Popenfoose takes 2nd in discus, shot put at state

Huntley’s Marcus Popenfoose makes a throw in the Class 3A shot put Saturday during the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium in Charleston. Popenfoose finished second in the shot put with a throw of 59 feet, 113⁄4 inches. The junior also placed second in the discus, throwing 199-8. (Lauren M. Anderson – landerson@nwherald.com)

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CHARLESTON – Huntley junior Marcus Popenfoose, with two state runner-up medals draped around his neck, saw two fellow Fox Valley Conference competitors on the infield Saturday at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium.

Woodstock’s Marshall Happ and Dundee-Crown’s Anthony Manfrin were discussing their race in the Class 3A 1,600-meter run at the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Finals when Popenfoose stopped to shake hands and offer congratulations.

“No, I’d like to shake
your hand, man!” Happ replied.

In many years, Popenfoose would have won the shot put title. In any other year in IHSA history, he would have won the discus, but Popenfoose will have to shoot for state titles next year when Lake Park standout Dan Block has graduated.

Block won the shot put with his throw of 62 feet from Friday’s preliminaries, eclipsing Popenfoose’s throw of 59-113⁄4. It took a big-time effort from Block to win the discus, one he delivered on his first throw of Saturday’s finals. Popenfoose had taken the lead and the Class 3A state meet record with his 199-8 effort Friday.

Block walked into the ring and cut loose a mammoth throw of 205-8 on his first attempt Saturday to win the event and recapture the state meet record. He set it Friday at 196-5, only to have Popenfoose hold it overnight.

“I kept telling my [throws] coach [Chris Maxedon] it’s a one-night record,” Popenfoose said. “[Block] performed today, for sure.”

Block had four throws of 200 feet or better in last week’s Lake Park Sectional, so many spectators, including Popenfoose, almost expected Block to take the title.

“I knew I had it in me, it was just a matter of getting it out there,” Block said. “That’s not my personal best, but it’s the best throw of my life. There definitely was a lot of pressure. Last night, I wasn’t happy. I was imagining the perfect throw in my head.”

Block channeled all that pent-up energy into an effort that was almost flawless. He didn’t remember what he yelled, but he let out a scream when he realized he’d hit a big one.

Popenfoose had two throws of more than 185 feet Saturday but could not catch Block.

“It was all right. I wish a bigger one would have came,” Popenfoose said. “I’m happy. Not ecstatic, but happy. After that 205 throw, it was hard to step in the ring.”

McHenry’s Bobby Swanson took fourth (176-1), and Cary-Grove’s Ryan Psenka took sixth (165-11) to represent the FVC well.

Other area medalists in Class 3A were Happ (fifth, 1,600) and Crystal Lake South’s Emmanuel Gamez (fifth, 400).

In Class 2A, Crystal Lake Central’s Zach Siegmeier and Mark Niemann took second and fifth in the pole vault.

Other area medalists in Class 2A included Johnsburg’s Steve Seydel (fifth, 400), Richmond-Burton’s Ian Sanchez (fifth, 800), Central’s 4x800 team of Ryan Alvarez, Tyler Schmitt, Ben Flavin and Michael Bondi (fifth), Grayslake Central’s William Brewster (eighth, 3,200) and R-B’s Kyle Wismer (ninth, long jump).

In Class 1A, Harvard’s Miguel Flores took eighth in the discus, and Harvard’s Cody Kramer was ninth in the 200.

Siegmeier and Niemann both cleared 14-0 in the Class 2A pole vault. Niemann could not make 14-3, and it took Siegmeier three attempts to make that height. He then made 14-6 and 14-9 on his first attempts, and 15-0 on his second.

“I was using a stiffer carbon pole; they have more return value,” Siegmeier said. “After I made 14-3 I kind of got in a nice rhythm, and that helped. I’m happy with it because I was seeded at second, but I’m not satisfied You always want to win.”

Happ and Manfrin appeared to finish fifth and sixth in the 1,600, but a few minutes after the race Manfrin learned he had been disqualified for stepping outside of his lane on the first turn. D-C coach Tom Smith said he could not appeal the ruling, but Manfrin said a runner had impeded his progress, causing him to step out of the lane.

Happ chased Conant’s Jeff Thode, who wiped out a 24-year-old state record, for most of the race. Thode took off in the final lap for a 4:05.17, erasing Stevenson’s Mark Deady’s 4:07.45 set in 1985. Happ finished in 4:13.88.

“I really couldn’t have run it any better than that,” said Happ, who had a shot at third but could not hold off York’s Steve Sulkin and Prospect’s Chris Hayek in the final 40 meters. “I was gassed at the end. I couldn’t be more pleased. Props to everybody out there.”