The Leo track team’s third-place finish at the Hope Academy Sectional on Wednesday, May 15 propelled six individuals and a relay team on to the IHSA Class 1-A state meet at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston from Thursday, May 23 to Saturday, May 25.
Leo’s 118 total points were good for third in the sectional behind host Hope (144 points) and Northridge Prep (143 points).
The Lions had three first-place sectional finishers: senior Joshua Ball in the triple jump (44 feet, 0.75 inches), junior Neil Anderson in the high jump (5 feet, 7 inches) and the 4-by-100 relay team (junior Ryan Cunningham, junior Gavin Donald, senior Lawrence Lee, sophomore Chase Jordan) in 44.28 seconds.
With the top two finishers in each event qualifying, Ball, Lee and Jordan will be two-event competitors at the state meet.
In addition to his triple-jump victory, Ball finished second to Anderson in the high jump at 5-5.
Lee ran the third leg of the victorious 4-by-100 relay and placed second in the long jump (21 feet, 4 inches).
Jordan anchored the 4-by-100 relay, and though he placed third in the 100 meters, his time (:10.9) easily surpassed the state-meet qualifying standard (:11.33).
Junior Lordan Black, placing second in the 110-meter hurdles (:17.46), is Leo’s other state-meet qualifier.
Ball, headed for Howard University in the fall, is making his third trip to the state meet and Jordan his second.
State-meet qualifying will take place on Thursday, May 23; the finals are on Saturday, May 25.
Leo got third-place points in the sectional meet from junior Nick Armour in the discus (125 feet 3 inches). Armour also placed fourth in the shot put (43 -11).
Other third-place finishers: sophomore Ayden Bright in the 300-meter hurdles (:42.37); junior Ryan Cunningham in the 400 meters (:53.76) and the 4-by-200 relay team (senior Clarence Rhames, junior Gavin Donald, senior Lawrence Lee, sophomore Chase Jordan), 1:35.56.
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