SpongeBob socks, rock star moms and words of wisdom: Peoria track and field shines at IHSA state

CHARLESTON — Drew Tucker took a leap of faith when he jumped into track and field for the first time with Metamora in his senior year.

But he raised the bar for Redbirds athletics and landed a state championship Saturday in the Illinois High School Association Class 2A Boys State Track and Field Championships at Eastern Illinois University's O'Brien Field.

All while wearing SpongeBob SquarePants socks.

Tucker won the high jump in a personal record 6 feet, 7½ inches, giving Peoria-area boys a much-needed title on the day. Macomb junior Jayden Jones took the state title in the 2A long jump with a 22-11½ effort. In the wheelchair division, Dee-Mack freshman Christopher McCaleb finished first in the shot put and discus, and second in the 200.

IHSA track and field recap:Record-setting day at boys state championships

"It's awesome," said Tucker, who will fill a high jump role next season for SIU-Edwardsville. "To go into this with all these great athletes and jumpers, and come out on top, it's just amazing.

"I found these SpongeBob socks in my drawer, and as soon as I saw them I knew I was wearing them today. First time I wore them in a meet."

Tucker's vertical leap has helped him earn three state championships in the past 77 days. His run began with a March Madness triumph on the basketball floor with Metamora, then an indoor track season title in the high jump at Illinois Top Times in late March, followed by Saturday's IHSA medal.

"I like winning, I'm a really competitive person," Tucker said. "I also like taking chances on trying things. I think if you have athletic ability, you should use it."

In addition to basketball and track, Tucker also is a pitcher with the Metamora baseball team. Its season ended Wednesday in the Class 3A regional semifinals.

"It was tough coming back to track after four years away from it, hard work and patient progress, but we got there and I put it all together today," Tucker said. "I think graduation might have been the only day I had off from practicing or playing this spring.

"I pitched in our game Wednesday, then came down here for state track on Thursday. I love that."

Silver linings

David Russell finished second in the 2A discus (172-6) and fourth in the shot put (57-10¼) in his final prep appearance. Eureka's 4x800 relay team of Carson Lehman, Gabriel Gerber, Brady Monk and Charlie Bardwell were second in 1A. And Elmwood junior Isaiah Hill was second in the 1A 1600, missing a state title by a fraction as his 4:19.93 was bested at the wire by Tommy Murray's (Riverdale) 4:19.24.

There were other good medal-producing efforts from Peoria-area athletes:

• Dunlap senior Reece Dusek finished seventh in the 2A 800.
• Morton's 4x100 relay team pulled in a fifth-place medal in 2A.
• Richwoods pole vaulter Zenon Rule finished seventh in 2A with a vault of 13-11¼.
• Morton's Micah Wong was fourth in the 2A triple-jump at 43-1.
• In 1A, Hill ran to a fourth in the 800 and helped the Trojans 4x800 relay team to a fifth-place medal.
• Eureka's 4x400 relay team was seventh in 1A.
• Eureka's Lance Wiegand tied for fourth in the high jump.
• Eureka's Carson Gold was sixth in the long jump.
• El Paso-Gridley sophomore Marcus Czapar was fourth in the pole vault.

The end of a chapter for IVC thrower

David Russell had a monster final season in shot put and discus, at one point ranked with the 22nd-longest shot put in the nation this season.

His story about competing while his father, Matt, recovered from a stroke last season is well-documented. Now the young thrower will move on to compete for Northern Iowa.

"I'm a little disappointed because I wanted to end here with a championship," Russell said. "I think when I look back at all this I'll remember last year's meet more (when he won the state discus title). It took me by surprise, and I loved every minute of it."

Background:IVC shot put and discus record-holder now among the best in the nation

Russell is going to put down the shot put and discus for a bit and work as a commercial roofer this summer. But first, he just wants to get home and close this chapter of his athletic career.

"Tonight I'll go hang out with friends and family and just reflect on these years," he said. "I'm going to think about how my dad helped me, coached me, was tremendous standing behind me. And my mom (Kathy) taking me everywhere, getting things done for me, she is an absolute rock star."

How the Hornets finished a relay

Eureka 4x800 anchor Charlie Bardwell turned on a big kick to finish a second-place effort.

"I was put in a good position by my team," he said. "I wished I had a little more in the tank at the end there. But I was so happy with our result, we beat our Sectional time and this turned into a day where we got close."We've been there so much this year."

Words of wisdom: Peoria-area medalists speak

• Richwoods senior Zenon Rule, an Indiana State signee who will be a decathlete for the Sycamores next season, ended up seventh in the 2A pole vault Saturday at 13-11¼. "It's still a good medal," he said. "I'm not going to sweat it. I'm excited about the next four years ahead. When I think about the path that ended today, I'll think about the stuff that didn't really go my way, and all the good times, too."

Passion, pedigree and pole vault:Richwoods record-holder has decathlon dreams

• El Paso-Gridley's Marcus Czapar's fourth-place finish in the 1A pole vault was on a 13 feet, 1½ run. He'll bear watching in 2024. "I'm just a sophomore," he said. "The wind was terrible today. But I learned from this to be prepared for anything. It was a lot of fun."

• Macomb junior Jayden Jones is a multiple-sport athlete at Macomb, but his victory in the 2A long jump Saturday was a bit of a surprise for him. "Triple jump is my best event," he said. "I've been doing it since seventh grade."

• Elmwood junior Isaiah Hill ran an exciting 1600, hanging back behind the initial pack and sitting in sixth as the final lap began. Then he went Secretariat on the field, running down everyone in front of him but the leader, and creating a tossup finish at the end. "I did the same thing in the prelims," Hill said. "I felt strong. It's easier to run those first two laps relaxed. When I came around that final turn, I thought I was going to finish fourth anyway. But it got close. I didn't qualify for this last year, I remember just being too tired."

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.