Kaneland's Markuson prevails in 300 hurdles

Font Size

Email

Bookmark

Black Text

White Text

CHARLESTON -- Kaneland junior Logan Markuson had his worst nightmare occur at the most inopportune time at Saturday's Class 2A state track and field meet at Eastern Illinois University.

Markuson was disqualified from the finals of the 110 hurdles for a false start.

"Terrible time to false start for the first time," Markuson said.

But Markuson recovered in the best way possible in the 300 hurdles. Markuson won the state championship with a time of 38.57, erasing the nightmare of the 110 and replacing it with the joy of climbing the medal stand.

"It helped a ton knowing that I missed out on a medal (in the 110), but I had another chance," Markuson said. "I'm very fortunate for that."

Markuson added a seventh-place finish in the pole vault (13-6). But he shook off disappointment in that event and disaster in the 110 like a veteran.

"We knew the 300 was his best event," Kaneland coach Eric Baron said. "He's as good an athlete as I've ever seen at this level. What a day for him."

That capped a solid day for the Knights, who took 13th in the team standings. Fellow junior teammate Nick Sinon got in on the fun by taking third in the high jump with a 6-7, just an inch below his previous best.

"It's a big thrill for me," Sinon said. "Last year, we were in a hard sectional and we lost a lot of good seniors. The juniors from last year really stepped up and came through for us."

Yorkville's Max Sliwa was the lone Yorkville athlete in the finals and he came through with a fifth-place finish in the 3,200 meters in 9:36.73. Kaneland senior Paul Davies came in 13th in 10:00.48. Kaneland senior Josh Bloome took 10th in the pole vault (13-3).

The lone area Class 1A representative in the finals, Aurora Christian senior Dylan Melody, took fifth in the 800 meters in 1:58.09.

Class 1A/2A