NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – The STC boys track team poses for a team picture after winning the team championship at their annual home Coed Invite on April 29.

The STC boys track and field team won their annual home Coed Invite on Tuesday night, April 29. Finishing with a total of 152 team points, the Trojans finished ahead of Hudson (106) and BGM (95). STC was led by standout performances from four of their upperclassmen.

Junior Barrett Jesina swept both individual distance races, taking first place in the 1600 (4:59) and 3200 (10:42). Jesina secured comfortable victories in both races, as he won by around ten seconds in each run. Senior Cody Blocker and junior Nick Upah ran neck-and-neck all night together, as they both paced the STC sprinters. In the 100-meter dash, Blocker and Upah finished in a virtual tie with a time of 11.54. When their finishing times were taken out even further, Blocker finished in third and Upah in fourth. The duo ran close together again in the 200-meter dash, with Blocker finishing third (23.56) and Upah sixth (23.96). Rounding out the leaders on the evening for the Trojans was junior Timm Chandonia in the throwing events. Coming off of qualifying for the Drake Relays, Chandonia finished first in the discus (138 feet, 4 inches) and second in the shot put (46 feet even).

In other individual performances, the Trojans received two top-five finishes in the 400-meter dash with sophomore Michael Henry finishing third (56.01) and freshman Ryan Brant finishing in fourth (57.00). STC also gained a pair of top-five finishes in the 800-meter race when junior Carver Cecak finished second (2:11) and freshman Brady Jesina came in fifth (2:17).

After Barrett Jesina took the victory in both distance races, STC also secured top-ten finishes in the same races from senior Jerome Kapayou (3rd in the 1600, 5:08), junior Logan Richards (9th in the 1600, 6:04), and Brady Jesina (4th in the 3200, 11:24).

In the hurdle events, the Trojans got solid performances from junior Wes Hanus, who finished fourth in the 110-hurdles (18.47) and sixth in the 400-hurdles (1:03.53). Sophomore Josiah Houghton finished just ahead of Hanus in the 400-Hurdles, finishing in third place with a time of 1:00.25. Other top-ten finishes in the field events for the Trojans included: senior Tyrus Clegg (5th in the long jump, 18 feet, 2 inches), freshman Lakyr Peska (8th in the shot put, 36 feet, 5 inches), and junior Josh Strong (6th in the discus, 112 feet, 1 inch).

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – Freshman Lakyr Peska competes in the discus throw. Peska finished in eighth place for STC.

STC also turned in incredible performances from their relay teams. Entering six relay teams, the Trojans won or finished runner-up in all six races. They were led by a first place finish from the 4×400 team of freshman Ethan Page, Cecak, Brant, and Houghton (3:46.36). Also winning their relay was the 4×800 team of Cecak, Kapayou, freshman Henri Martinez-Alvarado, and Houghton (8:58.42).

Freshman Izak Schroeder ran the opening leg of four relay teams that all finished in second place. This included: the 4×100 team of Schroeder, Blocker, Clegg, and Upah (45.07); the 4×200 team of Schroeder, Page, Houghton, and Clegg (1:39.23); the Sprint Medley team of Schroeder, Brant, Upah, and Blocker (1:40.87); and the Distance Medley team of Schroeder, Page, Hanus, and Kapayou (4:00.80).

The Trojans now turn their attention to postseason competition. At the time of this printing, STC will have just competed in the annual WaMaC conference meet on Thursday, May 8 in Mount Vernon. Following that, the Trojans will head to their State Qualifying meet on Thursday, May 15. That meet will also take place at Mount Vernon High School.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – Freshman Izak Schroeder hands the baton off to freshman Ryan Brant in the Sprint Medley Relay. The relay team finished second for the Trojans.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT — Senior Cody Blocker (right) and junior Nick Upah (left) compete in the 100-meter dash. Blocker finished third and Upah fourth in the race.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior Carver Cecak runs down the homestretch in the 800 meter run. Cecak finished second for the Trojans.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – Freshman Brady Jesina sprints to the finish line in the 800 meter run. Jesina finished in fifth place for STC.