McDaniel and Smith place in Top 10 at Tolono Invitational

By Fred Kroner

Oakwood’s Bryson McDaniel placed fourth individually in the triple jump (39 feet, 6 inches) in the Tolono Unity boys’ track and field invitational on Friday (April 21). Connor Smith was 10^th in the 200 meters (24.38 seconds).

Three Comet relays also captured top-10 finishes.

Placing eighth was the 1,600-meter relay grouping of Saul Carrillo, Jakob Rupp, Macen Phillips and Connor Smith was timed in 3:50.75.

Winding up in ninth was the 800-relay foursome of Noah Phillips, Macen Phillips, Sailer Harrison and Connor Taflinger. Their cumulative time was 1:41.28.

Oakwood’s 400-meter relay unit of Bryson McDaniel, Noah Phillips, Carrillo and Smith was 10^th in 46.31 seconds.

Nine Comets registered their career-best performances.

They were Smith (12^th in the 100 meters in 11.87 seconds), Rupp (12^th in the 800 meters in 2:18.86), Grant Brewer (14^th in the 800 meters in 2:21.38), Jacob Pricer (15^th in the long jump at 17 feet, 1 inch), Tucker Pesek (16^th in the 110-meter high hurdles in 20.73 seconds), Jack Ajster (17^th in the 300-meter hurdle in 50.75 seconds), Pricer (18^th in the 200 meters in 26.26 seconds), Noah Phillips (20^th in the 100 meters in 12.56 seconds) and Kade Fleming (32^nd in the discus at 73-7).

Tolono Unity won the team title in its meet with 99 ½ points. Oakwood was 16^th with four points.

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On Thursday (April 20), Oakwood participated in the Westville Tiger Invitational, which was postponed by weather conditions after seven of 17 boys’ events had been completed.

The Comets were in first place in the five-school event at that time with 79 points.

Thomas Wells led a 1-3 Oakwood finish in the 3,200 meters. Wells’ winning time was 12:47.62. In third place was Ben Darling at 13:17.71.

The Comets also finished 1-3 in the triple jump. Bryson McDaniel was the winner (38 feet, 4 inches) and teammate Sailer Harrison was third (36-2).

In the 110-meter high hurdles, Oakwood entries Bryson McDaniel (personal-best 20.79 seconds) and Tucker Pesek (20.85) were second and third, respectively.

Bryson McDaniel captured top honors in the long jump (personal-best 18 feet, 10 inches) and Harrison came in fourth (personal-best 17-3).

Noah Phillips tied for third in the high jump (personal-best 5 feet).

The Comets’ 3,200-meter relay, featuring Jack Ajster, Kaden McDaniel, Connor Moss and Grant Brewer was second (11:44.85).

Winding up in the third place was the 400-meter foursome of Bryson McDaniel, Noah Phillips, Carrillo and Smith (59.76 seconds).

Oakwood will return to action on Tuesday (April 25) in the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Invitational.