Burch, Wilson help SJO boys’ track and field win Monticello Invitational

Large invitationals are the norm throughout the outdoor track and field season.
Winning them is certainly a boost.

Which is what the St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ track and field team did this past Thursday, taking first place in the 17-team Monticello Invitational.
It was the third meet of the season for the Spartans and their most noteworthy accomplishment thus far. Here’s what has transpired on the track and in the field for SJO, along with a look at what’s ahead:

April 14
The Spartans compiled 90 points at the Monticello Invitational, edging the host Sages by one point as Monticello collected 89 points.
Salt Fork (80), Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond (69) and Rantoul (61) rounded out the top five schools.
SJO won the event based on its depth and steady showings in the relays. The 3,200-meter relay quartet of Spencer Wilson, Charlie Mabry, Elijah Mock and Luke Stegall led the Spartans to their only win at the meet, taking first in 8 minutes, 47.1 seconds.
The Spartans also had three other relays — the 800, 1,600 and distance medley — finish in second. The 800 relay foursome of Jonathan Poulter, Aidan McCorkle, Colin Wayland and Tyler Burch crossed the finish line with a time of 1:35.15, while the 1,600 relay team of Burch, McCorkle, Wayland and Wilson was second in 3:39.64 and the distance medley relay of Mason Guido, Holden Jones, Payton Wendell and Isiah Mock registered a time of 12:24.70.
In individual races, Wilson and Braden Clampitt had the best showing for SJO.
Wilson took second in the 800 with a time of 2:06.85 and Clampitt was second in the 110 hurdles in 18:32.
Burch (11.76 in the 100) and Mabry (4:37.83 in the 1,600) added third-place finishes for the Spartans.

April 12
SJO took second at a quadrangular in Charleston, with the host Trojans winning with 85 points and the Spartans compiling 72 points.
Rantoul (54) and Champaign Central (50) also competed.
McCorkle, Burch and Mabry each won an event for the Spartans, with McCorkle taking first in the 100-meter dash in 11.3 seconds, Burch winning the 200 in 23.56 and Mabry placing first in the 800 in 2:12.78.
Burch added a second-place finish in the 100 (11.50), Stegall did the same in the 800 (2:13.14), Holden Jones accomplished the same feat in the 1,600 (5:06.81), Clampitt finished second in the 110 hurdles (17.78) and the 300 hurdles (46.62), Brock Trimble placed second in the discus (132 feet, 1 inch) and the 400 relay of Corbin Wells, Trimble, Colin Wayland and Jett Morris took second in 47.49.
Four Spartans came home with third-place finishes: Jonathan Poulter in the 100 (11.54), Payton Wendell in the 3,200 (11:11.00), Wayland in the high jump (5-1) and Charlie Schmitz in the pole vault (10-6).

April 5
In SJO’s first outdoor meet of the season, the Spartans finished second at a six-team meet in Danville.
Monticello won with 124 points, followed by the 107 points that SJO compiled. Danville (87), Rantoul (84), Urbana (76) and Peoria Manual (54) also competed.
Wilson, Mabry, Jackson Ennis and the Spartans’ 1,600 relay placed first for SJO on the day. Wilson won the 400 in 54.39, while Mabry won the 1,600 in 4:44.15.
Ennis took first in the discus with a toss of 122 feet, 6 inches, with Logan Smith, Wilson, Wayland and McCorkle each contributing on the winning 1,600 relay with a time of 3:41.61.
Stegall added a second-place finish in the 1,600 (4:51.88), Jack Fisher finished second in the 3,200 (11:30.75), Carson Sarnecki took second in the discus (109-6) and Schmitz placed second in the pole vault (10-6).
Clampitt compiled two third-place finishes in the 110 hurdles (18.65) and the 300 hurdles (46.52), while Burch was second in the 200 (23.90) and the 800 relay of Poulter, McCorkle, Wayland and Burch was third in 1:34.76.

The Spartans are slated to get back in action at 4:30 p.m. on Friday as part of the Unity Invitational in Tolono.