By Fred Kroner
Three Heritage seventh-graders qualified for the boys’ Class 1A state track and field meet. In the eighth-grade meet, Heritage advanced entries in two events from a sectional meet at Champaign’s Field of Dreams on Saturday (May 7).
Seventh-grader Clark Roland advanced in two events after winning both the 400 meters (1 minute, 1.1 seconds) and long jump (16 feet, 5 ½ inches).
Teammate Kale McComas was second at sectional in the 200 meters (27.1 seconds), but met the pre-determined qualifying standard.
At state on Friday (May 13) and Saturday (May 14), Roland excelled, capturing a pair of third-place finishes.
In the 400 meters, he was timed in 1:00.05. In the long jump, he leaped 16 feet, 5 inches. McComas wound up ninth at state, with a time of 28.28 seconds in the 200 meters.
Among eighth-graders, Destin Nickle moved on to state after a sectional runner-up finish in the shot put (38 feet, 5 ½ inches) and the school’s eighth-grade 400-meter relay reached state by finishing first.
At state, Nickle garnered a fifth-place finish in the shot put (35 feet, 3 inches).
The relay runners were Clark Roland, Eli Denmark-Collins, Kale McComas and Nickle. Their combined time at sectionals was 52.69 seconds. At state, the relay placed seventh in a time of 52.80 seconds.
At the sectional, Nickle tied for third place in the 100 meters (12.5 seconds) and Rylan White took fourth in the discus (103 feet, 10 inches).
The Heritage seventh-graders had four other entries place among the top eight at the sectional.
McComas ended second in the long jump (15 feet, 3 inches), Roland was third in the 100 meters (13.3 seconds), Christian Paul was fourth in the 1,600 meters (6:09.2) and Clayton Thomas was fifth in the 1,600 meters (6:13.8).
