start at
5 p.m. today at Cary-Grove’s Al Bohrer Field.

– Joe Stevenson,

jstevenson@nwherald.com