Kotansky, Morris add to
Silver success
(http://www.pioneerlocal.com/clarendonhills/sports/388564,ch-centralboystrack-051707-s1.article)
May 17, 2007
By Bill Stone | SPORTS WRITER
Hinsdale Central senior John Kotansky was determined Friday to complete his track career undefeated in pole vault at West Suburban Conference Silver Division meets.
He accomplished it with an even better feeling than he expected.
Kotansky cleared a career-best 14 feet-6
inches at the Silver Meet at
"I was just like, 'I've got to win this one. I've won all of these so far. I've got to keep going,' " Kotansky said. "I haven't lost any other outdoor conferences so it was pretty sweet to finish that off, but 14-6, I'm really excited about that because I'm a really close competitor to state now. I'm almost with the top guys."
Senior Steve Morris also excelled by winning both the 100-meter dash (10.8 seconds) and 200 (22.3) and anchoring two top-four sprint relays.
The Red Devils finished third with 83 points, just 10 points behind
second-place
Kotansky earned his first state berth last year after winning his first varsity Silver pole vault title following two sophomore and one freshman Silver title. Kotansky cleared 14-0 at the LT Relays April 20.
"(A 14-6) is a very, very big confidence booster," Kotansky said. "I like that (LT) pit a lot. I've gotten personal bests there three times now."
Already a two-time state competitor, Morris added confidence Friday in only his second time competing in the 200. In his four-event debut at the McCarthy Invite May 4, Morris won the 100 (10.6) by equaling his career best and the 200 (21.9).
Morris, who also won last year's Silver 100 in 11.1, becomes the first Red Devil to sweep the 100 and 200 at the same Silver Meet since 2004 graduate Alex Perkowski, who along with twin brother Mark, led the best sprinting group in program history.
"Freshman year, having practiced with them, I got to know them kind of well. Seeing how they dominated meets and never would tire seemed motivating," Morris said. "I was kind of expecting to win the 100 since I did last year, and I was excited to see how I'd do in the 200. After the (200), it's usually my sixth race of the day because of prelims. I'm usually pretty tired after I'm finished."
In shot put, senior Alex Nelson gained confidence with a career-best 52-10 1/4 to exceed the 52-6 state cut for the first time. Nelson just returned to full practice after pulling a hamstring anchoring the weightmen's 400 relay at the LT Relays.
* Downers Grove North senior Dan Shelhammer of Oak Brook was second in shot (season-best 55-0).
